At present time, the significant deficiency of СО2 for plants cultivated in greenhouses is one of the factors limiting the photosynthesis and carbonate accumulation leading to decrement of vegetable plant productivity.  The development of necessary gas atmosphere inside greenhouses is the same as important as maintaining temperature regimes.  In  the  world,  there  are  different  solutions  for greenhouse feeding with СО2. Nowadays, the most effective and ecologically safe equipment for greenhouse feeding with СО2 is that provide, not only a smoke-like gas, but also a purified food quality carbon dioxide. This technology required system of gas pipe lines for greenhouses and system of automated control for gas feeding. Moreover it is necessary to install the storage facilities for liquid  carbonic  acid, gas generator, heating system and other   equipment.   Such   a   complex   for   automatic greenhouse feeding with СО2 ‘Kaskad’ has been worked out by OOO ‘Kaskad’ that has successfully developed the systems for carbon-dioxide feeding for 10 years. The system  that  combined  automatic  supplying  outcoming  gas from  boiler  station,  and liquid  СО2  injecting  into  greenhouse room was developed in 2015. The system enables to be integrated into the feeding liquid СО2 and existing system of supplying the outcoming  gas from boiling station.

Development of F1 cabbage hybrids is concerned to difficulties of artificial pollination, low ability to developovary leading to low seed productivity in parental lines. The aim of the study is to improve the seed productivity of self-pollinated parental line 3/14C for F1 cabbage hybrid ‘Krasotka’. Secondary plant metabolites such as steroid glycosides can help overcome these difficulties and increase the seed productivity (Blandinskaya et al., 2013). 3/14C-line was propagated by backcrossing flowers in bud stage with artificial self-pollination, using water solutions of steroid glycosides ‘Moldstim’ and ‘Melongozid’ (in concentrations 0.1%, 0.01%, 0.001% and 0.0001%). Seed productivity was evaluated according to methods that were elaborated earlier (Bukharov A.F. et al., 2011, 2013). It was established that all parameters of seed formation and development were increased significantly under treatment of steroid glycosides ‘Moldstim’ and ‘Melongozid’ in mentioned concentration. Differences were significant at the 5%-level of significance. Concentration of 0.001% was more effective than other both preparations. These preparations stimulated all phases of seed development. Number of fruits was increased by 16-39%, a number of seeds per one the pod was also increased by 17-38%, mass of 1000 seeds was increased by 9-12%. Thus, the seed productivity of parental line 3/14C F1cabbage hybrid named ‘Krasotka’ was increased by 44 to 105% as result of the action of steroid glycosides. Thus, ‘Moldstim’ and ‘Melongozid’ in concentration of 0.001% can be recommend as physiological stimulators to improve seed productivity in parental lines necessary for development of F1 cabbage hybrids.

Varieties of Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis (L.) Verdc. draw breeders’ attention due to their valuable properties, form variation, particularly, among long asparagus beans. The climatic condition of South Far-East is favorable for the cultivation of cowpea. Introduction of the species expands the range of cultivated crops in the region. The aim of the study was to comparatively investigate the modern and local old accessions of cowpea in the field condition of Primoriye and also to select accessions studied suitable for cultivation in this region. Field experiments were carried out at Far-Eastern Experimental Station (VIR), Vladivostok in 2012-2015. Forty accessions of different breeding periods of time from VIR plant collection were assessed. Local varieties included into collection in 1920-1930, varieties selected in 1950-1980 and modern varieties developed after 2010 were significantly different by the morphometric characteristics such as length and width of leaf, bean length and weight, seed productivity per plant, period duration – from shoots to bean-filling and from shoots to bean-ripening. The productivity of green beans depended on different morphobiological traits. For varieties bred in 1950-1980, the correlation between seed and green bean productivity and the number of beans was observed. The yield of green beans was connected with bean length and width and the duration of vegetative period in modern varieties. The varieties bred in 1950-1980 were distinguished by their simultaneous maturation and early ripening, along with the balanced number of pods per plant and seed productivity. Modern varieties essentially exceeded the previously bred cultivars in pod length, yield capacity and duration of harvesting period. Local old varieties were distinguished by broad genetic variation, and were very important as a source of valuable traits. As a result of the study the varieties suitable for cultivation in Primoriye region have been identified to meet all customers’ requirements. For small production and farming ‘Yin Jiang Yi Hao’, ‘Zi San Chi’, ‘Zi San Chi’, ‘Yu Yan San Chi Lv’, ‘Xue Long Yi Hao’, ‘Zao Chun’, ‘Xin Jang’, ‘Zao Chun Jiang Dou’ were recommended, while the accessions ‘k-818’ and ‘k-797’ from China, ‘s. Tan Kim’ from Vietnam were regarded for industrial proposes: cannery and deep freezing.

Vegetable production in Dagestan is the one of the smallscale, where elementary techniques are used, therefore the vegetable commodity output does not reach a third from total volume produced. With appearance of new irrigation technologies the perspective occurred to raise the productivity of vegetable growing. The use of the drop irrigation improved the vegetable production and yield as well as carrot production. The influence of sowing terms and plant density on features in vegetation phases, photosynthesis activity and water consumption in drip irrigation was studied in carrot ‘Chantenay 2461’ grown on the meadowchestnut soils medium loamy soils of plain areas in Dagestan. Spring sowing time and summer sowing time with plant density of 0.6; 0.8 and 1.0 million plants per hectare have been studied in accordance with the two-factor experiment. In the course of experiment, it has been shown that not the plant density but sowing terms have essentially influenced upon interphase vegetation period in carrot. It has been also revealed that sowing terms have influenced upon photosynthetic activity, increasing the leaf area by 15.1%, while photosynthesis activety and dry matter content have increased by 7.5% and 4.2% respectively. The maximal parameters of photosynthetic activity were obtained when sowing in the second ten-day period of March with density of 0.8 million plants per hectare, and a yield of 42.2 t/ha. To produce such yield, there is a requirement of irrigation rate should be 2600-2700 m3/ha, on average with 18 watering at rates between 87-165 m3 /ha. Calculations of energy and economic efficiency have shown that when sown in the 2nd decade of March density of 0.8 million plants per hectare gave maximum energy efficiency 6.14, whereas the level of profitability of production expenses was equal to 73.5%.

In modern concept of healthy food the products of functional destination play a main role to neutralize the influences of unfavorable environments and unbalanced diet. The Jerusalem artichoke is a promising raw material to produce prebiotic and dietary food. Owing to increased content of biologically active substances (polyphenols, vitamins, pectin and mineral compounds) the Jerusalem artichoke is recognized as valuable product for human’s diet. Among other root-tuber vegetables the Jerusalem artichoke is distinguished by its high content of inulin that is regarded as an effective remedy to treat diabetes, atherosclerosis, obesity and different intoxications. On October 29, Ministry Council of Union State of Russia and Belarus accepted a program ‘Innovation and Improvement of Production in Potato and Jerusalem Artichoke’ aimed to develop high-yielding varieties and up-to-dated technology for production and post-harvesting processing, regarding to the biological features, namely the high contents of inulin, pectin, oligosaccharides in tubers and foliage. In Kaluga oblast, in the frame of program realization, an Innovative Agro-industrial Complex, ‘KiT’ is now under construction, where Jerusalem artichoke tubers and foliage are processed into inulin, fructose-oligosaccharides, fructose-glucose syrup, dietary and prebiotic puree, juice-contented drinks according to technology standards enable to preserve all valuable biologically active components. It allows manufacturing valuable biologically active products and ingredients, such as ‘live’ puree and juices.

Recently, the particularities in carrot trait variation, namely root color and shape; carotene content; duration of vegetative period; resistance to diseases and pests have been established. But such traits as yield capacity, root marketability, root quality, long-storability as well as their genetic  determination haven’t  been  well  studied. Consequently, thorough study of  genetically diverse accessions and the search for phenotypically well-identified traits are very actual tasks. The ecological and geographical study of carrot enables to reveal polymorphisms among cultivars, in order to use it in the breeding program. The study of collection accessions of local and foreign origin in contrasted conditions varying in temperature and water regimes revealed the significant variation of main biological and economically valuable traits, including root yield and quality. The root yield was substantially higher in Pushkin (Leningrad oblast) than in Vologda oblast. Comparatively stable yield and quality were shown in local cultivars:   ‘Nanatskay  Krasnaya’,  ‘Princess’   and ‘Gribovskaya’. Very important requirement for highly marketable products is the cultivar resistance to disease and pests. There are no completely resistant genotypes to carrot psylla among accessions studied. Carrot accessions bearing resistance to the pest and also showing high productivity and quality were ‘Losinoostrovskaya 13’ (Russia), ‘Gavrilovskaya’ (Ukraine), ‘Feonia’ (Denmark), ‘New Model’ (UK), ‘Betina’ (the Netherlands) that can be used for breeding program. ‘Krasnaya Dlinnaya’ (Russia) and ‘Chantenay а Coeur Rouge’ (France) were comparatively  resistant to powdery mildew.

Description information on the origin, biological features, nutritional and medical benefits of caraway has been given. Caraway Carum carvi L. is a biennial, herb plant. It is lightdemanding and winter-hardy. First year it grows a rosette of leaves, the second year it produces the flower-bearing stems and later seeds. The medicinal raw material is seeds which are picked just before the time of full maturity. The seeds content up to 20 % of proteins, 25.5 % of fatty oil, 8 % of essential oil, and vitamins, flavonoids, minerals are also present. The seeds and essential oil are used in medicine, in soap manufacture, distillery, confectionery making, bread bakery, perfumery, cosmetics products and agriculture. The caraway seeds are used in veterinary medicine to treat some disease in animals. The caraway fruit possess germicidal, antispasmodic, anesthetic, cholagogic, bileexpelling effects. The seeds can be used as diuretic, stomachic and carminative agents. The seeds of caraway increase milk production in livestock, and also are useful for human's nourishing. Usage of caraway assists to discharge sputum and mucus at lung diseases. Caraway is the excellent melliferous  plant, since the flowers bear much nectar. Production of honey can reach up to 100 kg per one hectare on average. Leaves and shoots of caraway are used in cuisine for salad recipes and to add flavor to meat and fish meal. The fleshy roots could be also consumed as root vegetable. Caraway fruits as a fragrance component are added for cucumber salting, cabbage fermentation and kvass preparation. This article presents the agricultural features for caraway cultivation in middle Russian region. The cultivar ‘Peresvet’ has been bred at VNIISSOK and included in State Register of Breeding Achievements of Russian Federation.

Tree-shaped plants of tomato have many useful traits, which gain them advantages over common tomato forms. In world plant collection there are over 200 accessions, cultivars and hybrids of tree-shaped tomato. The aim of the study was to develop new initial tomato accessions for breeding program for tree-shaped cultivars and hybrids that are distinguished by a shape, fruit weight and color, improved by interspecific hybridization chemical composition and resistance to the major diseases. The tree-shaped breeding lines: ‘196/12’, ‘374/08’, ‘909/14’, ‘911/14’ and other were observed with the use of interspecific hybridization and selection in the population F2-F4. The selected lines passed the trial in artificially infected condition with Alternaria, viral diseases (MToV, TSWV) and phytoplasmas. Among breeding lines assessed the ‘911/14’, ‘374/08’ and‘40/11’ were less affected by complex of pathogens. The lines ‘196/12’ and ‘909/14’ passed an assessment in the nursery for variety trial in naturally and  provocatively infected conditions with major pathogens. Both breeding lines had an advantage over standard accession ‘Laguna’ and ‘Maraphon’ for total yield capacity and standard fruit harvest; it was more by 9.6% and 52.2% and 9.5% and 53.4% respectively. Fruits of lines 196/12 and 909/14 had good taste quality with high content of dry matter (5.8% and 6.8%), sugars (3.3% and 3.1%), vitamin C (22.2 and 24.8 mg/100 grams). The selected tree-shaped accessions have been used to develop heterotic hybrids and to be sources of economically valuable traits.

Brussels sprout (Brassica oleracea convar oleracea L. var. gemmifera DC) is a highly valuable cole vegetable crop, which is grown widespread in Europe and cultivated in gardens in Russia. The breeding program for this crop has been carried out at VNIISSOK. The biological features, useful properties of Brussels sprout along with agrotechnical instructions for cultivation were given in the article. The modern trends in breeding program for the crop were shown. The description of cultivar ‘Hercules’ and heterotic hybrid F1 ‘Sozvezdie’ bred at VNIISSOK was given.

The study of influence of growth regulators and biopreparations affecting on decrease of disease development, increase of yield capacity and final product quality was carried out in tomato. It was shown that all preparations were effective in decreasing the process of diseases development and increasing the yield capacity and product quality. The studies were carried out in the experimental fields at the Institute of Vegetables and Melons NAAS, in Ukraine in 2011-2012. The field studies were performed according to ‘Methodology of Experimental Work in Vegetable and Melon Growing’ on area sown with cultivars ‘Karas’ and ‘Kremenchugskiy’. The fungicides ‘Mars U 77%’, ‘Vimpel with Fitotsid’, ‘Vermistim’ wth ‘Azotofit’ and ‘Bioglobin’ with ‘Azotofit’ were used on cultivars of tomato, as control were the plants without treatment. It was determined that all preparations decreased the development of diseases. On average, the development of early dry spot had decreased by 12.2–16.1% and anthracnose by 10.0–12.6% in the cultivars ‘Kremenchugskiy’ and ‘Karas’. Thus, biopreparations used on the varieties ‘Kremenchugskiy’ and ‘Karas’ were effective in decrease of disease development, such as early dry spot, anthracnose, in a range of 39.1–52.7 %. Generally, during observation period the efficacy index of the preparations ‘Vermistim’ with ‘Azotofit’, ‘Bioglobin’ with ‘Azotofit’ was higher than others preparations on the varieties ‘Kremenchug and ‘Karas’ against early dry spot (48.3–50.9%, 50.3–52.7%) and anthracnose (46.1–47.0%, 47.6–48.5%). The results showed that the vast majority of biological preparations, phytohormones used against diseases in tomato crops of varieties ‘Kremenchugskiy’ and ‘Karas’, were effective in a range of 39.1-52.7% and also maintained the tomato yield within 2.8-5.1 t/ha or 8.1- 13.9%. The biological preparations, phytohormones improved common biochemical parameters.