The article reflects the issues of the current state of scientific research at the FSBSI FSVC, shows the directions and prospects for the development of selection and seed production of vegetable crops. The main mission of the selection and seed-growing work of the FSVC is the creation and reproduction of varieties and hybrids of vegetable and melon crops of a new generation, characterized by resistance to abiotic and biotic stressors, high productivity and product quality. One of the main ways to increase the efficiency of the breeding process is the use of modern methods of biotechnology and molecular genetics, which make it possible to obtain new genotypes and reduce the time of breeding. Success has been achieved in the creation of homozygous lines of cabbage, squash, cucumber, carrots. For the first time, it was possible to complete a full cycle of obtaining doubled radish haploids in microspore culture in vitro. The institution pays special attention to immunological research on the resistance of crops and new varieties to diseases, as well as protecting plants from pests and diseases. Phytosanitary monitoring, assessment and selection of resistant genotypes are carried every years. One of the important theoretical and practical problems solved at the institution is the development of environmentally friendly products based on preparations obtained from plants with a high content of biologically active compounds with adaptogenic properties. In the center, a new direction of research in traditional breeding has received significant development - the creation of varieties of vegetable plants with an increased content of biologically active substances and antioxidants, on the basis of which functional products are created. The persistence of modern varieties and hybrids of table carrots, depending on the biochemical composition, has been studied. Methods for enriching vegetable plants with micronutrients are being developed. A large amount of scientific research is being carried out on the development of technologies for the cultivation of new varieties and hybrids, as well as technologies for their seed production. At the branches located in different soil and climatic conditions, hospitals were established to study the interaction of factors controlling soil fertility and the productivity of vegetable crops in agrocenoses (crop rotation, soil treatment systems, fertilizers and plant protection). In general, at the FSBSI FSVC, all research is aimed at developing and improving methods in breeding and seed production of vegetable crops, creating new breeding achievements and developing varietal technologies for their cultivation.

Relevance. The presence of valuable biologically active substances, carbohydrates, organic acids and others in the eggplant fruits makes the culture one of the vegetables with the highest antioxidant activity. The VIR collection of eggplant includes 830 accessions from 70 countries of the world. The study of new acquisitions in the VIR collection presupposes a comprehensive assessment of the received material according to morphological, biological and economically valuable characteristics. The main objective of the study was to assess the variability of the biochemical parameters of egg-plant fruits in technical ripeness; as well as determination of the best accessions by the chemical composition of fruits and the content of biologically active substances.Materials and methods. The study of 19 accessions of eggplant accessions was carried out in 2020 in a winter greenhouse in Pushkin and Pavlovsk Laboratories of VIR (St. Petersburg). The morphological description of the accessions and the assessment for biological and economically valuable traits were carried out in accordance with the methodological guidelines and the VIR classifier. Biochemical analysis was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of VIR in the phase of technical ripeness of fruits in terms of: dry matter content, sugars, total acidity, ascorbic acid, pigments and anthocyanins.Results. As a result of this study, the amplitude of variability in the content of dry matter (6.44- 8.68%), sugars (1.78-3.72%), ascorbic acid (5.92-21.08 mg/100 g), titrated acidity (0.10-0.31%), chlorophylls (0.52-15.13 mg/100 g), carotenoids (1.19-6.99 mg/100 g), β-carotene (0.11-0.52 mg/100 g) and anthocyanins (12.94-1031.40 mg/100 g) in eggplant fruits. Accessions with a high content of biologically active substances in fruits in technical ripeness were identified: Russian hybrids Bourgeois F1, Azhur F1; local accessions from Armenia: k-3156, k-3159, k-3161.

Relevance. The most important influence on the yield, the timing of growing vegetables in greenhouses and the cost of the resulting crop, in addition to the arrival of solar radiation, is exerted by the presence of a system of artificial lighting in greenhouses and its capacity.It is no exaggeration to say that today artificial lighting in greenhouses is more effective than natural lighting. So, to obtain one kilogram of vegetables using artificial lighting, it is necessary to spend 4.5-5.0 thousand J/cm2, and in the case of natural lighting: 5.0-6.5 thousand J/cm2. This is due to the fact that when using artificial lighting in the greenhouse, we create the most comfortable growing conditions for the plants. Of course, every culture, every hybrid requires its own illumination parameters, so you should not try to formulate what the ideal artificial lighting will be. Proper lighting means getting the maximum yield from your crops at the lowest cost. An increase in the productivity of plants when grown under photoculture conditions occurs not only due to an increase in the lighting power per unit area of greenhouses, but also due to correctly selected hybrids. The cultivated hybrid is one of the most important criteria for both increasing its productivity and improving the quality of the fruit. But not all tomato hybrids recommended by breeding companies for growing under artificial lighting are ideal for such conditions.Methods. The methods used in agronomic science were used. The information base of the research was made up of reference materials from specialized publications on the subject under study (catalogs of breeding companies); materials received from participants in the greenhouse vegetable market (breeding companies, greenhouse plants); own research, articles and reviews in specialized journals.Results. Correctly selected tomato hybrids provide a significant increase in productivity in greenhouses, an improvement in fruit quality and a balanced cultivation technology under these conditions. An assortment of recommended tomato hybrids for growing in photoculture conditions is presented, an analysis of their advantages and disadvantages is made, and the main requirements for hybrids for these conditions are formulated.

Relevance. When forcing tulips in the early spring period in conditions of protected soil, the effectiveness of fertilizers has not been sufficiently studied. Manufacturers and suppliers of planting material do not give clear recommendations on the timing and doses of the use of mineral fertilizers in the distillation process.Material and methods. The object of study was 6 varieties of tulips of the Dutch selection of the mid-early flowering period. In the experiment, a "9-degree distillation technology"was used. For mineral fertilizing of tulips, a solution of calcium nitrate – Ca(NO3)2 was used in concentrations of 0.1% and 0,2%. The repetition of the experience is fourfold. To assess the effect of fertilizing on the growth and development of tulips, the dynamics of changes in biomorphological indicators was studied: the height of the plants, the diameter of the flower, the mass of cut flowers, as well as the output of commercial products. Results. It was found that the use of calcium nitrate fertilization at a concentration of 0,2% at the early stages of plant development contributes to the formation of a larger cut in the studied varieties, characterized by a high strong stem exceeding the control by 3,83-43,8%, the formation of large peduncles with a diameter of 3,24-5,85 cm and an increase in the yield of marketable products reaching 98%. The profitability of this variant of applying calcium nitrate fertilizing is on average 42% for varieties.Results. It was found that the use of calcium nitrate fertilization at a concentration of 0,2% at the early stages of plant development contributes to the formation of a larger cut in the studied varieties, characterized by a high strong stem exceeding the control by 3,83- 43,8%, the formation of large peduncles with a diameter of 3,24-5,85 cm and an increase in the yield of marketable products reaching 98%. The profitability of this variant of applying calcium nitrate fertilizing is on average 42% for varieties.

Relevance. In recent years, the price of seeds for melons and gourds of foreign selection has reoriented many agricultural producers to use seeds of domestic varieties. To provide agricultural producers with the required amount of seeds with high sowing rates, it is necessary to apply new technological methods that will allow using the biological potential of varieties and growing commercial volumes of seeds.Material and methods. The research was carried out at the selection and experimental site of the vegetable growing department in the "Federal Scientific Rice Centre " in 2017-2018. The object of research is a new promising variety of watermelon Yubilyar, and two early-ripening varieties of melon Tamanskay and Strelchanka. Sowing terms: spring – from mid-April to the end of the first decade of May, summer – the first and second decades of July. Summer sowing with drip irrigation. When harvesting melon and watermelon fruits, the selection intensity is 90% to obtain reproductive seeds RS-1.Results. It has been established that due to the climatic conditions of the Krasnodar Territory and the varietal characteristics of the melon varieties Tamanskaya, Strelchanka and the watermelon Yubilyar, a short growing season and a neutral reaction to changes in the length of the day, you can get two harvests of seeds in one season using summer sowing. It was noted that low air humidity prevented damage to plants by peronospora, anthracnose and powdery mildew, practically eliminating the need for protective measures. The selected ripe fruits for the selection of seeds by morphological characteristics corresponded to varietal characteristics. It has been established that the seed productivity of melon during summer sowing is higher due to better pollination. From one hectare received up to 97-138 kg of seeds. The use of ripening made it possible to carry out a one-time collection of watermelon and melon fruits.

Relevance. Currently, the use of secondary plant-orgin metabolites with high biological activity is becoming an important part of a comprehensive plant protection program. The mechanism of their action is aimed at activating molecular biological and physiological systems that increase the ability of the plant organism to withstand the adverse effects of biotic and abiotic nature. The purpose of these studies is to screen the selectivity of the physiological activity of phytoregulators in relation to different varieties of vegetable beans.Methodology. Plants of two mid-ripening varieties of vegetable beans were twice sprayed with solutions of plant biological products of different chemical composition, isolated from 12 plant species of different families. Control – treatment with water, standards - solutions of Pharmayod and Fitolavin. During the growing season, an analysis of the development of diseases of various etiologies on seed crops was carried out. Seed productivity of plants was taken into account after harvesting and threshing the beans, the sowing qualities of the obtained seeds were studied in accordance with the relevant recommendations and GOST 12042-80, and the biological effectiveness (BE) of the action of phytopreparations was calculated.Results. Two-fold treatment of beans with most of the tested preparations reduced the total percentage of affected plants by more than 25%. The protective effect of the studied glycosides differed significantly depending on their chemical structure, disease etiology and cultivar responsiveness. Among them, there are preparations based on steroidal glycosides - Moldstim and Mestim, which have the most pronounced immunomodulatory effect on the resistance of vegetable beans to phytopathogens. Treatment with Mestim in the selected concentration led to a decrease in seed productivity of plants. Other phytopreparations showed a neutral or stimulating effect on this trait, increasing the proportion of germinating seeds in the yield structure by 3-26% relative to control. The certain varietal specificity has been identified by the total effectiveness of the action. Irioid glycosides from Linaria genistifolia and the sum of iridoids and flavonoids from Linaria vulgaris showed the greatest activity on the responsive cultivar Lika. On the SiBemol variety, there is Moldstim, a steroidal glycoside of the furostanol series, isolated from Capsicum annuum. Their biological effectiveness was higher than that of Fitolavin and Pharmayod standards.

Relevance. Oxidative reactions (based on peroxidase activity, POX and polyphenol oxidase, PPO; hydrogen peroxide content) that occur in response to infection or reinfection of the off-spring of infected plants depend on the type of host-virus interaction (sensitive, tolerant, stable) and the nature of the interaction with viral infection (primary infection, reinfection of second and third generations).Results. Reinfection with tomato aspermy virus (TАV) or tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) of the off-spring of third infected tomato generation caused a significant decrease in POX activity compared to successive generations of infected plants (G2) for Craigella (Tm-22/Tm- 22) and S. pimpinellifolium genotypes or an increase for Rufina and Craigella (Tm-1/Tm-1) ones. In genotypes containing resistance genes, Rufina and Craigella, no differences were observed in PPO of TMV primary infection and control, while significant differences were found in case of TAV (susceptibility). As a result of TMV infection, the sensitive (Elvira) and tolerant (S. pimpinellifolium) genotypes showed an increase in PPO values compared to the control. At the same time, in most genotypes primarily / secondarily infected with TAV or TMV, statistically significant differences were revealed in the activity of POX or PPO, as well as the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in plant leaves, which indicates specific protective reactions of the genotypes.

Relevance, material and methods. Purpose of the work: comparative assessment of the content of the sum of phenolic compounds exhibiting antioxidant activity in various organs of herbaceous capers C. herbacea Willd. The 4 samples of C. herbaceawere collected from natural populations of Dagestan during the flowering and fruiting phases in the summer of 2019. The collected raw materials were divided into fractions (organs), dried in the shade to an air-dry mass, then subjected to further analysis to determine the total content of flavonoids, anthocyanins by the spertrophotometric method on SF-56; the total content of antioxidants by the amperometric method on the instrument of express analysis "Color-Yauza-001-AAA ".Results. During the analysis, good indicators were obtained for the content of the studied compounds. Thus, in terms of the content of flavonoids, the greatest variation is seen in the stems of herbaceous capers (0.34-0.86%) compared to their content in leaves and inflorescences (2.67-2.97% and 2.45-2.90%, respectively). The amount of anthocyanins varies in all organs within the range of 0.05-0.23%. The smallest spread is observed in the total content of antioxidants in the fruits of herbaceous capers (21.35-21.40 mg/l), while in inflorescences this indicator varies greatly (27.44-42.19 mg/l). It is noteworthy that the samples with a high value of antioxidants showed a low content of flavonoids, thereby indicating that flavonoids are not the main components in the antioxidant system of the studied caper species. An important condition determining the variability of the content of phenolic compounds in various plant organs is a complex of abiotic environmental factors. The study of this factor (altitude gradient) revealed a significant relationship with the accumulation of flavonoids in all organs, which has a multi-vector nature (correlation coefficient r*= 0.57; 0.56; -0.47), respectively, in stems, leaves, and inflorescences (P<0,05). A positive relationship in the accumulation of anthocyanins is observed with the height in caper leaves. In all other cases, the connection is random. In addition, the analysis of variance revealed that a large difference in the variability of the studied compounds is observed between individual groups of plants in the absence of intragroup variability.

Relevance. Among the main factors that determine the productivity of vegetable yields in protected ground, the main one is light. For the formation of 1 kg/m2 of cucumber fruits with a length of 18-22 cm, on average about 3500-4000 J/cm2 of solar radiation is required. In the winter-spring cycle, in the absence of artificial lighting in greenhouses, there is an unevenness of scattered solar radiation and a general shortage of incoming light energy. At the same time, the amount of total solar radiation required for the formation of a 1 kg of fruit ("lighting price") is not the same for different hybrids. To increase the profitability of production in the winter-spring turnover in greenhouses that are not equipped with artificial lighting, it is necessary to choose hybrids with the lowest "lighting price" of the crop, that is, hybrids that use less light energy to form a 1 kg of fruit.The purpose of the study: evaluation of F1 hybrids of cucumber on the basis of resistance to lack of lighting by comparing their "lighting price" of the crop: how much energy is spent on the formation of 1 kg of marketable products.Methods. The research was carried out at the variety testing site in the Crimean breeding Center of the Scientific Research Institute of Vegetable Crop Selection "Gavrish", in the conditions of winter-spring turnover, in greenhouses not equipped with artificial lighting. We tested seven medium-fruited (18-22 cm) spined-fruited cucumber hybrids recommended for growing in winter-spring turnover.Results. The analysis of the data on the input of solar radiation and the formation of a standard yield showed that there is a direct relationship between the amount of incoming light and the level of productivity. The period of conversion of the received solar energy into the fruit harvest varied during the growing season from 14 to 8 days, depending on the degree of plant development. The "lighting price" of the crop was not the same for different hybrids: the hybrids tested in the experiment spent an average of 2900 J/cm2 per 1 kg of product, which is 18% more efficient than for standard greenhouse cucumbers.

The most important task for the sustainable development of modern agriculture is to increase the biological diversity of cultivated crops. In recent years, due to global climate change, the possibilities of using more thermophilic crops in new agro-ecological zones have expanded. The problem of increasing the biological diversity of vegetable products largely depends on the introduction of non-traditional plant species, with a simultaneous assessment of the initial material for its use in economically useful purposes and the creation of varieties and hybrids adapted to local conditions. In this regard, Nigella L. is of great interest among rare plant species. It is one of the most famous spicy-aromatic crops in the Mediterranean and Central Asia, possessing a wide range of biologically active compounds and unique medicinal properties. The review article provides information on the origin, biological characteristics and breeding of the culture. A brief review of food, medicinal and other economically useful properties is given, as well as the main elements of the technology for growing nigella are considered. It is shown that the cultivation of this culture will provide an opportunity to expand the range of non-traditional plants and be a promising renewable source of valuable plant raw materials, which will find application in various fields: in agriculture, in the food, pharmaceutical, perfumery and cosmetic industries, as well as in ornamental gardening.