100 rape varieties and hybrids of domestic and foreign selection that have been grown in the different soil-climatic zones of the country were evaluated. The paper presents the results of study by their biochemical characteristics: content of protein, oil and its fatty acid composition. High-oil varieties of rape are identifi ed with high content of erucic acid in oil – for the technical purposes and those without or with its low content – for food industry.

New results of the clonal selection of apple tree (Malus domestica Borkh) conducted at Podillya Research Station of Horticultural Institute NAAS by method of state variety testing have been presented. By the results of the 6-year studying (2007 - 2012) of 20 new Jonagold clones of domestic selection their estimation was carried out according to the complex of such qualities as productivity, early ripening, marketability, taste qualities and durability of fruits. The following clones are defined to be the best: DP-16, DP-17, DP-18, DP-20. They start fruiting in the age of 2 or 3 years, productivity of the 5- or 6-year-old trees reaches 8,3–25,5 tons per hectare, quantity of the fruits of the highest and first grade is about 57–76% (in 2010–2012). Fruits of the mentioned clones are bigger than medium size (DP-16), big (DP-17, DP-18) and very big (DP-20); they have average similarity, excellent and very harmonious sour-sweet taste (8,3–8,7 points). Fruits of the best clones kept their quality for 202 – 220 days.

The nomenclature and the system of genus Ribes s.l., application of indigenous and introduced plant names, from which such commercial small fruit crops as gooseberry, black and red currant have been formed, is considered. Scientifi c names based on Ukrainian generic name Porichky are streamlined. Ukrainian names for 64 taxa at the rank of species and variety were given. For hybrids nothotaxa ×Ribelaria Mezhenskyj, nothosubg. nov. (= subg. Ribes × subg. Grossularia) and ×Сalocalyx Mezhenskyj, nothosect. nov. (= sect. Calobotrya × sect. Symplocalyx) were defi ned.

The kernel size of winter rye is a genetically determined characteristic as controlled by a series of multiple alleles and is available for artificial selection. As a result of long-term intensive selection average weight of 100 grains per plant increased from 2.94 to 6.94 g or 2.4 times. The implemented effectiveness of selection by 100 grains weight per plant towards increase was systemic, but it was also uneven. Throughout 42 generations the spans of quick response to directed selection were observed, lasting slowdowns and even reverses of average weight of 100 grains per plant. Prompt increase of the directed selection efficiency corresponded to the changes that induced relatively big impact, and formed a plateau as large kernel size reached high frequency. Variability of rye population at high pressure of the selection by 100 grains weight pert plant occurred predominately at normal distribution and along the display of negative asymmetry following the effect of extreme grades emergence outbreak. The highest average kernel size achieved was followed by further slowdown of 100 grains increase observed, nonetheless a heavy pressure of the selection. 42 generations displayed the greatest impact upon the breeding efficiency by denominated breeding differential (36%), selection intensity (22%), broad sense inheritance ratio (8%), narrow sense inheritance ratio (10%). Predicted and implemented selection efficiency over 42 generations matched in 37% of cases certifying thus an actual forecast of the breeding prediction.

In 2011 to 2013 a study was completed for the impact of varying rates of fertilizing onto the indices of productivity for barley agrophytocenosis of Helios and Commandor, in particular, such its components as a number of productive stems, number of seeds per ear, potential biological activity of ear and photosynthetic apparatus. It is found that the level of spring barley agrophytocenosis productivity is subject both to varietal peculiarities and the rate of mineral fertilizer application. When applying N 60P 60K 60 і N 90P 90K 90 the highest potential and biological productivity of Helios and Commandor was recorder as compared against the control. Impact of varying application rates for fertilizers onto the components of ear biological productivity has been scrutinized. The qualitative composition of ear is a clear expression of variety phenotype and identifies the level of biological yield for spring barley. Application of N 60 P 60 K 60 і N 90 P 90 K 90 mineral fertilizers fairly increased the average leaf surface, photosynthetic lead capacity of varieties in 2 to 2.5 times, as well as FAR efficiency coefficient in 1.5 to 2.0 times as against control that thus contributed to the development of highest biological yield of Helios variety phytomass at the level of 14.9 to 15.0, grain – 7.8 to 8.0 ton per ha and, respectively, 12.7 and 7.5 tons per ha for Comandor variety.

Race-specific resistance of 19 common millet varieties that are firstly listed on the State Register of Plant Varieties Suitable for Dissemination in Ukraine in 2013 is assessed. It is found that almost half of the varieties are infected with all smut races, part of them is resistant only to the first group of smut races, and there is no variety to be resistant to all races of this disease. It is concluded that common millet varieties are needed to be examined for resistance to smut races

Sugar yield, an important indicator, is resulting from interaction of two components: the yield and sugar content, both they are controlled by polygenes, and influenced significantly by environment. A.V. Kilchevskyi and L.V. Hotyliova pointed to the fact that in breeding, contrary to evolution, stabilizing forms are dominated by driving ones, which determine the growth response to regulated factors and decreased resistance to non-regulated environmental factors [1]. A relevant breeding trend is to create the genotypes adequate with certain technologies, so to say «low input variety high input variety» i.e. varieties with low and high energy contribution to technology. From this perspective, selection of stable in their manifestation lines against the analyzing backgrounds has become an important element of the breeding process [2]. Home scientists, such as A.L. Mazmulov and M.S. Hrytsyk have contributed greatly to the development and application of the agro-backgrounds [3, 4].

The article devotes to the stages of formation of plant collection of park of landscape and gardening art of local importance “arboretum State variety network” located in the village Oguyivka of Mashevka district of Poltava region.

Methodical aspects of using the analysis of DNA single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP-analysis) for certification and identification of maize lines are considered. It is shown that SNP-genotyping is a method with high discriminatory potential that can differentiate maize lines among themselves and is recommended to use for certification of maize  lines and analysis of their homogeneity, stability and genotype differences.