Vegetable root plants is a valuable, essential components of a balanced diet person. The basis of the modern methodology of breeding work on root crops is to meet the requirements of the market, so the breeders are faced with the task of creating varieties and hybrids of root crops with an attractive appearance and a sufficiently high nutritional value, suitable for new technologies of cultivation and processing. The regular meeting of the methodical Commission of the edible plants in the FSBSI Federal Scientific Vegetable Center in the framework of the international scientific-practical conference "Methodology of selection and seed growing of vegetable root plants." The conference was attended by scientists, breeders, seed growers, experts from Russia and CIS countries. The participants of the conference exchanged information on the achievements, development and application of various methodological approaches in the selection and seed production of vegetable root plants, contributing to the creation and introduction of domestic competitive varieties and hybrids, which will solve the problem of import substitution. The need to create a new source material on the basis of the collections of recent years for breeding on technology, alignment of the external parameters of varieties and hybrids of all vegetable root plants, as well as to improve the methods of seed production, especially for the reproduction of seeds of higher categories and lines of hybrids. The changed scientific and technological conditions of conducting the selection and seed-growing process require improving the efficiency of breeding development, the complexity of selection and genetic research, the use of biotechnological methods, MAS technologies, phytotrons, greenhouses and other facilities to accelerate the selection process.

Relevance. When creating tomato varieties and hybrids, much attention is paid not only to the commercial component (yield, appearance and uniform ripening), but also to the taste qualities of the products. Salad tomato varieties with yellow, tangerine, and pink fruits are increasingly in demand. As a rule, these fruits do not store for a long time, so it is necessary to increase their storability and transportability. Fruits of this group of tomatoes have high antioxidant activity, which is due not only to the significant content of water-soluble antioxidants (such as ascorbic acid), but also carotenoids. The preservation of fruit largely depends on the dry matter content.The aim of investigation is to study biochemical parameters of tangerine tomatoes fruits under different ripening conditions.Materials and methods. Plants were grown in the greenhouse of Federal Scientific Vegetable Center. Biochemical characteristics of tomato fruits were studied during harvesting and after laying for storage in the milky ripeness phase according to the following indicators: dry matter, ascorbic acid, total content of water-soluble antioxidants, titratable acidity, monosaccharides, polyphenols and carotenoids.Results. The percentage of dry matter in tangerine tomato fruits does not change during storage, even increases slightly. The dry matter content of fruits from the open field is slightly higher than that of fruits from the greenhouse. The content of sugars and ascorbic acid in fruits with tangerine fruits after laying for ripening decreases slightly. However, the content of these compounds is higher in mature fruits immediately after picking than in fruits after ripening. The total content of antioxidants during ripening decreases, though not significantly (in 1.1-1.7 times).

Relevance and methods. Among vegetable crops, root crops are particularly popular among the population both in the Russian Federation and abroad: carrots, beetroot, radish, turnips and parsnips, which are sources of various vitamins. A significant share in the structure of production and acreage is occupied by carrot and beetroot. According to FAOSTAT data, in 2018, the Russian Federation produced  1508 thousand tons of carrot and 837 thousand tons of beetroot, which is 60 and 30%, respectively, of the existing needs, even the import of these products does not fully meet them. Based on the strategy of food security, in order to increase the population's supply with domestic products, it is necessary not only to increase the acreage, but also to quickly introduce F1 varieties and hybrids of domestic selection that meet the requirements of industrial technologies.Results. Given these requirements, breeders, FSBSI Federal Scientific Vegetable Center, using classical and modern methods to accelerate the breeding process, developed varieties and hybrids table root crops. Carrot F1 Nadezda (variety Nantes), F1 Rif (variety Shantane) with a yield of more than 90 t/ha, high uniformity, safety 95-98%, group resistance to diseases storage, Margosha variety (variety Nantes/Berlicum) with a stable yield at least 100 t/ha, high environmental resistance; single- and double-seeded varieties of beets, Bordo odnosemyannaya, Lubava, Gaspadynya, with a marketability level of 95-98%, intensely colored pulp without clearly defined rings; Japanese Geisha and snow maiden turnips with edible leaves and juicy tender root pulp and ultra-ripe forms of Sapfir, Biryuza and Selecta for flow hydroponics; precocious varieties of radish Aria, Sonata, myth and moor resistant to stalk and high ascorbic acid content.

Celeriac (Apium graveolens L., Apiaceae), originating from the Mediterranean basin, is a two-yearold species grown worldwide. The article presents the content of chlorophylls a and b, β-carotene and anthocyanin in various celery root varieties, and an assessment of their resistance to septoriosis and the yield of root crops. The studies were carried out on the basis of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Vegetable Growing, a branch of the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center (Moscow Region, Ramensky District) in 2014-2016. The total content of anthocyanins in the leaves in varieties with anthocyanin coloring on the leaf stem is on average 1.32 mg / 100 g, in the varieties with a green stem, 0.90 mg / 100 g, β-carotene – 1.82 and 1.67 mg / 100 g, chlorophyll a – 86.5 and 81.4 mg / 100 g, chlorophyll b – 43.1 and 44.9 mg / 100 g wet weight, respectively. Linear correlation analysis allowed to establish a reliable (at 5% significance level) positive relationship between the yield of root crops and the total content of anthocyanins in celery leaves (r = 0.53), the total content of anthocyanins and chlorophyll a in leaves (r = 0.55), a negative relationship between the degree of development septoria and root mass (r = -0.62), as well as the yield of root crops (r = -0.71), between the chlorophyll a content in the leaves and the degree of septoria development (r = -0.54). The revealed variability in chlorophyll, β-carotene, the total content of anthocyanins reflects genetic heterogeneity among the studied celery varieties and plant responses to the environment. For breeding for resistance to septoria and crop yields of root crops, varieties of celeriac Kornevoy Gribovskiy, Maxim, Kupidon were selected.

One of valuable spice-aromatic vegetable of Lamiaceae family is lemony monarda (Monarda citriodora L.) cultivated as nonperennial crop in most of regions of Russian Federation. Information regarding its parentage and biological special aspects are described here in this article. Brief review regarding nutritional quality and pharmaceutical importance as well as description of four cultivars of lemony monarda (which are currently included to Russian State register of selection invention and approved for usage, two of these cultivars Mona Lisa and Simka were selected and cultivated by Federal Scientific Vegetable Center are given here in this article. Main directions for up-to-date selection and application and practical usage of lemony monarda were indicated. In the field of creation of up-to-date vegetable cultivars, one of the main directions is selection of such a cultivars with high content of biologically active compounds for improvement of antioxidative activity and applicability for its cultivation at hydroponic plant with frame area to provide fresh green vegetables for people all year round. Simka cultivar meets requirements mentioned above and can be cultivated at various types of hydroponic plants including horizontal (salad lines, seedling tables) and vertical (multilayer hydroponics) types using natural (drag turf) or artificial (mineral wool blocks) substrates. This article also describes the main elements of technology of cultivation of lemony monarda in the open and protected ground to get green products and seed production. The features of the preparation of raw materials with a high content of biologically active compounds for fresh consumption and as a spicy-aromatic dry seasoning for salads, meat dishes, as a natural preservative and aromatic of jam, tea and other drinks are shown.

Relevance. Large differences in the climatic conditions by the region Altai by years determine the prevalence and harmfulness of diseases, therefore, monitoring by the dynamics of disease development and assessing their harmfulness are relevant and necessary measures. An important role in modern plant protection technologies against diseases play biofungicides. The main advantages of biofungicides as compared with chemical plant protection products are safety for humans and the environment, short waiting times and the possibility of use throughout the growing season, the absence by risks of the emergence of resistant pathogens, the creation of conditions for the natural self–regulation of agrocenoses.Materials and Methods. The research was carried out in 2018-2020 on the fields of the West Siberian Vegetable Experimental Station of the branch of the West-Siberian vegetable experimental station – branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution «Federal Scientific Vegetable Center». In the experiment was used the F1 hybrid Nezhinsky of Siberia. Accounting of the phytosanitary condition of crops were carried out in three periods with the determination by the degree of spread and the degree of development of the disease. Studied were the doses and timing of the use of biological preparations Phytolavin and Phytoplasmin in the fight against cucumber bacteriosis during the growing season. The repeatability of the experience was 4-fold, the placement of plots in 4 tiers, the area of the plot was 10 m2 , the accounting area was 3 m2 . The total area were 0.05 hectares.Results. The applicationof drugs Phytolavin (2 l/ha), Phytoplasmin (3 l/ha), promotes to reduce the pace of development of development of bacterial spotting of cucumber in the open ground. The least development of the disease was noted by using the drugs Phytolavin 2 l/ha, Phytoplasmin 3 l/ha, Phytolavin 2 l/ha, with alternation and an interval of 14 days. By the influence of bactericidal treatments against bacterial spotting of cucumber, a higher weight of seed fruits was obtained in all variants compared to the control. The best result – 11.96% to the control was obtained on the variant by using the preparations Phytolavin 2 l/ha, Phytoplasmin 3 l/ha with alternation.

Relevance. Powdery mildew is one of the most common and harmful diseases of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in open and protected ground. Moreover, in the closed ground, the harmfulness is higher than in the field. The yield of cucumber, due to the defeat of plants by powdery mildew, decreases by 30-50%, and in some cases by more than 70%. The creation of modern cucumber hybrids is impossible without the constant involvement in the breeding process of new sources of economically useful traits, including resistance to real powdery mildew. It is very important to combine in one line both a high degree of parthenocarpy, and the female type of flowering, and resistance to the most harmful diseases. We tried to solve this problem in our work.Materials and methods. The experience was laid in 2018-2022 in the Odintsovo district of the Moscow region on the basis of the head institution of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Federal Scientific Vegetable Center (FSBSI FSVC) in the conditions of a spring ground greenhouse of the Block type, on a natural infectious background. On the basis of the laboratory of breeding and seed production of pumpkin crops, 27 collectible and about 50 breeding samples of parthenocarpic cucumber were studied. The article presents an assessment of the resistance to this powdery mildew of 36 of the most aligned and most valuable cucumber breeding samples in terms of a complex of economically useful features. 2-3 families, 6 plants in each, were evaluated for each sample for 2 years. During the entire growing season, the intensity of powdery mildew damage was assessed on a four-point scale and the spread of the disease in %.Results. Among the collection samples of cucumber, on a natural infectious background, two hybrids of the agrofirm BEJO ZADEN B.V. were not affected by powdery mildew: Amur 1801 F1, Artist F1, a hybrid without a name of the agrofirm MONSANTO HOLLAND B.V., conventionally named – Semenis F1 and hybrid Kibria F1 of the agrofirm RIJK ZWAAN. To a small extent, less than one point, they were amazed: Orpheus F1, Merengue F1, Marinda F1, Masha F1, Othello F1, List F1, Adam F1, SV 4097 F1 and Krasotka F1. 11cucumber breeding samples selected in previous years of research on a complex of economically useful signs that were not affected by this disease during 2 years of research were identified. Work will continue to evaluate these lines for resistance to real powdery mildew on an artificial infectious background.

Relevance. Image analysis is an accessible method that can convert qualitative variables to quantitative variables. Computer imaging has been used in seed biology in a variety of ways, including testing emergence rate and identifying them. The paper examines the development in the field of computer image analysis that contribute to a better understanding of seed morphology in terms of their radial heterogeneity parameters: size, shape and color range. The size and shape of the seeds depends on the location of them in the inflorescence. The aim of the work was measuring geometric indicators and analyzing the color characteristics of Allium cristophii seeds in the RGB system, due to the multi-tiered arrangement in the inflorescence.Methods. TThe heterogeneous seeds A. cristophii Trautv were analyzed. From AllRussian Scientific Research Institute of Vegetable Growing biocollection – branch of Federal Scientific Vegetable Center. The morphometric and optical parameters of the seeds were measured by analyzing their images using the VideoTesT-Morphology software.Results. Analysis of Christoph onion seeds heterogeneity showed that the length and width of the seeds from the lower tier were 3.301 and 2.681 mm, from the average – 3.295 and 2.605 mm and from the upper tier – 3.265 and 2.58 mm respectively. The average seed size from the lower tier was 2.99 mm, the average size was 2.95 mm and the lower tier was 2.92 mm. Statistically significant decrease of indicators over all color channels (according to RGB color model) from the lower tier - to the upper tierwas revealed. The tiered arrangement of flowers on the inflorescence is the cause of non-time maturation of Allium seeds. Operational ease, low cost commercial computer technology, and non- destructive seed analysis and sorting highlight the potential of this method for application in a seed laboratory.

The article presents the results of research on the production in vitro of regenerated plants from the seeds of cultivars of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Emerald, Bouquet, Chameleon (FSBSI Federal Scientific Vegetable Center), susceptible of aspermia tomato (Tomato aspermy cucumovirus) – AsTV. Seeds of strongly susceptible to AsTV varieties of salad Chameleon and Bouquet were subjected to thermotherapy at different temperatures (37°C, 38°C, 40°C) for a different time interval (1, 3, 5, 7, 10 days) in dry form and when moistened. Marked varietal specificity during germination of seeds after thermotherapy. Thus, the greatest number of seedlings in the emerald variety was obtained after 5 days of thermotherapy (10.0±0), while the Bouquet variety had the best results after 3 days of thermotherapy (9.3±1.2) with moisture. After thermotherapy of dry seeds by 40°C plant material of cultivar Emerald was planted on solid and liquid culture media. The conditions of step sterilization of lettuce seeds for introduction into the culture in vitro were chosen: washing in 96% ethanol, then in 50% aqueous solution of "Whiteness" with the addition of Twin-20, after in sterile distilled water. The nutrient medium for germination of lettuce seeds was used: Gamborg B5 (2% sucrose, 7.0 g/l agar), and the liquid nutrient medium was of that composition. The obtained seedlings were cutted and transferred to medium MS (2% sucrose, 0.1 mg/l ha and 1 mg/l BAP, 3.0 g/l phytogel). The formed shoots for rooting were transferred to the MS medium (2% sucrose, 3.0 g/l phytogel). In the future, lettuce plants will be adapted in vivo and tested for the presence of tomato aspermia virus in the planting material.

In the context of climate change phytomonitoring of the prevalence of the most common viral pathogens on the crops becomes even more important, because during the last decades the harmfulness of those pathogens, in particular Bean yellow mosaic (BYMV) has grown in intensity. The causative agent as the most members of Рotyvirus genus, has a wide range of host plants belonging to various families including Fabaceae. In Russia the virus was for the first time identified in the south of the Far East, where in the middle of XX century the massive damage of clove, lupine, sweet pea, pea, bean and Russian bean was observed. The distribution area of BYMV considerably expanded after advancement of heat-loving leguminous crops towards north. During the last years epiphytotics were reported in the planted crops of kidney bean (Phasйolus vulgбris L.), and Russian bean (Faba bona Medik. var. major Harz.) under conditions of temperate continental climate of nonchernozem belt in the RF. It is not feasible to eradicate natural BYMV foci, while the control of the causative agent carriers as a preventive measure is not very effective. There fore at present the search for the sources of resistance to BYMV and creation of parent selection material is a priority area of our phytopatologic research. At the present stage the tasks included: identification and study of the properties of BYMV Moscow isolates; integral assessment of resistance and other economically valuable characteristics of collection material and breeding stock material of kidney bean (810 specimens) and Russian bean (40 specimens) generated in the Laboratory of Legume Selection and Seed Production, Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Federal Scientific Vegetable Center”. To achieve the goal visual, serological diagnostic methods were used together with biotesting and electron microscopy. The research revealed special physical-chemical characteristics of BYMV Moscow isolates characterized by 100% harmfulness when occurred as co-infection with the other viruses. The main symptoms caused by the above isolates in indicator plants and host plants under conditions of Moscow Region have been described. Evaluation of collection and selection materials of kidney bean and Russian bean formed the basis for identification of the sources of resistance to BYMV exhibiting integrated economically valuable properties (early ripeness, bean shape and color, productivity, etc.). These specimens have been included into selection program of the Federal Research Vegetable Center which is aimed on creation of high-productive varieties of the kidney bean meeting the modern market demands.