Selenium deficiency is widespread among the human populations  of  different  countries  of  the world  and associating with cardiovascular diseases and cancer that determines the necessity to develop new technology needs to increase selenium accumulation levels by agricultural crops. Besides that, the utilization of selenium containing food supplements, soil and foliar application of selenium salts are the most popular approach to  resolve the selenium deficiency  problem.  At  the same time there is a certain drawback of selenium plant biofortification, which is a low accumulation of the element, and as a result, the possibility of environmental pollution caused the element. The review is devoted to a new direction in improving plant selenium accumulation via utilization of rhizobacteria; their participation in selenium cycle; mechanism of bacteria-selenium-plant interaction; the role of volatile compounds, released by rhizobacteria, on selenium accumulation. The questions that were separately considered were regarding rhizobacteria Microbacterium oxydans extracted from Cardamine hupingshanesis that had an exceptionally high resistance to selenium impact and ability to synthesize selenocystin.

The current state of seed market of vegetable and gourds in Russian Federation in the frame of national food safety program is given in the article. Russia as a country with well-developed  seed production  in the last century has now  ceded  its  position,  and according  to  last experts’ association estimations the 80%  of  required volume of seeds of vegetables and gourds, amounting from 8 to 12 thousand per year is imported.  Not  less than 15 thousands  of  hectares  are  needed  to  be  necessary  for demand  of  Russian seed  production  sector,  however, presently only 2 thousands of hectares is a total certified land used for seed production.  Moreover, the seed production sector of some countries that export seeds rises becoming a profitable branch of agriculture, and providing local employment. The lack of competitiveness in Russia causes that many foreign companies increase annually purchasing prices for seeds and their production services. Therefore, now the total volume of seeds imported  in  Russian Federation has nearly been  twice less for the last years than in 2012, but in currency earnings in exporting countries the insignificant changes can be seen, where deviation is only 19-25%  from  average annual value, that means 1675 thousand dollars per year. Besides, for the Russian budget in the ruble currency the total cost of imported seeds has become 2.5 times more expensive since 2012, but the increase of combined cost of  marketable  vegetables  has been  over  2.7  billion  of rubles.  The  main  idea  that  the  seed  production  is  a process requiring the participation of breeders, seed producers and seed companies is main factor to succeed in recovering seed production sector. Exception of any participant or ignoring his interests may destroy all process. For instance, there is a chronic problem of plagiarism and royalty nonpayment causes the break between the business and breeder, affecting on the final result. It is evident  that  the development  of  National Associations for Professional Unions of breeders, seed growers and businessmen with active participation of the governments in building regulatory and legal base, rules and mechanisms of relationships for all partners in seed market enables to develop the effective and stable national system of seed production.

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.

The vegetable production  is one of the economic sectors  that  provides  the  population  with  foodstuff  products with high biological values. To achieve independence in production  of the agricultural foodstuffs,  the part of imported  products should not be beyond 25 % from total volume of foodstuffs  fabricated. As a result of national breeding program, the varieties and hybrids adapted to different growing conditions, with resistance to  local races of pathogens, temperature stresses, and ground frosts were developed to provide the sustainable production of vegetables with high nutritional and medicinal qualities. The varieties and hybrids F1  of white  head cabbage that have been created for the last 5 years are distinguished from foreign ones by taste qualities, appropriate pickling characteristics with increased  sugar,  and  decreased  cellulose  contents. The local onion varieties combine long shelf life, early maturing, well bulb formation, high dry matter content (18-20%) and ability to form the bulb for one year. The cucumber  is  the  traditional  vegetable crop  in  Russia and very profitable for greenhouse enterprises. Breeders have developed bee-pollinated and parthenocarpic hybrids well adapted to local growing conditions and  suitable  for   open  field   cultivation   in  different regions of Russia. Parthenocarpic heterotic hybrids of the  multi-propose  use, corresponding  to  the  modern variety model with high productivity, early-ripening, bunch ovary disposition, resistance to abiotic stresses, and  most  harmful  diseases. The carrot  and  red  beet varieties with  high nutritional  qualities, long shelf-life, ecological plasticity that are widely used for seed production have been created. The varieties of nightshade crops have been developed to cultivate in NonChernozem zone, Far East, Western Siberia, the Middle Belt of Russia and the south of Russia, are also suitable for different greenhouse complexes located in different light zones of the Russia. Wide application of varieties produced through national vegetable breeding programs can provide the population with our own products of high quality.

Results of estimation of general and specific combining ability of male and female parental tomato forms were given for complex of traits. The estimation was carried out according to incomplete diallel crosses 15x15. Such varities   as   ‘Trapeza’,  Rosovaya  kapelka’,  ‘Seniorita’, ‘Ocharovanie’,  ‘Tigris’   ‘Vishnya  Zheltaya’  (Gavrish), ‘Denezhnoye Derevo’ (national breeding), and  lines: ‘46/06’,  ‘49/09’,  ‘295/09’,  ‘336/11’,  ‘354/11’,  ‘357/11’, ‘388/09’ (nor), ‘498’ (selection of TARI) were used as intial breeding accessions, differing in bush type (determinate and indeterminate), duration of vegetative phase (ultraearly,  early, medium early, middle-ripening), fruit  shape (rounded, oval), fruit color (red, pink, black, orange, tiger and with the gene nor), fruit weight (10 g. and more), brush structure (dense, friable). As a results, ‘Trapeza’, ‘Vishnya Zheltaya’, ‘Ocharovaniye’, ‘Seniorita’, and lines: ‘295/10’, ‘49/09’,  ‘498’,  ‘357/11’,  ‘354/11’,  ‘388/09’  (nor) were selected and recommended to be used in breeding program for development of heterotic hybrids with high fruit setting and generative bush type. The promising hybrids F1 with high constants of specific combining ability for a complex of economically valuable traits have been observed. Because of different lines and accessions were used in crossings, these hybrids varied in internode length of cluster type, classical or shorten; rounded or oval fruit shape; fruit  color, red (F1   combinations ‘354/11’ х ‘Seniorita’, ‘Trapeza’ х  ‘L.49/09’,  L.  ‘49/09’  х  L.354/11), pink (F1 combination ‘Rosovaya Kapelka’ х ‘L.354/11’), yellow (F1 combination ‘Ocharovaniye’ х  ‘Vishiya Zheltaya’), deep brown (F1 combination  ‘L.357/11’ х ‘L.354/11’).

Silicon is biologically important element that is necessary not only for plant, but for all living organisms. Silicon was discovered in all plant organs, where its much quantity accumulates in plan cell walls of leaf and root, giving them a mechanical durability and resistance against abiotic and biotic stresses. Earlier, it was supposed that the silicon was absorbed by plants in form of monosilicic acid and then being deposited as phytoliths or accumulated in epidermal plant cells. Moreover the silicon is not only a basic structural element, but it controls many biological and chemical processes. Water soluble monosilicic acid enters into reaction with metals, organic compounds, showing properties of weak acid. Gels of silicic acid can be a catalyst and a matrix, on which the inner cellular synthesis of organic compounds occurs. In the present study the method to determinate three forms of silicon in plants, such as free, easily hydrolyzed and tightly combined is given. Thus, the part of silicon, 0.5-0.7% was observed in protein preparation of leaves of amaranth. Protein was divided into two fractions, albumins and globulins by precipitation with ammonium sulfate. After that each protein fraction was divided into two by Sephadex, where one of which come out in inner volume of gel, and second one come out in outer volume of gel (G-75). The gel distribution into fractions was of the same type characteristics. The tightly combined silicon was absent in high molecular fraction of albumins and globulins. Most of the silicon was discovered in high molecular fraction of globulins, where 80% of the element was represented by an easily hydrolyzed form. The silicon combined with proteins apparently is in a form of orthosilicic ester of hydroxy-amino acids; however it cannot be excluded that there is the formation of SiN bonds with free amino groups. Biophile silicon is a part of plant silicon (organogenic), which is basically in the form of orthosilicic esters bonded with proteins, phospholipids and pectins that are the plant components being assimilated primarily by human’s organism. In our opinion, this fraction of silicon as a microelement should be taken into account in evaluation of nutritional, forage and pharmaceutical values of plant raw material.

The N.I. Vavilov’s contribution into national and world’s science including plant systematic, plant genetics and breeding, plant immunity and introduction was described in the article. His scientific elaborations on distribution of plant species and varieties on the earth and in regions and centers of origin of cultivated plants, where they intensively formed themselves were given in the article. The scientific significance and practical use of plant genetic resources and ways for their mobilization were regarded in the paper. The further development of Vavilov’s ideas is a tribute of gratitude to rich heritage having been preserved for descendants.

Routine breeding work for cucumber cultivar and hybrid maintenance and their multiplication is carried out at Laboratory of Cucumber and Gourd Breeding and Seed Production, VNIISSOK. The original seeds of 5-6 cultivars or lines of cucumber are annually produced in open field and winter greenhouses at Experimental Production Division, FGBNU VNIISSOK. The seed productivity of cucumber depended on the number of seed bearers on the plant, size of seed bearers and a number of seeds in a fruit, as well as seed plumpness and seed fineness and etc. The condition of growing, such as meteorological factors, nutrition rates, cultivation technology, diseases and pests, cultivar specification influence on seed productivity and the traits mentioned above. The results given summarized multi-year data on 1000 seed weight and number of seeds in a fruits of bee-pollinated cultivars and hybrids, such as ‘Izyaschiy’, ‘Muromskiy 36’, ‘Viyaznikovskiy 37’, ‘Vodoley’, ‘Electron 2’, ‘Yedinstvo’, ‘Korotishka’, ‘Krepish F1’, ‘Brunet F1’. In open field the 1000 seed weight significantly varied among cultivars from 16.6 g. in ‘Viyaznikovskiy 37’ to 24.1 g. in ‘Yedinstvo’. The cultivars ‘Muromskiy 36’, ‘Viyaznikovskiy 37’ and ‘Izyaschiy’ were of the earlies ripening ones and had frailest seeds. Mid ripening cultivars ‘Edinstvo’ was distinguished by the biggest and plumpest seeds that were produced in open field as well as in greenhouse. 1000 seed weight in most cucumber cultivars was higher in open field than in greenhouse by 3.5-10.7 g., whereas this difference was more significant among hybrids. The film mulching increased 1000 seed weight. In seed fruits of bee-pollinated cultivars ‘Vodoley’ and ‘Electron 2’ and ‘Yedinstvo’, there were 250-259 seeds. This characteristic was the most stable in ‘Yedinstvo’. A problem with seed production occurs in cultivars of bush type ‘Korotishka’ and ‘Maliyutka’ because of the small number of seeds in a fruit as compared with other cultivars.

The scheme  of  development  of  two-line  of  hybrids  F1  in European radish based on self-incompatibility includes five stages, as follows: 1 – selection of self-incompatible lines, common and specified combining ability estimation; 2 – inbreeding and selection to make the lines homozygous for morphological traits, common and specified combining ability estimation; maintenance and reproduction of self-incompatible lines; 4 – production of hybrid seeds. The research work on assessment of hybrid F1 that were obtained from cross of eight self-incompatible lines of European winter radish by the Griffing’s method was carried out in 2016. The assessment of length, diameter and yield of radish root was performed. According to the root shape the heterotic hybrids F1 were divided into three groups: rounded-flat,  48.2%; round, 50.0%; and flatten-round,  1.8%. The level of root marketability of hybrids F1 reached 100%. As a result of the work the promising hybrid combination distinguished by high uniformity, marketability and high yield were selected out.

Multi-year results of collaboration diverse practical and research work between VNIISSOK and Belarusian Agricultural Academy are presented in the article. Over 25 years of collaboration work has resulted in 15 cultivars have been released and included into in State Register of Breeding Achievements of Russian Federation and Republic of Belarus. Joint cooperation research keeps on going to perform study of ecological cultivar trials and to realize breeding program for crop improvement and to show the latest achievement in the frame of annual practical and research day-long field forum. The outcomes of the last forum are also presented.