Vegetable chips are extremely popular due to high content of antioxidants, valuable biological activity and long-term storage. During the investigation optimal methods of drying and chips storage from celery (Egor and Dobrynya cvs), parsnip (Krugly, Bely aist and Zhemchug) and parsley (Zolushka cv) roots were developed using the criteria parameters of taste, aroma, color and antioxidant content. The highest organoleptic properties were recorded for celery chips of Dobrynya cv, parsnip chips of Krugly cv and root parsleyThe highest differences in chips organoleptic parameters between convectional and freeze-drying methods reached 1.5 times for parsnip Bely aist cv. while the lowest differences were recorded for root parsley (1.05 times). Decrease in antioxidant activity during freeze-drying was the lowest in root parsley and celery Dobrynya cv. Convectional drying did not affect chips total antioxidant activity and demonstrated the highest preservation effect after 8 months storage. On the contrary, vitamin C losses were the highest during convectional drying though during storage vitamin C content in such chips decreased much less than in freezedried products. Aluminum foil provided 1.2-1.8 times higher content of antioxidants than paper and polyethylene package. Significant inter species and varietal differences in antioxidant stability during various methods of drying and storage were revealed.

This article describes the history of the industrial development of the essential oil industry and the prospects for cultivating such essential oil crops as dill and coriander, including in the territory of Transbaikalia. Data are provided on the volume of essential oil production in Russia in different years. The noted morphobiological features of dill and coriander suggest the possibility of obtaining a high yield of fruits when they are cultivated by agricultural producers in the dry steppe zone of Transbaikalia. For the first time, in the conditions of the dry steppe zone of Transbaikalia, field research was carried out to study the effectiveness of some agricultural practices for cultivating zoned varieties of dill and coriander. The results of three years of research (2021-2023) on the formation of fruit yield of plants of the Umbrella family with a one-year development cycle - dill (Gribovsky, Lesnogorodsky varieties) and coriander (Karibe variety) in the driest soil-climatic zone of Transbaikalia are summarized. It was revealed that the heat supply of the growing season affects the formation of the fruit yield of the studied crops. The highest fruit yield was obtained from the Gribovsky dill variety at an average sowing time, and from the Lesnogorodsky variety when sowing early. At the same time, the Gribovsky variety is superior in yield to the Lesnogorodsky variety. The coriander variety Caribe provided the maximum fruit yield at a late sowing time in all years of research. In general, the soil and climatic conditions of the dry steppe zone of Transbaikalia make it possible to obtain a harvest of aromatic dill and coriander at the level of other regions of Russia, which determines the future development of essential oil crop production in our region.

Relevance and methodology. The task of controlling the growth and development of sugar beet plants with the help of lighting devices is of interest from the point of view of identifying biological features of the culture and in breeding practice. The purpose of the research is to determine the response of plants to the effects of low–energy monochrome radiation at the initial stage of ontogenesis (germination of seeds (coplodia) sugar beet). In this regard, the seeds of the hybrid Smena were germinated in the dark (control) and under different variants of continuous illumination with wavelengths of 380 nm, 440 nm, 525 nm, 660 nm and 730 nm.Results. The reaction of sugar beet seeds and sprouts to illumination with monochromatic light depends on the wavelength Germination of seeds when irradiated with monochromatic far-red light leads to a decrease in germination energy by 23%, seed germination by 39%, the height of sprouts and aboveground biomass by 21.8% compared with the control (dark germination). Similar indicators were observed for the negative effect of red light. Exposure to UV-A light (380 nm) led to an increase in germination energy by 4%, but germination, on the contrary, decreased by 12%. The terrestrial biomass of sprouts also decreased (by 9.9%). Irradiation with green and blue light had a positive effect on growth: the terrestrial biomass of sprouts increased by 19.8% with a green spectrum and 7.3% blue. At the same time, there was no decrease in germination energy and germination compared to the control. The germination energy under the influence of blue light even increased by 12%. With dark germination, elongated etiolated plants were formed on the 10th day, whereas in the variants of green, blue and UV-A irradiation, harmoniously developed dark green shoots were formed.

Previously, surface soil acidity was amended by the application of lime, gypsum, and acidic soil-tolerant crop species. However, their effectiveness in subsurface soil acidity reduction is limited.   Thus, this review paper aimed to screen the tree species that easily overcome such problems.   Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar, African journals online, and Google search engine databases were used. A total of 60 acidic soil-tolerant tree species were identified. Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia crassicarpa, Arbutus unedo L., Casuarina junghuhniana, and Erythrina abyssinica were among the extremely acidic soil-tolerant tree species. Whereas Acacia cincinnata, Acacia mangium, Pinus patula, Albizia saman, Citrus x paradisi, and Cassia reticulata were belongs to some of the strong acidic soil tolerant tree species. Generally, the species' acidic tolerance capacity and planting site compatibility should be considered for the success of amendment works. Scaling out these species and large-scale plantations should be done in addition to estimating their relative percent of acidic soil amendment roles. Producing stable food in line with reclaiming acidic soil is achieved through the integration of stress tolerant fruit trees. Research on large-scale plantations, domestication, skilling up and comparative evaluation of their levels of acidic soil amendment capacity should be performed in the future.

Solanum tuberosum L. is susceptible to 40 different virus species and 2 viroids. To prevent plant viruses from spreading in field conditions, it is necessary to have reliable data on the species composition of plant reservoirs of viral infection, the total activity of insect vectors, and possible ways of virus transmission in a particular territory of seed material production. Attention should be paid to the factors that facilitate and hinder the disease development in crops and to disease symptoms in different potato varieties. Manifestations of viral infections were monitored on every plant from the sample at the stages of initial growth, bud formation, and flowering and before the removal of potato haulms. Insects were collected using standard entomological method. The total RNA was isolated employing commercial kits for the extraction of nucleic acids from plant material “PhytoSorb” (Syntol Llc) and the benchtop automated extraction instrument KingFisher Flex (ThermoScientific) with magnetic particles. Plant viral infection was observed to accumulate if potato planting material was not renewed. The tested potato plants contained mixed viral infection, which consisted of viruses from mosaic group: PVY, PVX, PVM, PVS PVA, as well as PSTVd and PLRV. Without the renewal of seed potatoes, the concentration of plant viruses in an agroecosystem rises and causes secondary infections in potato plants. The research identified the main insect-vectors in the agroecosystem of potato fields: insects from genera Cicadella, Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata, Dolycoris baccarum, Mythimna separata, Lygus pratensis, and Rhopalosiphum padi. Many wild weeds serve as fodder plants for insect vectors facilitating the accumulation of plant viruses in agroecosystems. It was established that perennial weeds were the main plant reservoirs of dangerous viral infections, e.g. Sonchus arvensis and Taraxacum officinale. We determined that Trifolium pratense typus L., Chenopodium album L., Plantago major L., Barbarea vulgaris W.T. Aiton, and Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. were the reservoirs of PVY. All these factors can lead to an epiphytotic situation.

Echinacea purpurea L. – is a perennial medicinal plant, from the herb of which dozens of preparations have been created that are used to strengthen the immune system, in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. At present, oxyconic acids and alkamides have been found in the plant’s root system, and the preparations «Anginol» and «Prostanov» have been created on their basis. The production and creation of new medicinal products from the roots and rhizomes of the Echinacea purpurea depends on a stable raw material base, which can be ensured by obtaining maximum yields of roots. As a result of studies to determine the timing of harvesting, methods to increase the yield of the underground mass in the conditions of the Krasnodar Territory, it was revealed that the high yield of roots and rhizomes of Echinacea purpurea was determined on plantations III-IV years of growing, which averaged 10 c/ha, they had an oxyconic acid content of 3,9%. In the future, there is a decrease in yield to 8 c/ha, and active substances to 2.1%. Dual treatments treatments Zircon (0.04 l/ha) and Siliplant (0.5 l/ha) both separately and in the mixture gave the opportunity to increase the yield for III and IV years to 28–30% and improve the quality of raw materials, the content of active substances increased by 5–7%. The complex use of these drugs in the V year of vegetation allows to increase the yield of roots to 10.3 c/ha with a high content of oxidic acids – 2.55%. It was revealed that foliar fertilization of vegetative plants with two-component system Siliplant + Zircon promotes the adaptation of Echinacea purpurea to dry weather conditions and makes it possible to obtain stable yields of medicinal raw materials with high quality regardless of weather conditions.

Relevance. In order to expand the range of food products for the crews of the International Space Station (ISS), studies have been conducted on the specifics of developing natural flavoring vegetable additives in the form of powder for freeze-dried dishes.   The aim is to evaluate new broccoli hybrids as raw materials for the production of natural flavoring vegetable additives in the form of powder for freeze-dried dishes of increased nutritional value and high degree of readiness for consumption, including components of children's, dietary and cosmonaut nutrition.   Methods. The objects of the study were 6 new broccoli hybrids (2 hybrids of domestic and 4 of foreign breeding).   Results. In domestic hybrids F1 (Detskiy delikates, Macho), the average vitamin C content in natural flavoring vegetable additives in the form of freeze-dried powder of a high degree of readiness for consumption was 1.66 times higher than in foreign hybrids. The highest vitamin C content was noted in the domestic hybrid children's delicacy 419.4 mg %. β-carotene was best preserved in the hybrids F1 Detskiy delikates (2.58 mg %), F1 Macho (2.56 mg %), as well as in the hybrid F1 Batavia (2.52 mg %). The amount of sugars in natural flavoring vegetable additives in the form of freeze-dried powder was on average 1.17 times higher in domestic hybrids than in foreign ones. At the same time, some foreign hybrids showed a high level of accumulation. So the largest accumulation of the sum of sugars was in the F1 Lord (12.85 %). A high level of sugar content was also observed in F1 Macho (12.84 %) and F1 Detskiy delikates (11.63 %). The F1 Fiesta accumulated the least nitrates (77.1 mg/kg). According to organoleptic indicators, the F1 Detskiy delikates has been identified. High organoleptic indices were also noted in the F1 Macho and the F1 Batavia.

Relevance. Currently, there is a tendency to increase the volume of lettuce cultivation in hydroponics. Such specific conditions for growing lettuce hydroponically as high humidity in the root zone, different levels of illumination throughout the year and specific mineral nutrition, dictate a number of necessary characteristics that varieties should possess. In addition, the lettuce variety for hydroponics should consistently give high yield and have good consumer qualities. Accordingly, it is necessary to carry out selection separately for specific hydroponic conditions. And for theoretical justification of the selection of lettuce varieties for this technology and increasing the efficiency of the breeding process, it is necessary to form a model of the variety, which was the goal of this research.Methods. The 13 most common lettuce varieties were research: 8 light green and 5 dark green Batavia. The morphological characteristics of plants in the phase of industrial ripeness were described and the biometric traits of plants were determined.Results. Based on research in 2021-2023 the 13 most commonly hydroponically grown lettuce varieties of the Batavia variety have been defined as the variety model criteria for hydroponics. The characteristics of a leaf rosette, leaf blade, indicators of early ripening and productivity inherent in these varieties were identified, and a model of the variety was formed on their basis.

Relevance. Garlic is one of the most popular agricultural crops characterized by high nutritional value and unique chemical composition providing significant beneficial effect on human health.Methods. The review summarizes the most significant publications on garlic biochemical composition, utilization in medicine, human nutrition and agriculture for a period from 1988 to 2024 with the predominant utilization of Scopus and WoS publications.Results. The diversity of garlic processing products (fresh, dry powder, ‘Green' garlic, Laba garlic, garlic essential oil macerate, ethanolic extract (‘aged garlic extract' AGE) and black garlic) provides the diversity of biochemical composition and the direction of biological effect. The possibility to utilize both garlic bulbs, leaves, stems and peel in medicine and agriculture (for yield and stress resistance improvement) are the most important factors for successful waste free production and wide utilization of garlic.

Relevance. In the modern production of greenhouse products, with hydroponic cultivation of crops, one of the safe ways to increase the quantity, quality of cucumber products and plant protection is the use of microbiological preparations.Methodology. The purpose of our work was to assess the effect of a complex of microbiological preparations on the productivity of cucumber hybrids in winter and spring turnover. The study was conducted in industrial greenhouses during 2021-2022. Long-fruited (Lohengrin F1) medium-fruited (Mewa F1 and Svyatogor F1) and short-fruited (Valigora F1) parthenocarpic cucumber hybrids were selected as research objects. The preparations were applied five times, at 30-day intervals throughout the entire growing period, the first application when planting plants in the production department. Measurements of economically valuable and chemical indicators were carried out weekly. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA methods were used for statistical data analysis.Results. As a result of the research, a positive stimulating effect of a complex of microbiological preparations on the accumulation of raw and dry biomass, an increase in yield and its quality in the studied cucumber hybrids was revealed. The final yield when applying microbiological preparations increased on average from 4.1 to 5.5 kg/m2 in all cucumber hybrids over the two years of study, while the yield of standard products in the total crop structure increased by 2.7% - 6.4%.