Purpose. To establish the optimal seeding time and depth of ‘Dniprovskyi 39’ and ‘Vinets’ sorghum varieties, to prove their effect on the crop photosynthetic capacity in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. Field, laboratory, comparative, analytical, generalizing, mathematical and statistical. Results. It was proved that the best results of crop photosynthetic capacity of sorghum were obtained by sowing in the first decade of May (the second sowing period) at a seeding depth of 4–6 cm. Accordingly, the leaf surface area in these variants reached its maximum during the “panicle-blooming” period and equated 36.13–38.81 thousand m2/ha for the ‘Dniprovskyi 39’ variety and 34.23–36.91 thousand m2/ha for the ‘Vinets’ variety. By sowing seeds in the third decade of April (the first sowing period) at the seedining depth values described above the leaf surface area of the varieties was slightly smaller and amounted to 29.56–31.20 thousand m2/ha for the ‘Dniprovskyi 39’ variety and 27.76–29.40 thousand m2/ha for the ‘Vinets’ variety. By sowing seeds in the second decade of May (the third sowing period), the leaf surface area was 30.68–32.92 thousand m2/ha for the ‘Dniprovskyi 39’ variety and 29.08–31.32 thousand m2/ha for the ‘Vinets’ variety. The highest photosynthetic potential was obtained for sorghum plants in the second sowing period at the seeding depth of 4–6 cm and was 1.27 and 1.34 million m2/ha for the ‘Dniprovskyi 39’ variety and 1.16 and 1.22 million m2/ha for the variety ‘Vinets’. In the first sowing period, this indicator was slightly lower and amounted to 1.18 and 1.23 million m2/ha for the ‘Dniprovskyi 39’ variety and 0.98 and 1.02 million m2/ha for the ‘Vinets’ variety respectively. In the third sowing period, it was the smallest one and equated 1.09 and 1.13 million m2/ha for the ‘Dniprovskyi 39’ variety, and 0.88 and 0.93 million m2/ha for the ‘Vinets’ variety at the optimal seeding depth. The photosynthetic potential was lower at the seeding depth of 2 and 8 cm, which is explained by the different soil and climatic parameters during a certain period of sorghum plant vegetation. The highest value of the photosynthetic capacity net indicator was obtained by sowing seeds at the optimal time and the optimal seeding depth and it equated 3.84–4.02 g/m2 per day for the ‘Dniprovskyi 39’ variety and 3.79 – 3.98 g/m2 per day for the ‘Vinets’ variety. Conclusions. It has been established that the sorghum plants had better vegetation and formed photosynthetic capacity by sowing seeds in the first decade of May at the planting depth of 4–6 cm, which we recommend for growing this crop in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine.

Purpose. To reveal features of formation of productivity of modern sugar beet hybrids of domestic selection. Methods. Field, laboratory. Results. Studies show that the lowest yields of sugar beets were obtained in 2016, 2017 and 2019. Moreover, the conditions of the unstable humidification zone of the Right-Bank part of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine were mainly characterized by unstable precipitation, a decrease in their amount, as well as increased average daily air temperatures. Therefore, the selection of high-yielding hybrids of sugar beets to obtain a high level of productivity is relevant. As evidenced by the data comparing the yield of sugar beet root crops on the test site, they significantly exceeded the average indicators for Kiev region by 10.7–20.0 t/ha, and only in arid 2016 the difference was minimal – 4.6 t/ha. The high stability of the trait “sugar content in root crops” is inherent not only in hybrids with low parameters of its manifestation, but is largely determined by the genetic characteristics of the hybrid. Three clusters were identified based on the reaction of hybrids to growing conditions. The first cluster included triploid hybrids: ‘Zluka’, ‘Oleksandriia, ‘Olzhych’, ‘Kvarta’ and ‘Konstanta’, the second one – the triploid hybrid ‘BTs ChS 57’ and diploid ‘Vesto’, the third cluster - the triploid hybrid ‘Sofiia’ and diploid ‘Ukrainskyi ChS 72’. Conclusions. Proper selection of high-yielding hybrids resistant to adverse growing conditions in the zone of unstable moisture of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine is extremely important, because the biological characteristics of hybrids affect 45% of the amount of sugar harvest, but the growing season by 33% and the interaction of factors was 17%. It was found that despite the difficult weather conditions, the highest yields were formed by hybrids: ‘Anichka’ – 70.1 t/ha, ‘Ramzes’ – 70.5 t/ha, ‘Romul’ – 73.0 t/ha and ‘BTs ChS 57’ – 73.4 t/ha. But the maximum sugar content in root crops was in hybrids: ‘Ukrainskyi ChS 72’ – 17.3%, ‘Zluka’ – 17.3% and ‘Sofiia’ – 17.7%. Accordingly, the maximum sugar harvest was provided by hybrids: ‘BTs ChS 57’ – 12.1 t/ha and ‘Romul’ – 12.2 t/ha.

Purpose. To study the economic and biological characteristics and to reveal the genetic potential of various hybrids of Chinese cabbage depending on the climatic zone of cultivation. Methods. In the experiment, hybrids of Chinese cabbage ‘Pioner F1’ (control), ‘Villi F1’, ‘Manoko F1’, ‘Orient Star F1’, ‘Vitimo F1’, ‘Sprinkin F1’, ‘Summer Highland F1’, ‘Suprin F1’, and ‘Richi F1’ were evaluated. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with four replications with a single plot area of 21 m2. The container seedlings (40 days old) were planted in the middle of April according to the scheme 70 cm by 25 cm. Results. Having been planted at the same time, seed germination over the studied hybrids was not simultaneous. The first sprouted seeds (4 days after seeding) belonged to hybrids ‘Villi F1’, ‘Manoko F1’, ‘Orient Star F1’, and‘Summer Highland F1’. Seeds of the other hybrids started active germination on the 5–6 days after seeding. The highest yield of the cabbage heads was obtained from hybrids ‘Villi F1’ (31.7 t/ha) and ‘Sprinkin F1’ (28.7 t/ha), which was 10.0 and 7.0 t/ha more than in the control variant. The yield of ‘Summer Highland F1’ was 24.9 t/ha and ‘Suprin F1’ 24.6 t/ha. Under the conditions of unstable soil moisture, hybrids ‘Villi F1’and ‘Sprinkin F1’ appeared the most productive and ensured yield increase of 10.0 t/ha and 7.0 t/ha, respectively, compared to the control; and crop commercial quality was high. The highest percentage of dry matter (DM) content was in ‘Summer Highland F1’ (6.2%) followed by ‘Sprinkin F1’ (5.9%), which was 1.1% and 0.8% more than in the control. There was no significant difference between the values of the total sugars content over the variants. They ranged between 1.7 and 2.1%, which was similar to the control values. The content of nitrates in the cabbage heads of the studied Chinese cabbage hybrids was within the tolerance limit and amounted to 600 mg/kg (raw mass). Conclusions. Phenological observations of plant development and their biometric indices, depending on the varietal characteristics, indicate that under the conditions of unstable soil moisture, hybrids ‘Villi F1’ and ‘Sprinkin F1’ were more yielding and ensured yield increase of 10.0 t/ha and 7.0 t/ha, respectively, compared to the control. The crop commercial quality was high. The long growing season of ‘Richi F1’ (93 days) did not affect the crop quality and yield and demonstrated the lowest productivity compared to the control and the other experiment variants.

Purpose. To identify spring durum wheat accessions with high yield level and by yield components for their involvement in breeding programs as a source material. Methods. Field, statistical. Results. The results of the study of 65 collection samples of spring durum wheat of various ecological and geographical origin in terms of productivity in 2016–2018 are presented. The research results indicate that the samples of spring durum wheat had different yield level depending on the conditions of the year of cultivation. According to the calculations of the degree of yield stability parameters, the samples were found that ensure its level under fluctuations in weather conditions with regression coefficient close to one as follows ‘Omskiy izumrud’ (RUS), ‘Korona’, ‘Toma’, ‘Nauryz 6’ (KAZ), ‘Dura king’, ‘Candura’ (CAN), ‘Tera’, ‘Novatsiia’ (UKR), thus indicating their semi-intensive type. Collection samples of spring durum wheat that under optimal weather conditions are capable of producing significant yield increase are distinguished by wide ecological reaction. These are samples with regression coefficient more than one ‘MIP Raiduzhna’, ‘Hordeiforme 13-07’ (UKR), ‘Lan’, ‘Salaut’, ‘Ertol’ (KAZ), ‘Bezenchukskaya 205’, ‘Lilek’ (RUS). These samples can be characterized by their adaptive properties as intense ones, with a pronounced response to the environment. Over the years of the research, grain number per spike varied from 35.9 to 38.8 pcs. Year conditions in 2016 were the most favorable for plant growth and development, while index of conditions was 4.1, and the average grain number per spike was 41.4 pcs. Year conditions in 2017 and 2018 were less favorable for growth and development of durum spring wheat, and therefore there was a negative value of index of year conditions (lj = -5.1 and lj = 0.5, respectively) with less grain number per spike (32.2 and 38.2 pcs., respectively). According to the trait «1000 kernel weight», the samples were identified with regression coefficient close to one under fluctuations of weather conditions, i.e ‘Korona’, ‘Raya’ (KAZ), ‘Lilek’, ‘Bezenchukskaya 205’ (RUS), ‘MIP Raiduzhna’ (UKR). The grain weight per spike in the collection samples varied from 1.27 to 1.77 g. The stable samples ‘Ertol’, ‘Salaut’, ‘Damsinskaya yantarnaya’ (KAZ), ‘Lilek’ (RUS), ‘Novatsiia’ (UKR), ‘Duraking’, ‘Candura’ (CAN) promising in spring wheat breeding were identified and can be involved in hybridization. Conclusions. Stable and plastic samples were identified among collection material of spring durum wheat in terms of productivity for involvement in scientific programs as source material.

Purpose. Identify the peculiarities of the growth and development of plants, formation of productivity of sweet sorghum hybrids for different widths of row spacing, crops density and the use of the growth stimulant Vympel 2 in the zone of the Forest-Steppe Ukraine. Methods. The study used hybrids ‘Dovista’ and ‘Huliver’. The width of the row spacing was 45 and 70 cm for the density of the crops: 150 thousand pcs/ha, 200 thousand pcs/ha, 250 thousand pcs/ha. Sorghum seed treatment was carried out using Vympel 2 (0.5 l/t) growth stimulant and its additional foliar application in the tillering stage of the crop (0.5 l/ha). Results. Studies have revealed that the ‘Dovista’ hybrid has a significant potential for productivity due to a longer growing season. At different widths of row spacing and density of plants standing, the hybrid ‘Dovista’ yield exceeded the average by 3.6 t/ha of‘Huliver’ hybrid. The yield increase at the level of 7.3–13.0 t/ha was obtained in the variant of application of growth stimulant Vympel 2 at 45 cm of row spacing and changes in sowing rates from 150 to 250 thousand pcs/ha. Similar variants of experiment at 70 cm of width of row spacing ensured collection of vegetative mass of sweet sorghum at 6.7–12.6 t/ha more than in cont­rol variants. The growth stimulant Vympel 2 increased the accumulation of dry matter in ‘Dovista’ hybrid with a row spacing of 45 cm and various seeding rates by 1.3–4.3 t/ha, whereas with a row spacing of 70 cm – by 1.2–3.5 t/ha. In the ‘Huliver’ hybrid in similar experiments, an increase in dry matter was obtained at the level of 1.7–3.9 t/ha, and the application of the growth regulator ensured the collection of dry matter of sweet sorghum by 1.3–3.0 t/ha above the control variants. Total sugar content in the variants of the experiment was biased. Application of seed treatment with growth stimulant Vympel 2 (0.5 l/t) followed by foliar application in the tillering stage (0.5 l/ha) increased the content of total sugars by 0.15, but this slight deviation was within the experimental margin. Conclusions. The highest yield of green mass at a density of 250 thousand plants per hectare and seed treatment with growth stimulant Vympel 2 (0.5 l/t) + foliar application in the tillering stage (0.5 l/ha) provided the ‘Dovista’ hybrid – 98.8 t/ha, which is 5.3 t/ha more than in the ‘Huliver’ hybrid for the width of the row spacing of 45 cm. In the phase of physiological maturity of the grain, the content of total sugars in sweet sorghum was, on average, at the level of 15.0%, in the ‘Dovista’ hybrid – 15.4%, in the ‘Huliver’ hybrid – 14.7%.

Purpose. To define morphological peculiarities of the different types of shoots of switch grass (Panicum virgatum L.) in the context of introduction in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe and Polissia zones of Ukraine. Methods. Morpho-physiological and ontogenetic analysis, morphometric technique, statistical evaluation. Results. It was found that P. virgatum plants were producing the following types of shoots: vegetative-generative short or long rhizomatous ones (they appeared as in the underground part of a maternal shoot in «the area of shortened internodes» and in the base of its aboveground part); vegetative underground and aboveground ones (they are forming both in the axils of scales of the underground part of a maternal shoot and in the axils of cauline leaves); generative aboveground shoots (borne in the axil of cauline leaves). Morphological parameters and features of morphogenesis of reproduction, resting and secondary buds have been described. Conclusions. During flowering phase of maternal shoot, P. virgatum reproduction buds were on the organogenesis phase I–II, their bursting occured after maternal shoot has flowered. The correlation of internodes length, leave blades and sheaths has been established. The maximum values of the above parameters were observed in the middle part of the prefloral zone of the stem. In the context of introduction, panicle earing came in the third decade of July, flowering began in the first decade of August. It was revealed that complete flowers are bloomed faster than the staminate ones.

Purpose. To make comprehensive assessment of introduced oat samples of various eco-geographical origin under the conditions of the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine for the set of productivity and adaptability indices in order to define the most valuable ones and describe them. Methods. Field study, laboratory analysis, generalization. Results. The authors presented results of the study, evaluation and description of 35 new samples of oats from 5 countries for productivity and adaptability traits during 2011–2015 in Ustymivka Experimental Station for Plant Production to be run by the V. Ya. Yuriev Institute for Plant Production of NAAS. In field and laboratory conditions, the following indicators as yielding, productivity, thousand-kernel weight, early ripening, height of plants and length of panicle, lodging resistance were stu­died. Conclusions. A set of studies of new oat samples under various weather conditions allowed to identify material with increased parameters of economic and biological characters. During studies, it was found that ‘Laima’, ‘Stendskaia Darta’ (Latvia), ‘Borowiak’ (Poland), ‘Faks’ (Belarus) were the high-yielding varieties. Panicles in such oats samples as ‘Cwal’, ‘Borowiak’ (Poland), ‘Iakov’, ‘Mutika 1077’, ‘Mutika 990’, ‘Irtysh 22’, ‘Pokrovskyі 9’ (Russia), ‘Faks’ (Belarus), ‘Stendskaia Darta’, ‘Stendskaia Mara’ (Latvia) contained a large mass of grains (more than 2,5 g), panicle productivity in these samples was rather high both due to increased amount of grains in it and at the expense of thousand-kernel weight. Analysis of the study results showed that introduced oat samples of various eco-geographical origin were adapted to the Southern Forest-Steppe zone and can be recommended as an initial material in breeding for increasing productive and adaptive capacity.

Purpose. Analysis of the process of hexaploid triticale breeding for winter hardiness by intraspecific hybridization method using systemic ecological tests under contrasting conditions. Methods. Dialectical investigation, field experiments, laboratory testing and statistical evaluation. Results. The results of breeding winter and alternate triticale varieties possessing a complex of valuable traits by the method of intraspecific hybridization of forms of different types of development using systemic ecological tests under contrasting conditions (Forest-Steppe – extremely arid Steppe) and at low temperatures were presented. During the years of research (1980–2005), 18 varieties were developed and transferred to the state testing, 17 of them were registered. Conclusions. Thus, the effective selection of highly productive genotypes with increased and high winter hardiness is possible from populations obtained by crossing hexaploid triticale of different types of development (winter triticale with spring and alternate ones) and contrasting level of frost and winter hardiness. During the period of 1980–2015, medium-tall and dwarf varieties of winter (‘Amfidyploid 256’, ‘Garne’, ‘Kharroza’, ‘Rarytet’, ‘Timofey’, etc.) and alternate (‘Nikanor’, ‘Yaroslava’, ‘Plastun Volynskyi’) triticales were developed. They are superior to the standard varieties of soft winter wheat for the critical temperature of freezing by -0.5...- 2.0 °C, characterized by increased (up to 9–12 t/ha) grain yield of various quality depending on the purpose of use.

Purpose. To study Ukrainian potato market at the current stage of the development and determine its future prospects. Results. The features of Ukrainian potato market were determined. Production is almost fully provided by private households, meeting the needs of the domestic market. Main regions with the highest gross output and production of potatoes were defined. Ukraine is one of the major potato producing countries in the world. Today our country is not a key supplier or importer of this product because of the low export orientation of the industry, its technological backwardness, limited product range and the large number of small producers. Ukraine exports potato mainly to CIS countries, the highest share of potato import comes from the European Union. Now there are only a few large manufacturing companies in the market, which can be classified as industrial. Most potato varieties, officially permitted for dissemination in Ukraine, are classified as table ones and recommended for cultivation in the Forest-Steppe and Polissia zones. Achievements of the industry include the development of such very popular and promising trend as organic potato growing, which area in our country is one of the largest in the world. Conclusions. Potato produced in Ukraine is used for human consumption, animal feeding, planting and processing, its volumes are relatively stable. Large-scale industrial production of potato is not widely practiced because of low wholesale prices and high labor intensity of the cultivation process. During next few years, in view of current trends, production of potato and severe limitations of the domestic market for foreign operations will remain unchanged. A shift in emphasis in the product range – from fresh potato to processed food products should be a prospect for domestic industrial producers to improve their position in Ukraine and abroad.

Purpose. To evaluate the stability and plasticity of new varieties of grain sorghum in ecological conditions of the Fores-Steppe and Steppe zone of Ukraine. Methods. Field study, statistical evaluation. Results. It was found that in Ukraine the average yield of grain sorghum in 2015 was 3.72 t/ha and in 2016 – 3.36 t/ha. In field experiments during 2009–2016, ‘Praim’ and ‘Sprynt 2’ hybrids appeared to be significantly better as compared to averaged yields of 3.9 t/ha. Evaluation of yield plasticity in environmental conditions of the Forest-Steppe and Steppe zones showed that the hybrid ‘Praim’ did not differ from the group standard and its index is no more than one. At the same time, the ‘Sprynt 2’ is highly-plastic hybrid and ‘Dniprovskyi 39’ belongs to relatively low-plastic varieties. Conclusions. It was established that, as an average of an experiment, hyb­rids of grain sorghum ‘Praim’ and ‘Sprynt 2’ had a yield of 4,2–4,3 t/ha. According to the analysis of ecological plasticity, ‘Sprynt 2’ can be included with the intensive type and ‘Dniprovskyi 39’ – with relatively low-plastic varieties. It was found that proper selection of varieties and far­ming practices of cultivation is one of the main factors that favors high yields and respectively determine 37% and 34% of the level of grain sorghum productivity.