The paper highlights results of 60 years of apple breeding activity at the All-Russian Research Institute for Fruit Crop Breeding of RAAS (former Orel Zonal Fruit-Berry Experimental Station). Major selection effort has been applied to apple breeding for higher contents of ascorbic acid and P-active substances in fruit. A pattern of the inheritance of biologically active substances in apple fruits is shown. First time in Russia a large-scale selection has taken place for the purpose of developing domestic scab immune apple varieties (Vf ). 20 scab immune varieties have been created and included into the State Register. First time in Russia and in the world a range of triploid apple varieties have been developed through directed diverse chromosome crossings 2x x 4x and 4x x 2x.

The paper highlights results of 60 years of apple breeding activity at the All-Russian Research Institute for Fruit Crop Breeding of RAAS (former Orel Zonal Fruit-Berry Experimental Station). Major selection effort has been applied to apple breeding for higher contents of ascorbic acid and P-active substances in fruit. A pattern of the inheritance of biologically active substances in apple fruits is shown. First time in Russia a large-scale selection has taken place for the purpose of developing domestic scab immune apple varieties (Vf). 20 scab immune varieties have been created and included into the State Register. First time in Russia and in the world a range of triploid apple varieties have been developed through directed diverse chromosome crossings 2x x 4x and 4x x 2x.

In the article the authors show outcome of three years observation of blackcurrant varieties bred by Study Horticulture Department NULES of Ukraine for their suitabi­ lity to machine harvesting. Blackcurrant is the most common berry crop in Ukraine. When establishing intensive industrial plantations the varieties suitable for machine harvesting should be used. During 2006-2008 limited and unlimited traits of varieties bred by NULES of Ukraine suitability to combine harvesting were studied. All parameters of the examined varieties were compared against the requirements of the «ideal variety”. Simultaneous ripening of berries was observed in varieties Dochka Vorskly – 93,6%, Hovtva, Pamyaty Leonida Myhalevskoho – 92,6%. The pick off effort required to collect berries out of their clusters for all varieties but Yarynka was within acceptable range of 67...129 g. By effort applied for berries crush only Yarynka has failed to meet the necessary requirements. All the varie­ ties but Yarynka have been found suitable by growth habit of their bush (upright and semi-spread). Insufficient number fruits (6-7 pc.) in clusters for varieties Narodna and Yarynka was noted. Berries weight for all studied varieties ranged within 1.27-1.84 g, their drop-off was 3-8%, duration of harvesting period ranged from 8 to 10 days, so all the parameters of varieties suggested they were suitable for picking berries by berry harvesters. Varieties Dochka Vorskly, Universitetska, Hovtva, Pamyatna, Premiera, Narodna, Leleka and Pamyaty Leonida Myhalevskoho were selected as suitable for combine harvesting by the complex of positive parameters.

In the article the authors show outcome of three years observation of blackcurrant varieties bred by Study Horticulture Department NULES of Ukraine for their suitabi­ lity to machine harvesting. Blackcurrant is the most common berry crop in Ukraine. When establishing intensive industrial plantations the varieties suitable for machine harvesting should be used. During 2006-2008 limited and unlimited traits of varieties bred by NULES of Ukraine suitability to combine harvesting were studied. All parameters of the examined varieties were compared against the requirements of the «ideal variety”. Simultaneous ripening of berries was observed in varieties Dochka Vorskly – 93,6%, Hovtva, Pamyaty Leonida Myhalevskoho – 92,6%. The pick off effort required to collect berries out of their clusters for all varieties but Yarynka was within acceptable range of 67...129 g. By effort applied for berries crush only Yarynka has failed to meet the necessary requirements. All the varie­ ties but Yarynka have been found suitable by growth habit of their bush (upright and semi-spread). Insufficient number fruits (6-7 pc.) in clusters for varieties Narodna and Yarynka was noted. Berries weight for all studied varieties ranged within 1.27-1.84 g, their drop-off was 3-8%, duration of harvesting period ranged from 8 to 10 days, so all the parameters of varieties suggested they were suitable for picking berries by berry harvesters. Varieties Dochka Vorskly, Universitetska, Hovtva, Pamyatna, Premiera, Narodna, Leleka and Pamyaty Leonida Myhalevskoho were selected as suitable for combine harvesting by the complex of positive parameters.

Oats technological indices have been analyzed. Influence of growing conditions on natural weight, kernel size, and hoodness is established. The study summary indicates essential dependence of natural weight and hoodness and precipitation at the stage of grain formation in coated grain oats varieties. Moisture supply in the period of grain formation essentially influenced the percentage of coated grains formation and natural weight score in naked grain varieties. Morphometric analyzes of oats caryopsis was completed using the method of machine vision. Correlation between technological indices and morphometric cha­racteristics of naked and coated grain of oats was determined. Also, essential dependence of hoodness on 1000 seeds weight and the lack of essential correlation with morphometric characteristics of the calliopsis were established. Calliopsis width essentially influenced the weight of 1000 seeds. Metric indices of naked grain oats calliopsis exposed close correlation with kernel size and natural weight. Weight of 1000 seeds exposed essential varietal distinctness and was determined by genetic peculiarities of varieties

Purpose. Comparative studies of the photosynthetic apparatus of winter wheat varieties of modern and earlier breeding in the relation to their productivity. Methods. Field, pot experiment, biometrical, gas analysis, analytical and statistical ones. Results. It is found that the modern high-yielding winter wheat varieties have a higher rate of flag leaf photosynthesis during generative period of development, particularly at grain filling period, improved ability to store assimilates in stem and effectively use them later for grain growth. The modern varieties form crop canopy with greater leaf area and chlorophyll indexes and larger photosynthetic capacity and maintain functional activity of photosynthetic apparatus longer at the end of the growing season. Conclusions. The superiority for grain productivity of modern high-yielding wheat varieties, originated from the Institute of Plant Physio­logy and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine, over varieties released before the “green revolution”, results from increased capacity and durability of functioning the crop photosynthetic apparatus, higher CO2 assimilation rate and optimization of source-sink relations in whole plant.

The article highlights techniques for development of the range of varieties of new species of cutting lettuce Lactuca sativa: var. longifolia. It reflects the role of minor sub-species of romaine lettuce. Scientific rationale is given to peculiarities of key methods in the technology for growing marketable products of romaine lettuce in the open air. The method for identification adapted – morphological description of qualitative, quantitative and pseudo-qualitative characteristics of phenotype for cutting lettuce, as well as typical model of morpho-biological and economical parameters of new varieties of Romen lettuce for the purposes of official listing of varieties and rights herewith.

In this study, the mitogenomes of two Paxillus species were assembled, annotated and compared. The two mitogenomes of Paxillus involutus and P. rubicundulus comprised circular DNA molecules, with the size of 39,109 bp and 41,061 bp, respectively. Evolutionary analysis revealed that the nad4L gene had undergone strong positive selection in the two Paxillus species. In addition, 10.64 and 36.50% of the repetitive sequences were detected in the mitogenomes of P. involutus and P. rubicundulus, respectively, which might transfer between mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. Large-scale gene rearrangements and frequent intron gain/loss events were detected in 61 basidiomycete species, which revealed large variations in mitochondrial organization and size in Basidiomycota. In addition, the insertion sites of the basidiomycete introns were found to have a base preference. Phylogenetic analysis of the combined mitochondrial gene set gave identical and well-supported tree topologies, indicating that mitochondrial genes were reliable molecular markers for analyzing the phylogenetic relationships of Basidiomycota. This study is the first report on the mitogenomes of Paxillus, which will promote a better understanding of their contrasted ecological strategies, molecular evolution and phylogeny of these important ectomycorrhizal fungi and related basidiomycete species.

In the article the authors present the results of the study biometric and qualitative characteristics of berries highbush blueberry varieties (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in a specific soil and climatic conditions Forest-steppe of Ukraine (Kiev). Investigations were carried out on 11 varieties of American highbush blueberry. Phenological observations, biometric surveys, tasting score and biochemical analysis of the berries have been conducted during the growing season. By results of researches the group of early-ripening varieties includes Bluestar, Earliblue, Patriot, the middle-ripening – Jonne, Atlantis, Bluegold, Bluecrop, Chyk and late-ripening varieties – Amanda, Darrow, Toro. Duration of collecting period of ripe berries was lower (16 days) in varieties Bluestar, Earliblue, Jonne and Darrow. Berries were large sizes in the varieties of Darrow, Amanda, Jonne, in other varieties berries were medium size. By tasting score the berry of varieties Toro, Earliblue, Jonne and Darrow were the best. For biochemical parameters the better varieties were Amanda, Jonne and Earliblue.

In the article the authors present the results of the study biometric and qualitative characteristics of berries highbush blueberry varieties (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in a specific soil and climatic conditions Forest-steppe of Ukraine (Kiev). Investigations were carried out on 11 varieties of American highbush blueberry. Phenological observations, biometric surveys, tasting score and biochemical analysis of the berries have been conducted during the growing season. By results of researches the group of early-ripening varieties includes Bluestar, Earliblue, Patriot, the middle-ripening – Jonne, Atlantis, Bluegold, Bluecrop, Chyk and late-ripening varieties – Amanda, Darrow, Toro. Duration of collecting period of ripe berries was lower (16 days) in varieties Bluestar, Earliblue, Jonne and Darrow. Berries were large sizes in the varieties of Darrow, Amanda, Jonne, in other varieties berries were medium size. By tasting score the berry of varieties Toro, Earliblue, Jonne and Darrow were the best. For biochemical parameters the better varieties were Amanda, Jonne and Earliblue.

The trend for development and spreading of diseases and pests of blackcurrant at Orel region in the conditions of extreme drought in 2010 has been detected. Abnormal weather conditions of the summer and the lack of precipitation limited both growth of host plant and disease spreading. At the background of extreme conditions of 2010 the crop phenophases shifted to earlier dates. The awakening of wintering pathogen structures began in the classic dates of the spring, although in summer their biological cycle went off rapidly. Due to the lack of moisture the disease pathogens failed to fully realize their potential of development and spreading. A favorable aspect of the extreme conditions of vegetation period, the reducing of the protective measures against diseases, is to be admitted. Abnormal weather conditions accelerated the pathogen biological cycles and reduced the stock of wintering infection; meanwhile they provoked colonization of the plants by pests. In extremely high air temperature and lasting lack of precipitation the pests number was intensively increasing, exceeding the maliciousness threshold. Due to the above some additional insecticide and acaricide treatments of berry crops were applied. Thus, the vegetation period of 2010 was described as most favorable for the development and spreading of pests and less favorable for disease pathogens.

Purpose. To determine the efficiency of growing soybean varieties ‘Ustia’, ‘Cordoba’, ‘Estafeta’ depending on the influence of microfertilizers and growth regulators. Methods. Field, laboratory. Results. The article presents the results of studying the efficiency of growing different varieties of soybeans. It was found that in the cultivar ‘Ustia’ the best values of assimilation of photosynthetically active radiation were obtained for the applications of Yara Vita Mono Molitrak in the budding phase (0.25 l/ha) with growth regulator Radostym, and Yara Vita Mono Molitrak in the budding phase (0.25 l/ha) + in the flowering phase (0.25 l/ha) with two studied growth regulators. Similar patterns of the utilization rate of photosynthetic radiation were obtained for the ‘Cordoba’ and ‘Estafeta’ varieties. According to the indicators of the energy balance, the complex use of micronutrient fertilizers and growth regulators in any case pays off with an increase in the yield, which means it is energetically expedient. The maximum coefficients of energy efficiency in the ‘Ustia’, ‘Cordoba’ and ‘Estafeta’ varieties were obtained with the introduction of micronutrient fertilizers Yara Vita Mono Molitrak in the budding phase (0.25 l/ha) + in the flowering phase (0.25 l/ha) and growth regulators Biosyl and Radostym. However, the use of growth regulators separately does not always provide an economic return on investment. In particular, in the variant without Yara Vita Mono Molitrak microfertilizer, the ‘Cordoba’ variety received 28 873 UAH/ha of net profit, while the introduction of growth regulators did not pay off, since there was no significant increase in the yield, and with the use of growth regulators Biosyl and Radostym net profit was within 28824–29179 UAH/ha. In general, the use of micronutrient fertilizer Yara Vita Mono Molitrak with growth regulators Radostim and Biosyl ensu­red guaranteed yield increase. Conclusions. When gro­wing ‘Ustia’, ‘Cordoba’ and ‘Estafeta’ varieties from an energy point of view, it is better to use Yara Vita Mono Molitrak microfertilizer in the budding phase (0.25 l/ha) with the growth regulator Radostym. Under these conditions, the obtained energy efficiency ratio was 3.24; 3.41 and 3.45, and the profit was 31503, 34072 and 34649 UAH/ha, respectively

The article offers short characteristic of Fj hybrid combinations and reveals type of inheritance by the folwiing characteristics: plant height, height of lower bean insertion, quantity of seeds per plant, quantity of seeds per plant, beans per plant, nodes and branches per plant, as well as determines proportion of dominations displaying high heterosis effect. Two superior hybrid populations, namely Amethyst/Miao-ian-Dou and Amethyst/Krasa Podillia, have been selected and are being used to scan for transgressive forms.

The article offers short characteristic of Fj hybrid combinations and reveals type of inheritance by the folwiing characteristics: plant height, height of lower bean insertion, quantity of seeds per plant, quantity of seeds per plant, beans per plant, nodes and branches per plant, as well as determines proportion of dominations displaying high heterosis effect. Two superior hybrid populations, namely Amethyst/Miao-ian-Dou and Amethyst/Krasa Podillia, have been selected and are being used to scan for transgressive forms.