The vegetable growing industry in Russia is the main component of crop production, the development of which determines the basis of life and food security. Being the most important and indispensable products of plant origin in the human diet, for a Russian, vegetables are in third place in importance after bread and potatoes. However, according to Rosstat, the level of selfsufficiency in vegetables and food melons in the country is 86,3%, which implies the need to increase their production. To improve the situation in the vegetable growing industry, an important place is given to the issues of improving selection and seed production, since the variety and high-quality seeds are the main elements of modern zonal crop cultivation technologies. At the Federal Scientific Center for Vegetable Growing, selection and seed production of vegetable crops is moving to an innovative development path, where, along with classical methods, modern methods are used: molecular marking according to the main economic characteristics, accelerated creation of homozygous lines using doubled haploid methods, plant immunity. In recent years, various methods of pre-sowing preparation of seeds have been developed to increase their viability and germination friendliness, to obtain even seedlings without harming the ecosystem. Based on the fundamental and priority applied research of previous years, in 2022, the creation of 17 varieties and hybrids of vegetable, melon and flower crops for all potential vegetable growing zones was completed. In order to provide the industry with pure-grade high-quality seed and increase the productivity of crops through the full use of the potential of the variety, the Federal Research Center for Vegetable Growing is constantly working in primary seed production. The developed zonal cultivation technologies will allow growing domestic products in various soil and climatic conditions of the country.

Relevance. An important proviso for the commercially effective cultivation of vegetable crops in different types of greenhouses is high yield, which significantly depends on modern cultivars with different characteristics and properties. When creating a new cultivar, it is necessary to present its model in accordance with the expected ecological and agrotechnical conditions of planting, the purpose of use, the level of manifestation of morphological and biochemical characteristics, which together will ensure a high yield. The goal of research – to create early ripening, high-yielding cultivars of sweet pepper with high taste assessment of fresh fruits and content of biologically valuable substances.

Materials and methods. The studies were conducted in 2015-2018 and 2020-2021 in the Belarusian State Agricultural Academy. The objects were 46 breeding lines of sweet pepper. An evaluation of fruits and plants morphological characteristics, yield traits, fruits biochemical composition, and tasting were carried out.

Results. Valuable lines for breeding were selected with a gross yield of 5.60–6.71 kg/m², with large fruits (150–220 g), thick pericarp (>7 mm),with a high content of biologically valuable substances and fruit quality 4.3–4.7 points. Lines with a complex of economically valuable traits including high tasting score, were transferred to the State Inspection for Testing and Protection of Plant Varieties and recommended for commercial use in the Republic of Belarus under the names Altyn, Chervonets, Karat, Goretsky Krasny, Garlachyk Zhovty and Chyrvony Magnat.

Relevance. The survival and reproductive rates of mini-tubers obtained from in vitro potato plantlets were observed to increase under greenhouse conditions. This increase was diagrammed based on the experimental data. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of various types of bio-soils on the multiplication factor of mini-potatoes in vitro at the stage of original seed production in protected ground conditions.

Materials and methods. The research was conducted in FSBSI “Federal Scientific Center of Agricultural Biotechnology of the Far East named after A.K. Chaiki” (Timiryazevsky settlement, Ussuriysk urban district, Primorsky kray) in 2021.In vitroplantlets of four potato varieties from different maturity groups were used as the research object: Meteor (early), Sante (medium early), Dachnyi (mid-season), and Smak (medium late). These potato varieties were admitted to use in the 12^th (Far Eastern) region. The experiments were carried out in a 260 m² greenhouse during spring and summer. Five variants of potting soil were studied. An agrochemical analysis of the soil mixtures was performed in the Laboratory of Agrochemical Analyses according to generally accepted methods. The reproductive rate of a variety was calculated from the number of survived plants in vials: the total reproductive rate and the reproductive rate of standard tubers (according to GOST 33996-2016). For this purpose, potato sizing squares and the visual method for the rejection of defective material were implemented.

Results. Three out of five studied soil mixtures were determined to be effective for four potato varieties used in the experiments: a) 70% peat, 20% biocompost, and 10% vermiculite; b) 60% peat, 30% humus, and 10% sand; c) 60% peat, 20% humus, 10% humus from seaweeds, and 10% vermiculite.

Relevance. The effectiveness of seed soaking before sowing in a solution of preparations of the epibrassinolide group for the protection and preservation of seedlings of gourds from temperature stresses, increasing the yield of fruits and seeds was studied.

Methodology. The objects of research were preparations Epin Extra, Epin Plus, EcoFus, Ferovit, Zircon and Siliplant, which allow to overcome the effects of temperature stresses, increase immunity, and have a stimulating effect on seed germination and plant growth of vegetable crops.

Results. In the course of the studies, it was found that preparations of the epibrassinolide group contribute to a significant preservation of seedlings of gourds with prolonged exposure to low temperatures. Soaking watermelon seeds of the Tersky early variety before sowing in a solution of drugs from the epibrassinolide group ensured the safety of seedlings from 24.2 to 35.3%, while in the control variant, the death of plants was 100%. Epin Extra had the greatest anti-stress effect on watermelon. Preparations on melon showed less efficiency in protecting seedlings, 21.1-27.3% of plants survived. The maximum number of seedlings remained when using Epin Plus. It should be noted that soaking seeds in solutions of preparations of the epibrassinolide group, to protect seedlings of gourds from damage by low temperatures, is an effective technological operation that makes it possible to smooth out the impact of the stress factor.

The aim. Today we are witnessing the actualization of research on plant sources for the pharmaceutical and food industries. It is caused by a significant increase in demand for these types of resources. Therefore, a variety of case studies aimed at identifying the characteristics of plant resources, are becoming more actual too. In accordance with this need, the present work aims to identify a relationship between the content of flavonoids in the raw material of such important source of plant raw material as Epilobium angustifolium and soil and climatic conditions and group of raw materials.

Methods. At the first stage of this work were applied cartographic, geographical methods and methods of geobotanical description of phytocenoses to determine the most suitable locations for the purposes of the study. At the second stage were applied the method of spectrophotometry to determine the amount of flavonoids in terms of rutin and the method of correlation analysis.

Results. As a result of the application of these methods were obtained data on the content of flavonoids in the Epilobium angustifolium raw materials, collected in various soil and climatic conditions, as well as in various morphological groups of raw materials. These data were compared by the method of correlation analysis and after that a positive correlation between the content of flavonoids in the leaves and inflorescences of Epilobium angustifolium was found.

Conclusion. It was determined, that the content of flavonoids fluctuation, depending on the Epilobium angustifolium place of growth, was 2.05% in the leaves and 2.5% in the inflorescences of this plant. An average positive correlation of 0.65 was found between the content of flavonoids in the leaf and inflorescences of Epilobium angustifolium. However, the correlation between the content of flavonoids and the latitude of Epilobium angustifolium growth wasn’t identified.

Relevance. Many authors note the existence of significant genotypic differences in the assimilation of nitrogen and the accumulation of nitrates by lettuce, point to the additive-dominant nature of the inheritance of the trait. The aim of the work was to evaluate the response of lettuce of various cultivars to mineral nutrition stress created against a nitrogen-deficient background (N0) and with an increased dose of nitrogen (N₂₀₀).

Material and Methods. In a microfield experiment on well-cultivated soddy-podzolic soil, a collection of lettuce varieties belonging to the main cultivated variety types was studied. The varieties differed in geographical origin, early maturity and morphological characteristics.

Results. Differences in yield between varieties against the background of N200 were 4.5 times, and against the background of N0 – 5.7 times. Against an increased background of nitrogen nutrition, the highest yield – 2.22-2.64 kg/m² was formed by the following varieties: All the Year, Quedlinburger Dickkopf, Berlin Yellow, Great lakes. Against a nitrogen-deficient background, Azart and Odessa Kucheryavets varieties stood out in terms of yield, which absorbed soil nitrogen better than others. The content of nitrates in lettuce plants of different varieties varied more strongly when grown on the background of N₂₀₀ and ranged from 10.7 to 13.6 times (on average over 2 years – 11,2 times), on the control of N₀ – 33 times. Varieties accumulating maximum NO3 under conditions of excess nitrogen nutrition were revealed. Lettuce Romaine (Lactuca romana) – 353 mg/kg and White paris cus (198 mg/kg) had a low content of NO₃. The period of the maximum increase in biomass also corresponded to the maximum decrease in NO₃ in plants. Power function equations were calculated to estimate the rate of change in biomass and NO₃ content. The results indicate that there may be some scope for NO₃ reduction in lettuce through cultivar selection or breeding.

Relevance. In the vegetable market, cucumber is in stable demand. It also occupies one of the leading places in the structure of sown areas after root crops, cabbage, and tomato. In addition to high yields, modern varieties (hybrids) of cucumber, are characterized by good marketability of green cukes and transportability. The stable demand for green cukes among the population, as well as their high economically valuable characteristics, ensure constant interest in this crop both at large and small farms, which supply a significant part of the market with the fresh produce in spring and summer. Local peasant farms grow cabbages, root vegetables, onions, and watermelons, but very few of those cultivate cucumbers. Those are mainly grown in spring greenhouses. This imbalance is explained by the lack of cucumber varieties and hybrids adapted to local conditions.

The purpose of this study is the assessment of a collection of parthenocarpic F₁ cucumber hybrids and identification of highly productive varieties suitable for growing in polycarbonate greenhouses suitable in the spring-summer rotation in the south of the Amur Region. The object of the study were 11 F₁ cucumber hybrids of domestic and foreign selection.

Results. According to the results of studying the collection of parthenocarpic hybrids of cucumber grown in spring/summer polycarbonate greenhouses in the south of the Amur Region, marketable green cukes are formed on day 44-54 after germination. The hybrids Amur F₁, Artist F₁, Director F₁, Componist RZ F₁, Bjorn F1, Gunnar F₁, and Cedric F₁ are characterized by high productive facility. They have formed 9.0–13.0 kg/m² of marketable green cukes. According to the test panel score, the hybrids Bettina F1, Pasalimo F₁, and Gunnar F₁, have the best gustatory quality (4,8-5,0 points).

The purpose of the study is to determine the growth, development and yield quality of sweet corn varieties and hybrids when grown in different mulching materials in the soil-climatic conditions of Karakalpakstan.

Methods. Selected sweet corn Zamin variety and Megaton F₁ hybrids were grown in different mulching materials in the fallow season and evaluated for their growth, development and productivity in the conditions of Karakalpakstan in 2018-2020. Mulching materials were selected for growing varieties and hybrids. According to the results of the selection, the varieties and hybrids with a positive conclusion were recommended for use in the production of cultivation in mulching materials.

Results. In 2018‒2020, the selected Zamin variety of sweet corn and the Megaton F₁ hybrid, when grown on different mulching materials, yield varied from 10.8 t to 13.1 t per hectare. The highest productivity was recorded when mulching with manure and black membrane, it was 11.5-12.2 t per hectare in the Zamin variety, and 12.4-13.1 t in the Megaton F₁ hybrid. Cultivation of sweet corn mulched with manure and black membrane has the highest net profit (19509.0 - 21890.8 thousand sums and 22120.5-24150.9 thousand sums) and the highest yield (123,8-138.6% and 134.7-146.8%).

Conclusion. It was found that sweet corn varieties Zamin and Megaton F₁ hybrids have high productivity indicators when mulched with black membrane and manure in the main term for the soil and climate conditions of Karakalpakstan, and it was recommended for large-scale planting in farms.

Relevance. The value of table beetroot as an indispensable vegetable crop in a rational human diet is beyond doubt. It is possible to fill the shortage of production of this crop in the Russian Federation by increasing yields, which is facilitated by a number of factors. It is believed that the yield depends more on the variety, but the role of the medium in identifying varietal characteristics is also of great importance. In this regard, the varieties and hybrids recommended for production, along with high potential productivity, should be characterized by a wide range of adaptive properties (environmental resistance) to the stressful effects of environmental conditions. One of the effective methods to determine the adaptability of varieties to the conditions of a particular region is their simultaneous assessment in a number of geographically remote locations, which allows expanding the range of their use.

Materials and methods. Research work on the environmental testing of six varieties of beetroot was carried out in 2020 according to generally accepted methods on the basis of the branches of the FSBSI Federal Scientific Vegetable Center. As a standard, the Bordo 237 variety was used - recommended for cultivation in all regions of the Russian Federation. Ecological assessment of the environment as a background for selection and assessment of the adaptive ability of varieties was carried out according to the methodology of A.V. Kilchevsky and L.V. Khotyleva.

Results. According to the totality of all parameters, the most adaptive for cultivation in different regions of the Russian Federation, according to the combination of yield and marketability, it is possible to recommend the varieties of beetroot Karina and Bordo 237; according to the mass of commercial root crops - Karina and Gazpadynya. The varieties characterized by the greatest responsiveness to the improvement of growing conditions were: Lyubava, Gaspadynya, Dobrynya. The most informative background for identifying the potential productivity of varieties is the environment on the Biryuchekutsk station, on the ecological stability of the complex of signs – the Voronezh station. The most typical environments for growing beets on the grounds of "yield" and "marketability" are the conditions of Biryuchekutsk station, by weight of commercial root crop – Voronezh station.

Relevance. The nutritional value of gourds is quite high and is of great importance in the life of the human body. A significant point in modern melon growing is to increase yields without reducing the quality of the products obtained. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new methods of cultivation technologies that allow obtaining stable fruit yields without reducing the quality of table watermelon products of different ripeness groups, in the climatic conditions of the Volgograd region.

Material and methodology. The object of research is a watermelon of medium ripening, variety Zemlyanin, and late ripening, variety Kholodok. We studied new types of water-soluble fertilizers Fe chelate, as well as Vegetable Aquarin, by using them for soaking seeds before sowing and processing plants during the growing season.

Results. The use of chelated fertilizers in the technology of growing table watermelon of medium and late ripening is an effective technique for obtaining stable yields. The use of water-soluble fertilizers, with various methods of their use, provided an increase in the yield of Zemlyanin watermelon by 2.7-27.8%, and Kholodok watermelon by 2-22.4% in comparison with the control (without treatments). The largest fruits were obtained in the variant Aquarin vegetable (plant processing) Zemlyanin variety - 6.8 kg and Kholodok variety - 8.4 kg. A comparative analysis of the biochemical composition of fruits showed that water-soluble chelate fertilizers do not have a negative effect on the accumulation of nitrates in varieties of medium and late ripening. As a result of research, a positive effect of water-soluble micronutrient fertilizers has been revealed on improving the quality of fruits, which increased the content of ascorbic acid and sugars.

Relevance. Pumpkin is a food, medicinal and fodder crop of the Cucurbitaceae family. It is valued for its high content of vitamins, minerals, organic acids. At present, thanks to the huge variety of species and modern selection, it is possible to select pumpkin varieties for cultivation in almost any region, including areas with short and not too hot summers. Udmurtia belongs to the zone of risky farming, the end of spring frosts is observed on average in the first ten days of June, and autumn frosts on the soil are possible at the end of August. Due to the short frost-free period, it is necessary to choose earlier maturing varieties, grow the crop through seedlings and use temporary shelters. The pumpkin fruit is usually large in size, is a thick layer of pulp, covered with a dense peel. When cutting such a fruit, the pumpkin is not stored in the future, it requires urgent processing. In this connection, in recent years, portioned varieties of pumpkin, the size of the fruit of which does not exceed 1.5–3.0 kg, have become increasingly in demand.

Materials and Methods. The purpose of the research: a comparative assessment of varietal characteristics of growth and productivity of pumpkin species. In 2020–2021 in the conditions of the Udmurt Republic, experiments were carried out to study the characteristics of growth and productivity of pumpkin varieties. We studied varieties of pumpkin: Pearl, Crumb, Honey Tale, Marble, Rossiyanka, Smile, Candied fruit.

Results and its discussion. Within two years, pumpkin varieties of large-fruited and nutmeg were studied. On average, for two years, the pumpkin Medovaya skazka distinguished itself with the highest yield. In 2021, the yield for the Medovaya Skazka variety was 64.7 t/ha. The yield increase was obtained due to an increase in fruit weight, which in 2020 amounted to 2.9 kg, in 2021 - 6.5 kg. The studied varieties of pumpkin differed in quality indicators of fruits. On average, over two years, the varieties Rossiyanka and Mramornaya showed an increase in the content of water-soluble sugars in fruits. The fruits of the pumpkin Candied fruit and Kroshka were distinguished by a high content of dry matter.

Relevance. Population dynamics (population waves) is an intrinsic quality of population systems. These fluctuations can be induced by various factors, e.g. environmental conditions and resource availability, elements of a food chain from the same or a higher level (competitors, parasites, predators), and diseases. Few researchers have addressed the issue of the population dynamics of Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata in the Russian Far East. This paper investigates the reasons why the potato ladybird beetle became a pest of introduced cultivated plants.

Materials and methods. To collect data on imagines, all research sites were examined at intervals of eight days during the entire period of the study. The examination of the research sites was conducted within one day. All the imagines taken from host plants were marked at the first encounter by puncturing their elytra with a sewing needle (0.4 mm in diameter) according to Hirano. The next generation of beetles was marked with nail polish (in two-three days after emergence) to avoid traumatizing the insects. At the second encounter, these beetles were also marked by puncturing their elytra with a needle. The methods implemented did not have an adverse effect on the survivability of the studied imagines. The beetles were released to the same plants where they had been taken from. The research data were analyzed by Jolly’s method.

Results. Overwintered imagines appeared in the fields and began ovipositing at the end of May. The first generation of imagines appeared at the end of June – the begging of July. The second generation of imagines could be observed at the end of July – the beginning of August. A part of the imagines migrated to overwintering sites without ovipositing approximately at the end of August. The overwintered beetles were observed to emerge on the Mongolian oak Q uercus mongolica, the greater celandine Chelidonium majus, and the bird cherry Prunus padus. A typical primary biotope of the potato ladybird beetle was a potato field at the stage of vegetative growth (5-7 leaves) surrounded by the couch grass Elymus repens, the common dandelion Taraxacum officinale, and the perennial sow-thistle Sonchus arvensis. Marking the overwintered and new generations of imagines showed that the presence of the potato ladybird beetle in an ecosystem depended on agricultural and agrometeorological conditions.

Relevance. Onions are a traditional vegetable crop that is in demand all year round. To obtain high and stable yields, it is necessary to renew the assortment of herbicides in the fight against weeds, to use compositions of preparations of different spectrum of action, toxic to the most harmful weeds and giving the maximum herbicidal effect with minimal labor and financial resources.

Results. The article presents the results of tests of new herbicides Bandura and Boxer, unregistered in the Russian Federation on onions, at optimal rates, which showed high selectivity to the crop, but were inferior in efficiency to the Stomp Professional standard. The tank mixtures of Bandura and Stomp Professional with Dual Gold were more effective, exceeding the level of efficiency of the standard. Due to the action of the mixture Stomp Professional + Dual Gold (2 + 1 L / ha), the weediness of onion crops decreased by 78-89% (by quantity) and by 87 - 95% (by weight), which contributed to a significant increase in the yield of bulbs by 12.2% in comparison with control. The efficiency of Goal 2E 0.5 L/ha (42%) in the phase of 2 leaves of onion was insignificant due to the overgrowth of most annual dicotyledonous weeds by the time of treatment (3-10 leaves). The herbicide completely eliminated weeds at an early stage (up to 5 leaves), as well as older white and smoky grass. The remaining weeds experienced oppression in the form of suspension of growth, twisting and necrosis of leaves. Goal 2 E must be included in the system of protective measures against the background of pre-emergence herbicide treatment to suppress annual dicotyledonous weeds, poorly controlled by soil herbicides.

Relevance. The effectiveness of fertilizers depends on the need of plants for nutrients and on the ability of the soil to meet this need. According to the Research Institute of Raw Materials of the Alcohol Industry, the responsiveness of chicory to individual substances changes dramatically during the growing season. In the first period of its development, chicory responds sharply positively only to phosphorus. In the future, the phosphorus efficiency remains stable for two months and by the end of the growing season, attenuation begins. The potash efficiency, on the contrary, is low in the first months, and by the end of the growing season, in contrast to the action of phosphorus, it gives a sharp rise. The efficiency of nitrogen during the growing season occupies an average position between the efficiency of phosphorus and potassium.

Methodology. The aim of the research was to identify the most effective doses of macro- and microelements and methods of their application (basic and top dressing) to ensure maximum yields of root chicory root crops. The experiments were carried out in the Nonchernozem zone of the Russian Federation in the Rostov district of the Yaroslavl region on the experimental field of the Rostov experimental station for chicory¬ – a branch of the FSBSI FSVC.

Results. As a result of the conducted studies, it was found that an increase in the dose of nitrogen nutrition against the background of phosphorus-potassium fertilizer increased the yield of root chicory root crops, fractional application of mineral fertilizers is more effective compared to the main application, the introduction of boron and cobalt increased the content of inulin and sugars in root crops. The inulin content increased as the dose of nitrogen fertilizers increased.