The aim of the study was to breed highly adaptive pear varieties that combine high ripeness, nutmeg flavor, as well as long-term fruit keeping during storage. In the Research Institute of Horticulture and Medicinal Plants «Zhigulevskie Sady», work on breeding pear varieties with nutmeg flavor was started by S. P. Kedrin in 1934 with the use of the Williams summer variety in breeding work, and later in 1985, this breeding work with the use of qualitative characteristics of the Williams red variety as a donor the work was continued by A. A. Kuznetsov in order to obtain varieties of pears with a nutmeg flavor. In addition to obtaining varieties with the desired taste qualities, the breeding work of the Institute is aimed at obtaining varieties with high adoptive qualities for use as a garden crop in the conditions of the Middle Volga region. In 2021, the Yakhontovaya variety (Volozhka x Williams red) bred at the institute is included in the State Register for the 7th region. The article also provides a brief description of 4 promising varieties of pears with nutmeg flavor well adapted to local conditions. Three varieties: Dar Zhiguley, Muskatka, Yakhontovaya were obtained as a result of distant crosses with the participation of the Ussuri pear (P. ussuriensis M.), and the fourth variety Volshebnitsa is an intervarietal hybrid. All of them belong to the group of early-fruiting varieties. A long period of fruit consumption (1.5-2 months) was observed in Muskatka and Dar Zhiguley varieties. The Yakhontovaya variety has high commodity and consumer qualities. The varieties have a complex of biologically and economically valuable traits and can be used in breeding. The creation of pear varieties with high-quality fruits capable of competing with foreign ones seems to be quite a possible task for breeders.

Realization of the genetic potential of raspberries is possible only if varieties are introduced into production that are adaptive to the soil and climatic conditions of the region. The article presents the results of long-term studies of raspberry varieties and forms according to the main economic and biological characteristics. Objects of research were raspberry varieties and forms: Visokaya, Barhatnaya, Chelyabinskaya Rannyaya, Blestyaschaya, Doch Vislukhi, Barnaulskaya, Mishutka, Zevs, Gerakl, Izobilnaya, Patritsiya, Volnitsa, Arbat, Jar_Ptitsa, Arisha, Taganka, Krasa Rossii, Peresvet, Gusar, Rubinovoe Ojerele, Oranjevoe Chudo, Lazarevskoe, Juravlik, Solnishko, Rubin, Meteor, Beglyanka, Shosha, Brigantina, Skromnitsa, Kokinskaya, Sputnitsa, Balzam, Sovetskaya, Samarskaya Plotnaya, Rannii Syurpriz, Polka, Alenushka, Novost Kuzmina, Kvazar, Kenbi, Flamingo, seyanets Kaliningradskii, 1-33, 1-80, 1-65, 2-73, 2-66, 2-39, 2-11, 2-19. Most drought-resistant raspberry varieties and forms were identified: Solnishko, Sputnitsa, Juravlik, Patritsiya, Samarskaya plotnaya, Brigantina, Peresvet, Krasa Rossii, Gerakl, Arisha, Jar-Ptitsa, 2-73, 1-33. High-yielding (14-17 t/ha) and large-fruited (over 4 g) raspberry varieties and forms were revealed: Gerakl, Izobilnaya, Patritsiya, Volnitsa, Arbat, Jar_Ptitsa, Arisha, Taganka, Krasa Rossii, 1-33, Oranjevoe Chudo. According to the taste qualities and attractive appearance of the fruits, raspberry varieties and forms were distinguished: Novost Kuzmina, Balzam, Solnishko, Juravlik, Blestyaschaya, JarPtitsa, Arisha, Taganka, Krasa Rossii, Patritsiya, Gerakl, 1-33, 2-73, 1-80. Evaluation of the main economic and biological characteristics revealed that raspberry varieties and forms of Gerakl, Patritsiya, Krasa Rossii, Jar-Ptitsa, Arisha, 1-33 are of interest for their use as parent forms and cultivation in commercial plantations in the steppe zone of the Southern Urals.

The researches were held in 2011-2019 on the base of strawberry experimental sites in the Experimental Production Association of the I. V. Michurin Federal Scientific Center (Michurinsk, Tambov Region, RF). The purpose of the research was to identify criteria and parameters for evaluating strawberry varieties suitable for integrated cultivation technology, and to improve the commercial assortment. Plants of 45 introduced varieties were studied in strawberry plantations established in 2010-2016. The results of the analysis of the Register of strawberry varieties allowed for use on the territory of the Russian Federation and the region are presented. The principal problems of improving the assortment of strawberry are shown taking into account different cultivation systems. On the base of system analysis of experiment results main criteria and parameters were indicated. They allow us to evaluate the strawberry varieties suitable for the system of integrated production. The folloving sequence for evaluating strawberry varieties is recommended: adaptive capacity (abiotic, biotic and edaphic factors), commercial quality, transportability, productivity, consumption qualities marketability at post-harvest period, season of ripening; simultaneous ripening and number of harvesting. Introduced strawberry varieties have been identified that meet the parameters of the developed assessment, which formed the basis of an commercial assortment suitable for the integrated fruit production system. These are varieties with ripening dates: very early ('Flair', 'НФ311), early ('Elianneу', 'Maya', 'НФ 421', 'Fleurette'), medium ('Isaritsa', 'НФ 205', 'Marmolada', 'Vima Xima'), late ('Florence', 'Malwina'), very late ('Flamenko', 'Monterey', 'San Andreas'). They make it possible to significantly expand the period of strawberry production with high marketability, which is expressed in an increase in the share of the output of products of the highest and first commercial varieties during the life of the plantations (65-90 %).

The article presents data on the study of the biological and morphological characteristics of 13 varieties of Paeonia intersectional hybrids when introduced in the forest-steppe zone of the Bashkir Cis-Ural. The twelve quantitative traits (maximum height, maximum shoot thickness at the very top, number of branches from the base, leaf length at the first axillary bud, maximum leaf width at the first axillary bud, width of the lateral leaf segment, pedicel length, maximum pedicel thickness, flower diameter , the length of the longest perianth, the maximum width of the longest perianth, the number of carpels) and twenty one qualitative (the appearance of the plant, the main color of the leaf bud, the main color of the shoot during the budding period, waviness of the leaf edge, pubescence of the lower surface of the leaf, the main color of the leaf, petiole coloration, anthocyanin coloration of the leaf, main coloration of the pedicel, opening of the bud, the level of doubleness of the flower, position of the flower, coloration of the flower, type of coloration of the outer petals, main coloration of the pigment spot, aroma of the flower, main coloration of the filamentous filament, main coloration of anthers, the shape of the staminodial disc, the main coloration of the staminodial disc, the main coloration of the stigma) were analyzed. Their research was carried out in 2019-2021. The phenotypic variability of quantitative parameters was studied. High variability was found for the traits «number of branches from the base» and «number of carpels», low variability — for «flower diameter» and «length of the longest perianth leaflet». A positive average relationship was revealed between the flower diameter and the maximum width of the longest perianth leaflet (0,60), the maximum pedicle thickness and the number of carpels (0,62). A negative moderate relationship was noted between the leaf length at the first axillary bud and the maximum width of the longest perianth leaflet (−0,40). The revealed patterns are of interest for building a model of paeony varieties and using them in plant breeding.

Studies of the strawberry economic and biological parameters were carried out in the Orenburg branch of the Federal Research Center of Horticulture from 2019 to 2021. The objects of the study were varieties of foreign breeding. The zoned varieties Orletz and Zenga Zengana served as control. According to the main phenological phases of plant development, there was a difference in the onset of the flowering phase, in the observed varieties it was 3 — 5 days. The total duration of flowering on average ranged from 10 to 12 days. The beginning of berry ripening in the Orenburg region in early varieties occurs in the first decade of June, in middle repining varieties in the second decade of June. The average duration of the fruiting period was 12-21 days. According to winter hardiness, the most resistant during the observation period from 2019 to 2021 were the zoned varieties Orletz and Zenga Zengana, among the varieties of foreign breedig Bogota, Bounty, Venta, Ducat, Lord, Polka, Troubadour, Junia Smides. Over the years of research, strawberry mite damage was noted up to 1 point, on varieties: Florence, Honeoye, Corona, Rumba, Sonata, Troubadour, Bounty. White spotting was noted in 2019 on the varieties Polka, Vima Xima, Corona, as well as in the Zenga Zengana zoned variety. Brown spotting in a weak degree from 0.5 — 1 points affected all the studied varieties. On average, over 3 years of observation, the number of peduncles in early ripening varieties was 4 pcs.; for varieties of the average ripening period — 4-6 pcs. On the studied strawberry varieties, the number of berries ranged from 14 to 28 pcs./ bush. According to the yield assessment, the studied strawberry varieties Junia Smides, Bogota, Polka and Zenga Zengana are medium-yielding — more than 12 t/ha.

Obtaining a standard planting material with a closed root system for establishing a basic mother plantations of clone apple clone processes using intensive technology was carried out in protected soil. During the growing season, modern mineral fertilizers and plant growth regulators were used. The aim of the research was to establish the effect of the combined use of plant growth regulators and a complex mineral fertilizer of prolonged action Osmocote Pro on plants of clonal rootstocks 54-118 with a closed root system when cultivated in protected soil. The factors of the experiment were doses of mineral fertilizer (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 gL-1 substrate) and plant growth regulators (IBA, gibberellic acid). It was established that the mineral fertilizer of prolonged action contributes to the realization of the genetic potential of the improved planting material of clonal rootstocks of apple trees to a greater extent than plant growth regulators. Plants with smaller sizes of the aboveground part gave the maximum increase (from 10 to 300 %), with an increase in the initial height of the aboveground part, the increase decreased, which allowed at the end of the season to obtain a leveled source material necessary for establishing basic mother plantations. The maximum increase, 310  % of the initial height of the aboveground part, was observed when Osmocote Pro mineral fertilizer was introduced into plant containers, a dose of 6 gL-1 of substrate and root treatment with plant growth regulator IBA. For plants with an initial height of the aboveground part of 21-40 cm, the greatest increase was obtained with the use of Osmocote Pro mineral fertilizer, a dose of 6 gL-1 of substrate, and treatment with IBA and gibberellic acid. The application of a dose of mineral fertilizer of 8 gL-1 of the substrate caused chlorosis of individual leaves and did not contribute to an increase in the height of the aboveground part of the plants. The maximum height-aligned planting material of clone rootstocks 54-118 was obtained with the combined use of Osmocote Pro mineral fertilizer 4 gL-1 of substrate by treatment plants of gibberellic acid, the coefficient of variation within the variant was 11.4 %.

The article provides data on the study of the biochemical composition of the species Melissa officinalis, Alcea rugosa, A. kusariensis, A. hyrcana, A. rosea. Research were carried out in natural conditions and in Absheron, in cultural conditions on the experimental site of the Central Botanical Garden of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. The climate of Apsheron is mainly moderately hot and dry, subtropical and belongs to the semi-desert type. Gray-brown soils are widespread in the Central Botanical Garden. Of the studied species, two species, A. kusariensis and A. hyrcana, are rare species and listed in the “Red Book” of Azerbaijan. A. kusariensis is a rare endemic species of the Caucasus. A. hyrcana is a rare species in Azerbaijan. Determined primary moisture, hygroscopic moisture, the amount of dry matter, raw ash, raw fat and protein in the composition of the species. It was revealed that by the end of the growing season, the composition of the M. officinalis species decreases in crube ash, initial and hydroscopic moisture, while the amount of crude oil and protein increases. Compared to the underground part, the chemical composition of the aboveground part of the Alcea rugosa species is richer. Comparison of samples of this species growing in nature and in culture showed that the mass of raw ash and crude oil was higher in natural conditions, and the mass of protein was higher in cultured samples. Among the studied species, the prevalence of crude oil content was observed in A. hyrcana (4,35 %) and A. rosea (4,25 %) species, in A. kusariensis in terms of crude ash content (21,0 %), and in protein content in A. rugosa (22,5-28,19 %).

The article studies the regularities of cadmium (Cd) accumulation by red currant (Ribes rubrum L.) plant varieties grown on soddy-podzolic soils adjacent to the metropolis of Moscow, containing 0.26-1.02 mg/kg of mobile Cd. The researches were carried out in collection plantations of the Federal Horticultural Research Center for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery (Moscow region), including varieties of different ecological and geographical origin: 9 red (Valentinovka, Viksne, Gazelle, Konstantinovskaya, Nadezhda, Niva, Rachnovskaya, Serpantin, Jonkheer Van Tets), 2 pink (Gollandskaya Rozovaya, Lydia) and 2 white (Belaya Feya, Blanca) currant varieties. The agrochemical properties of soils, the content of mobile Cd in the soil, and its content in the fruits and leaves of plants were determined. The agrochemical properties of soils, the content of mobile Cd in the soil, in the fruits and leaves of plants were determined. The coefficients of Cd assimilation by the fruits and leaves of red currant plants were calculated, the statistical dependences of the Cd accumulation parameters on the agrochemical properties of soddy-podzolic soils at different depths of the root layer were determined. Regression dependences of Cd accumulation in fruits and leaves of red currant on parameters of agrochemical properties of the soil and the content of mobile Cd in the soil were constructed. It has been established that when grown on cultivated soddy-podzolic loamy soil with a mobile Cd content of 0.26-1.02 mg/kg in the root layers of the soil, red currant varieties Belaya Feya, Blanca, Valentinovka, Viksne, Gazelle, Konstantinovskaya, Lydia, Rachnovskaya, Serpantin, Jonkheer Van Tets are more resistant to soil contamination with Cd compared to varieties Gollandskaya Rozovaya, Nadezhda, Niva. At the same time, the content of Cd in the leaves of red currant, depending on the variety, is 2-3 times higher than its content in fruits. The regression models indicated a closer dependence on the parametrs of the agrochemical properties of the soil and the Cd content in it of the values of Cd accumulation in fruits than in leaves. The assimilation of Cd by the fruits of red currant plants when cultivated on cultivated soddy-podzolic soils with a mobile Cd content of 0.26-1.02 mg/kg depended on the varietal barrier properties of plants, the content of mobile Cd in it, and also on the mobility of Cd, which depends, in first of all, from the acidity and availability of the soil with alkaline hydrolysable nitrogen.