The article considers the possibility of walnut cultivation in the Moscow region - in conditions far from its ecological optimum. The studies were carried out in 2013-2021 on the experimental site of the department of flora of the Main Botanical Garden of RAS, where in 1977 Alexei Konstantinovich Skvortsov established a collection of walnuts. The material for planting was the seed progeny of varieties and forms from various cities, including Moscow. The purpose of this work was the selection of promising forms for the creation of varieties adapted to the conditions of central Russia. The criteria for selecting the best genotypes were: winter hardiness, frost resistance, precocity, earlier entry into fruiting, autogamous type of flowering, lateral type of fruiting, fruits in the clusters, restraint in growth and high commercial qualities of fruits. As a result of the phenological observations, it was revealed that acclimatized walnut plants go through a full cycle of seasonal development, start the growing season late (April 29 − May 6) and end it early (October 1−11). The shoots are completely woody before the onset of cold weather, so the plants are quite winter-hardy in ordinary mild winters. The critical temperature in Moscow was -29.9 °C in January 2017. Low temperatures caused the death of reproductive buds, annual and perennial wood in almost all trees, and the most weakened specimens fell out completely. To date, the walnut gene pool is represented by 87 specimens aged from 37 to 44 years, of which 47 are single-stemmed and multi-stemmed trees and 40 are bushes. Samples were noted that, after the winter of 2017, normally bloomed and formed single fruits, despite the fact that the summer of 2017 was the coldest in the 21st century. As a result of studying the created genetic collection, 12 promising forms were identified. They are characterized by the presence of several breeding-valuable traits and regularly bear fruit. Further vegetative reproduction and varietal testing of the selected material is planned, which will allow solving a number of breeding and production problems to create a local range of walnuts.

We have studied effective methods of seed reproduction of some species of apple trees in the condition of Apsheron. The newly introduced and available in the collection of the Central Botanical Garden of ANAS 23 species of wild apples were taken as research material. Experiments were carried out with both stratified and non-stratified seeds. The germination rate of the studied species was different. As a result, it turned out that in order to obtain good germination of seeds of apple varieties introduced in Absheron, they should be sown either early autumn, or for various reasons (climate, lack of time, etc.), it is better to stratify the seeds and to shorten the germination time it is advisable to sow in spring. Statistical analysis was carried out on the basis of the obtained results. In the course of statistical processing, the statistical programs PAST, SPSS 16. were used. Cluster analysis of samples was carried out using the Ward method based on the Evklid index of genetic distance. According to morphometric and mass parameters, the seeds of the studied species were divided into 3 main groups with 5 values of the genetic distance. The values of statistical indicators were also determined for other studied characteristics of seeds in apple species. The parametrs include minimum and maximum values, mean, standard error, standard deviation, coefficient of variation. And the studied characters are the width, length, and weight of the seeds. This indicates that among the three traits studied between species, the mass trait has greater variability, in other words, higher genetic diversity. That is, the trait of the seed mass of the studied species makes it possible to distinguish more species. It is known that by crossing genetically distant species, a hybrid with new traits can be obtained, i.e. with a high effect of heterosis. From this point of view, high-quality species are selected from the species included in the clusters, and by crossing them with species from other clusters, a hybrid with a high heterosis effect can be obtained. With this method of selection, it is possible to gradually obtain new varieties of high quality.

The researches had been held in 2015-2021ss in FSBSI FARC of the North-East (FEDERAL STATE BUDGET SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION “FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTRE”). The studied objects were 36 varieties of black current collection of 2013 planting year. The check variety was Vologda. The aim of the researches is to estimate black currant varieties for productivity, fruiting stability, sustainability and adaptability in conditions of Kirov region. The most common technique to estimate productivity of the varieties is comparison with the check variety. 13 varieties were referred to the most numerous group of high productive (4.7-14.3 t/ha), including the varieties of FARC of the North-East, such as, Benefis (Benefit) and Sputnick (Satellite). The coefficient of productiveness stability (S) and the coefficient of adaptability (CA) were calculated for detection of adaptive varieties in conditions of the region. On the coefficient of productiveness stability (S) in conditions of Kirov region, the black current varieties with maximum demonstration of this feature were distinguished: Fortuna (Fortune) (0.86), Arcadia (0.83), Mulatka (Mulatto) (0.83), Dobriy Dzhin (A Kind Jenie) (0.82), Alivas (0.79) and the check variety Vologda (0.77). The estimation of the adaptability coefficient (CA) allows distinguishing 16 black current varieties with high adaptability (101280 % on average over 7 years). The coefficient of regression (b_i) shows how far the amount of harvest varies in changing environmental index per unit and characterizes flexibility of the variety. 10 flexible, high-intensity varieties, which coefficient of regression was 6.8-1.4, were identified. The technique, which was suggested by S. N. Shcheglov, allows the combination of productivity and sustainability. The applying of the technique permitted to distinguish 13 varieties with above the average productivity among the whole complex of varieties (more than 4.5 t/ha). As a result of the research, the following black currant varieties were emphasized: Benefis (Benefit) which was differed in high productiveness stability, average fruiting stability, high flexibility and adaptability; Sputnick (Satellite) and Naslednitsa (Inheritress), which combined high productiveness stability, high flexibility and adaptability. The adaptive varieties of the intensive type Cherniy Zhemchug (Black Pearl) and Nezhdanchik showed high but instable productivity during the years. The productive varieties Arcadia (the selection of FARC of the North-East) and Dobriy Dzhin (A Kind Jenie) were prominent for high fruiting stability and adaptability.

The results of a long-term study of varieties and samples of blue honeysuckle Lonicera caerulea L. are presented in the conditions of the Moscow region. The purpose of the work is to identify sources of economically valuable traits. 56 domestic samples of various origins were studied. The most valuable forms for cultivation and further breeding work have been identified, which have large fruit, good fruit taste, lack of tendency to untimely awakening of the kidneys and shedding of fruits during ripening. These characteristics distinguish the varieties of medium-early and medium maturation - Lebedushka, Marina, Kuminovka, Lazurnaya, Moskovskaya 23, Gzhelskaya Early, medium-late and late maturation - Leningrad Giant, Julia, Violet. The Nizhny Novgorod Early variety and the Tatiana sample are the earliest, they are also sources of good fruit taste and are not prone to bud awakening in autumn, but their fruits crumble heavily when ripe.

The purpose of the item under consideration in investigation of effect resulted from preplant introduction of gypsum, lime and biohumus on productivity marketability and growth processes of day-neutral strawberries and june bearing varieties. The investigations were carried out in open field on the soil characterized as black soils-leached, medium-humus, medium-strengt, heavy loamy on loess-like loam under lained de medium-grained sand with medium acid reaction of soil acidity (pH_KCL4.9). The study was focused on strawberry plantations (planted in 2017) with ‘Flamenko’ and ‘San Andreas’ varieties and variants with preplant application of 1. Biohumus, 2. biohumus and dolomite powder, 3. biohumus, gypsum and lime. The analysis of experiment results over the period 2017-2018 showed that statistically reliable biological efficiency was found for applying the compositions of ameliorant on the strawberry varieties of different genotypic groups. Increase in yield in the studied variants was from 29.0-49.9 % % (day-neutral variety ‘San Andreas’) and within 20.9-33.7 % % (june-bearing variety ‘Flamenko’). The influence of soil ameliorants on fruit weight is less expressed in the studied varieties ‘Flamenko’ (6.4-16.0 %-%). Phutosanitary control of strawberry plantation state revealed such damaging factors of the varieties as thrips and dusky stink bug.

The article summarizes the results of observations of the promising samples of the genus Sedum of the genetic collection of ornamental crops of the Orenburg branch of the Federal Horticultural Center for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery. Investigation of the features of the development phases and evaluation of the prospects of introduction of 7 species and 1 variety (Sedum selskianum Regel & Maack, Sedum dasyphyllum L., Sedum spurium cv. Rubi Glou, Sedum gybridum L., Sedum rupestre L., Sedum acre L., Sedum album L., Sedum ewersii Ledeb.) were held in 2019-2021. The phenological phases of the development of collection samples were studied, the prospects of introduction in the conditions of the steppe zone of the Southern Urals were evaluated. The studied groundcover perennials are assigned to the group of long-term vegetating plants. The beginning of the growing season of the studied samples was observed in the second decade of April, the sum of positive temperatures during the study period ranged from 158.7 to 207.4 ˚C; the temperature index above 5 ˚C over the years of research ranged from 50.6 to 81.9 C. The deployment of young leaves and the beginning of spring regrowth was noted after 7-12 days at the sum of active temperatures from 56.4 to 153.4 ˚C. The duration of the flowering period varies among the studied samples, the longest flowering is characteristic of S. selskianum, S. srurium cv., S. album. The onset of fruit maturity in various species is observed from the second decade of June to the second decade of July, in S. ewersii – in the second decade of September. Groundcover species of the genus Sedum in the conditions of the steppe zone of the Southern Urals are distinguished by a long (from 49 ± 4 days in S. acre to 64 ± 3 days in S. ewersii) period from the beginning of spring regrowth to the onset of flowering. The period from the onset of flowering to fruit ripening ranges from 29 ± 4 days for S. selskianum to 62 ± 3 days for S. album. According to the results of the study, 3 promising samples were identified for widespread use in landscaping.

Researches to study the productivity and economic effectiveness of an intensive apple orchard with various methods of planting were carried out in 2015-2020 at the laboratory plot of the FGBNU FSC of Horticulture. Research objects: apple trees of varieties Melba, Antonovka Obyknovennaya, Kandil Orlovskiy, Orlik, Podarok Grafskomu, grafted on semi-dwarf clonal rootstock 54-118. Research goal: improving the technology of planting and growing an intensive apple orchard. It was established that the laying of an intensive orchards with uncrowned annual saplings with the formation of a column type spindle-shaped crown significantly accelerated the increase in yield at the beginning of the fruiting period and ensured a profit of 45,885,2 th. roub/ha for cultivars of the spur fruiting type. It is shown that when planting an intensive apple tree orchards with uncrowned two-year-old saplings, profits and profitability levels were significantly lower. Varieties with a mixed type of fruiting, such as Antonovka Obyknovennaya, Podarok Grafskomu had a low yield at the beginning of the fruiting period and did not meet the requirements of intensive horticulture. The planting of an intensive orchards with uncrowned annual saplings, with a planting pattern of 4.0×1.5 m, reduced the time for the formation of a column type spindle-shaped crown by half.

The results of two-year studies on the influence of rootstocks, physiologically active substances and mechanical techniques on biometric indicators of annual seedlings of two varieties of cherries (Tyutchevka and Chermashnaya) are presented. The research was carried out in 2020-2021 in the experimental nursery of the Federal State Budgetary Research Center of Horticulture in the conditions of the Moscow region. The scheme of the experiment included 5 options: I – removal of apical leaves; II – treatment with Apllin (0.6 g/l); III – removal of apical leaves with treatment with Apllin (0.6 g/l); IV – pinching of the tip at a height of 60 cm; st – control, without processing and pinching. The eyepieces were sprayed twice, with an interval of 10 days. It was found that treatment with the preparation Apllin, removal of the apical leaves and their combined use contributed to a significant improvement in the biometric indicators of annual cherry seedlings of weakly branching varieties, increased the number of branches by 2.7-4.6 times and provided in most combinations an increase in the yield of first-class seedlings up to 90-100%. The greatest effect from mechanical and chemical influences was achieved when using the Izmailovsky rootstock. Pinching the top at a height of 60 cm caused a decrease in the linear and radial growth of annuals, an increase in the number of lateral shoots by 1.43 times, but only 50 % of seedlings obtained in this variant corresponded to 1 commercial grade.

The article presents the results of studies to assess the resistance of a number of ornamental crops to viral and fungal pathogens. The objects were collections of Phlox L., Paeonia L., Dahlia L.; pathogens of powdery mildew phlox (Erysiphe cichoracearum D. C. f. phlogis Jacz.), cladosporiosis (Cladosporium paeoniae Pass.) and rust (Cronartium fl accidum (Alb. et Schw.) Wint.) peony, dominant viruses in the gene pool of these cultures. As a result of the conducted studies, it was found that the nature of interaction with pathogens at the level of plant varieties and genotypes is realized differentially. Phlox L. varieties have been isolated. with a medium and high level of resistance, and two immune varieties ‘Bright Eyes’ and ‘Karl Furst’ in conditions of a severe infectious background to Erysiphe cichoracearum D. C. f. phlogis Jacz., however, not all varieties have retained this property over the past 5 years. Two varieties have a decrease in the level of resistance, four varieties have lost this property, and three varieties have increased this property. Fife varieties with a high level of resistance to the complex of dominant viruses (Cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV), Tobacco mosaic tobamovirus (TMV), Alfalfa mosaic alfamovirus (AMV), Arabis mosaic nepovirus (ArMV)) were identifi ed and 38 varieties were ranked according to the index of resistance to individual pathogens. In the Dahlia L. collection no virus-resistant varieties were found. Two out of five known viruses have been identifi ed within the Paeonia L. gene pool, to which 65% of varieties are resistant. Most varieties of Paeonia L. had weakly expressed resistance to the causative agent of Cladosporium paeoniae Pass. No varieties with a high level of resistance have been identified. Only 10 varieties susceptible to Cronartium flaccidum (Alb. et Schw.) Wint. were registered in the gene pool, 16 – medium-resistant and 30 – highly resistant. The article emphasizes the importance of finding sources of resistance and cultivating resistant varieties to harmful organisms as the safest method from the point of view of greening plant protection.