The selection of pollinators when planting plantings in crop production and parental pairs during hybridization in breeding is closely related to the problem of self-incompatibility. The results of numerous studies show that self-incompatibility is realized through a variety of biological mechanisms and is aimed primarily at preventing inbreeding within a population. Self-incompatibility in many species is determined by one S-locus with many S-alleles. In this case, the S-haplotype combines male and female specificity determinants (S-determinants), and pollen recognition occurs due to a molecular allele-specific interaction between them. In representatives of the genus Prunus, self-incompatibility is controlled by the interaction of genes belonging to the S locus, the combination of variants of which forms a specific S haplotype. Molecular S-genotyping methods are based on S-RNase gene sequences, which allow the identification of S-alleles and the classification of varieties with respect to incompatibility groups. To date, 31 S-haplotypes have been identified in sour cherries and sweet cherries, and some of the haplotypes are identical to each other. In sour cherry, 12 functional S-haplotypes and 9 nonfunctional ones have been described. 6 S-haplotypes of sour cherry species have also been described. Mutations that occur not only in the S-RNase and SFB genes, but also in regions not associated with the S-locus can lead to disruption of the self-incompatibility mechanism. Studies on the identification of self-incompatibility alleles of representatives of the Cerasus subgenus were in many cases carried out on the species P. avium L. The formation of self-(in)compatibility of tetraploid genotypes of sour cherry is due to the presence of mutations in the S-locus genes, which lead to the appearance of non-functional S-haplotypes. Self-incompatibility of pollen in sour cherry occurs when one fully functional S-allele in the pollen corresponds to one functional S-haplotype in the pistil. Currently, the study of the mechanism of self-incompatibility continues, and genotyping of sour cherry and sweet cherry varieties is carried out at S-loci. DNA analysis data is promising for predicting the level of compatibility of varieties during pollination and fruit set during hybridization.

The domestic apple tree (Malus domestica Borkh.) occupies a leading place among fruit crops, both in terms of area planted and in terms of gross fruit harvest. Currently, apple tree varieties are subject to strict requirements for highly adaptability, winter hardiness, early fruiting, high yield and quality of fruits. The new apple tree variety Hrustal’nyj Bashmachok (breeding number 1-18), meets many of the listed requirements, is the result of breeding work of the Orenburg branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution Federal Scientific Center for Horticulture, aimed at improving the assortment and meeting the demand of producers and consumers of agricultural products in the Ural region. A variety of autumn ripening, universal use, obtained from open pollination of Antonovki Obyknovennoj and combines in its genotype such valuable qualities as high winter hardiness, productivity, and resistance to scab. The tree is medium in size, with a rounded crown of medium density. Fruits with an average weight of 152 g, conical, regular in shape. The surface of the fruit is smooth, slightly ribbed, the main color at the time of harvest and consumer ripeness is greenish-yellow. The outer color is present on a smaller part of the fruit and is orange. Subcutaneous dots are small, white, barely noticeable. The fruit pulp is creamy, dense, juicy, fine-grained, with a medium aroma. The taste is sweet and sour, pleasant, tasting score 4.4 points, average aroma. The shelf life of fruits is 20-30 days. Chemical composition of the fruit: sugar content 10.8 %, ascorbic acid 19.1 mg/100 g, dry matter 13.4 %; acidity 0.8 %. The Hrustal’nyj Bashmachok variety has average drought and heat resistance, is slightly affected by scab, and begins to bear fruit in the third year after planting. Over a long period of study, the variety showed a high level of economically valuable traits, including yield from 14.8 to 18.8 t/year and stable annual fruiting. The Crystal Shoe variety has been included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements approved for use in the Ural region since 2022 and is recommended for updating the industrial assortment of the region and cultivation in farms of various categories.

Modern varieties of flowering ornamental plants have high economic and social significance. Prominent representatives of active long-term plant breeding are various varieties of peonies, which are actively used in landscaping botanical gardens, urban landscapes and smallholdings. With the development of molecular genetics, the selection of ornamental varieties of flowering plants has received a new impetus in its development. Researchers have identified markers that determine important decorative and economic qualities, such as flower shape, leaf color, corolla color, variety of double flower, aroma, which allows to intensify plant breeding, and also, which is quite important, to certify new varieties. In this article, we have given an overview of the results of longterm studies of representatives of the genus Paeonia in the Urals and contiguous lands, since the mid-twentieth century to the present, both domestic and foreign scientific schools. The article presents data on the locations of the anomalous peony along the Ural mountain range, the morphology and ecology of the growth of representatives of this species, medicinal properties, the results of molecular genetic typing of various marker systems. The points requiring more detailed study are indicated: there is no complete up-to-date information on the distribution of the anomalous peony in the Urals, there is no up-to-date data on the population size, there is no information about the molecular genetic structure of the species as a whole. The anomalous peony is a red book species that has a high level of decorativeness, as well as resistance to diseases that can be used not only in pharmacology, but also in modern plant selection. It is known that the number of populations of anomalous peony is low, in places of meetings it is noted singly, less often in small groups, which is connected with the active use of this species in folk medicine. Vegetative and root systems contain a large number of biologically active components with different properties. To develop measures for the protection and rational use of representatives of Paeonia anomala growing in the Urals, it is necessary to study the species more closely in order to preserve it in nature and further use in breeding and hybridization as a source of genes that will help significantly improve the plant breeding potential of modern varieties.

Modern ornamental gardening is difficult to imagine without beautifully flowering shrubs. One of these is hydrangea. In Russia, culture is one of the most popular in decorative gardening. However, there are some difficulties in obtaining a large amount of planting material of new and highly ornamental varieties. Therefore, it is important to develop effective reproduction technologies of the studied culture. It is possible to obtain high-quality planting material by clonal micropropagation in a short period of time. The resulting plants grow similar to the mother plant. Hydrangea L. representatives are effectively cultivated in vitro. There are many results of research about micropropagation of hydrangea, but there is only isolated datas about the comparative assessment of the morphogenetic potential of various species of the Hydrangea L. depending on the concentration of growth regulators. There are many growth regulators in the practice of cultivation in vitro. 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BAP), gibberellic acid, kinetin, zeatin. Murashige (MS) and Skoog and Quoirin (QL), Lepoivre nutrient media are used to activate the growth of axillary buds at the stage of micro-reproduction proper. The effect of the use of gibberellins on the in vitro cultivation of hydrangeas is poorly studied. The research aimed to studing the effect of gibberellic acid on the regeneration of shoots of Hydrangea L. We study the effect of gibberellic acid (GA) – 0.5 and 1 mg/l of concentrations. Reproduction coefficient of the Hydrangea macrophylla Thunb. (H. macrophylla) was 12.0, when we used 1 mg / l GA. The length of the Hydrangea paniculata Siebold (H. paniculata) micro-shoots increased by 25 % when we used 1 mg/l GA. According to the research of 2020, the best results on the use of different nutrient mediums mineral bases were obtained during in vitro cultivation on a QL nutrient medium with the addition of 0.3 mg/l 6-BAP. In the future this nutrient medium was as a control. After the application of GA, regenerants were planted to adapt of phytotron conditions. The best survival rate of H. macrophylla (90 %) (var. Peppermint) was recorded after cultivation of a nutrient medium containing 1 mg/l GA. The adaptability of ‘Magical Candle’ was excellent regardless of GA concentration.

The spike-like (epigonal) forms of Lupinus angustifolius L. differ from the typical forms by transformation into pods of the first order branches in the upper part of the plant. There were lines and varieties of narrow-leaved lupine alternately subjected to three-year tests in the climatic conditions of the Moscow region in 2009-2022, as they come into VIR collection. The results of the evaluation of 48 spike-like samples were presented. Of these, a total of 40 non-alkaloid samples were selected. The carriers of the gene le (24 samples) and two genes ta и le (5 samples) were allocated. The morphometric parameters of the samples were characterized in accordance with the descriptor scale. The ranges of variability and coefficients of variation of indicators within the group were shown. The epigonal forms were characterized by weight of seeds in the range of 3.3-9.9 g per plant (on average for three years). The correlation analysis showed that the differences between the samples in the seed productivity were mainly due to differences in the seed size (r...0.51), in the number of pods on the main stem (r...0.53) and in the number of pods on the lateral branches (r...0.54). A negative relationship between the number of pods on the central brush and in the axils (r...–0.70) and between the weight of 1 000 seeds and the average number of seeds per pod (r...–0.55) was noted. The highest indicators of seed productivity had samples k-3062 75A/327 (Australia) and k-3630 B-23/86 (Russia) (9.5 and 9.9 g per plant). The leadership of these samples was due to the outstanding number of seeds per plant (67 and 70) and the number of pods per plant (21.1 and 26.3), including on the main stem (11.4 and 11.1) and on the lateral branches (9.7 and 15.2), as well as by the larger seeds (weight of 1 000 seeds 141 g). Both samples were low-alkaloid, and the sample k–3062 had non-cracking pods by ta and le genes.

The results of assessing the decorative features of the feijoa (Acca sellowiana (O.Berg) Burret) culture in the conditions of the Republic of Abkhazia. A. sellowiana has a high nutritional, medicinal and decorative value. A. sellowiana culture is promising for growing on agricultural lands. The objects of research are species plants of F A. sellowiana of seed origin. The yield and sanitary condition of A. sellowiana plants in 2022 are worse than in 2021 due to heavy spring rainfall. Data on the crown architectonics, flowering duration, fruit ornamentality, and leaf roundness index are presented. The most valuable feature is the architectonics of the crown of plants, the least valuable feature is the fruit characteristics (shape, size, evenness). All studied A. sellowiana plants have a semi-bush form with a wide spreading crown. Most of the studied A. sellowiana plants (11 pcs.) had a height of 4.6 to 5,1 m. Most of the studied A. sellowiana plants by the duration of flowering in 2021 (16 pcs.) and in 2022 (14 pcs.) is in the range of 27-28 days, while the 4 samples in 2021 and 1 sample in 2022 had a longest flowering (31-32 days). A scoring system for the characteristics of A. sellowiana is been developed taking into account the conversion coefficient. A. sellowiana plants № 2 and № 25 have the highest indicators for decorative traits (87 points each) and are promising for further study.

In 2022-2023, a comparative study of the growth and productivity of own-rootedand grafted cherry plum trees planted in 2020 according to the 5×2 m scheme was conducted at the Federal Horticultural Research Center for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery. The objects of research are plants of the varieties ‘Shatyor’, ‘Zlato Skifov’ and ‘Kubanskaya Kometa’, own-rooted and grafted on clone rootstocks SVG-11-19 and 13-113. Differences in biometric indicators in own-rootedand grafted trees of all studied varieties have been established. The height of trees at the age of 5 years varied depending on the graft -rootstock combination from 2.0 (‘Zlato Skifov’/SVG-11-19) up to 3.1 m (‘Shatyor’/13-113). The height of the own-rootedtrees was 15-20 % less than that of the trees grafted on the rootstock 13- 113. The ‘Kubanskaya Kometa’ and ‘Shatyor’ varieties showed a significant decrease in height when grafted on the SVG-11-19 rootstock. The trees of the ‘Zlato Skifov’ variety (less than 2.1 m) were the weakest in the experiment. Differences in the length of annual increments and leaf area were revealed. The productivity of cherry plum trees in the initial period of fruiting depended both on varietal characteristics and on the method of growing planting material. The most productive variety was a Shatyor with a load yield of more than 11 kg/der. The greatest differences in productivity, depending on the rootstock, were noted in the ‘Kubanskaya Kometa’ variety: from 7.3 to 12.9 kg/der. The average productivity of trees of the ‘Zlato Skifov’ variety did not exceed 5.5 kg/der. The ‘Kubanskaya Kometa’ and ‘Shatyor’ varieties have an advantage in productivity in trees grafted on the SVG-11-19 rootstock compared to own-rootedones. The fruits of own-rootedtrees of all varieties were smaller than those grafted on the rootstock SVG-11-19. To increase the yield of the ‘KubanskayaKometa’ and ‘Shatyor’ varieties, seedlings grafted on the SVG-11-19 rootstock should be used. For a low-growing variety of ‘Zlato Skifov’, the optimal result can be obtained when planting plantings, both with own-rootedseedlings and grafted on rootstock 13-113.

The article discusses the spread of diseases and pests on cultivated mountain ash Sorbus aucuparia L. and Aronia mitschurinii Skvorts. et Maitulina. According to monitoring data (2000-2021), 30 species of phytopathogens and 55 species of phytophages were identifi ed on rowan and aronia, which in various combinations form parasitic complexes on individual genotypes. A total of 6 pathocomplexes, 9 entomocomplexes and 11 pathoentomocomplexes were recorded with the dominance of Phyllosticta aucupariae Th um., Ph. sorbi West., Ramularia sorbi Karak., Cladosporium orbiculatum Desm., Podosphaera oxyacanthe (DC) de Bary f. sorbi Jacz., Gymnosporangium cornutum Arthur ex F. Kern (G. juniperi Link.), Cytospora massariana Sacc. (C. lencostoma (Pers.) Sacc.), Tubercularia vulgaris Tode. (= Nectria cinnabarina (Tode) Fr.), Monilinia fructigena (Pers.) Honey (Monilia fructigena Pers.), Gloeosporium aucupariae Henn., Apple mosaic ilarvirus, Tobacco ring spot nepovirus, Cucumber mosaic cucumovirus, Dysaphis sorbi Kalt., Hoplocampa testudinea Clug., Psylla mali Schmdbg., Edvardsiana rosae L., Argyresthia conjugella L., Lyonetia clerckella L. The structure of the species composition is determined. 6 (Phyllosticta aucupariae Th um., Ph. sorbi West., Ramularia sorbi Karak., Septoria sorbi Lasch., Tubercularia vulgaris Tode. Monilinia fructigena (Pers.) Honey) and 9 (Aphis pomi Deg., Lepidosaphes ulmi L., Operophthera brumata L., Spilonota ocellata F., Ancylis selenana Gn., Argyresthia conjugella L., Yponomeuta padellus L., Euphodore advenella Zell., Eriophyes pyri Pgst.) species of harmful organisms are common to Sorbus and Aronia, respectively. 24 species of pathogens and 49 species of pests are dangerous for other garden crops. The dominant species of phytophages are identified, the most harmful diseases are described. Preventive measures are recommended to reduce the infectious background from harmful organisms.