Stone fruits such as apricot, cherry plum, cherry, peach, plum, and sweet cherry are highly popular in the Russian Federation. They are cultivated in the industrial gardens of large agricultural producers, as well as the plantings on farms and household plots. The fruits of these species can be consumed fresh for a considerable period of time. The application of some processing methods (cooling, freezing, and storage in a special atmosphere) significantly extends this period. Stone fruits are also suitable for producing a wide variety of processed products. The biochemical composition of fruits determines their high energy value and dietary properties. The representatives of the genus Prunus L. exhibit great genetic diversity. Due to their high polymorphy, they cover a large area. In regions with favorable weather and climatic growth conditions, stone fruits constitute the main industrial varieties. High requirements for industrial varieties determine the relevance of breeding improvement of available varieties. Representatives of the genus Prunus are characterized by a long juvenile period, different ploidy of species, high incompatibility, as well as heterozygosity for a large number of traits with a comparatively small number of identified genes. This fact significantly complicates genetic studies. The assortment of stone fruit crops in central Russia was renewed in several main directions. Most varieties were created through intervarietal crosses within a species. The current breeding work is aimed at creating new stone fruit species, as well as at improving the existing assortment. Along with the crossing of geographically distant varieties within a species, distant hybridization is one of the promising directions. In this way, new cultivated species were created, e.g., Russian plum (P. rossica Erem.), which is widely used in plantings. Such varieties are characterized by an attractive appearance, large size, pleasant aroma, and great flavor of fruits, as well as resistance to frost and rotting.

The article briefly describes the history behind the creation of the Sochi Agricultural and Horticultural Experimental Station (now known as the Federal Research Center ‘the Subtropical Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences’), as well as the techniques and methods of breeding research to create new varieties of the genus Citrus. A brief biography of the breeder Fyodor Zorin (1904-1967) is presented, as well as the varieties of citrus crops created by him. The article tells the story behind the Friendship Tree, its importance in promoting the ideas of peace and friendship of peoples, and how it became a unique botanical garden.

Fragaria × ananassa Duch refers to common and popular berry crops. Its productivity is used to characterize the cultivation of a variety in a particular region and the acceptability for industrial cultivation. The experiment was conducted to evaluate promising garden strawberry seedlings by productivity and its components, as well as to select the best seedlings for breeding. The experiment was carried out in 2022-2023 at the Orenburg breeding site of the FSBSO ARHCBAN. The research invloved six promising seedlings from three crossing combinations: ‘Darenka’ × ‘Bereginya’ + ‘Lord’ (pollen mixture), ‘Vima Xsima’ × ‘Studencheskaya’, ‘Lord’ × ‘Tsaritsa’ + ‘Kent’ (pollen mixture). The released variety ‘Senga Sengana’ was chosen as a control. Strawberry productivity potential is determined by main morphostructural components: number of pedicels, number of fruits per bush and their average weight. The number of pedicels per bush of the studied seedlings varied on average from 5.2 (No. 7-3-42) and from 4.3 (No. 6-2-34) to 8.0 pcs in the figure. (No. 6-2-36). The highest number of fruits per bush 39.0 pcs. was observed in seedlings No. 6-2-36, No. 6-2-30 and 37.0 pcs. in No. 6-1-7, while the least number of formed berries was detected in control variety Senga Sengana. Seedlings No. 6-2-36, No. 6-2-33, an d No. 7-3-42 obtained large berries during the research period, their average weight amounted to 9.1-9.2 g. The productivity of seedlings ranged from 196.1 to 358.8 g/bush. The promising seedling No. 6-2-36 was distinguished by productivity, number of pedicels and fruits, as well as average berry weight.

New apple varieties should possess a set of adaptive traits that provide yield, stable fruiting, and highly marketable fruits with a long period of postharvest storage, thus ensuring the profitability of their use in industrial plantings. According to the State Register, the central region of the Russian Federation is one of the leading regions in terms of the number of apple varieties approved for use. Long-term research of scientists and specialists from FSBSO ARHCBAN has greatly contributed to the development and improvement of the assortment both in the region and beyond. The key directions for apple breeding at the institution include improving winter hardiness, resistance to scab, and the columnar shape of the crown. The review article presents the history of shaping the directions for breeding work and modern achievements of FSBSO ARHCBAN in apple breeding, as well as an analysis of the long-term focused scientific activity of breeders. The most significant breeding results were achieved by Prof. V. Kichina, who, together with his students and followers, was the first in Russia to create several columnar apple varieties that offer high winter hardiness, resistance to scab, and marketable qualities of fruits (‘Dialog’, ‘Lukomor’, ‘Malyukha’, ‘Ostankino’, ‘President’, and ‘Chervonets’), as well as fundamentally new high-yielding varieties with a conventional crown shape that possess high adaptability and resistance to pathogens (‘Arkadik’, ‘Legendа’, ‘Marat Busurin’, and ‘Mayak Zagorye’). The article presents the main characteristics of breeding achievements of the last decades: tree crown shape; ripening time of fruits and their qualitative and quantitative indicators (tasting evaluation, average weight, shape, etc.); yield; resistance to abiotic and biotic factors. Data are presented on the use of apple varieties bred by FSBSO ARHCBAN both in agricultural production (on the basis of license agreements) and in scientific and technological cooperation with Russian National Research Universities (inclusion in breeding programs). The apple breeding activities conducted at FSBSO ARHCBAN are described, and the main directions for breeding work are outlined.

The adaptation of regenerant plants to ex vitro conditions constitutes the final stage of clonal micropropagation for hydrangea. The study used the AirCube Ebb & Flow hydroponic system that periodically floods the plant roots with a nutrient-rich solution. The study examined the effect of three different substrates on the establishment of regenerant plants: agroperlite, coconut substrate, and mineral wool. The establishment of microshoots with the use of the hydroponic system was found to average 85 %. Agroperlite proved to be the most effective substrate for the adaptation of regenerant plants: the average plant establishment amounted to 90 %; the use of mineral wool was shown to be the least effective (81 %). A greater number of plants with full root system development after 15 days of adaptation was noted with the use of agroperlite and coconut substrate. Of all the studied substrates, agroperlite was more effective for root system development (average root length of 5.9 cm), with the coconut substrate being slightly inferior (average root length of 5.4 cm); the use of mineral wool was the least effective (average length of 2.9 cm). The greatest average plant height at day 30 of cultivation was observed in H. arborescens varieties (8.61 cm), while the lowest was noted in the varieties of H. paniculata (4.02 cm). The use of a hydroponic system in the adaptation of regenerant plants was proved to provide a means to obtain the planting material of hydrangea with a developed above-ground part and root system in 30 days.

The study aims to optimize the procedure for storing 12 varieties of Rubus idaeus L. of different fruiting types. The experiment used 1/2 Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with agar (6.8 g/L), sucrose (20 g/L), and 6-benzylaminopurine (0.3 mg/L). The effects of temperature (+23 ℃ and +15 ℃) were examined, as well as that of a retardant, chlorocholine chloride at 0.2 g/L (CCC), used as part of the nutrient medium. A high percentage of viable explants (48.7- 73.0 %) was found to survive up to nine months under different cold storage conditions. From month 9 to month 12, the percentage of viable explants decreased (by 1.3-2.1 times depending on storage conditions). It was found optimal to store the studied varieties of R. idaeus in vitro at a lower temperature (+15℃) on 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 0.3 mg/L of 6-benzylaminopurine without the addition of a growth inhibitor. After 12 months of storage, the percentage of viable explants amounted to 56.9. The growth percentage of viable explants after in vitro storage at +15 ℃ on media without CCC amounted to 98.6, with an average propagation factor of 5.6, number of microshoots of 2.7 pcs./explant, and microshoot length of 1.3 cm. The presence of CCC in the medium was noted to reduce the growth rate of explants, while adversely affecting the percentage of viable explants. Thus, after 12 months of in vitro storage at +15 ℃ on media with the addition of CCC, the percentage of viable explants amounted to 39.2 %. It was noted that from month 3 to month 12 of storage at +15 ℃ on nutrient media with the addition of CCC, the number of microshoots and their length changed insignificantly (by 1.2 and 2.6 times), as compared to the indicators of microshoots cultivated in a grow room (by 1.8 and 3.3 times). The development of explants of the studied R. idaeus genotypes after in vitro storage was found to be affected by the type of fruiting and varietal features of the crop.

Wild-growing varieties are used in the breeding of Vicia sativa L. in order to expand genotypic diversity and improve the environmental stability of created varieties. In order to find wild-growing vetch possessing valuable breeding traits, 22 specimens from 15 countries were evaluated. Tests were conducted in a field experiment in the south of Moscow Oblast in 2018, 2020, and 2021. The ‘Vera’ variety served as the reference. On the basis of three-year data and in accordance with the International Classification of Vicia sativa L., the specimens were evaluated for early maturity, crop and seed production, seed size, leading shoot length, branchiness, number of pods per plant, and number of seeds in a pod. All the specimens were characterized by early maturity of fodder mass and seeds. The three-year average duration of the “sprouting- crop ripeness” period amounted to 34.7-46.3 days, while that of “sprouting-seed maturity” reached 59.0-67.5 days. In wild-growing specimens, the dry weight of the plant in the phase of crop ripeness ranged from 1.0 to 5.0 g (18-92 % of the reference). The fodder mass yield per plant was lower than that of the reference variety due to the poorer development of lateral shoots. Nineteen specimens were at the same level as or superior to the reference variety in terms of plant height. The three-year average seed yield of the specimens varied from 1.3 to 3.2 g (28-70 % of the reference). An analysis of seed yield showed that all specimens produced fewer pods than the reference. However, seven specimens were identified to be annually superior to the reference in terms of other traits: seed size (kk-36830, 36831, 36837, 36848, and 36850); the average number of seeds in the pod (kk-36871); the maximum number of pods in a node; the number of pods and the number of productive nodes on the leading shoot (kk-36879). These specimens are of interest for use in breeding vetch for seed yield.

The article presents an analytical review of Russian publications reporting the results of studies that search for optimal ways to affect apple plants in order to obtain branched annual plants. Since it has been proved that nursery plants of a certain age and quality are preferable for each type of intensive planting, as their use promotes the early maturity of trees thus ensuring a quick economic return on capital investments, it is currently relevant to study the production of apple tree planting material with specified biometric parameters. The use of mechanical impact on the above-ground part of grafted plants to suppress apical dominance is considered; the effectiveness of stimulating premature shoots in the crown area is confirmed. Much attention is paid by researchers to the chemical treatments of plants in the fields of fruit tree nurseries to improve the quality of annual plants. The use of cytokinin preparations and gibberellic acids is shown to be highly effective. The maximum effect on obtaining branched annual plants in most works was achieved in pomological apple varieties that are prone to the formation of premature shoots, with the budding on vegetatively propagated rootstocks of a first-grade commercial variety at a height of over 15 cm above the soil surface. One of the alternative ways of obtaining branched annual plants is wood grafting in spring and cultivation both in the field and in protected ground with a root-ball system. According to most researchers, the greatest effectiveness of the combined use of various techniques can be achieved only with strict adherence to conventional technologies for each method of cultivation.

The study evaluates a protection system by selecting and alternating fungicides having different mechanisms of action to exclude the emergence of resistant populations of apple tree pathogens. The experiments were started at Koshelevsky Posad LLC (Syzransky District, Samara Oblast) in 2022-2023. The orchard was planted in 2013-2014, with trees arranged in a 3.5×1.5 m grid; the 62-396 rootstock was used. The biological effectiveness of fungicide protection against apple scab (Venturia inaequalis (Cooke) Wint.) and fruit rot (Monilia fructigena Pers.) was analyzed using ‘Berkutovskoye,’ ‘Kulikovskoye,’ ‘Kuibyshevskoye,’ ‘Lobo,’ and ‘Northern Sinap’ varieties. The protection system including contact and systemic agents having different mechanisms of action was developed according to the FRAC diagram for assessing the combined risk of fungicide resistance developing in phytopathogens, which takes into account the adaptation rate of organisms (emergence of new resistant types) to changing environmental conditions. An analysis of the correlation between the growth rate of apple-specific phytopathogens and weather conditions shows no significant relationship (0.032-0.245). In these studies, the anthropogenic factor-chemical treatment with fungicides – had a predominant effect on the development of scab and monilia in apple orchards along with weather factors. The yield of marketable apples in the experimental quarter of the orchard differed insignificantly from year to year. In 2023, the yield was lower; however, this fact can be probably attributed to the return of late frosts during apple blossom in Samara Oblast. Noteworthy is that for the ‘Berkutovskoye’ and ‘Lobo’ varieties, unmarketable apples did not exceed 5 and 12 %, respectively, in the studied quarter of the orchard. The protection system using fungicides (GC Shans) helped to optimize the phytosanitary condition of the orchard, thus reducing the amount of fallen fruit and providing a stable harvest of marketable apples.

The article reports on studies (2011-2022) monitoring harmful organisms in the ecosystem of the rose garden of the Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The studies yielded data on the detection of pathogens and pests, as well as the phenotypic manifestation of pathologies and lesions. A total of 21 species of pathogens and 16 species of phytophages were identified. The species composition of harmful organisms in the ecosystem of the rose garden was defined. It is shown that at the initial stage (2011- 2013) of ecosystem establishment, no external signs of viral diseases were observed, and a low level of fungal infections was noted. The development of such harmful pathogens as Peronospora sparsa Jacz., Sphaerotheca pannosa Lev., Phragmidium disciflorum James, and Ph. tuberculatum Mull. was controlled by culling plants of susceptible varieties. The predominant pathogens included Marssonina rosae (Lib.) Died., Phyllosticta rosae Desm., and Septoria rosae Desm., and the susceptibility of specific varieties to these pathogens was established. The populations of pathogens causing spot anthracnose (Sphaceloma rosarum Pass.), ascochyta leaf spot (Ascochyta rosicola Sacc.), and cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora rosicola Pass.) were slightly less common. A wide range of signs of viral infections was identified. Nine viruses belonging to five genera were detected. The frequency of their occurrence was analyzed, and the most common viruses were identified: Prunus necrotic ring spot ilarvirus, Apple mosaic ilarvirus, Tobacco ring spot nepovirus, and Arabis mosaic nepovirus. The species diversity of phytophages was noted: leaf beetles, snout beetles, leafroller moths, sawflies, blossom weevils, earwigs, moths, leafhoppers, aphids, and true bugs. It was found that damage to plants by a range of pests reached only an average level, except for individual varieties (Red Blanket and Prosperity). In general, the phytosanitary assessment of the rose gene pool of the garden according to the phytosanitary monitoring and integrated detection revealed a wide range of parasite complexes: fourteen types of pathogenic complexes, four types of entomological complexes, and five types of entomopathogenic complexes. The tactical and basic directions for control of harmful organisms in the ecosystem of the rose garden are discussed.