The study aims to evaluate the hybrid fund of garden strawberry for resistance to white and brown leaf spots (Ramularia tulasnei Sacc. and Marssonina potentillae (Desm.) P. Mang. F. fragariae (Lib.) Ohl.) under Orenburg Oblast conditions. The research was conducted at the Orenburg branch of the FSBSO Federal Horticultural Center for Breeding, Agrotechnology, and Nursery in 2022–2024. The research objects were 9 hybrid strawberry families. The results showed that plant resistance to leaf spots was closely related to both the distinctive genetic features of the cultivar and the weather conditions observed during the growing season. Hybrid seedlings in the cross combinations Lord×Naydena Dobraya, as well as Vima Xsima×Studencheskaya showed a relatively low incidence of brown leaf spot, i. e., 19.3 and 27.3 %, respectively. In the families Darenka×Bereginya+Lord and Lyubava×Lord+Darenka, the hybrids were more susceptible to this disease since more than 20 % of unstable seedlings were identified under 2024 conditions. The hybrid family Tsaritsa×Lord demonstrated the highest resistance to both spots.

Molecular methods are increasingly being used to determine the varietal affiliation of fruit crops. Genetic markers characterizing polymorphisms at the level of the entire genome are important for studying the genetic structure and characteristics of the breeding material. SSR markers remain popular due to their availability and possibility of comparison with data from different collections. In this work, we set out to evaluate the effectiveness of SSR markers to form their optimal set for genotyping sour and sweet cherry varieties. The selected SSR markers were tested using 14 sour cherry varieties (Prunus cerasus L.) (Assol, Bryunetka, Bulatnikovskaya, Belye Zhuravli, Chereshnevaya, Molodezhnaya, Novella, Pamyat Yenikeeva, Pamyat Evstratovu, Rastorguevskaya, Rusinka, Saniya, Silva, Vladimirskaya) and 13 sweet cherry varieties (P. avium (L.) L.) (Anons, Chermashnaya, Fatezh, Iput, Krasa Kubani, Krupnoplodnaya, Kutuzovka, Moskvoretskaya, Podarok Ryazani, Revna, Sinyavskaya, Uslada, Vasilisa) from the genetic collection of the Federal Horticulture Center for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery. The conducted analysis of SSR markers based on statistical analysis allowed us to identify the most informative markers for sour cherry varieties. The PceGA34 marker demonstrated the highest informational value among all the parameters studied. In addition, the BPPCT005, BPPCT037, BPPCT039, CPPCT006, CPPCT022, EMPA001, EMPA003, EMPaS02, EMPaS06, EMPaS12, EMPaS14, and UDP98-412 markers showed a sufficient degree of informativeness for effective differentiation of cherry varieties. At the same time, the informativeness of EMPA002, EMPA005, EMPA017, and EMPaS01 markers was established to be insufficient. Regarding sweet cherry varieties, the BPPCT005 and EMPaS12 markers showed the greatest informational value for varietal identification. The BPPCT037, BPPCT039, CPPCT006, CPPCT022, EMPA001, EMPA005, EMPaS01, EMPaS02, EMPaS06, PceGA34, and UDP98-412 were also recognized as sufficiently informative for this purpose. At the same time, the EMPA002, EMPA003, EMPA017, and EMPaS14 markers were excluded from consideration due to their insufficient informational value.

This review article analyzes the prospects of DNA markers in apple breeding and presents the results of testing DNA markers linked to scab resistance genes in Russian and international practice. Rvi6 was identified to be the most common gene in Russian varieties, with over 80 varieties carrying this gene having been approved for use in the Russian Federation. Genetic sources of three or more resistance oligogens are of interest for prompt pyramiding of resistance genes in hybrid offspring. Among the carriers of the three identified resistance genes were found to be the Venyaminovskoye, Orlovskoye Polesie, Start, Zarya Stavropol’ya, Nika, Kandil Orlovsky varieties and 12/2-20-75, 17/1-6-72, 17/1-6-1, 17/2-6-7, 17/1-7-17, 17/1-6-73, 94-13/39, 2007-19/15 forms of Russian origin. Among those of foreign selection were the Realka, Redfree, Korobovka Krupnoplodnaya, Navavita, Sakavita varieties, as well as the 84-39/58 and 84-59 forms. The following genetic sources with four resistance genes were identified: Firiki Vermiou (Rvi2, Rvi4, Rvi8, Rvi11) and 2000-45/70 (Rvi2, Rvi4, Rvi5, Rvi6). The research results obtained to date, in particular the identification of a number of genetic sources of one or more oligogens using DNA markers, indicate progress in breeding work toward increasing scab resistance and achieving stable resistance through identification of genotypes with single and pyramided target genes for further breeding work.

Spelt (Triticum aestivum L. subsp. speltа (L.) Thell.) is an ancient grain crop. Although being cultivated across vast areas in the past, it has gradually lost its significance due to low yields. Today, in the view of the growing demand for organic farming products, winter spelt is increasingly gaining popularity. Spelt is characterized by resistance to abiotic and biotic environmental factors, high protein content, and a wide range of nutrients in the grain. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the agronomic characteristics of the new winter spelt variety under the name of Znamenie bred by the Federal Scientific Center of Horticulture in the Moscow Oblast. The study was conducted in 2022–2024 and found Znamenie to be a mid-season variety with a vegetation period of 303–320 days. The average yield over the research period (three years) comprised 2.4 t/ha. In comparison with the Alcoran standard, Znamenie has a lower plant height of 109–112 cm (115-120 cm in the standard), a larger number of productive stems from 7 to 15 pcs., up to 25 pcs. in 2024, (5–7 pcs. in the standard), as well as a longer spike (4 cm longer than the standard). The protein content in the grain was 16%, the weight of 1000 grains was 45.5 g, the grain hardness was 53.3%, and the crude gluten content was 32.6%. The variety demonstrated good resistance to lodging and drought, as well as to powdery mildew, brown rust, root rot, enzyme-mycotic seed depletion (EMSD) and, to a slight degree, leaf septoria. Znamenie is recommended for use in cereals and the production of dietary foods. In 2024, the new winter spelt variety Znamenie was included in the State Register of Varieties and Hybrids of Agricultural Plants Approved for Use and recommended for cultivation in the Central Region of the Russian Federation.

The experience and results of cultivating plants (Carthamus tinctorius L.) in forest-steppe conditions are presented. The research objects were the following variety populations: Moskovskaya, Samara, and Kitayskaya. The aim was to determine the variety population of safflower that outperform the others in arid conditions for use in crop rotations. According to the experiments conducted in 2022–2024, the Kitayskaya variety population showed the highest yield of flower heads and biologically active substances per hectare (3.1 t/ha and 27.75 kg/ha, respectively). In terms of flavonoid content in inflorescences, Samara demonstrated the highest values (1.06 %); in addition, it was the earliest ripening variety. On the basis of all the studied indicators, including the content of fatty oil in seeds, the Moskovskaya variety population was established to be the most optimal variant, with the average yield over the years of observations of 2.74 t/ha, flavonoid content in inflorescences of 0.96 %, seed yield of 1.82 t/ha, and the content of fatty oil in seeds of 23.57 %. Safflower plants exhibit pronounced xerophyte characteristics, which allows this crop to be cultivated in arid conditions. A sufficient amount of soil moisture allows plants to fully implement their biological potential. Such optimal conditions were observed, e.g., in 2022.

The research comprehensively assesses the yield of introduced highbush blueberry cultivars in conditions of the Central Black Earth Economic Region based on the results of a three-year observation. The study and the analysis of the components of plant productivity and yield were conducted on such foreign-bred cultivars as Bluecrop, Elliot, Duke, Denise Blue, Patriot, Liberty, Chandler. The study was undertaken in 2021–2023 on the highbush blueberry research and production plantation located on the territory of agricultural firm SadMashService LLC in the Michurinsky municipal district of Tambov Oblast. The plantation was established in the spring of 2018 with a planting pattern of 4x0.5 m. The planting material used to create the plantation comprised 3-year-old container-grown plants which had 3 to 5 strong branches. In the process of cultivating the experimental highbush blueberry plants, intensive technology elements were employed. These included a complex irrigation system on the plantation which transported water and nutrients to the plants (a drip irrigation system in conjunction with sprinkler irrigation); the use of peat with given acidity parameters as a substrate (its pH equaled 3.5) for planting experimental plants; the use of coniferous sawdust and wood chips as mulch. The yield was studied over the course of three years. Based on the data obtained, the cultivars under investigation were divided into three groups, namely low-yielding, medium-yielding, and high-yielding. The yield of the experimental plant cultivars in the third year of study varied from 1 to 4.4 kg/bush, and from 5 to 22 t/ha. The cultivars were grouped into two categories, i. e., with large and very large berries. The average berry weight ranged from 2.6 g to 5.9 g; their number varied from 340 to 740 berries per plant.

In this article, we carry out an evaluation study of seven pear varieties cultivated in the Orenburg Oblast (Russia), which were planted in 2003. The research covered the period of 2022-2024 and involved the use of standard methods based on a set of economic and biological characteristics. Using oneway analysis of variance at a 5 % significance level, the presence of variability between the varieties was confirmed for all the parameters, except for productivity and yield. In 2024, the plant productivity was affected by frosts during flowering, which led to the death of flowers and ovaries and, as a result, the lack of harvest. The parameters of average productivity, yield, and fruit weight were calculated for the three-year period under study (including 2024 without fruiting). On this basis, the Krasnobokaya (K), Chizhovskaya, Uralochka, and Gvidon varieties were recommended for further selection and cultivation in the conditions of the Orenburg Oblast.

The widespread introduction of intensive apple growing technologies involving drip irrigation and fertigation systems in the Central Chernozem Region of Russia causes an increase in soil acidity during orchard operation. Under the condition of existing apple orchards, the use of the conventional approach to optimizing soil pH through liming may be limited and economically unjustified. At present, both domestic and foreign literature considers various methods for combating increased soil acidity, including the use of alkaline water. During the 2022-2024 period, the effect of drip irrigation with alkalized water on soil acidity was studied at I. V. Michurin Federal Scientific Center. The experiments were carried out in intensive-type plantations (Ligol variety, year of planting 2018, rootstock 62-396, scheme 4.5 x 1.2 m (1852 trees/ha)). In 2022, during the first experimental year, the application of potassium hydroxide (KOH) did not have a significant effect on the soil pH in most experimental variants. In 2023 and 2024, KOH application led to a significant increase in soil pH; however, the degree of impact was ambiguous in different variants and not determined by the application rate in individual years. Over the entire period of observation, the use of KOH-alkalized irrigation water at rates of 2.25-4.5 kg/ha stimulated a significant increase in the pH value by 0.67-1.01 units of soil pH in accordance with the doses used. In general, over the years of the experiment, the use of alkalized water for irrigation had no negative effect on the apple tree yield. The use of alkalized water for irrigation may be a promising method for a short-term optimization of the soil acidity of intensive apple plantations. However, further research should be conducted to investigate all the related aspects, including the characteristics of apple tree condition, yield, and soil fertility.