This article reports the results of a long-term, comprehensive study of the new late-ripening garden strawberry cultivar Udacha, developed at the Federal Horticultural Center for Breeding, Agrotechnology, and Nursery (Russia). In 2011, hybridization was performed between the selected form No. 2-506-2 and the cultivar Tsaritsa. In 2013, form 3-366-9 was selected from this progeny and later officially named Udacha. The cultivar Alfa was used as a reference standard. According to primary variety trials conducted in 2020–2023, Udacha demonstrated good winter hardiness, with frost damage not exceeding 1.0 point. The fruits are large (average weight across all harvests 10.6 g, maximum 45.4 g), dark red, glossy, and firm (11.2 N). The berries have a sweet-and-sour taste with aroma, with a tasting score of 4.5. The average yield under a planting scheme of 1.2 × 0.25 m comprises 18.0 t/ha. Resistance to powdery mildew is high, resistance to strawberry mite is above average, and resistance to white and brown leaf spots is moderate. In terms of the overall set of economically valuable traits, the cultivar Udacha surpasses the reference cultivar Alfa, thus being promising for both commercial and amateur berry production as a late-ripening versatile cultivar.

This article reviews recent advances in understanding the mechanisms underlying the formation of phylogenetic structure in phytomicrobiomes and examines plant breeding strategies aimed at optimizing these mechanisms to obtain novel phenotypes with valuable agronomic traits. In the development of highly productive and adaptive varieties of fruit and berry crops, the functional potential of associated microorganisms comprising the phytomicrobiome (endosphere, phyllosphere, and rhizosphere) should be considered. These microbial communities play an essential role in realizing the genetic potential of plants and may facilitate the breeding of new varieties with improved economically important traits. The article underscores the importance of developing environmentally safe breeding strategies and methods based on advances in synthetic biology and phytomicrobiome engineering that optimize the symbiosis between plants and microorganisms. This can accelerate the breeding process and increase the number and quality of donors and sources with economically valuable traits.

The increasing recognition of the role of secondary metabolites in human nutrition and overall health is driving growing consumer interest in fruit and berry products. This article sets out to identify raspberry and blackcurrant sources with elevated levels of total phenolic content (TPC) and high antioxidant activity. The research was conducted in 2021–2022 at the Laboratory of Analytical Biochemistry and Physiology of Agricultural Plants using the facilities of the Shared Use Center of the Federal Horticultural Research Center for Breeding, Agrotechnology, and Nursery. The research objects were fruits of 13 black currant varieties (Litvinovskaja (st), Favorit, Barmalej, Mif, Debrjansk, Gamajun, Jetjud, Kaskad, Podarok Veteranam, Kudesnik, Brjanskij Agat, Strelec, and elite form 62-03-7) and 14 raspberry genotypes of the Common Use Center, Genetic Bioresource Collection, the Federal Horticultural Research Center for Breeding, Agrotechnology, and Nursery (Balsam (st), 18-11-2, 3-115-1, 1-76-24, 8-6-3, 1-188-1, 19-15-6, 9-113-1, 10-165-11, 3-111-1, 11-165-10, 2-53-1, 3-26-2,  and 1-60-1). The results confirm the contribution of genotype to polyphenol accumulation, as well as its dependence on growing conditions. For the Rubus genus, the aqueous extract showed a higher activity that the methanol extract, whereas for the Ribes genus, conversely, methanol was found to be a more effective solvent. Complex sources of increased TPC (268.18–300.73 mg GA/100 g) and high antioxidant activity (44.21–56.94 %) of raspberry fruits are selections 1-60-1 and 1-76-24, for black currant – varieties Podarok Veteranam, Strelec, Jetjud, and Barmalej (TPC of 317.23–409.85 mg GA/100 g and antioxidant activity of 61.83–67.75 %). In addition, sources of increased accumulation of polyphenols include the Debrjansk black currant variety (304.88 mg GA/100 g) and selected raspberry form 18-11-2 (267 mg GA/100 g). The Favorit blackcurrant variety (62.48%) and raspberry selections 3-115-1 (47.95%) and 3-26-2 (43.34%) showed an increased antioxidant activity.

Ensuring optimized plant growth and productivity, clonal apple rootstocks are a key component in establishing modern intensive orchards. Their use significantly increases fruit yield and quality, while also improving the plant resistance to adverse conditions. Clonal rootstocks are characterized by high homogeneity and predictability, rendering them indispensable for intensive orchards. Unlike seedling rootstocks, which can exhibit significant variability in characteristics, clonal rootstocks ensure stability in growth and fruiting, as confirmed by studies conducted under various cultivation conditions. The selection of optimal rootstocks, taking into account soil and climate conditions, cultivation technology, and the economic capacity of the farm, is a key factor in successful orchard management. The suitability of rootstock varieties for a specific cultivation area depends largely on the geographical origin of the source breeding material. Clonal apple rootstocks registered in the Russian State Register of Agricultural Plant Varieties and Hybrids Approved for Use form the basis for designing highly productive intensive orchards. To date, 57 forms of clonal apple rootstocks adapted to specific growing climate zones have been officially registered. In terms of the number of registered apple clonal rootstocks, the leading organizations are the Michurinsk State Agricultural University (50 %) and the Federal Horticultural Center for Breeding, Agrotechnology, and Nursery (20 %). In terms of growth vigor, clonal rootstocks are distinguished into dwarf (40 %), semi-dwarf (20 %), medium-vigor (35 %), and vigorous (9 %) varieties. In the majority of Russian regions, intensive orchard cultivation is carried out using rootstocks 54118 and 62396 (Michurinsk State Agricultural University), Ural 5 (Federal Horticultural Center for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery), and SK 5 (North Caucasian Federal Scientific Center of Horticulture, Viticulture, and Wine-making). These rootstocks are recommended for establishing modern, highly effective intensive orchards with a rapid return on investment and a high profitability of apple fruit production.

This paper presents an analytical review of the current state of cultivar diversity and breeding directions for stone fruit crops in the Russian Federation, taking into account their genetic potential, cultivar structure, legal protection status of breeding achievements, and regional characteristics of commercial cultivation. Based on data from the State Register of Varieties and Hybrids of Agricultural Plants Approved for Use (628 cultivars), as well as official production statistics for 2023–2024, the study examines the scale of species diversity, the share of protected cultivars, and the distribution of cultivars by species, regions of approval, and intended use. It is shown that the most intensive commercial cultivation of stone fruit crops is concentrated in the Southern and North Caucasian Federal Districts. In the Central and Volga Federal Districts, however, there remains an imbalance between the genetic potential of cultivars and the implementation of their production capabilities. Russian breeding centers are demonstrating significant progress regarding the range of adaptive cultivars of sweet cherry, sour cherry, plum, apricot, and cherry plum, including the development of new genotypes exhibiting a combination of such economically valuable traits as winter hardiness, tolerance to abiotic stressors, self-fertility, stable yield, and fruit quality.

In 2024–2025, a series of greenhouse experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of Pseudomonas bacterial strains and Bacillus-based microbiological preparations on the generative and vegetative productivity of Mif and Barmaley blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) cultivars. The generative productivity of Barmaley plants, compared to Mif plants, increased under the action of the microbiological strains and preparations under study, with the exception for Fitosporin-M. Bacillus-based microbiological preparations, as well as Pseudomonas strains, reduced the generative productivity of the Mif cultivar compared to the fertilized treatment. In comparison with Mif, Barmaley plants showed a positive response to the application of microbiological preparations and bacterial strains in terms of generative productivity. The highest generative productivity of Barmaley was recorded in the variant “Background + Alirin-B” in the amount of 334.3 g per plant. The application of the P. putida O9-10 strain contributed to an increase in berry mass per plant up to 303.5 g, which exceeded the control by 61.7 %. For the Mif cultivar, the total length of the current year’s growth was greatest in the “Background + P. chlororaphis BS1393” variant (54.4 % higher than in the control), while for Barmaley, it was greatest in the standard treatment with mineral fertilizers. The use of bacterial preparations based on Bacillus bacteria and Pseudomonas strains resulted in a decrease in vegetative productivity in the Barmaley cultivar compared to the treatment with mineral fertilizers. The opposite pattern was observed for the Mif cultivar.

A series of experiments were conducted to identify the main biotic and abiotic factors governing the spread of fungal pathogens in garden strawberries cultivated under protected-ground conditions. The following species of pathogenic fungi were identified: Pythium spp., Dactylonectria macrodidyma (Halleen, Schroers & Crous) L. Lombard & Crous, Phytopythium sp., Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc., and Phytophthora nicotianae Breda de Haan. The potential risks of their introduction and the conditions facilitating their development in protected-ground conditions were analyzed. Notably, infections caused by D. macrodidyma and Phytopythium sp. in strawberry plants cultivated under protected-ground conditions (Moscow) were recorded for the first time. The conditions of heated winter greenhouses with elevated air (+31 °C) and substrate temperatures (+30 °C) were found to trigger the onset of strawberry phytophthora wilt. Conversely, a decrease in daytime air temperatures to +25 °C and soil temperatures to +24 °C was found to create favorable conditions for plant reinfection by the oomycete P. nicotianae. The conducted study provides preliminary data on the key factors affecting fungal pathogen dynamics and disease development in garden strawberries cultivated under protected-ground conditions. These data served as the basis for developing a predictive model. It is concluded that reliable prediction and risk assessment of pathogen spread in protected cultivation systems require the analysis of diverse data sources, including phytosanitary monitoring, evaluation of varietal characteristics, analysis of weather fluctuations, tracking of greenhouse temperatures, etc. All these factors govern the complex interactions between plants and harmful organisms under controlled and variable environmental conditions.

In 2024–2025, the specialists of the Federal Horticultural Center for Breeding, Agrotechnology, and Nursery (Russia) conducted a series of experiments aimed at investigating the aboveground organs of garden strawberries cultivated under protected-ground conditions. The pathogen complex of plants was found to comprise the following microfungi: Alternaria spp., A. tenuissima (Kunze) Wiltshire, Botrytis cinerea Pers., Cladosporium spp., C. cladosporioides (Fresen.) G.A.de Vries, Colletotrichum dematium Pers., Hainesia lythri (Desm.) Höhn., Penicillium spp., Plectosphaerella spp., Podosphaera aphanis (Wallr.) U. Braun & S. Takam., Ramularia tulashei Sacc., etc. Microfungi that affect the root system, horns, and leaf petioles included: Coniothyrium spp., Cylindrocarpon spp., Fusarium spp., F. poae (Peck) Wollenw., F. solani (Mart.) Sacc., Plectosphaerella spp., Phytophthora cactorum (Lebert & Cohn) J. Schröt., Phytophthora nicotianae Breda de Haan, Pythium spp., Rhizoctonia solani J. G. Kühn, Cylindrocarpon macrodydimum Schroers, Halleen & Crous (anamorph Dactylonectria macrodidyma (Halleen, Schroers & Crous) L. Lombard & Crous), and Ilyonectria crassa (Wollenw.) A. Cabral & Crous, Pythium spp., Phytopythium sp., R. solani. These pathogens caused root rot in strawberries grown in protected soil conditions. Wilting of strawberries in heated greenhouse conditions was mainly caused by infection with P. nicotianae oomycetes and, in rarer cases, P. cactorum and Phytopythium sp. In addition to these diseases, plants in greenhouses were often affected by the P. aphanis ascomycete, the pathogen associated with powdery mildew. When the average temperature in the greenhouse dropped to 13-15 °C and daylight hours were short in October and the first ten days of November, the aboveground parts of strawberry plants were affected by B. cinerea, the pathogen of gray mold. In protected ground conditions in the spring and autumn periods, garden strawberry seedlings showed the presence of marginal necrosis of the leaves, caused by species of the Penicillium genus.

In this article, we assess the demand for and volumes of imported planting material in the Russian Federation. Changes in the composition of exporting countries supplying planting material and fruits to Russia have been revealed, including a shift from the import of saplings to the import of rootstocks and cuttings. In 2022 and 2024, the share of imported planting material amounted to 61 and 64.2 %, respectively. In 2022, according to consolidated financial statements, 39 % of the planting material used for orchard establishment was domestically produced. Businesses recognize the advantages and disadvantages of importing planting material; however, they have not abandoned this practice. Imports of fruits and berries were characterized by a decline in volumes by 2015 and a slight increase by 2024, alongside a steady decrease in volumes for commodity group 0808 (“Apples, pears, and quinces, fresh”). The increase in the production of fruits and berries is driven by the implementation of investment projects in this industrial sector, government support for the development of horticulture, and the introduction of an embargo on the import of foreign fruits and berries.