Background. Cherry plum becomes increasingly popular among amateur gardeners. Plants of this fruit crop are characterized by such positive qualities as an early start of fruiting, high potential productivity, and annual formation of generative organs. This crop allows the users to significantly diversify the range of fresh fruits.

Material and methods. The objective was to analyze the properties and characteristics of nine cherry plum cultivars grown both in Russia and abroad. Cv. 'Kubanskaya Kometa' released in the Central Black Earth Region served as the control. Weighing was carried out on the AND EJ-6100 laboratory scales. Soluble dry substance (DS) accumulation was assessed on an MT-032 field refractometer. Statistical data processing was carried out using the Microsoft Excel 2007 and Statistica 10 software. Results and conclusions. Large-fruited cvs. 'Kubanskaya Kometa', 'Zlato Skifov', 'Soneika' and 'Printsessa' were identified, with an average weight of more than 26 g. The stone content was the lowest in 'Kubanskaya Kometa', 'Zlato Skifov', 'Soneika' and 'Printsessa', with a percentage of less than 5%. 'Karminnaya Zhukova' was characterized by a detachable stone; 'Soneika', 'Zlato Skifov', 'Printsessa', 'Solnechnaya' and 'Alaya Rannyaya' showed high juiciness of fruits; 'Soneika' contained a high soluble DS amount (more than 14%). The fruits of 'Printsessa', 'Karminnaya Zhukova' and 'Kubanskaya Kometa' had dark color and attractive appearance. 'Kubanskaya Kometa' and 'Soneika' demonstrated high fruit taste qualities (scored 4.5 points). Cvs. 'Kubanskaya Kometa', 'Soneika', 'Zlato Skifov' and 'Printsessa' were identified for the combination of high consumer qualities in their fruits in the Central Black Earth Region.

Thai basil (Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora (L.) Benth.) (Lamiaceae) is widely used for its aromatic leaves and culinary value. This study investigated the effects of zinc (Zn; 0, 10, 20 mg/kg of soil) and copper (Cu; 0, 5, 10 mg/kg of soil), individually and combined, on the growth, yield, essential oil composition, and antimicrobial properties of Thai basil grown in Vietnam. The optimal plant responses, including increased height, lateral branches of the stem number, fresh and dry yield of green mass, and essential oil yield, were achieved at Zn 10 mg/kg and Cu 5 mg/kg. The major essential oil components were linalool (41.64-53.27%), and methyl chavicol (22.45-37.56%), with the highest concentrations recorded at Zn 10 mg/kg and Cu 5 mg/kg. Antimicrobial tests showed strong activity of essential oil against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) between 25 and 100 qg/mL. However, higher levels of Zn and Cu negatively impacted growth, yield, and oil quality. The study highlights the importance of regulating Zn and Cu levels in soil to optimize the growth and essential oil properties of Thai basil. These findings offer valuable guidance for enhancing the agricultural production of Thai basil, balancing both quantity and quality.

Background. The presented study demonstrates the ability of an aqueous extract from the used straw substrate for oyster mushrooms (hereinafter referred to as “the extract”) to regulate pea plant growth and development.

Materials and methods. Experimental seeds of the pea cultivar ‘Albumen’ were soaked in 10% and 100% extracts and then cultivated for eight days on a hydroponic medium in the respective extract solutions and on soil (gray forest). The control plants were soaked in tap water, cultivated in it (hydroponics), and watered (soil). The extract’s effectiveness was assessed according to growth indicators, the content of photosynthetic pigments, and the expression of one of the genes encoding ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activase (RCA) and two genes encoding isoamylase (ISA-1 and ISA-2).

Results. Inhibition of seed germination on the first day under the effect of 10% and 100% extracts was shown. Higher dry matter content and a decrease in the expression of all ISA genes were observed in the day-old germinating experimental seeds, indicating a slowdown in the initiation of seed germination. A decrease in the germination rate was recorded in the seeds cultivated with the 100% extract, while for those germinated with the 10% extract, this indicator did not differ from the control. The content of photosynthetic pigments in the experimental plant groups (100% concentration of the extract) grown in hydroponics was lower, and in those grown on soil, it was higher than in the control samples.

Conclusion. The extract in both doses suppressed the germination of pea seeds and inhibited the growth and development of seedlings when cultivated on a hydroponic medium consisting of the extract. However, enhanced growth processes and increased expression of the studied genes were observed when pea plants were watered with the extract in a soil environment.

Background. Hulless barley is of practical interest not only for plant breeders but also for crop producers. The nutritional value of its grain is higher and economic costs of post-harvest processing are less than those of hulled barley. Analyzing both plant adaptability and yield stability is a key factor in a comprehensive study of source materials for important agronomic traits.

Materials and methods. Sixty hulless barley accessions belonging to 15 intraspecific varieties served as the material for the study conducted in 2020–2022 in the fields of Moscow Province according to the guidelines of VIR and the methodology of field trial by B. A. Dospekhov. Adaptability and stability were assessed in the studied genotypes using various statistical indicators: CA, IS, b_i, S²dᵢ, θ_i , θ_(i), W_i² , σ_i² , CV, S⁽¹⁾, S⁽²⁾, S⁽³⁾, S⁽⁶⁾, NP^(1-4) , and KR.

Results and conclusion. High-yielding among the six-row accessions were Local (k-17948), (k-18071), N167 (k-11070) and ‘Omsky Golozerny 2’ (2539*) (245.0–308.8 g/m²), and among the two-row ones, Line-1289 (k-29336), C-99-2837 (k-30796) and ‘Omsky Golozerny 1’ (2538*) (177.9–269.5 g/m²). The grain weight per ear (r = 0.64) and grain weight per plant (r = 0.58) were found to have the closest relationship to yield. Significant correlations were found between 1000-grain weight and productive bushiness (r = 0.67), as well as between grain weight per ear and grain weight per plant (r = 0.70). High-yielding hulless accessions failed to demonstrate high stability across all growing seasons. Yield had strong correlations with CA, IS, and b_i (r = 0.85–0.93), so they can be used to select genotypes with a more balanced combination of yield and stability. Relatively high yields and stability were observed in the six-row genotypes Local (k-17948) and N167 (k-11070), as well as in the two-row cultivar ‘Omsky Golozerny 1’ (2538*).

Background. Amaranth (Amaranthus L.) is a relatively new crop for the Russian Federation, with huge potential for growth intensity, productivity, and other agronomic traits. Development of new amaranth cultivars is an important solution to the problem of food quality improvement through the use of plant raw materials enriched with health-friendly and highly nutritious components. Calibration models were developed for rapid assessment of useful agronomic characters (the content of protein, oil, moisture, and basic fatty acids: palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and α-linolenic) in amaranth seeds preserved at the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy.

Materials and methods. Thirty accessions of amaranth seeds (A. hypochondriacus L., A. cruentus L., and A. caudatus L.) from the VIR collection served as the material for the study. Biochemical indicators of seed quality and fatty acid composition of oil were studied using analytical methods adopted at VIR: the Kjeldahl method for protein content, the dry fat-free residue method for oil, the thermogravimetric method for moisture, and gas–liquid chromatography for fatty acid composition. Calibration models were constructed with the OPUS software developed for the MATRIX-I IR analyzer (Bruker Optics, Germany).

Results and conclusion. Calibration models obtained on a MATRIX-I IR analyzer for measuring the content of protein, moisture, palmitic and oleic acids facilitate mass analysis of amaranth seeds from the VIR collection with an accuracy of 1.5%. Models developed for the quantification of oil, stearic, linoleic and α-linolenic acids require improvement. NIR spectroscopy makes it possible to accelerate the process of obtaining data on major agronomic indicators of amaranth seeds, preserve valuable materials, and determine further steps in breeding practice.

Background. Kok-saghyz, or Russian dandelion, is one of the three most promising natural rubber plants in the world. This study examined the seed quality of kok-saghyz from different sources with reference to the methods in the International Rules for Seed Testing.

Materials and methods. A kok-saghyz accession from the VIR collection (k-445) and an accession of American origin were analyzed. The study was carried out in 2018–2020 under the conditions of a field experiment at the experiment station in Harbin (45.592729°N, 126.581668°E).

Results. Sampling principles and methods were established, and the seed quality of kok-saghyz was thoroughly evaluated. A seed purity test showed above 80% of pure seeds for both accessions. The thousand-seed weight was approximately 0.5 g when measured by the hundred-seed method. The moisture content was about 5.4% according to the low-temperature drying technique. The time required for reaching a natural imbibition rate was 2.5 h. The authenticity test demonstrated that koksaghyz seeds can be distinguished from those of other Taraxacum spp. according to their appearance. The health test found 4 types of mold inside and outside the kok-saghyz seeds.

Conclusion. This study provides technical support for kok-saghyz seed quality testing, and offers recommendations for koksaghyz seed trade.

Background. Establishment and replenishment of plant collections are associated with the exchange of vegetative germplasm. When establishing new or reconstructing old plantings, there is always a possibility of misidentification. A detailed morphological description of the jujube leaf was carried out to accelerate and increase the efficiency of plant identity testing.

Materials and methods. The leaves of 26 Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) cultivars of foreign and domestic origin served as the material for the study. Quantitative parameters of the leaf (length, width, shape index, and petiole length) and their coefficients of variation were calculated. Qualitative indicators (leaf blade, apex, base, and edge shapes) are described. The description of the leaf’s main characteristics was in line with the procedure approved for testing distinctiveness, uniformity and stability in Ziziphus sativa Gaertn.

Results. The average leaf length varied among cultivars from 4.35 to 8.11 cm, and the width from 2.61 to 4.69 cm (CV = 15.90 and 15.04%, respectively). The petiole length variation was stronger: 2.72 to 10.0 mm (CV = 28.10%). Ovate leaves had a shape index from 1.52 to 1.99, while the length of elliptic leaves was more than twice greater than their width (shape index: 2.01 to 2.36). Characteristic leaf features were identified for four cultivars; they will accelerate their testing. Qualitative and quantitative leaf characteristics were described for 4 cultivars recommended for cultivation in Russia.

Conclusion. The leaf’s characteristic features or their combinations were identified for individual cultivars and their groups of origin. The greatest diversity and variation in characteristics were observed in the cultivars from China and those developed at the Nikita Botanical Gardens. The results were used for varietal identification of Chinese jujube plants in the newly established collection and nurseries.

Background. Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. is an important legume crop, widely cultivated in countries with subtropical and tropical climates. Vegetable pods of this species are highly nutritious and used as food similarly to vegetable cultivars of common bean. The crop is resistant to high temperatures, undemanding to soil fertility, and successfully grown in the southern regions of Russia. In order to expand the cultivation areas and increase the profitability of crop production, it is necessary to select agricultural practices and cultivars that would enable crop producers to supply food processing enterprises with vegetable products during a longer period of time.

Materials and methods. Vegetable accessions of cowpea from the VIR collection were studied at Astrakhan Experiment Station of VIR in 2021–2023. Accessions with various durations of the growing season were analyzed after springtime sowing. Earlymaturing cultivars were studied in four terms from May to July. The variability of 38 phenological, morphological and important agronomic characters was analyzed. The variation in plant characters and its dependence on the cultivar, year conditions, and different sowing dates were studied.

Results and conclusion. As a result, crop cultivation practices for obtaining vegetable products in the southern regions of Russia were developed. A series of cowpea cultivars with different growing seasons was selected; some of them may be sown at different times in the period from early May to mid-July. Genotypes with high pod productivity were identified within different maturity groups. They are suitable for cultivation on spring and postharvest fields and capable of ensuring uninterrupted supplies of vegetable products to food processing enterprises.

Background. Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.) is a newly introduced crop for southern regions of Russia. Guar gum, a component of guar seeds, is used in a number of sectors of the national economy, being strategically important for the gas and oil industry. Targeted introduction of guar requires better understanding of the crop’s adaptive potential, and more specifically, its responses to droughts typical for most of Russia’s southern areas.

Material and methods. Guar accessions from the VIR collection were phenotyped at Volgograd Experiment Station of VIR in 2023–2024. The studied set was selected to represent the crop’s gene pool to the fullest extent possible. The same accessions were studied under drip irrigation and artificial drought conditions. The study was performed according to the guidelines developed at VIR. Statistica 13.3 software was used for statistical data processing.

Results. Seed productivity was accepted as the main criterion to assess the plant’s adaptability to drought. On its basis, the studied set of accessions was differentiated into three groups: drought-tolerant, sensitive to drought, and neutral to water supply. The analyzed indicators manifested different degrees of variability under the conditions of irrigation and drought. The status revealed for the majority of accessions in the context of their responses to drought remained unchanged in both years of the study.

Conclusion. The drip irrigation scheme used in 2023 (5 L per plant per week) turned out to be excessive for most accessions, while the one half as lower in 2024 (2.5 L per plant per week) appeared favorable for the accessions of all three groups. With optimal irrigation, a majority of guar accessions exhibited a tendency toward increased seed productivity, regardless of the group.

Background. An analysis of the effect of agroclimatic conditions on the formation of pea yields in the humid subtropics of the Caucasus is important to determine optimal modes of heat and moisture supply, as well as to identify accessions with stable productivity as source material for breeding in the region.

Material and methods. The materials of the study included 453 pea accessions from the VIR collection, which underwent a primary field study at Adler Experiment Station of VIR in 2020–2022. The studied set of accessions was characterized by diverse uses and various geographic origins. Field phenotyping was carried out in accordance with VIR’s guidelines. Statistical data processing was performed using the Statistica 13.3 software.

Results. The effect size of the influence of weather conditions on phenotypic traits determining pea yield averaged 44.0%, and its genotypic component was 32.7%. The greatest effect of the genotype was manifested on the number of nonproductive nodes (97.0%), 1000-seed weight (83.6%), stem length (81.1%), number of flowers per raceme (80.9%), maximum number of seeds per pod (71.0%), pod size (68.3%), and average number of pods per plant (51.0%). The maximum influence of the environment was recorded for the durations of the growing season (79.0%) and the period from sprouting to flowering (65.1%).

Conclusion. Excessive precipitation and high air temperatures during the maturation period were critical for peas during the years of studying. The patterns of seed productivity formation differed among the cultivars grown for three different uses: grain, vegetable, and fodder. The most productive accessions were identified, as well as those with stable productivity under weather fluctuations across the three years of testing.

Background. Overwintering is a critical factor for strawberry cultivation in Russia. Those Fragaria L. spp. that grow in the Asian regions of Russia with an extreme continental climate, which have so far been little studied and are poorly involved in breeding practice, can serve as sources of winter hardiness. The objective of the study was to identify sources of high winter hardiness among the genus Fragaria L. under artificial climate conditions.

Materials and methods. Experiments to assess winter hardiness in 17 Fragaria accessions were conducted in an artificial climate chamber in the winters of 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 according to the guidelines of the All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding. Three components of winter hardiness were studied: early-winter frost resistance, the ability to maintain frost resistance after midwinter thaws, and the same ability at the end of the winter season.

Results. Five accessions from the Asian part of Russia showed the highest average scores of resistance: 3 accessions of F. mandshurica Staudt, one of F. viridis (Duchesne) Weston, and cv. ‘Aleksandra’ developed at the Yakut Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture. The first four had a summergreen phenorhythmotype, i.e., they entered the winter with browned leaves. Those accessions withstood the low temperatures in the early winter and remained resistant to frosts after the midwinter thaw; however, some of them lost their post-thaw frost resistance by the end of the winter. For such accessions from regions with a clear seasonal temperature course, even a brief temperature increase means the onset of spring and causes rapid unhardening.

Conclusion. The species F. mandshurica and F. viridis can make a valuable contribution to the enhancement of winter hardiness in strawberry cultivars.

Background. Inbreeding depression (ID) usually reduces the competitive ability of an individual compared to one of outbred origin. Such competition could be especially clear between different ovaries developing on the same plant. It can be assumed that ovaries with higher level of heterozygosity will have an advantage in competition for resources.

Material and methods. Homostylous buckwheat lines (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench with approx. 3% of closely related selfer F. homotropicum Ohnishi germplasm) of different inbred generations (I₁ – I₆ ) were grown adjacent to the heterostylous cv. ‘Molva’, and the share of seeds resulting from cross-pollination was assessed for each variant using the recessive marker det (genotypes of the seeds were visualized according to phenotypes of the resulting plants).

Results and conclusions. The proportions of seeds originated from cross-pollination were similar across the inbreeding generations, with small stochastic variations. Thus, the ovaries resulting from both selfand cross-pollination have equal chances to reach maturity on the same plant. It looks like a fundamental condition for the start of the evolution toward self-pollination. The levels of ID at other developmental stages, apparently, are less crucial for the possibility of such evolution. For example, the ID in the analyzed material was strong (> 0.5 for both vegetative development and seed productivity). It highly likely reflects the level of ID of the common ancestor of F. esculentum and F. homotropicum. However, the strong ID did not make impossible the speciation of the self-pollinator F. homotropicum.

Background. Development of sunflower hybrids with a semisolid oil type induced by higher stearic acid content attracts attention as a nutritionally sound alternative to palm oil and hydrogenated trans fats. The genetic control of the high stearic mutation in different sources should be studied for the development of a scientific breeding strategy.

Materials and methods. The following lines from the genetic collection were tested: high-stearic high-oleic LG31, high-stearic low-oleic LG33, high-stearic low-oleic LG35, and high-oleic VK1-klp, as well as VK101 and VK580. Seeds of the P, F₁ and F₂ generations were studied. The fatty acid composition was analyzed with gas-liquid chromatography on a Chromatec-Crystal 2000 device.

Results. Incomplete dominance of low stearic acid content with h/d = −0.68 in F₁ and segregation in F₂ according to the digenic scheme 9 : 6 : 1 were observed in the VK580 × LG33 cross. Incomplete dominance of the low-stearic parent with h/d = −0.76 in F₁ and similar digenic segregation in F₂ were also recorded for the VK1-klp × LG31 cross on a high-oleic background. The reciprocal cross VK101 × LG35 showed intermediate inheritance of stearic acid content in F₁ , while continual variation with the appearance of a mutant phenotype of the LG35 line according to the digenic scheme 15 : 1 was observed in F₂.

Conclusion. The trait of high stearic acid content was digenically controlled. Lines LG31 and LG33, originating from the same source, showed recessive inheritance of high stearic content, and line LG35 was characterized by intermediate inheritance of the trait. The high-stearic mutant genotype es₁ es₁  es₂ es₂ was phenotypically expressed to the maximum extent in the absence of a high-oleic mutation Ol in the seed oil.

Background. The gall mite (Cecidophyopsis ribis Westw.) is a dangerous pest of black currant (Ribes nigrum), therefore the development of cultivars resistant to C. ribis is an important trend in many breeding programs. The objective of the study was to identify alleles of the gall mite resistance Ce gene in black currant cultivars and selected seedlings released at the I.V. Michurin Federal Scientific Center.

Materials and methods. The tested material included 22 cultivars and 41 selected forms of black currant. The gall mite resistance allele of the Ce gene was identified using diagnostic DNA markers: GMresa and Ce-AFLP.

Results and conclusion. The studied black currant cultivars were characterized by the absence of the GMresa and Ce-AFLP markers (recessive homozygous genotype cece). Among the analyzed selected forms of black currant, the dominant resistance allele Ce was identified in 51.2% of forms. The results obtained for the GMresa and Ce-AFLP markers showed 100% matching in the distribution of target amplicons within the studied sample. Promising genetic sources of black currant resistance to C. ribis protected by the Ce gene were identified: 1448-6-49 (762-5-82 × ‘Ekzotika’), 1511-4-68 (977-31-54 × 747-1270), 34-320 (‘Shalunya’ × ‘Gratsiya’), 35-4-135 (‘Gratsiya’ × ‘Sensey’), 35-4-148 (‘Gratsiya’ × ‘Chernavka’), 35-5-4 (‘Kipiana’ × ‘Divo Zvyaginoy’), 35-5-36 (‘Kipiana’ × ‘Chernavka’), and 35-5-147 (1448-6-49 × ‘Divo Zvyaginoy’), with a heterozygous genotype (Cece), as well as seedlings 31-1-72 (1511-4-68 × ‘Lyuchiya’), 31-2-33, 31-2-35 (‘Kipiana’ × open pollination), 34-2-36 (‘Gratsiya’ × open pollination), 35-6-138 (1448-6-49 × self-pollination), 38-10-1, 38-10-5, 38-10-7, 38-10-9, 38-10-13, 38-10-16, and 38-10-17 (‘Gratsiya’ × ‘Dar Smolyaninovoy’), with a heterozygous or dominant homozygous genotype (Cece or CeCe).

Background. Walnut (Juglans regia L.) is the most widespread species within the genus Juglans. Late spring frosts can significantly reduce its yield. Development of cultivars that enter the growing season later helps to avoid the death of young buds. Earlier, during genetic studies, the SSR markers JRHR209732 and CUJRBO12 linked to the QTL of the “bud bursting time” character were identified. The objective of this study was to assess the budbreak timing in domestic cultivars and elite forms from the Krasnodar gene pool, as well as to test and validate the markers JRHR209732 and CUJRB012 linked to the locus controlling late bud bursting in walnut genotypes with relatively small differences in budbreak timing.

Materials and methods. The material of the study included 32 elite breeding forms from the local gene pool, 3 domestic cultivars, and 2 cultivars of foreign origin. Phenological assessment of the budbreak time was carried out for three years (2022–2024). Genotyping of 35 accessions was performed using the SSR markers JRHR209732 and CUJRBO12. The sizes of PCR products of target marker alleles were assessed on a NANOPHOR 05 genetic analyzer.

Results. Phenological assessment helped to identify accessions 17-5-5 and ‘Oven’ with the latest start of the growing season in three years of observations. Eight genotypes were classified as late in two seasons – they are also valuable for breeding. In 2023 and 2024, the budbreak was observed to occur earlier than in 2022. The effect of the mean monthly temperature in March played a decisive role in entering the phase when the budbreak started. Comparison of the SSR genotyping data with the results of the phenological assessment made it possible to reliably validate the allelic variants of the JRHR20973 and CUJRBO12 markers, characteristic of the accessions with early and late budbreaks among the walnut gene pool maintained in southern Russia.

Background. Barley is a crop that reacts sharply to increased soil acidity. In acidic soil, free Al³⁺ cations are the most toxic. The negative effects of aluminum are especially pronounced in the early stages of plant development and with a lack of nutrients. The character of aluminum resistance is determined by the expression of oligogenes or polygenic complexes, as well as their interaction. The patterns of inheritance of aluminum resistance in barley have not been studied enough.

Materials and methods. The material for the study included spring barley accessions contrasting in their resistance to toxic aluminum ions: highly resistant local accession k-9730 (Russia), and susceptible cv. ‘Colsess IV’. Phenotypically homogeneous lines were selected for hybridological analysis, and F₁–F₅ and F₂BC₁ hybrids were obtained. Segregation among hybrid populations in resistance was assessed according to the degree of growth of the aboveground part and root system under ion stress conditions at a testing concentration of 185 μ of aluminum ions and a pH level of 4.0.

Results. High resistance of k-9730 barley plants to toxic aluminum ions, assessed by the responses of the root and sprout to the effects of the stressor, is controlled by two dominant genes. By selecting plants of older hybrid generations, valuable genotypes with high levels of resistance to ion stress were identified and a donor of aluminum resistance for barley, L-30-1, was developed, which is also characterized by other traits valuable for breeding.

Conclusion. Studying the inheritance of resistance to toxic aluminum ions (185 μ Al³⁺, pH 4.0) in the k-9730 and ‘Colsess IV’ barley genotypes helped to establish a number of patterns. The results of the study are recommended to be used in the breeding process when choosing parent pairs to develop new barley cultivars that will be most adapted to adverse environmental conditions.

The article highlights the importance of antioxidants, especially dietary phenolic compounds, in promoting human health, and discusses the potential of cereals, such as oats, known for their richness in avenanthramides. The study aimed to optimize the method of extracting antioxidants and phenolic compounds from oat grains, and their quantitative assessment was carried out. The material for the study included oat cultivars of Moroccan origin and interspecific oat lines. The extraction of phenolic compounds with ethanol was found to be the most effective. The study explored total phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, and total antioxidant activity, revealing genetic diversity among oat lines. As a result, a significant correlation was established between the phenolic content and antioxidant activity in the studied Moroccan oat lines. It is noteworthy that lines F11-5 (Avena sativa × A. magna) and F10-3 (A. sativa × A. murphyi), along with cv. ‘Zahri’ (A. sativa) and accession P1-1 (A. magna), exhibited high antioxidant activity and the highest total phenolic content, thus attesting to their health benefits and revealing the richness of Moroccan oat lines and cultivars for food use.

Background. Oat is one of the most widespread and important cereal crops in the global agricultural production. Searching for new high-yielding and high-quality genotypes remains relevant, especially in the context of the global trend of climate change, when most local oat varieties may become economically ineffective.

Materials and methods. The material for this study included 50 local varieties of the diploid cultivated oat species Avena strigosa Schreb. from the VIR collection, having diverse geographical origins. The material was studied under the conditions of Pushkin and Pavlovsk Laboratories of VIR in 2023–2024. As a result of the study, main valuable agronomic traits and biochemical properties of grains were identified. The field testing of the oat collection was carried out on the basis of the guidelines for the study of the VIR collection; biochemical indicators were assessed using conventional techniques. Molecular genetic research methods (DNA isolation, polymerase chain reaction, and Sanger sequencing) were applied to contrasting oat accessions. The allelic state of the genes associated with the biosynthesis of β-glucans was analyzed.

Results and conclusion. The data are presented on the content of β-glucans, a group of soluble polysaccharides, in A. strigosa accessions from the VIR collection. The biochemical composition of diploid oat grains was studied, and the percentage of β-glucans was calculated. Using modern molecular genetic research methods, the allelic state of the key gene for the biosynthesis of this group of compounds, CslF6, was identified. Sanger sequencing of the gene’s coding part did not reveal any rearrangements in the nucleotide sequence of this gene.

Background. Cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera Ehrh.) is a unique stone fruit crop. Development of fungal diseases, including brown rot, shot hole, red leaf spot, and rust, leads to a significant decrease in the yield and marketable quality of P. cerasifera fruits. Planting cherry plum orchards with resistant cultivars is a highly effective method of disease control. Breeding for disease resistance requires availability of the trait’s genetic diversity. P. cerasifera accessions from the unique collection maintained at Maikop Experiment Station of VIR can be utilized as sources of such diversity. The objective of the project was to identify cherry plum cultivars resistant to fungal diseases among those bred at Maikop Experiment Station.

Materials and methods. The tested material included 14 accessions of P. cerasifera. Resistance to fungal diseases was assessed in the collection orchard of Maikop Experiment Station according to a generally accepted scale in 2011–2022.

Results and conclusions. It was established that weather conditions during the flowering, growing and fruit-ripening periods of P. cerasifera plants affected the degree of damage by fungal diseases. Long-term research showed that cherry plum cultivars developed at Maikop Experiment Station of VIR were resistant to brown rot and shot hole. Most P. cerasifera cultivars were observed to possess resistance to rust and red leaf spot. Twelve cherry plum cultivars with combined resistance to four diseases were also identified. They can be recommended to breeders for the development of P. cerasifera cultivars with combined resistance to fungal diseases.

Today, studying molecular genetic bases of important agronomic traits and mechanisms of intervarietal and interspecific differences is of considerable interest for ornamental crop breeding. General characteristics and advantages of snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) as a model object for genetic research are presented. Main blocks of genes encoding plant characters that ensure the ornamental value (flower and inflorescence shapes, corolla color, etc.) are discussed. Considerable attention is paid to the activity of mobile elements, and transposon-associated mutagenesis.

A review is presented on recent advancements in the identification of blackberry hybrids, including successful examples of using molecular markers and DNA barcoding for the classification of complex hybrid forms. Special attention is given to the comparative analysis of the effectiveness of such methods depending on the research objectives and resource availability.

The review highlights the future need for standardizing methods and expanding genetic marker databases to improve the accuracy in the classification of blackberry hybrids.

The publication characterizes flavonoids – plant pigments, their role, classification, and biosynthesis. Attention is mainly paid to the enzymes of the cytochrome P450 class, which, in addition to their participation in flavonoid biosynthesis, play a major role in many other processes, such as polymer biosynthesis, hormone metabolism, and defense against unfavorable factors. Various information about the flavonoid 3’,5’-hydroxylase (F3’5’H) gene is presented, highlighting key advances and major problems in its study. The role of this gene in anthocyanin biosynthesis is discussed, its product is shown to belong to the CYP75 enzyme family from the CYP71 clan of cytochromes P450, and the active centers of the enzyme are displayed.

Flax usually has a blue corolla, and delphinidin as the main pigment in its coloration. In this publication, we characterized the d gene (f3’5’h), which in recessive condition causes pink flower coloration and pelargonidin as the main pigment. It was shown that F3’5’H in flax belongs to CYP75 enzymes, but unlike most others is attributed to the CYP75B subfamily rather than CYP75A. The possibility of multiple allelism of F3’5’H leading to different phenotypes was demonstrated, which confirms the multiple allelism of the d gene in flax, already known at the formal genetic level. At present, flax is the only species wherein the emergence of F3’5’H activity went to the detriment of F3’H, probably because flax is phylogenetically distant from other ancient cultivated plants and its evolution is associated with selection for yellow seed color.