Various species of bentgrass (Agrostis L.) are an important component of natural pastures. They are used to prepare forage grass mixtures or set up lawns; there are released cultivars. The collection of bentgrass held by VIR currently consists of 576 accessions. A. gigantea Roth is represented mainly by wild accessions; A. stolonifera L., A. canina L., and A. tenuis Sibth. by cultivars and breeding material of foreign origin. The representativeness of the gene pool and the distribution of germplasm collecting sites over the territory of the ex-USSR have been evaluated, and the species diversity has been analyzed within the collection. The regions have been identified that need to be addressed by collecting missions to fill ‘the gaps’ in the geographic, environmental and taxonomic range of bentgrass species. The passport database of VIR’s bentgrass collection and electronic maps of the ex-USSR administrative subdivisions served as the material for the research. A total of 176 administrative subdivisions were accepted as operational units and studied. For each of them, the total number of Agrostis spp. and the total number of accessions collected in its territory were taken into account. Among the eleven species collected, A. gigantea was analyzed in more detail. It appeared that the Northwest of the European part of Russia, Western Siberia, Sakhalin Province, and the Republic of Yakutia were most fully explored by collecting teams. However, the taxonomic and population diversity of bentgrass has not practically been mobilized so far in the southern parts of the Non-Black-Soil and Black-Soil zones, Middle and Lower Volga regions, North Caucasus, Eastern Siberia, and the Far East of Russia. Poorly represented in the collection is the taxonomic diversity of wild bentgrass accessions. The Russian Far East, mountainous areas of the Central Asian Republics, and the Northern and Central Urals are of the greatest interest for filling this gap.

Background. The study and mobilization of natural flora species in botanical gardens allow the curators to save biological resources of useful plant species, and recommend them for urban landscaping. In the flora of Russia, one species of a woody vine from the genus Aristolochia L. is A. manshuriensis Kom.; it is included in the Red Data Book of Russia.

Methods The material for the study was A. macrophylla Lam. and A. manshuriensis from the collection of the Peter the Great Botanical Garden maintained by the Komarov Botanical Institute of the RAS. Winter hardiness was assessed; plant height, stem diameter, and crown diameter were measured. The sizes and age are given according to the state of the plants in the fall of 2017. Seed quality was assessed with due regard to the approved guidelines. X-ray analysis of fruits and seeds was carried out using the methods developed for the use of microfocus radiography for seeds and fruits.

Results. A. manshuriensis has been grown in the Peter the Great Botanical Garden since 1909. The first flowering was observed in 1918 and 1919, the first fruiting in 1924. Currently, plants of the third or fourth generation are present in the collection. A. macrophylla has been known in St. Petersburg since 1816. Over a 200-year period of introduction, only flowering was observed. For the first time, fruiting in this species was registered in 2007; since 2014, second-generation plants have been grown. Analysis of the seeds collected in 2016 and 2017 showed that they are viable and of high quality in both species of Aristolochia. These species are winter-hardy, demonstrate rapid growth, and may somewhat vary in the timeframe of the passage of main phenological phases in their seasonal rhythm of development.

Conclusion. For laying out plantations, it is better to use seeds. A. macrophylla and A. manshuriensis are promising for wider cultivation and use in vertical landscaping.

Background. The main trend in melon breeding is the development of cultivars with good taste, high yield, and disease resistance. The task may be solved through a scientific search for new source material meeting these requirements.

Materials and methods. The research was performed at Bykovsky Cucurbit Breeding Experiment Station. Melon accessions of various origin and F₁ hybrids from the nursery of source material served as the research material. In total, during the period of 2015–2017, over 100 melon accessions were studied: 45 accessions from the VIR collection, 61 from various companies, and 12 developed at various research institutions. In the nursery of source material, the accessions were hybridized and the resulting hybrid combinations were tested, including tests against infections. All of them were evaluated for their economically useful traits, yield, taste qualities, and resistance to bio- and abiostressors. During the trials they were compared with the best released cultivars approved for dryland conditions according to the developed guidelines.

Results. The purpose of this work was to study the genetic collections of melons and obtain new source forms for further breeding. As a result of the study of the collection material, 12 accessions were identified with the following economically useful traits: high yield (exceeding the reference by more than 20%), high dry matter content (from 14 to 19%), large fruit size (fruit weight higher than 4.0 kg), and other features. After hybridization and testing in F₁, the following 5 hybrid combinations were distinguished: Ekler × Osen; Dyuna × Mayskaya, Sheker and No 323; Katyusha × Mestny (k-7459, Georgia); Harmony × Mestny (k7461, Georgia), characterized by a set of features important for breeding.

Conclusion. Thus, for further improvement by breeding and release of new melon cultivars, source accessions were selected with a yield exceeding 15.0 t/ha, dry matter content of 13.0%, bright fruit color, and resistance to diseases.

Background. Studying the maize collection held by VIR requires a comprehensive assessment of all its traits of breeding value. The soil and climate conditions in Gomel Province, Republic of Belarus, are characterized by insufficient levels of rainfall and total active temperatures during the initial stages of organogenesis in maize plants, therefore it is important to take into account these specific climate features when selecting the source material for breeding.

Materials and methods. Sixty-seven maize accessions from the VIR collection (reproductions of 1975–1980) were phenotyped according to major traits of breeding value. The experiments were performed in 2016 and 2017 in two replications.

Results. Analyzing the duration of the period from emergence to cob flowering helped to identify 61% of the accessions that were classified into early- and mid-ripening groups; 55% that were severely damaged by Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn., and 45% showing weak and medium damage; 7.5% severely affected by Ustilago maydis (DC.) Corda, and 67% without damage. Maize lines were identified (YuV24, CM7, TF907, Fc1554) with low harvesting moisture content in grain (up to 20%), lines (TF907, TF903, TF901, CM25, YuV24) with high grain yield per cob (80%), and lines (P346, Fc1554, Q184, TF903, F676) prone to the formation of two ears.

Conclusion. The research results proved the efficiency of the assessment of maize accessions from VIR for traits of breeding value in the water- and heatdeficient environments of Belarus in order to use them as source material in hybrid breeding.

Background. Inbreeding, as a way to produce progenies from organisms in different degrees of kinship, is an important genetic and breeding technique used to improve various crops, including fruit and berry plants. Inbreeding has not been extensively used with red currant, so a study of the possibility to employ closely related crosses in breeding practice with this crop remains relevant. The purpose of this study was to assess the breeding potential of the red currant cultivar ‘Podarok Pobeditelyam’ by disclosing economic and biological characteristics in its inbred progeny.

Methods and materials. The research was carried out at the red currant breeding site of the Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (VNIISPK, Orel) in 2016–2018. The seedlings obtained from the self-pollination of a new red currant cultivar, ‘Podarok Pobeditelyam’, were the objects of the study. Records and observations were carried out according to the program and methodology for breeding and variety studies of fruit, berry and nut crops.

Results and conclusion. The percentage of long-cluster seedlings (cluster length > 10 cm) in the inbred progeny of cv. ‘Podarok Pobeditelyam’ was 21.8%; segregation of large-fruited seedlings (berry weight > 0.65 g) was observed at the level of 17%; the maximum degree of transgression (T_smax) was 42%; and the incidence of transgressive seedlings was 37%. The analysis of the progeny showed that cv. ‘Podarok Pobeditelyam’ is a homozygote for the dominant Rc gene that controls the red color of the berries, and displays donor properties for the trait “dry detachment of berries”. The study of the cultivar’s self-pollinated progeny did not reveal any inbreeding depression in F1 seedlings from closely related crosses as far as plant condition or productivity is concerned. The selected seedlings are of interest for further variety research and use in breeding practice as new source material.

Background. Among spring cereals, oat is one of the main grain crops in Siberia. The aim of this study was to determine how the parameters of adaptability in oat cultivars are correlated with yield and basic indicators of grain quality.

Material and methods. The studies were carried out from 2011 to 2019 in the southern forest steppe of Western Siberia. The content of protein, crude fat and starch in grain, and its hull content were measured according to B. V. Pleshkov and N. S. Berkutova. Mathematical processing was performed following the guidelines by B. A. Dospekhov, S. A. Eberhart and W. A. Russell.

Results. There was a significant variation in grain yield and grain quality (CV > 20%) in oat cultivars due to a high contribution from the conditions of the year (26.7...80.9%) as well as a strong direct (r = 0,607...0.825) or strong reverse (r = –0.660...–0.994) conjugation with climatic factors. As the protein content in grain increased, starch, oil (r = 0.960...0.962) and hull content (r = 0.442) increased as well. Naked oat cultivars manifested higher grain quality (4.6% protein, 17.6% starch, and 2.2% crude fat) and reduced yield (–1.45 t/ha) compared with hulled oat cultivars.

Conclusion. Increased plasticity (bi) and stability (σ²_d) of oat cultivars contributed to higher yields (r_bi = 0.943;r_σ2d = 0.344) but reduced grain quality indicators (r_bi = –0.697…–0.812;r_σ2d = –0.270…–0.300). Hull content in plastic cultivars decreased (r_bi = –0.201).

Background. Information is provided about the results obtained by screening the VIR collection of improved potato varieties for main commercial traits: earliness, high yield, high starch content, and resistance to late blight (Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary), viruses, and pests, such as cyst nematode (Globodera rostochiensis Woll. (Ro1)), and Colorado beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say).

Materials and methods. Potato accessions representing domestic and foreign varieties from the VIR collection served as the material for this research. The screening was performed according to the techniques developed at the Potato Genetic Resources Department of VIR.

Results and conclusion. Potato varieties with valuable commercial traits were identified as breeding sources promising for earliness: ‘Bashkirskiy’ (k-25338), ‘Charoit’ (k-25221), ‘Colleen’ (k-25224), ‘Lagun’ (k-25294), etc.; for high yield: ‘Ametist’ (k-25336), ‘Banba’ (k-25222), ‘Bastion’ (k-25198), ‘Nur-Alem’ (k-25253), ‘Senim’ (k-25306), etc.; for high starch content: ‘Charaўnik’ (k-25139), ‘Darnitsa’ (k-25179), ‘Lad’ (k-25180), ‘Maksimum’ (k-25136), etc.; for resistance to late blight: local variety (Georgia) (k-25298, k-25326), ‘Sunkar’ (k-25258), ‘Udovitskiy’ (k-25260), ‘Vektor’ (k-25200), ‘Zvezdochka’ (k-25209); for resistance to viruses: ‘Azart’ (k-25196), Gala (k-25270), ‘Nadezhda’ (k-25213), Utro (k-25219), ‘Volat’ (k-25263), etc. Varieties combining resistance to gold potato cyst nematode with other valuable commercial traits were selected. Varieties with relative resistance to Colorado potato beetle were isolated under favorable conditions for the pest’s development. As a result of the research, new source material was identified, with a potential to improve major commercial traits of potato: earliness, high yield, high starch content, resistance to late blight, viruses, and pests (cyst nematode and Colorado beetle).

Background. There are strict requirements for a modern flax cultivar. It must have a whole set of valuable characters, including rust resistance.

Materials and methods. The flax collection of 2485 accessions held by VIR was evaluated using artificial provocative infection.

Results. Almost all domestic and foreign accessions and varieties collected before 1957 were highly or extremely susceptible to rust. Five Russian kryazhs and cv. ‘GDS-3’ developed at VIR were found to retain rust resistance up to the present moment. Lines derived from them and from three foreign varieties, with an identified number of the original effective R genes, were submitted to breeders. Nineteen donors with a set of economically useful traits, analogous to cvs. ‘Orshansky 2’ and ‘Prizyv 81’ and carrying the same genes, were produced and distributed to breeders. The VIR collection holds 10 donors of rust resistance with high fiber content developed at the All-Russian Research Institute of Flax. Some donors of resistance to other diseases released by the same Institute also possess high rust resistance, thus forming a rich stock of source material. The first cultivar relatively resistant to rust (‘L-1120’) was released in 1951. Possessing polygenic resistance, it was also resistant to Fusarium wilt and lodging, so it was widely used for breeding other cultivars with similar characteristics. As their cultivation expanded, the harvest losses caused by rust dropped. The first rust-resistant cultivar with oligogenic resistance (‘Tomsky 16’) appeared in 1990. By now, many cultivars protected by R genes of rust resistance have been developed. They combine this trait with resistance to Fusarium and lodging, high yield, and high fiber content. Flax rust incidence is not a problem anymore.

Conclusion. Plant breeders have at their disposal a rich stock of source material preserved in the VIR collection to produce resistant flax cultivars. The use of rust resistance donors in hybridization cannot disrupt the most important properties of a cultivar.

Background. Among stone fruit plants, a special place belongs to bird cherry (Padus Mill.). As a food plant, it has found use in areas with harsh climate conditions. Since the breeding of bird cherry cultivars for food purposes continues to develop, there is a need to know the chemical composition of its fruits. The aim of this research was to study bird cherry in the environments of the Russian Northwest and isolate genotypes with an optimal biochemical composition for subsequent use.

Materials and methods. Fruit composition in 21 accessions from the bird cherry collection was analyzed in 2009 and 2011–2013 at the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory of the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR). Biochemical studies were performed using the methods adopted at VIR. Statistical processing of the data obtained was made using the Microsoft Excel software package.

Results. The best genotypes were selected for each chemical component: for increased soluble solid content (SSC), accessions of Group I ‘Nevesta’ (29.63%), 1-1-8 (30.35), ‘Carpaty 5’ (30.87), ‘Chaika’ (33.9); for accumulation of sugars, ‘Granatovaya grozd’ (Group III; 12.13%), 1-1-8 (Gr. I; 12.5), ‘Pamyati Salamatova’ (Gr. IV; 12.8); for low acid content, ‘Sibirskaya krasavitsa’ (Gr. II; 1.03%), 1-1-8 (Gr. I; 1.14) ‘Granatovaya grozd’ (Gr. III; 1.17), ‘Zelenoplodnaya’ (Gr. I; 1.21), ‘Pozdnyaya radost’ (Gr. III; 1.25); for high content of ascorbic acid, 1-1-8 (Gr. I; 19.1 mg/100 g), ‘Sakhalinskaya chernaya’ (Gr. I; 19.35) ‘Rannyaya kruglaya’ (Gr. IV; 20.65), ‘Krasny shater’ (Gr. II; 21.23); for triterpene (ursolic, oleanolic) acids, ‘Cherny blesk’ (Gr. IV; 0.045%) and ‘Atica’ (Gr. I; 0.056).

Conclusion. Significant differences were found in SSC between accessions of Groups I (P. avium) and II (P. avium × P. virginiana); and in the sugar/acid ratio (SAR), between I (P. avium) and IV (seedlings of cv. ‘Pamyati Salamatova’); II (P. avium × P. virginiana) and III (P. virginiana × P. avium); III (P. virginiana × P. avium) and IV (seedlings of cv. ‘Pamyati Sala matova’).

Background. Mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek) sprouts are of high nutritional value and are very popular in the world, as they are a source of nutrients and bioactive compounds. In Russia, the consumption of V. radiata sprouts is only beginning to develop. Growing this crop for microgreens on a commercial scale requires cultivars with a rapid development rate and higher weight of sprouts. With this in view, the aim of this research was to study the effect of growing conditions and the genotype on morphological and physiological parameters of mung bean seeds and sprouts.

Methods. Mung bean accessions from the VIR collection were analyzed. Germination energy, seed germination and seed vigor, and morphological characteristics were evaluated in seeds and sprouts of 16,000 plants. Four plant reproductions grown at Astrakhan (2015, 2017), Kuban (2005) and Adler (2016) Experiment Stations of VIR were studied. The effect produced by growing conditions and the genotype on morphological and physiological parameters of plants was identified using one- and two-way analyses of variance. Correlations between the traits were assessed using correlation and component analyses.

Results. Specific individual features of the accessions produced the strongest effect on morphological and physiological characteristics of seeds and sprouts; weather conditions, the place and year of reproduction, to a lesser extent. Sowing quality of seeds depended more on the precipitation amount during the growing season than on the sum of active temperatures. When formed under dry conditions, seeds manifested better seed germination, germination energy of seeds, and seed vigor. Accessions with high and stable levels of seed germination, germination energy, and seed vigor, and weight of sprouts were identified.

Background. Identification of effective genes for disease resistance in resistant plant samples is the most important step toward recommending them for breeding. There are three main methods for such identification: hybridological analysis, phytopathological test, and DNA marking. The method of PCR markers is widely used in Russia to identify resistance genes in wheat relatives, including the genus Aegilops L. for resistance to leaf rust. From a theoretical viewpoint, the presence of a certain amplification fragment can hardly be interpreted as a definite proof of the presence of a resistance gene: during the species evolution, recombinations and mutations could occur, resulting in disturbance of the fragment’s presence and phenotypic expression of its connection with resistance. The purpose of this work was a comparison between molecular-genetic and phytopathological methods to identify leaf rust resistance genes Lr9 and Lr41 in three Aegilops species.

Materials and methods. We identified leaf rust resistance genes Lr9 and Lr41 in forty Aegilops accessions using PCR with J13 and GDM35 primers, respectively. In the phytopathological test, the seedlings were infected with the pathogen population (avirulent to Lr9 and Lr41 genes) and the fungus clones virulent to the wheat line with the Lr9 gene.

Results and conclusions. According to the data of molecular marking, the Lr41 gene was present in twelve Ae. tauschii Coss. accessions; Lr9 in four Ae. umbellulata Zhuk. accessions and four of Ae. biuncialis Vis. All accessions of Ae. tauschii, two of Ae. umbellulata, and three of Ae. biuncialis, possessing effective resistance genes according to the molecular testing, were susceptible to the pathogen population. For three Ae. umbellulata accessions resistant to the population, where DNA marking failed to identify an Lr9 gene, the presence of this gene was shown by a phytopathological test. Thus, there were significant differences in the postulation of effective Lr9 and Lr41 leaf rust resistance genes in Aegilops accessions after a phytopatological test and the use of DNA markers.

Background. The efficiency of breeding depends largely on the breeding method and the choice of the source material. Hybridization and mutagenesis, combined with selection, are the basic techniques in the development of promising breeding materials and adaptable cultivars of spring barley.

Object and methods. The research was implemented in 2002–2019. The material for the research were 948 breeding lines (Federal Agricultural Science Center of the North-East, Kirov) developed through hybridization with cv. ‘Bios 1’, and 190 mutant samples (Vyatka State Agricultural Academy, Kirov) obtained as a result of treating barley seeds with sodium carbonate and irradiation with laser and far-red light in various combinations. The study was conducted in accordance with approved standard techniques.

Results and conclusions. Various collection accessions and breeding lines were involved in crosses with cv. ‘Bios 1’. The lines were studied according to the full-scale scheme of the breeding process. As a result, only one breeding line, 52-15, having ‘Bios 1’ in its pedigree, was approved for testing in the competitive variety trial in 2019. These results attested to a low combination capacity of cv. ‘Bios 1’ and to the inefficiency of its further use in hybridization as a parent form. In Vyatka State Agricultural Academy, 190 mutant forms of barley were produced using ‘Bios 1’ as the initial form. According to the results of laboratory experiments and competitive variety trials, 5 mutant forms of barley were identified as promising. Spring barley samples, combining high yield with a set of traits valuable for breeding, were selected for further breeding work: breeding line 52-15, and mutant forms M 4-16-3, M 9-5-3 and M 11- 13 Kha. The new barley accession M 8-3-013, maturing 8 days earlier than the original cultivar, having a long (8.9 cm), wellgrained (24.3 grains) and productive (1.31 g) ear, is submitted for the State Variety Trials.

Sverdlovsk Horticultural Breeding Station specializes in the development of fruit and berry cultivars for the Middle Urals. One of its tasks is pear breeding for high winter-hardiness, high yield, and good fruit quality. Ten new pear cultivars and improved forms of local breeding were selected as the material for this study versus the reference cultivars ‘Talitsa’, ripening in summer, and ‘Berezhenaya’, ripening in late autumn. Observations were conducted across the decade of 2009–2019. The cultivars ‘Letnyaya zolotistaya’, ‘Chusovaya’, ‘Berezhenaya’ (ref.), ‘Sultan’, and breeding form DL-33-307 were found to possess resistance of flowers to late spring frosts. Cvs. ‘Letnyaya zolotistaya’, ‘Berezhenaya’ (ref.) and ‘Sultan’ were early-fruiting; cvs. ‘Talitsa’ (ref.) and ‘Chusovaya’, breeding forms ZS-IV-5-11, DL-33-307, DL-II-31n-207, ZS-II-15-18 and ZS-IV-5-19 were mid-fruiting; breeding form ZS-IV-15-38, late-fruiting. An early onset of full fructification at the age of 10–11 years or more, combined with high yield at the same age, was observed in cvs. ‘Berezhenaya’ (ref.), ‘Sultan’, ‘Letnyaya zolotistaya’, and breeding form ZS-II-15-18. New cultivars ‘Letnyaya zolotistaya’ and ‘Sultan’ were highlighted for a combination of valuable traits: earliness, high yield, and high growth rates in the plantlet stage. Cv. ‘Letnyaya zolotistaya’ had attractive good-tasting fruits, weighing 76 g, ripening in summer. Cv. ‘Sultan’ yielded nicelooking and good-tasting fruits, weighing 129 g, ripening in winter. Cv. ‘Chusovaya’ was identified for its nice-looking fruits with a very good taste.

Background. The term “DNA barcode” is used extensively in molecular taxonomy. Basically, this technique is based on the use of a DNA sequence (about 400–800 bp) as a standard to identify and determine the species relation of organisms quickly and accurately. Therefore, DNA barcodes not only help taxonomists in classifying and identifying species, but also improve their ability to control, understand and utilize biodiversity. In this study, the authors conducted identification of samples of Anoectochilus setaceus Blume collected in Thanh Hoa through the isolated sequence of ITS gene regions.

Materials and methods. Total DNA was extracted from young leaves of A. setaceus samples using CTAB method. The ITS gene segment was amplified by PCR and sequenced. This genetic sequence was analyzed, compared and used to establish a phylogenetic tree using BioEdit, BLAST and DNASTAR programs.

Results and conclusion. We isolated 4 sequences of the ITS gene region in 4 A. setaceus samples collected at Xuan Lien and Pu Luong of Thanh Hoa province; the ITS gene region was 667 nucleotide long. The findings identified the samples as the same species and showed 99% similarity to the ITS gene sequence of A. roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl. published in GenBank, GQ328774. This study also demonstrates that the method employing internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences is an effective tool to identify A. setaceus taxa.

Silica biominerals are deposited as amorphous solid structures in plant cells and tissues, providing rigidity to different plant parts and assisting in defence. The shape and size of phytoliths are well established and serve as a useful tool in taxonomic analyses. For the first time we extracted and studied silica biominerals of five marine macroalgae, which we observed by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). More than nine different morphotypes of phytoliths ranging from ≥ 10 to ≥ 350 μm in size were found. Some of them were phytoliths made of silica while others showed characteristics of different minerals of calcium. In our study, the “honeycomb” formations were only recorded in Laurencia tropica Yamada and pyramid tabular ones were found only in Tichocarpus crinitus (S.G. Gmelin) Ruprecht. The XRD analysis showed that they consisted of virgilite and gypsum substance, respectively. Silica phytoliths are intrinsic parts of the algae and their morphological characterization can provide the basis for palaeo-reconstruction and taxonomic investigation of brown and red algae in palaeontological studies of fossils where all organic matter has decayed.

The authors’ data on the weed species composition in 8 geographic regions of the Russian Federation were laid at the basis of this survey. The segetal flora comprised weeds of cereals, root crops, and perennial grasses. The composition and taxonomic structure of weed species were analyzed. The total number of weedy plants encompassed 686 plant species. The level of regional weed species diversity was positively related to the area planted. Altai Territory, Udmurtia, and Rostov Province had the greatest weed species diversity, with more than 300 species, while Vologda Province had the lowest diversity (193 species). Most species-rich plant families (Asteraceae Dumort., Poaceae Barnhart, Fabaceae Lindl., Brassicaceae Burnet), genera (Potentila L., Artemisia L., Veronica L., Chenopodium L., Silene L., Trifolium L.), their subsequences, contributions of singlespecies families (17–39%) and genera (57–74%) were relatively stable systematic structure indicators. Only 18% of the species were common for all the regions. In each region there were region-specific groups of species. Weed species compositions in geographically close regions – the European part of Russia and the Urals – showed the greatest similarity. As for geographically distant regions (Altai Territory and Rostov Province), their weedy species compositions were distant and contained large groups of region-specific species.

Background. The requirement for high-quality oat grain for food production leads to the need for studying the resistance of this cereal crop to harmful diseases and for the development of new productive cultivars.

Materials and methods. A comparative characterization was performed among the breeding lines of naked oats from Nemchinovka Federal Research Center according to the parameters of microbiological purity of grain. The mycological method was applied for the analysis of infection in the oat grain, and fungal species composition was identified. The DNA amount of toxin-producing species from genus Fusarium Link in the grain was detected using the real-time PCR, and the amount of mycotoxins was measured by the enzyme immunoassay.

Results. The fungi of Alternaria Nees, Fusarium, Cladosporium Link, Cochliobolus Drechsler, Epicoccum Link were associated with oat grain. Uniquely high infection of the grain by F. langsethiae Torp & Nirenberg (14%) was found under the natural conditions of the Central Region of Russia. The differences revealed among the analyzed breeding lines and cultivars in the DNA amount of F. langsethiae and F. sporotrichioides Sherb. were from 1.3×10^-4 to 7.2×10^-3 pg/ng in the total DNA, and from 5 to 1230 μg/kg in the content of T-2/ HT-2 toxins.

Conclusion. All naked oat breeding lines were relatively resistant to Fusarium infection and proved the best as regards the mycotoxin contamination of the grain against the reference hulled cultivar ‘Yakov’. In the competitive variety trials, three lines – 66h2618, 54h2476 and 70h2613 – were characterized as relatively resistant to Fusarium disease, compared with the naked oat reference ‘Vyatsky golozerny’.

Acad. Evgeny Nikolaevich Sedov, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Full Member of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Full Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor, Scientist Emeritus, is an outstanding researcher and breeder, author of 90 apple and pear cultivars, founder of a scientific school specializing on priority trends in pome fruit breeding: – development of adaptable triploid apple cultivars with regular fruiting, high marketability of fruits, and increased self-fertility; – development of apple cultivars immune or highly resistant to scab; – development of triploid apple cultivars with immunity to scab; – development of columnar apple cultivars for super-intensive orchards and main technology elements for their cultivation; – development of apple cultivars with improved biochemical composition of fruits with higher content of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and Р-active substances (vitamin Р).

This year, the staff of the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center (FSVC) celebrates their 100th anniversary. Prof. S. I. Zhegalov was the recognized founder of the institution, which was reorganized from Gribovo Vegetable Experimental Station. Its team started with 14 employees, and the experimental crop area was slightly less than 4 hectares. In a short period of time (1920 to 1927), 74 cultivars of the most popular vegetable crops and a number of flower crop varieties were developed and improved. The second period of the Station’s development (1937 to 1966) was associated with the name of Acad. E. I. Ushakova. During this period, a pleiad of talented scientific plant breeders emerged and thrived: A. V. Alpatyev, S. P. Agapova, E. M. Popova, A. D. Plinka, Yu. A. Kobyakova, and others. In 1971, Gribovo Experimental Station was transformed into the All-Union Scientific Research Institute for Breeding and Seed Production of Vegetable Crops (VNIISSOK). The Institute was headed by Acad. P. F. Sokol. Under his leadership, capacity building and logistic support of the Institute were promoted: new facilities were built, and the experimental production network was expanded. Despite the difficulties associated with the reorganization and the financial and political situation in the country in 1992–2017, the staff achieved significant results during the years of the directorship by Acad. V. F. Pivovarov. New cultivars were developed to meet the demand; they occupied more than 50% of the crop area under vegetables across the country. Each year, the Institute produced 200–300 tons of elite and cultivar seeds. In 2017, the Institute was merged into the Federal Scientific Vege table Center as the keystone element. The Center also incorporated the All-Russian Research Institute of Vegetable Production and seven experiment stations throughout the Russian Federation. The Institute has been successfully cooperating with the N.I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) for many years, exchanging germplasm materials and experience, and jointly developing vegetable cultivars.