In the grain sorghum breeding programs, much attention is paid to the trait ‘plant height’. New varieties and hybrids of this crop must be technologically advanced and, above all, meet the requirements for mechanized cultivation according to plant height. In this regard, the purpose of the current research was to establish the patterns of inheritance of ‘plant height’ in grain sorghum hybrid combinations of the first and second generation obtained between samples that were of distant ecological and geographical origin. In order to develop new breeding material adapted to mechanized cultivation, in the hybridization scheme of 2020 there were included varieties ‘Luchistoye’ and ‘Ataman’ of the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy”, adapted to local conditions, as well as the Ugandan varieties ‘Seso 1’ and ‘Narosorg 1’. The study was carried out on the experimental plots of the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” in 2020–2022. The trait ‘plant height’ was estimated at the stage of full plant maturity. To analyze the inheritance of the trait in F₁ hybrids, there have been estimated dominance degrees, true and hypothetical heterosis values. Hybridological analysis of plant height in F₂ hybrids was conducted using Polygen A segregation model search program. In grain sorghum hybrid combinations of the first generation, obtained between ecologically and geographically distant parental forms, there was an overdominance of the trait ‘plant height’ (hp = 7.8–61.0), as well as the manifestation of true (24.2–37.1 %) and hypothetical (25.3–39.8 %) heterosis. The analysis of second-generation hybrids made it possible to establish differences between parental forms in two pairs of genes, which allowed in most cases to combine them with genes of other quantitative traits.

Hulles barley grain with a high protein percentage and a complete amino acid composition is used as an ingredient in the production of food and feed with increased nutritional and consumer value. It is necessary to search for the initial material of hulles barley with a high content of essential, limiting and replaceable amino acids in order to develop high-tech varieties for food and feed products. The purpose of the current study was to determine the amino acid composition of protein in spring hulles barley varieties from the VIR collection, to identify sources with a high protein content and improved amino acid composition for use in breeding programs for the development of high-qualitative hulles barley varieties for various applications. The study was conducted at the Samara Research Institute of Agriculture of RAS in 2023–2024. Spring hulles barley varieties from the VIR collection were used as experimental material. The amino acid composition of protein was determined by capillary electrophoresis (KAPEL-105M). When studying the VIR collection of spring hulles barley in 2023–2024, there was identified a group of variety samples with an increased protein percentage, regardless of weather conditions (19.0–19.9 % on average over the years of study), which should be included in hybridization to develop high-tech varieties ‘k-5411’, ‘k-20041’, ‘k-25872’, ‘k-31125’, ‘k-21694’, ‘k-23450’, ‘k-11069’, ‘k-3115’ demonstrating their raw material advantages and areas of use. From the collection and breeding material of hulles barley grown in the arid conditions of the steppe part of the Middle Volga region, there have been identified the sources ‘k-4526’, ‘k-5058’, ‘k-5411’, ‘k-6246’, ‘k-8923’, ‘k-25872’, ‘k-31520’, ‘k-21694’, ‘Nudum 15’, ‘Streletsky golozerny’, ‘Tseleste 17’ with a high content of essential (4.30–4.80 %) and limiting amino acids (0.85–0.94 %), as well as a total amino acid content (13.88–14.69 %), which are recommended for use in the breeding programs to develop high-quality hulles barley varieties for the food and feed industries.

Agricultural drought is defined as the lack of soil moisture to ensure the growth and development of agricultural crops. The relevance of developing drought-resistant maize hybrids is increasing due to ongoing global climate change and the expansion of the maize growing area. The efficiency of this breeding direction largely depends on the availability of the initial material and, consequently, on the accuracy of the estimation methods used. The purpose of the current study was to determine the drought resistance of the initial material of self-pollinated maize lines and hybrids. The paper has presented the study of drought resistance of vegetative maize plants by the method of residual water deficit (RWD) in 2022–2024. The study was conducted at the Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”, located in a area with unstable moisture levels, which allowed selecting genotypes with resistance to water deficit under natural aridity. The objects of the study were 170 maize samples, including 80 hybrids in the Competitive Variety Testing and 90 lines of the working collection of the hybridization nursery. There have been identified 29 hybrids with low water deficit, both in the flowering stage (3.59–8.92 %) and in the milky-wax ripeness stage of grain (4.01–14.54 %), and 25 lines with low RWD values in the flowering stage (4.09–10.86 %) and its insignificant increase (0.02–2.0 %) to the milky-wax ripeness stage under drought increase. The identified maize lines and simple hybrids with high levels of drought tolerance could be recommended for crossing schemes to develop three-line hybrids adapted to water stress.

Spring barley, despite the decrease of sown areas, remains a significant grain food, feed and technical agricultural crop in the Don region. The purpose of the current study was to monitor spring barley varieties in the Rostov region. In order to solve this problem, there have been analyzed dynamics of sown areas, yields and spring barley varietal composition in six different soil and climatic zones of the region for the period from 2022 to 2024. There has been found that during this period, 27–30 spring barley varieties with different economic and biological characteristics are allowed for cultivation in the North Caucasus region. There has been established that over the past three years only 26–28 barley varieties have been cultivated on an area of 201.7 to 222.9 K hectares in the region. The largest areas under spring barley in the region are in such three main agroclimatic zones as northwestern, northeastern and southern (more than 60 %). The main scientific institutions producing seed material of spring barley varieties for the Rostov region are the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy", the FSBSI “North Caucasian FSAC” and OOO “Agrostandart”. There has been determined that the maximum sowing area (155.5–168.1 K hectares) of spring barley for the period (2022–2024) was occupied by the varieties included in the register for more than 15 years. The most promising and productive varieties are ‘Prerie’, ‘Vakula’, ‘Ratnik’, ‘Leon’, ‘Gris’, ‘Odesskiy 22’, which are in demand in production regardless of the natural and climatic conditions of the Rostov region. The use of new and promising barley varieties included in the State List for the North Caucasus region will contribute to further productivity improvement and gross harvest increase of spring barley in the region.

The development of new rice varieties which form high productivity and are better adapted to the specific area where they will be further grown, plays a crucial role in rice productivity improvement. At the breeding institutes of the FSBSI “Federal Research Center of Rice” and the FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”, the researchers have been studying for a long time and developing more productive and high-quality rice varieties that are resistant to adverse natural conditions. Individual genotypes of each variety determine different responses to the peculiarities of local environmental conditions that affect productivity level and the need for practice. The current paper is devoted to the analysis of the results of environmental trials of two Rostov and two Krasnodar rice varieties in the fields of 4 farms in the Krasnoarmeysky district of the Krasnodar Territory in 2023–2024, which revealed a significant difference in grain productivity. The conducted ecological trials of rice varieties ‘FNTsR’ and ‘ANTsD’ on the checks of four agricultural institutions of Krasnodar Krai showed significant variability of grain productivity depending on a forecrop. In the ES “Krasnaya”, on average for 2023–2024, the variety ‘Rapan 2’ was at the first place in productivity (7.95), the variety ‘Favorit’ was at the second place (7.50), the variety ‘Virasan’ was at the third place (6.47 t/ha). In the RPP “Krasnoarmeysky”, the varieties were ranked as follows: ‘Rapan 2’ (7.68), ‘Argamak’ (6.87 t/ha), ‘Favorit’ (6.72 t/ha). In the Agrocomplex “Cheburgolsky” they were ranked as follows: ‘Rapan 2’ (7.66 t/ha), ‘Favorit’ (7.40 t/ha), ‘Virasan’ (7.32 t/ha). In the Agrocomplex “Rossiya” they were ranked as follows: ‘Favorit’ (8.11 t/ha), ‘Argamak’ (7.34 t/ha), ‘Rapan 2’ (7.30 t/ha). For cultivation in rice farms of the Krasnodar Krai after soybean and sunflower there has been recommended the new highly productive rice variety ‘Argamak’, developed by the ARC “Donskoy”, is recommended.

Testing of agricultural crop varieties in various soil and climatic conditions allows estimating their response, which is very important when selecting a variety composition for a specific growing area. The purpose of the current study was to identify the adaptive potential of winter and spring barley varieties developed by the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” in the arid conditions of the Republic of Kalmykia. The trials were conducted at the Kalmykia Research Agricultural Institute named after M.B. Narmaev, branch of the “PKAFRC RAS” in 2018–2023. There have been studied the spring barley varieties ‘Shchedry’, ‘Ratnik’, ‘Fedos’, ‘Format’ and the winter barley varieties ‘Erema’, ‘Foks 1’ developed by the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy”. The plot area was 50 m². The seeding rate was 400 pcs. of germ. seeds per 1 m². The varieties were laid black fallow. The winter barley variety ‘Espada’ and spring barley ‘Strannik’ were used as standards. As a result of the study, there have been identified the winter barley variety ‘Erema’ with a high index of ecological adaptability, capable of producing high yields under favorable growing conditions (b_i = 1.96, ((Y_min+Y_max) / 2) – 3.62) and the spring barley varieties ‘Fedos’ and ‘Format’. The variety ‘Fedos’ was characterized by high stress resistance, homeostasis, breeding value and stability level (Y_min+Y_max = -1.91, Hom = 2.07, Sc = 1.29, PUSS – 110.2 %). The Format variety stood out for its high indicators of genetic flexibility, selection value and stability level ((Y_min+Y_max)/2 = 2.88, Sc = 1.27, VSLI – 109.9 %). These varieties can be recommended for cultivation in the extremely arid conditions of the Republic of Kalmykia.

The current paper has presented the study results of soybean varieties of different ecological and geographical origin to use them as sources of high productivity in breeding. The purpose of the study was to estimate economically valuable traits of collection soybean samples. The study was conducted on the experimental plot of the laboratory for breeding and seed production of grain legumes of the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” in 2021–2023. The material for the study was 10 soybean samples from the ARIPGR collection. The zoned variety ‘Donskaya 9’ was sown as a standard. During the study, there were identified such sources of early maturity as the soybean samples ‘Selekta 201’ and ‘SK 82’, with a short vegetation period (108 and 104 days), which was 3–7 days less than that of the standard variety ‘Donskaya 9’. The variety ‘Selecta 201’ (65.4 cm) was the best in terms of plant height. Some samples showed a reliable productivity increase compared to the standard ‘Donskaya 9’, such as ‘Kyoto’ with 1.39 t/ha, ‘Kleopatra’ with 1.38 t/ha, ‘Zelda’ with 1.37 t/ha, ‘Selekta-201’ with 1.36 t/ha and ‘Emperor’ with 1.29 t/ha. The conducted correlation analysis showed a close correlation between productivity and 1000-seed weight (r = 0.81±0.05), a mean positive correlation with height of a lower bean attachment (r = 0.61±0.05), seed weight per one plant (r = 0.44±0.05) and an inverse correlation with a number of productive stems (r = -0.39±0.05), a weak correlation with a vegetation period (r = 0.30±0.5) and a number of productive beans (r = 0.19±0.05). The identified soybean varieties can be recommended as an initial material for the development of highly productive varieties that meet production requirements.

When introducing new pea varieties into production, it is necessary to improve agrotechnical cultivation methods to fully realize their productivity potential. The purpose of the current work was to study the effect of seeding rates, beans' position on a plant and mowing time on sowing and productive qualities of seeds of the pea variety ‘Pamyati Popova’. The trials were conducted in the soil and climatic conditions of the Pre-Ural steppe zone of Bashkortostan in 2022–2024. Weather conditions were contrasting through the years, 2023 and 2024 were characterized as dry (HTC = 0.52 and HTC = 0.71, respectively), 2022 was favorable in terms of moisture supply and temperature conditions (HTC = 1.30). The estimation, records and measurements were carried out in accordance with the Мethodology of State Variety Testing of agricultural crops. As a result of studying the sowing and productive qualities of seeds of the pea variety ‘Pamyati Popova’, formed in beans of different tiers, there was found that 1000-seed weight and specific seed weight from beans of the middle and lower tiers were of larger values that those of seeds from beans of the upper tier (p≤0.05). The plants from the seeds of lower and middle tier beans, the total and seed productivity were 8.4–12.5 % and 8.2–14.4 % larger, respectively, than in plants grown from the seeds of upper tier beans. The greatest productivity increase (0.18 t/ha) was obtained with a seeding rate of 1.2 million germinating seeds per 1 ha. When studying the effect of mowing dates on the sowing and productive qualities of seeds, there was shown that the best grain yield in terms of size and uniformity could be obtained when harvesting peas in the ripening phase of 60–70 % beans of complete ripeness.

The current paper has presented the study results on the effect of growth regulators and bacterial products on productivity of various winter wheat varieties zoned in the North Caucasus Federal District in 2017–2019. The trials were carried out on meadow-chestnut soil of the flat irrigated area of Dagestan. There has been given an analysis of the indicators influencing the formation of the future productivity, such as field germination of seeds, the length of the phenological phases of growth and development of the crop in the autumn and spring vegetation and the dependence on the choice of growth-stimulating and bacterial preparations, as well as the varietal potential of winter wheat. There has been established that the use of growth regulators and bacterial preparations before sowing, as well as spraying plants in the tillering phase, significantly affects the elements of the crop structure and, ultimately, the biological productivity. The purpose of the current work was to study the effect of various growth regulators and bacterial products on the characteristics of growth, development and formation of productivity of winter wheat varieties, as well as to determine the comparative productivity of zoned varieties. As a result of the conducted trials, there has been found out that the largest productivity of winter wheat varieties was formed in the variant with the use of the bacterial product ‘Azofit’ during pre-sowing seed treatment (application rate of 1 l/t of seeds) together with the growth stimulator ‘Kostando, KE’ during spraying in the tillering phase (application rate of 0.2 l/ha). The comparative estimation of varieties’ productivity showed a significant difference of the variety ‘Sila’, which demonstrated an advantage over other varieties in all variants of the trial. Thus, with the optimal variant established by us using growth stimulants ‘Azofit’ and ‘Kostando, KE’ the productivity level of this variety was 5.0 t/ha.

The primary task of farmers is to obtain large productivity of good quality, which can be provided by promising varieties of agricultural crops and adaptive agricultural technologies. The current paper has presented the study on the varietal specificity of mineral nutrition of new durum wheat varieties conducted in 2021–2023. The aim of the study is to optimize mineral nutrition of new varieties of durum wheat, ensuring an increase in yield and grain quality. To achieve this goal, there was laid down a two-factor field trial (3x5). Factor A presents durum wheat varieties. Factor B presents options for the use of mineral fertilizers. The durum wheat varieties developed by the Omsk ARC are middle-ripening varieties with an increased gluten percentage in grain. There has been established that according to productivity on an unfertilized background, the varieties ‘Omsky Malakhit’and ‘OmskyTopaz’ were inferior to the standard variety ‘Zhemchuzhina Sibiri’ by 0.44; 0.27 t/ha of grain. Fertilizing resulted in a mean prodiuctivity increase of 0.55 t/ha by the variety ‘Zhemchuzhina Sibiri’, while the increase by the new varieties was two times lower (0.26; 0.27 t/ha). The highest protein percentage in grain was identified in the variety ‘Omsky Malakhit’, with 16.4 %, without any significant dependence on fertilizer application options. In terms of gluten, the new varieties exceeded the standard by 2.3–3.6 times, on average, the variety ‘Omsky Topaz’ had a gluten index of 72 % and ‘Omsky Malachite’ had 54 %. Due to the main application of mineral fertilizers (N30P45), gluten percentage in grain increased by 6.1–8.1 % abs. units. To implement the varietal characteristics of mineral nutrition in adaptive agricultural technologies, the paper has presented agrochemical standard parameters for the consumption of the main elements of mineral nutrition to produce one ton of grain with the corresponding amount of by-products, the coefficients of use of elements from the soil and fertilizers.

The purpose of the current study was to identify patterns of the effect of doses, methods and terms of mineral fertilizing on the phenological phases and winter rye productivity in the Trans-Urals. The trial was conducted at the educational and production fruit and vegetable plot in 2021–2023. The object of the study was the winter rye variety ‘Pamyati Kunakbaeva’. Sowing was laid in weedfree fallow in two stages. During sowing, nitroammophoska was added in doses of 30, 60, 90 kg of active ingredient per ha. At booting stage, there was foliar feeding with 60 l of liquid complex fertilizers (N:P 11:37) per ha. The study results were processed according to B. A. Dospekhov’s methodology. There have been studied phenological phases of plants, yield structure parameters and productivity. The effect of the sowing period on phenological phases of plants under favorable weather conditions was established only in the autumn. Subsequently, there was no difference in the development of crops. In 2021/2022 there were obtained high yields in some variants at the first sowing date (N60P60K60, N60P60K60 + LCF NP11:37, N90P90K90 + LCF NP11:37). In 2022/2023, productivity was higher in the second sowing date variants. In general, over the two years of study, the most efficient was the application of the main fertilizer at a dose of 60 kg active ingredient per ha with the use of LCF. There have been established higher indicators for such yield structure elements as ‘number and weight of grains per ear’. The increase of these indicators in comparison with the control amounted to 8.7 and 0.4 g, respectively over the years of study. In 2021/2022 this variant showed the largest productivity (2.51 t/ha) and 1000-grain weight (41.2 g). In 2022/2023, the best indicators were identified in the variant N90P90K90 + LCF NP11:37, with 27.7 g of ‘1000-grain weight’ and 2.49 t/ha of productivity.

In order to develop highly productive winter common wheat varieties, it is necessary to pay attention not only to the state of the agrophytocenosis, but also to include disease-resistant plants in the breeding process. One of the most common diseases in Russia, including the Rostov region, is septoria (Zymoseptoria tritici). Varieties and samples with several septoria resistant genes are of great importance for breeding. Therefore, it is necessary to search for breeding material resistant to Zymoseptoria tritici to develop new resistant winter common wheat varieties. The purpose of the current study was to identify septoria resistant winter common wheat varieties and samples using PCR diagnostics. The study was conducted at the FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” (FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy”) in 2020–2022. Against the infectious background during the years of study, there were conducted the field estimation of 35 winter common wheat samples for Z. tritici resistance. The largest number of winter common wheat varieties resistant to Z. tritici with 14.4% damage was established in 2022, these were 5 varieties ‘Matriks’, ‘Univer’, ‘Krasa Dona’, ‘Gomer’ (Russia), ‘KVS-Emil’ (Germany). In 2020, only one variety ‘Astarta’ (Ukraine) showed resistance with 15–20 % damage. In 2021, there were identified 3 resistant varieties (8.6 %) ‘SO-911’ (France) with 10–15 % damage, ‘KVS-Emil’ (Germany) and ‘Batya’ (Russia) with 15–20 % damage. The screening of 35 winter common wheat samples has shown the presence of the dominant resistance gene Stb4 in the varieties ‘XE-9710’ (France), ‘Matriks’, ‘Krasa Dona’, ‘Volny Don’, ‘Univer’ (FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy”, Russia), ‘KWS-Emil’ (KWS Lochow GMBH, Germany). As a result, there have been identified the varieties ‘Matriks’, ‘Univer’, ‘KVS-Emil’, ‘XE-9710’, which showed themselves to be moderately resistant and stable over the years; the resistance of these varieties was also confirmed by laboratory methods. The identified varieties are recommended for further study and use in the breeding process.

The purpose of the current work was to identify the efficiency of new biological complex products prepared on the basis of Novokhizol (NVKhZ) with chitosan and Siberian pine bark extract (SPBE) in protecting spring common wheat from root rot and obligate pathogens (powdery mildew, brown rust) in the forest-steppe of the Ob region, and also to establish their effect on yield elements. The trials were carried out with the spring wheat variety ‘Novosibirskaya 29’ in the field of SibNIISR – branch of the ICG SB of RAS (Novosibirsk) in 2023–2024. The method of application of the products was pre-sowing seed treatment and treatment of vegetative plants. There has been established an efficiency of NVKhZ + SPBE against common root rot. The development of the disease on the roots on average over two years decreased from 21.5 to 3.95 %, the biological efficiency of the product was 81.7 %. There has been found that the use of biological products on vegetative plants reduced the damage of plants by obligate pathogens more than pre-sowing seed treatment. Seed treatment with products contributed to an increase in plant height by 8.7 % with NVKhZ + Chitosan and by 6.8 % with NVKhZ + SPBE, root length by 36.3 % with NVHZ + Chitosan, by 22 % with NVKhZ + SPBE and plant biomass by 17.6 %. There has been found a positive effect of Novochizol compositions on the formation of productive stems, a length of the main spike, a number of kernels per main spike, and kernels per plant. There has been established and statistically proved a positive effect of the tested products on crop yields. On average, over the years of study, plant productivity in variants with biological products has exceeded control values by 1.2 times.

Wheat is the leading agricultural crop and is widely cultivated in the Russian Federation. One of the most harmful pathogens of this crop is the wheat streak mosaic rymovirus (Tritimovirus tritici, Wheat streak mosaic rymovirus, WSMV), which can cause significant yield losses, reaching 100 %. The purpose of the current study was to determine the prevalence of WSMV in wheat crops in different regions of the Russian Federation and to analyze the genetic characteristics of isolates of this virus identified in the Krasnodar Territory. Identification of WSMV in selected wheat samples was carried out by the ELISA method with test systems from leading manufacturers and by the PCR method with species-specific primers. The obtained amplification products were sequenced. The results of the study conducted in 2024 showed a wide prevalence of WSMV in several constituent entities of the Russian Federation, which was not established in 2021–2023. The incidence of this virus in samples from the Stavropol Territory, Krasnodar Territory, the Republic of Crimea and the Volgograd Region was 100 %, 45.4 %, 41.7 and 30.4 %, respectively. There has been established a dominant distribution of isolates of this virus belonging to the WSMV-B strain in the Krasnodar Territory. According to the nucleotide sequence in the 6K1 and CI genes, most of these isolates are characterized by high identity with a fairly narrow group of isolates of the WSMV-B strain distributed in Austria, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Turkey, the Czech Republic, France, and the USA. The highest identity was determined for isolates S34Edirne from Turkey, DSMZ PV-0356 from Ukraine and Sze from Poland, i.e. from countries located fairly close to the borders of the Russian Federation. There were also identified two WSMV isolates with a higher identity to the WSMV-D strain than to the WSMV-B strain. The presence of a sufficiently high genetic variability in the identified isolates indicated repeated cases of WSMV invasion into the Krasnodar Territory from several independent sources.

The sustainable phytosanitary condition of agroecosystems is largely determined by maintaining healthy soils. One of the priority tasks in their improvement is phytosanitary monitoring and diagnostics for groups of harmful and beneficial soil microorganisms. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the mycological composition of soil in winter wheat agrocenoses depending on various tillage methods and the impact on the dynamics of pathogenic and suppressive microbiota. The work has been done to identify the correlation between the applied agrotechnical methods and the formation of soil fungal communities, which is important for optimizing strategies to manage the phytosanitary state of agroecosystems. The study was conducted at the experimental base of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution «Federal Research Center of Biological Plant Protection», Krasnodar in 2022–2024. There have been analyzed soil samples taken from the plots of the winter wheat variety ‘Alekseich’ after subsoil and moldboard plowing. The results have shown that different types of tillage likely affect the number and structure of microbial communities. It is important to mention that agroclimatic conditions during the study period could also significantly affect the dynamics of the number of micromycetes. At all stages of the study, the number of suppressive fungi was insignificant to have a noticeable effect on the reduction of phytopathogenic fungi. The conclusions in the paper are preliminary and require reproducibility of the trials in order to identify stable patterns of the effect of agrotechnical measures on the dynamics of microbial community development. The study has emphasized the necessity to manage pathogenic and saprotrophic soil microbiota in order to reduce phytopathogenic pressure and increase the stability of agrocenoses.