Peas are one of the leading legumes in the world, with production volumes reaching approximately 12 million tons. Pea acreage in the Russian Federation is steadily increasing. Further increases in pea yields and gross harvests are impossible without timely variety changing and the introduction of new varieties adaptable to changing stress factors. The purpose of the current work was to summarize and analyze information from scientific articles devoted to the most important areas and modern methods of pea breeding. Literary sources were selected from international databases and official publishing platforms. There has been analyzed a wide range of publications, including review papers and original research articles. Preference was given to materials with a high citation index, excluding research articles published in recent years that had not yet accumulated such an index. In order to ensure comprehensive consideration of this topic, there has been conducted an additional analysis of the bibliographic references in the selected works, which allowed identifying and expanding significant sources. An analysis of literary sources has revealed that the main characteristics currently being used in breeding work aimed at developing new pea varieties are seed productivity and quality, plant architecture, resistance to biotic and abiotic stress, length of a vegetation period, and increased symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Modern pea breeding is based on methods such as intraspecific hybridization and selection, mutagenesis, DNA-marking, and accelerated breeding. The current analysis has provided a comprehensive understanding of the present state of the issue, identified key trends, and outlined promising areas for future research.

The current paper has presented the results of an analysis of winter barley samples from a collection nursery. The study was aimed to comprehensively evaluate winter barley varieties of various ecological and geographical origins to identify the sources of the most promising agronomic and biological traits that could be effectively applied in breeding programs to improve productivity. The study was conducted in the department of barley breeding and seed production of the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” from 2023 to 2025. The purpose of the study was to conduct a comparative estimation of productivity of winter barley varieties of different ecological and geographical origins in order to identify sources of economically valuable traits that are promising for practical winter barley breeding in the Southern Federal District. For a detailed study there have been taken 30 varieties of different ecological and geographical origins such as Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Switzerland, France, Germany, USA, Yugoslavia, England, Netherlands. As a result there have been identified the sources of early maturity such as Marusya, Fox 1, Voskhod (RF), Fermer (Ukraine), Gust (Belarus), Indiana (Bulgaria), Tatu (Switzerland), KWS-Meredian (Germany), Cello, Pamunkey (USA), Novosadski 331, Novosadski 329 (Yugoslavia)); the sources of large grain size such as Premier (RF), Paradise, Indiana (Bulgaria), Vanessa (France), KWS-Meredian, Cornelia (Germany)); the sources of grain number per ear such as Marusya, Vivat (RF), Azurel (France), Novosadski 331 (Yugoslavia), Vectra (Netherlands)), which will be further used in breeding programs. There have been also analyzed the studied varieties according to the selection indices, allowing revealing properties of the studied genotypes more completely. The study results have shown that due to the sum of ranks the greatest advantages have such varieties as Premier, Fox 1, Marusya (RF), Gust (Belarus), Paradise, Indiana (Bulgaria), Vanessa (France), KWS-Meredian (Germany), Cello (USA), Novosadski 329 (Yugoslavia), Karisma (England). According to the combination of economically valuable traits, there have been identified such varieties as Marusya, Vivat (RF), Paradise, Indiana (Bulgaria), KWS-Meredian (Germany), Cello (USA), Novosadski 329, Novosadski 331 (Yugoslavia).

To effectively use barley varieties for their intended purpose, it is necessary to study thoroughly barley grain quality and to improve specific biochemical and technological indicators of hulled and hulless varieties’ grain. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the grain quality of hulled and hulless spring barley varieties for their suitability for groats production and to establish correlations between grain quality indicators. The study was conducted at the Samara Federal Research Scientific Center of RAS from 2023 to 2025. The material for trials included 16 hulled spring barley varieties and 4 hulless barley varieties from the Competitive Variety Testing. When studying the breeding material of spring hulled barley, there has been identified a group of varieties Bezenchukskiy 2, Lun, Medikum 157, Medikum 269 with a high protein percentage (14.2-14.3%) and optimal technological indicators of grain such as hardness (57.0-60.0%), 1000-grain weight (49.9-56.6 g), grain uniformity (94.5-97.6%) and low hull content (9.1-9.7%) which could be used for groats purposes. The hulless barley varieties Golysh and Nudum 1516, with high protein percentage (16.4-16.7%), hardness (82.0-83.0%), grain uniformity (86.8-88.7%), and the absence of hulls, will improve hulling efficiency and facilitate the groats production process. There has been noted that the grain of the studied barley varieties throughout the research period was good-sized, with a grain nature weight of 682-785 g/l, suitable for groats production. The hulless barley has significantly surpassed hulled varieties in grain nature weight. The correlation results give an opportunity to improve the technological parameters of barley grain. There has been established a close positive correlation between the 1000-grain weight and grain uniformity in hulled barley varieties (0.71**; 0.72**; 0.62*) and hulless varieties (0.95*; 0.95**; 0.99*). The hulless varieties have demonstrated a significant positive correlation between hardness and protein percentage in grain (0.97*; 0.96*).

The purpose of the current work was to study the phytotoxic effects of increasing aluminum ion concentrations on oat genotypes (Avena sativa L.) during the juvenile stage. The objects of the study were the oat varieties which were a selection achievement of the SRIA for NTU – branch of TSC SB of RAS and are widely used in agriculture. The phytotoxicity of various aluminum ion concentrations was estimated according to methodological recommendation MR 2.1.7.2297-07 by comparing the seven-day root lengths of control and experimental samples. Aqueous solutions for oat germination were prepared from aluminum sulfate (Al₂ (SO₄ ) ₃ ) with aluminum ion concentrations of 4, 9, and 15 mol/l. Distilled water was used as a control. The current study has identified the variety Tobolyak as the most resistant to the toxic effects of aluminum ions at early stages of ontogenesis, with concentrations of 4 and 9 mmol/l, respectively. The variety Otrada was more sensitive to the stress factor, exhibiting a strong inhibitory effect. Aluminum ions also had a negative effect on primary rootlet mass, resulting in a 72–80% decrease relative to the control (CV = 7–12%). The root-to-shoot mass ratio in the control was 1, while under stress, it decreased to 0.2–0.4 units. This is explained by the redistribution of plant nutrients to the above-ground mass, regardless of oat genotype. For biochemical estimation there has been isolated a genomic DNA from seven-day-old coleoptiles and roots of oat plants germinated in distilled water (control) and at a concentration of 15 mmol aluminum ions per liter. Then there has been carried out an electrophoresis in a 1% agarose gel containing 10 μL of 1% ethidium bromide. When visualizing the DNA integrity of coleoptiles of contrasting genotypes using the GelDoc Go gel documentation system, there was no deviations from the control. However, there has been established a DNA degradation at the exposure of primary plant roots to aluminum ions, which can be used as a marker for early detection of susceptible and resistant oat genotypes.

The development of new winter common wheat varieties that combine high productivity and grain quality with enhanced resistance to abiotic and biotic environmental factors is of great urgency. The study was conducted at the experimental plot of the FSBSI “North Caucasus Federal Agrarian Research Center”, on medium-deep, low-humus, medium-loamy ordinary blackearth in a zone of unstable moisture in the Stavropol Territory from 2021 to 2023. The purpose of the current study was to demonstrate the breeding value of new winter common wheat varieties and their parental components. There have been studied three new wheat varieties Georgiya, Kamilla, and Kugultinka, listed in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation in 2025. The adaptive wheat varieties Firuza 40 and Berezit of original breeding, Avgusta from the Rostov Region, Luzanovka Odesskaya, and Perlina lesostepi No. 380 from Ukraine, and Zhong Pin 162 from China, were used in the development of these varieties. The varieties were tested according to the methodology of the State Variety Testing and compared with the standard Grom. The mean productivity over three years was 9.00–9.68 t/ha, compared to 8.08 t/ha of the standard. The highest yields were recorded in 2022, with 11.84, 11.24, and 10.80 t/ha obtained from the varieties Georgiya, Kamilla, and Kugultinka respectively, that exceeded the standard by 1.99, 1.39, and 0.95 t/ha. The varieties Georgiya and Kugultinka exceeded the standard in grain number per ear, while the variety Kamilla exceeded the standard in 1000-grain weight. Grain quality was considered strong or valuable. The highest percentage of gluten and protein in grain were recorded in 2023, reaching 31.2–35.6% and 18.1–20.0%, respectively, compared to the standard of 29.4% and 17.3%. These versatile varieties are characterized by high winter resistance, drought and heat tolerance, and demonstrate comprehensive disease resistance. These new varieties and their parental forms are valuable initial materials for wheat breeding.

The Krasnoufimsk Breeding Center of the FSBSI UrFASRC, UrB of RAS has been developing and studying a new pea variety Malakhit for over 15 years. The main purpose of the current work was to develop a variety that is resistant to adverse environmental factors, diseases, and pests, suitable for mechanized harvesting by direct combining, and resistant to seed shattering. The pea variety Malakhit is a middle-season plant with a 78-day vegetation period (ranging from 68 to 90 days) and a stem height of 54 to 92 centimeters. The 1000-seed weight ranges from 164 to 195 g, with an average of 180 g. The protein percentage in seeds ranges from 19 to 21%. The variety Malakhit has high productivity potential (up to 3.6 t/ha), surpassing the standard variety Krasnoufimsky 93 by 0.27 t/ha, and in favorable years it yields up to 40% more than the standard. The variety is resistant to ascochyta leaf spot, root rot, and pea moth. The variety Malakhit produces 4 to 11 pods per plant, with 4-6 grains each. Due to its larger seeds, it produces 0.2 g more seeds per plant than the standard. Disease resistance of Malakhit is similar to the standard but is less susceptible to codling moth damage and has greater lodging resistance. The variety Malakhit has high breeding value and represents promising genetic material for the development of new varieties. In 2025, the variety was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements and approved for use in the Volga-Vyatka (4) region.

A popular method for producing haploid triticale plants is in vitro androgenesis, which is performed in anther culture and isolated microspores. However, unresolved issues (genotypic dependence, low plant regeneration rate, and high proportion of albinos) limit the method’s efficiency and its applicability in practical breeding and theoretical research. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effect of exogenous auxin 2,4-D concentrations (1 mg/l, 2 mg/l, and 3 mg/l) in an induction nutrient medium on the efficiency of microspore embryogenesis in triticale anther culture. The success of the method was estimated by such parameters as a yield of embryogenic anthers and androgenetic structures, an overall plant regeneration, and regeneration of green and albino plants (% of the total number of cultured anthers). There has been established that the effectiveness of the induction stage under the effect of different quantitative 2,4-D content is genotype-specific. The most responsive line (No.10) has demonstrated the maximum yield of androgenetic structures at the minimum 2,4-D content (1 mg/l) and decreased more than twofold (from 78.0 to 33.3%) with an increase in 2,4-D content to 3 mg/l. Two genotypes (No.37 and No.6) have shown an increase of the efficiency of the induction stage with increasing 2,4-D concentration (line No.37 from 15.7 to 34.8%, line No.6 from 30.1 to 46.5%). Two lines with low responsiveness (No.18 and No.34) have increased the frequency of androgenetic structure formation with an increase in 2,4-D concentration from 1 to 2 mg/l and decreased with an increase in auxin concentration to 3 mg/l. There is no universal concentration of exogenous auxin for all genotypes. The analysis of partial means for the induction stage parameters has demonstrated the advantages of a nutrient medium containing 2 mg/l of 2,4-D. The green plant regeneration rate was statistically significantly reduced in the medium containing 3 mg/l of 2,4-D. The maximum yield of green plants (4% of cultured anthers) was obtained from embryoids formed on a medium containing 2 mg/l of 2,4-D. A total of 1,689 plants were developed in the trial, of which 977 were green and 712 were albino.

The purpose of the current study was to identify the dependance of protein percentage in grain and grain productivity upon environmental factors, as well as the correlation between these indicators, using winter durum wheat varieties as an example. The study was conducted from 2021 to 2025. The objects of the study were twelve varieties developed by the “ARC “Donskoy”. The variety Kristella was used as the standard one. The weather conditions varied during the period of study, with HTC_April-July of 0.28 to 1.23. The varieties Dinas, Ellada, Agat Donskoy, Grafit, and Pridonie have shown the best grain productivity, exceeding the standard by 0.92–1.55 t/ha, or 11.1–18.8%. Variation among varieties ranged from 15.25 to 29.32%, indicating significant variability in this indicator. According to the analysis of variance, the factor ‘year’ had a greater impact on grain productivity of the studied winter durum wheat varieties than on protein percentage, amounting to 87.9%. Protein percentage in grain varied insignificantly (4.44–8.39%), indicating stability among these varieties. The highest values were established in the varieties Khrizolit (14.80%), Amazonka (14.87%), and Diona (14.91%). The highest average protein percentage in grain among the varieties was recorded in 2021 (15.01%), 2023 (14.89%), and 2025 (14.67%), characterized by moderate and insufficient moisture. Correlation and regression analysis has confirmed a strong positive correlation between HTC (0.98±0.11) and protein percentage in grain. An analysis of variance has confirmed that the factor ‘year’ has the greatest effect (62.3%) on trait variability. Despite a negative correlation between productivity and protein percentage in grain (r = -0.68 ± 0.42), there were established the high varietal average values for both traits in 2022. A combination of high productivity and protein percentage in grain was identified in the varieties Agat Donskoy (9.29 t/ha and 14.62%) and Pridonie (9.81 t/ha and 14.20%).

Today, biotechnology methods are being intensively introduced into the breeding of many agricultural crops to obtain initial material with valuable traits, in particular clonal micropropagation, which allows rapidly propagating and improving valuable planting material. The purpose of the current study was to optimize the conditions for effective in vitro rooting for the development of a method for clonal micropropagation of 7 thyme species. The current paper has presented a comparative analysis of the cultivation of explants of Thymus x citriodorus (Pers.) Schreb., T. marschallianus Willd., T. tauricus Klokov et Des.-Shost., T. serpyllum L., T. vulgaris L., T. pseudonummularius Klok. et Schost., T. caucasicus Willd. on different variants of the Murashige and Skoog (MS) nutrient medium at the 2nd stage of micropropagation itself and at the 3rd stage of in vitro rooting. When analyzing the development of T. caucasicus, T. tauricus, and T. pseudonummularius explants at the 2nd stage on MS medium with 1.0 mg/l of kinetin and 20 g/l of sucrose, there have been established a high rooting rate (80.8–91.1%) and root number (3.8–6.6 pcs./shoot), indicating the possibility to exclude a special rooting stage in these three thyme species. At the 3rd stage, when cultivating explants (stem segments with a node) on media with different auxin concentrations (IAA, IMC, and NAA), there has been established that IMC exhibited greater rhizogenic capacity. The optimal medium for rooting of T. serpullum, T. x citriodorus, and T. vulgaris was ½ MS with 1.0 mg/l of IMC, on which there were obtained 89.5–98.6% of rooted microshoots without vitrification, having from 9.2 to 10.7 roots. For T. marschallianus, the ½ MS medium with 0.5 mg/l of NUK and 20 g/l of glucose provided the maximum rhizogenesis rate (84.8%) and the formation of normally developed microshoots.

The purpose of the current study was to characterize varietal differences according to the grain quality indicators of spring durum wheat during the years with different growing conditions in the arid zone of the Orenburg Cis-Urals. The trials were conducted at the experimental field with southern blackearth of the FSSI FRC BST RAS in 2023–2025. There have been studied the varieties developed in Orenburg, Samara, Saratov, and Italy. The quantity and quality of gluten in grain were estimated according to GOST 54478-2011, and according to GOST ISO 21415-2-2019 in flour. There has been found a significant variability in grain density depending on weather factors and a variety. According to three-year data, the varieties Bezenchukskaya 210 (731 g/l), Bezenchukskaya Zolotistaya (737 g/l), and Taganrog (739 g/l) have produced heavier kernels with more grain nature weight. There has been found that, with excessive precipitation and optimal air temperatures during the grain-filling period, grain nature weight decreases to the 4–5 class, reaching 636–723 g/l. Grain units of the 1st class (770 g/l) was obtained from the variety Bezenchukskaya Zolotistaya in 2025. There has been identified a general trend for grain hardness to decrease to the 3d class among the studied durum wheat varieties, caused by unfavorable weather conditions during the grain-filling period. There have been established the highest levels of crude gluten in flour of the varieties Orenburgskaya 10 (78.5%), Orenburgskaya 21 (70.4%) and Bezenchukskaya 210 (74.0%), as well as dry gluten in flour of the varieties Orenburgskaya 10 (24.1%) and Orenburgskaya 21 (27.9%) harvested in 2023. The variety Luch 25 has met the optimal gluten index requirements with 68.2–80.8% during all years of trials, the variety Taganrog with 87.8 and 92.9% in 2024 and 2025, the variety Melyana with 69.3% in 2024, and the variety Bezenchukskaya 205 with 81.4% in 2025. The obtained results may be useful for breeding and production practices.

Winter common wheat is an agricultural crop with a wide cultivation area and significant potential. The development of new highly productive genotypes requires a comprehensive approach, including not only assessment of productivity but also a detailed analysis of yield structure elements. The purpose of the current study was to estimate productivity and its correlation with its primary elements of modern winter common wheat varieties developed by the developed by the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy”. A three-year study (2023–2025) of fifteen modern winter common wheat varieties, developed by the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy”, was conducted in the North Caucasus region. The mean productivity varied from 7.03 to 8.76 t/ha, in the trial it was 7.74 t/ha, the increase to the standard varied from 0.11 to 1.73 t/ha. The maximum productivity (over 8 t/ha) was obtained from such varieties as Premiera (8.16 t/ha), Donetsk (8.11 t/ha), Ermak 2 (8.24 t/ha), Stolitsa (8.58 t/ha), Elbrus (8.76 t/ha). The genotypes demonstrated a high degree of susceptibility (V=23.2–34.5%) to annual fluctuations in cultivation. The results of the trials have shown that the studied varieties surpassed the standard variety Don 107 in productivity due to various structure elements. Highly productive genotypes have demonstrated significant increases in four to six structure parameters. A correlation analysis has revealed that productivity is positively correlated with such traits as productive stem density (r=0.36±0.14), grain weight per ear (r=0.55±0.12), and 1000-grain weight (r=0.68±0.10). Further increases in productivity are possible through the development of optimal values for the primary yield structure elements.

Rice is an important agricultural crop, providing food for over 4 billion people. It is necessary to increase its productivity. It is known that a leaf area index and a flag width during rice flowering are important factors in determining panicle productivity. The current paper has presented data from a study of the flag leaves’ conducting system of rice grown in the field at the EF “Proletarskoye” in the Rostov Region. The objects of the study were 47 rice samples from the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy”, which varied in leaf length and width, and panicle characteristics. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the effect of rice flag leaf size and its conducting system on panicle seed production. Biometric analysis of rice samples and varieties has revealed significant differences in the size of morphological and anatomical traits of panicles and flag leaves. There have been found positive correlations between a leaf width, a number of conducting bundles (0.75±0.10), total area of all bundles (0.70±0.11), and a number of spikelets per panicle (0.49±0.13). A flag leaf widening by 1cm has resulted in increase in the number of spikelets per panicle by 66.3, the number of bundles by 22.1, and the area of all leaf bundles by 137,821 µm2 . When studying the conducting system of plant leaves (a number and area of bundles), there has been found that plants with narrow leaves (0.8–1.3 cm) had an average of 45.6 conducting bundles, which is significantly fewer than broad-leaved (2.0–2.5 cm) samples (74.1 bundles). Therefore, a rice flag leaf width is a marker trait for selecting panicles with high grain density and is recommended for use in breeding work.

Due to climate change, in order to increase crop areas and expand the potential for using crops as feed for various animals, the study of the main nutritional indicator – protein content – is of great relevance. The purpose of the current study was to analyze the accumulation of crude protein in the dry matter of green mass of Sudan grass. The study was conducted in 2023-2025. The soil was ordinary carbonate blackearth with 3.2% of humus, 10–40 mg of phosphorus, 70–110 mg of nitrogen, and 300–500 mg of potassium per kg. The hydrothermal coefficient ranged from 0.24 (in 2024) to 0.81 (in 2023), indicating the contrasting conditions of the study. The objects of the study were the Sudan grass varieties Alisa, Gratsiya, and Selchanka, developed by the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy”. The trials were conducted in accordance with the Methodology of the State Commission for Variety Testing of Agricultural Crops. The studied varieties had similar crude protein percentage, with the variety Selchanka slightly exceeding it at all stages of the vegetation period. There has been recorded the highest crude protein percentage during the tillering stage (18.8–19.7%). By the heading phase, this value has dropped almost twofold (10.0–11.1%) and continued to decline up to the end of the vegetation period. This was due to a decrease in the proportion of leaves in the total green mass yield from 36% (a booting stage) to 18% at a dead-ripe stage. Crude protein accumulation in leaves amounted to 12.8–15.4%, which was 40–85% higher than in the stem and 18–39% higher than in the whole plant. On average, among the varieties, the regression of crude protein content in the second cutting was 17.1% compared to the first cutting, green mass productivity was 26.3%, dry matter productivity was 34.1%, digestible protein yield was 37.5%, and feed unit yield was 1.1%.

The current work was conducted to study the effect of different seeding rates (0.5–1.4 million viable seeds per 1 ha) and sowing methods (row, narrow-row, band, wide-row) on productivity of grain and green mass of peas in the Pre-Ural forest-steppe part of the Republic of Bashkortostan in 2023–2025. The soil of experimental plots consisted of calcareous chernozems with 8.1% of humus in the arable layer and 23.4 and 42.0 mg of mobile phosphorus and potassium compounds per 100 g of soil, respectively. The study subject was a new pea variety “Pamyati Popova”. Over the years of study, the peas had a longer vegetation period with both band sowing (up to 75.0 ± 0.8 days) and wide-row sowing (up to 76.0 ± 0.8 days), although this trait was largely dependent on weather factors. The greatest vegetative mass increase was established with a band and a wide-row sowing methods during the period of ‘flowering-ripening’, when one plant weight reached 27.4 ± 1.5 and 29.9 ± 1.5g, respectively. The best indicators of green mass productivity were recorded at row (up to 19.6 ± 4.7 t/ha) and narrow-row (up to 19.7 ± 4.8 t/ha) sowing at a seeding rate of 1.4 million viable seeds per 1 ha. The optimal combination of plant density and seed size was established in row and narrow-row sowings with a seeding rate of 1.2 million viable seeds per 1 ha. The pea productivity was higher at row (1.54–1.55 t/ha) and narrow-row sowing (1.54– 1.56 t/ha) with a seeding rate of 1.2 and 1.4 million viable seeds per 1 ha, as well as at band (1.27–1.31 t/ha) and wide-row (1.26 t/ha) sowings with a seeding rate of 0.7 and 0.8 million viable seeds per 1 ha.

Biological methods based on the use of environmentally friendly agents are currently considered to be a promising approach to crop protection. Entomophagous insects are on a special place in this regard. The current paper has presented the data on the laboratory breeding and propagation of the ectoparasite Habrobracon hebetor (Say, 1836), which is used to control lepidopteran pests on various agricultural crops. The purpose of the current work was to study the influence of abiotic environmental factors on the fertility and development of H. hebetor in laboratory conditions. The trial was conducted in accordance with the recommendations for the cultivation and use of the ectoparasite Habrobracon. The conducted research has allowed identifying optimal laboratory conditions for maintaining entomophagous insects. There has been found that the maximum lifespan of a female (16.8 days) is at an air temperature of 26–28°C (a 16-hour photoperiod). Also, when the temperature increases, the premature phases of Habrobracon larvaes decrease to 11.4–13.6 days. There has been established that the optimal conditions for oviposition are the temperature of 23–25°C and a 16-hour photoperiod. The air temperature increase to 26–28°C positively affects the survival rate of larvae (91.5%). The best conditions for pupal formation are 23–25°C and a 16-hour photoperiod.