The nutritional value of soybean seeds is in high protein (up to 35%) and fat (up to 25%) percentage. In the Russian Federation, there is a positive trend in increasing the soybean acreage (e. g. from 1.537 million hectares in 2013 to 2.919 million hectares in 2018). The field trials were carried out in the laboratory of cultivation technology of row crops of the FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” (Zernograd, southern soil-climatic region of the Rostov region) in 2016–2017. The experiments were conducted with the varieties of local breeding “Don 21” and “Diva”, included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation in 6 regions, differing in the length of vegetation period. The soil of the experimental plot is favorable for soybean cultivation, the humus content in the topsoil is 3.36%; pH is 7.0; P2O5 is 24.4; K2O is 360 mg/kg of soil. Depending on the sowing period, the soybean yields varied from 0.85 to 1.25 t/ha for the variety “Don 21” and from 0.77 to 1.38 t/ha for the variety “Diva”. The protein content in soybean seeds was the highest in the fourth term of sowing (41.9 and 39.8%), and the fat content in the first term was 19.0 and 20.2% (the varieties “Don 21” and “Diva” respectively). The analysis of economic and energy efficiency identified the most effective variants of the trial. The variety “Don 21” had the second sowing period, the variety “Diva” had the third one, with the highest values of profitability (129.8 and 147.7%) and the energy efficiency ratio (2.03 and 2.18).

As a result of stage screening, there were selected promising bacterial strains to create laboratory samples of biological products on their basis to protect winter wheat from the causative agents of fusarium root rot. The purpose of the work is to determine the growth-stimulating and protective effect of laboratory samples of Bacillus subtilis BZR 336g and B. subtilis BZR 517 on winter wheat plants, as well as to determine the antagonistic effect of strains on Fusarium fungi. As a result of the work, there was established a positive effect of laboratory samples on the growth, development and germination of plants in greenhouse conditions and the ability to significantly inhibit the mycelium of phytopathogenic fungi F. graminearun, F. culmorum and Microdochium nivale in laboratory conditions. The study of the samples artificially infected in a climatic chamber showed not only a high protective effect of these laboratory samples, but also made it possible to determine the regimes for their use. The conducted tests prove the viability of new bioagents as environmentally friendly plant-protective products.

A number of objective reasons for the modern agrarian complex show that it is necessary to orient the most part of the agricultural establishments to a wider introduction of environmentally adaptable varieties. Due to the relevance of this problem, the article analyzes the study results of the competitive variety trials (2016–2018) of 6 varieties, 2 of which are on the SVT, and 11 breeding lines of winter wheat of local selection according to the parameters of ecological adaptability in the agricultural zone of the Ryazan region. There were studied such indicators as stress tolerance, genetic flexibility, coefficient of variation, coefficient of adaptability, yield range, index of stability and indicator of PUSS. As a result of research, it was found that the yield of the standard variety “Angelina” was 7.59 t/ha. The varieties “Glafira”, “Okskaya Krasa” (8.25 and 8.31 t/ha, respectively) produced larger average productivity than the standard variety. The breeding lines “L 45/18”, “L 48/18”, “L 49/18”, “L 65/18”, “L 64/18”, “L 46/18”, “L 63/18” had an average productivity of 7.72 to 8.16 t/ha. It was established that the studied winter wheat varieties and lines had different stress resistance (–0.9...–3.1), a large variation in genetic flexibility (6.9–8.34), different stability index (3.4–19.0) and PUSS (39.6%–223.6%). It was found that only 10 (58.8%) varieties and lines out of 17 studied ones had an average adaptability factor higher than 1. The study has identified that the variety “Glafira” and the breeding lines “L 43/18”, “L 44/18”, “L 45/18” are the most adaptable and stable ones in the conditions of the Ryazan region.

The paper presents the analysis of meteorological criteria and the study of their influence on productivity of winter and spring grain crops through 20 years (1999–2018) in the Central zone of the Republic of Kalmykia. Meteorological information was analyzed differentially, i. e. for the entire period, over five-year terms (cycles), in separate years and seasons. The yield analysis was carried out according to the test results of 2170 variety samples of winter soft wheat, 334 samples of winter triticale and 503 spring barley varieties. Over the years the temperature was constantly becoming warmer. The average annual air temperature through 20 years exceeded the climatic norm on 1.30 °C (+10.7 °C). A similar situation took place both over five-year terms and in separate seasons. In winter the air temperature exceeded the norm by 1.7 °C (–2.5 °C), in the spring by +1.7 (+10.50 °C), in summer by +1.4 (+24.50 °C), in the autumn by +0.6 °C (+10.0 °C). In the important (summer) period of grain yield formation the amount of precipitation decreased by 25.6% (85.6 mm) of the climatic norm (115 mm). It was established that the main moisture accumulation (179.1 mm (55.1%) of precipitation) occurred in the autumn (25.8% (83.8 mm)) and in the spring (29.3% (95.3 mm)). Contrasting weather conditions made it possible to establish the effect of anomalous climatic parameters on productivity of winter wheat, winter triticale and spring barley. The results of productivity analysis through 2014–2018 showed that in the changed vegetation conditions winter soft wheat (3.19 t/ha), winter triticale (3.45 t/ha) and spring barley (2.53 t/ha) tended to increase average productivity by 0.34, 1.49 and 0.56 t/ha, respectively, compared with 1996–2000.

Winter triticale, carrying the genes of its parental forms, has taken both the positive properties of wheat and rye (a significant amount of protein, presence of gluten, content of biologically active aromatic substances) and negative (a large amount of soluble albumin and globulin proteins and especially high activity of amylolytic enzymes). The weather conditions during the vegetation, as well as the varietal characteristics of this grain crop are of great influence on the grain quality. Therefore, cultivation of winter triticale with high biochemical and baking properties is an important problem in the conditions of the Steppe Zavolzhie, in the zone of risky farming. The article presents the results of study conducted during 2007–2016 on the experimental plots of the Samarsky RIA. To establish an objective assessment of winter triticale quality, there was carried out a study of biochemical, technological and baking traits. Under favorable conditions for plant growth and development, winter triticale accumulates a significant percentage (18.3–18.8) of protein in kernels; forms grain with strong starch and low enzymatic activity (252–274 c of “falling number”, 300–520 a. u. of water-flour viscosity). Analysis of the baking traits of triticale has showed that it is necessary to take into account all the subtleties related to the dough process and the recipe. Due to the low gas-holding capacity and dough thinning (dilution), triticale is almost never used in its pure baking form. When 50 and 70% of triticale is added to flour, there is a significant improvement in bread quality, namely in volume and in texture, in dimensional stability and sensory characteristics (6.2 cm3/g of specific volume; 4.5 points of baking). The study results show that more attention should be paid to the varietal characteristics of winter triticale in the conditions of the Steppe Zavolzhie.

Due to a high stooling coefficient and good growing after cutting, sorghum can be used in the green conveyor in the summer between the cutting of annual and perennial grasses, in the fall when the growth of perennial grasses stops. Hybridization of Sudan grass with CMS-lines of various sorghum types (grain and sweet), produces highly heterotic sorghum-Sudan hybrids which exceed the parental forms in green mass productivity by 1.5 times or more. The identification of new sorghum-Sudan hybrids with high heterotic effects on productivity of green mass and dry matter with their future introduction into production is an important direction of sorghum breeding. The purpose of this work is to identify the main stages of the development of sorghum-Sudanese hybrids and to estimate indicators of their productivity and quality. The CMS lines of grain and sweet sorghum, highly productive varieties of Sudanese grass and new sorghum-Sudan hybrids are the objects of the study. The initial stage is the selection of parental forms. Highly productive and permanent varieties are of great necessity as pollinators. In our studies, these are the varieties “Svetloplenchataya 1”, “Chernoplenchataya 11” and “Chernoplenchataya 10” with 33–42 t/ha of green mass for 2 cuttings. Due to the more powerful plant development the new sorghum-Sudanese hybrids produce 52–77 t/ha of green mass for 2 cuttings. Genuine heterosis is 22.6–102.6%. During the study there have been identified the hybrids “APV-1115 x Svetloplenchataya 1” and “Zersta 38 x Chernoplenchataya 11”, that combine the maximum values of the productivity of green mass and dry matter.

The article presents the study results of winter soft wheat lines in competitive variety testing according to productivity and grain quality indicators. The study was conducted at the experimental plot of the laboratory of the breeding and seed-growing of winter soft wheat of intensive type in the FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” in 2016–2018. 47 winter soft wheat samples of competitive variety testing were used as the studied material. The winter soft wheat variety “Ermak” was used as a standard. Over the years of study 23 lines exceeded productivity of the standard variety “Ermak”, the increase ranged from 0.49 to 1.66 t / ha on average. The maximum protein percentage in grain was formed by the samples “1992/16” (13.5%), “1221/16” (13.5%), “1914/16” (13.6%), “1788/16” (13.9%), “2030/16” (14.0%). The lines “1854/16” and “1990/16” combining high yields (11.17–11.30 t/ha) with protein percentage of 12.9–13.2% are of great interest for breeding. The highest content of gluten in the grain (29.3–30.0%) was identified in the samples “1992/16”, “1914/16”, “2030/16”, “1221/16” and “1093/16”. There were identified the lines “1385/16”, “1533/16” and “1862/16”, combining high yields (11.20–11.59 t/ha) and 27.9–29.1% of gluten in grain. The highest value of SDS-sedimentation (66–70 ml) was found in the samples “1093/16”, “1990/16”, “2079/16”, “1533/16” and “1987/16”. The lines “1547/16”, “1385/16”, “1854/16” combined high yields (11.10–11.31 t/ha) with high value of SDS-sedimentation (62–65 ml). The breeding material identified during the research was used for further study and has been involved in hybridization to increase productivity and grain quality.

Seeds of maize hybrids in the Russian Federation are obtained using CMS, therefore it is necessary to transfer the developed hybrids to a sterile basis to introduce them into production. The purpose of the work is to study the reaction of self-pollinated maize lines to various types of CMS. There was estimated the response of 26 self-pollinated maize lines to the “M” type of CMS and the response of 23 lines to the “C” type of CMS. The simple sterile hybrids “Milena M”, “Madonna M”, “Krucha M”, “Istok C”, “Nimfa C”, “Malvina C”, which are the mother forms of the new three-linear maize hybrids have been used as the testers of the sources of sterility. The self-pollinated lines have been classified according to the response to the “M” type of CMS as sterility fixers (11), incomplete sterility fixers (7), fertility reducing agents (6), non-uniform in reconstructing ability (2). In relation to the “C” type of CMS there were identified 10 sterility fixers, 3 incomplete sterility fixers, 7 fertility reducing agents, 3 non-uniform in reconstructing ability. The reducing agents of Moldavian type of CMS “FC 18 A”, “T 22 A”, “DS 768/83-3”, “DS 768/85-4”, “DS 768/85”, “DS 768/85-5” are of the greatest practical interest as they can be used as natural reducing agents (paternal forms) in the developed hybrid combinations. The constant natural reducing agents of the “C” type of CMS (“T 22 A”, “PLS 61”, “DK 22/325”, as paternal forms of hybrids grown on sterile cytoplasm of the “C” type) are of practical value. The use of sterile testers in hybridization allows simultaneously with the development of new hybrids to start the first stage of their transfer to a sterile basis, namely to evaluate the response of the lines to the sterile cytoplasm.

Alfalfa is the most valuable forage crop spread all over the world. Due to the varietal diversity of alfalfa in the countries of North America, the laboratory of breeding and seed-growing of perennial grasses of the FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” conducted the experiments over 27 samples of American and Canadian breeding to find genetic sources of economic and biological traits. The field trials were conducted according to generally accepted methods for forage crops in 2016–2018. The area of experimental plots was 1 m2 with double sequence. The period “beginning of spring germination” and “beginning of flowering” were studied depending on the climatic conditions of the year. In 2016 and 2017 spring germination took place in March, and in 2018 it was in the 1-st decade of April. Beginning of flowering in the studied samples ranged from the 3-d decade of May to the 1-st decade of June. On average, over 3 years, the number of days in the period “beginning of spring germination – beginning of flowering” varied from 68 to 73 days. This period of the standard variety was 72 days. The studied samples had this period on 1–4 days shorter, excluding the samples “K-33299” and “K-42249” (73 days). According to the yield of green mass, none of the samples reliably exceeded the standard variety “Rostovskaya 90” (3.29 kg/m2). The studied alfalfa samples formed 1.57–3.5 kg/m2 of green mass. According to the plant foliage amount, the indicators of the studied samples varied from 42 to 49%. The samples “K-33299” and “K-43272” with 49% of foliage amount slightly exceeded the standard variety “Rostovskaya 90” (48%). The hay yield of the studied samples varied from 31 to 40%, “K-43272” formed the smallest indicator (31%), “K-42249” and “K-45715” (40%) produced the largest amount and when the hay productivity of the standard variety was 35%. There have been identified reliable correlations between the yield of green mass and hay, as well as between the yield of green mass and the number of days during the period “beginning of spring germination – beginning of flowering”.

Winter barley is one of the early ripening grain crops. It is the early ripeness combined with high productivity, lesser needs in good growing conditions that determines the great national economic importance of this culture. To increase and stabilize gross yields of winter barley, it is necessary to develop new varieties adapted to the negative environmental factors. The purpose of the study is to identify promising breeding material for winter barley to grow varieties with high agroecological stability and adaptability to local soil and climatic conditions. The studies were conducted in the FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” in 2015–2018. The objects of research were the commercial varieties “Timofey”, “Yeryoma”, “Vivat”, the new winter barley varieties “Foks 1”, “Marusya”, as well as the promising breeding lines. The weather conditions of 2017 were more favorable compared with those of 2016 and 2018, which allowed producing higher yields. All the studied winter barley varieties, even in the wet conditions of 2017, showed a high resistance to lodging (4–5 points by a 5-point scale). In the spring and summer months of 2018, there was a significant increase in temperature in comparison with that of 2017. In June there were some days with dry wind, and therefore the air humidity dropped to 38% (23% lower than the multiyear average). The analysis of the yield structure showed that in 2016 the winter barley varieties showed higher values of the traits “number of kernels per ear” and “1000-kernel weight”, and “number of productive stems per 1 m2” in 2017. According to a comprehensive estimation, there have been identified the promising winter barley varieties “Marusya”, “Parallelum 1960” and “Parallelum 1962”, which significantly exceeded the standard variety “Timofey” in terms of productivity, and showed complex resistance to leaf diseases. In 2016, the variety “Marusya” was sent to be studied in the State Variety Network of RF through the North Caucasus region.

The article presents the results of productivity and grain quality of 47 winter durum wheat varieties of various ecological origin studied in 2016–2018. All studied samples belong to semi-dwarf and dwarf forms (height of 61–105 cm). Semi-dwarf forms possessed high lodging resistance (3.9 points). The grain harvest of the main part (89.3%) of the samples ranged from 8.41 to 9.65 t/ha in the environmental test. Only three varieties (“Lazurit”, “Agat Donskoy”, “Andromeda”) in the winter durum wheat trial are characterized with high yields ranging from 9.65–10.0 t/ha. The yield of the standard variety of “Khristella” was 9.03 t / ha on average in 2016- 2018. The varieties “Kondor” (116.8%), “Zolotko” (123.0%), “Afina” (126.9%) showed high frost tolerance of the plants through the years of research, in comparison with the standard variety “Donchanka” (100%). In the ecological test the main part (68%) of winter durum wheat varieties possessed large grain. “1000-grain weight” was more than 40 g: “Amazon” (42.9 g), “Lazurit” (47.7 g), “Diona” (42.1 g), “Alyi Parus” (43.7 g), “Dnepryana” (45.4 g), “Krupinka” (46.9 g), etc. The studied samples had high percentage of protein (13.6–15.1%), gluten (22.8–27.0%), SDS-sedimentation (30–45 ml), carotenoids (468–779 μg/%), nature weight (777.0–819.0 g/l), kernel hardness (85–98%). The technical and culinary qualities of the pasta made from the main part of the samples were evaluated as excellent (the varieties “Donchanka”, “Oniks”, “Kiprida”, “Atoll”, “Kermen”, “Winter Gold”, etc.) and as good (the varieties “Teya”, “Eirena”, “Lazurit”, “Diona”, “Alyi Parus”, “Krupinka”, “Afina”, etc.).

The article presents analysis of the sown areas and spring barley productivity in the Rostov region. There has been made analysis of the cultivated varieties according to the year of their introduction into the State List of the Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation (period-by period). There have been revealed the sown areas of spring barley varieties depending on the time spent in the production. There has been carried out the analysis of the composition of the sown spring barley seeds (original, elite and reproductive) from 2017 to 2018. There have been identified the most widely spread varieties of spring barley in the Rostov region and their reproductive composition. There has been considered expediency to improve spring barley production in the region by increasing the acreage and introducing new highly adaptable varieties.

The size and quality of yields are under constant threat not only because of weather conditions with its stressful effect on plants, but also pathogenic fungi, including the most harmful net leaf blotch (the causative agent Drechslera teres (Saccardo) Shoemaker (syn. Helminthosporium teres Saccardo), teleomorph: Pyrenophora teres Drechsler). In the period from 2014 to 2016, the eight regions of the North Caucasus (Labinsky, Kuschevsky, Kackazsky, Yeysky, Tselinsky GSU, Achikulaksky GSIU, Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” and the North-Kubansky Agricultural Experimental Station named after P. P. Lukyanenko) made experiments and studied winter barley varieties infected with P. teres. Net leaf blotch was found on barley crops in all studied areas. In total there were studied 300 winter and 59 spring forms, where 117 winter and 37 spring varieties showed resistance to the disease in different years. In the southern hilly zone 15 variety samples (19% of 78 studied varieties) proved to be stable to the disease for 3 years of research. In the western pre-Azov zone 11 varieties (25% of 43 studied variety samples) showed a stable reaction. In the central part 114 barley samples were studied, where 25 variety samples (21%) showed a stable reaction to P. teres. In the east-steppe zone, 9 out of 9 (100%) variety samples were found to be stable. In the northern zone 18 samples (32%) showed a sustained resistance to the pathogen out of 56 studied ones. Thus, the largest number of resistant variety samples was found in areas located in the arid eastern steppe zone and with insufficiently stable moisture in the northern agroclimatic zone. Consequently, to protect barley from net leaf blotch pathogen, it is necessary not only to select highly resistant varieties, but also to take into account the dependence of barley infestation with P. teres on agroclimatic conditions (temperature and humidity) in different areas of the North Caucasus.

The purpose of the study is to monitor the efficiency of wheat resistance genes to the causative agent of brown rust (Lr-genes) in the Rostov region. Brown rust is the most widely spread and harmful wheat disease which annually occurs on the crops from poor development to epiphytoties. Soft wheat varieties grown in the region are variously resistant to this pathogen. To breed the brown rust resistant varieties, it is necessary to expand genetic basis of the varieties grown in the region and to attract new Lr-gene donors. Due to it the study of the monitoring of pathogen populations and the effectiveness of the known Lr-genes to the Rostov pathogen population is of great importance nowadays. For this purpose, the isogenic lines of the variety “Thatcher” with Lr-genes are annually studied in the Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” on the infectious plots and in the laboratory conditions in the sprouting phase. This paper presents the monitoring results of the populations in the period of 2015–2017. The variety “Tarasovskaya 29” served as a universally susceptible variety. In this work, there were used generally accepted methods of working with brown rust pathogen in the “sprouting” and “grown-up” periods. It has been established that in the “grown-up” period, 10 lines showed a high resistance to the disease (0% of damage), 6 lines did not exceed 10%, and 11 lines had moderate susceptibility (30–40% of damage) to the pathogen. The remaining lines were susceptible to the pathogen population. The virulence analysis of the plants in the sprouting phase showed high efficiency of the Lr9, Lr19, Lr24, Lr28, Lr29, Lr41, Lr42, Lr45, Lr47, Lr50, Lr51, and Lr53 genes. The phenotypic (racial) composition of the Rostov fungus population was identified using 20 TcLr-lines. In 2016–2017 in the Rostov population there were identified 6 phenotypes. RNTH, RNTKG and TNTTH were common phenotypes in both years of research. The identified effective Lr-genes can be used to develop resistant wheat varieties, taking into account the plants’ ontogenesis.

 

In the climatic conditions of the Central Black-earth region, the infection of wheat grain with Fusarium fungi is of latent nature and can only be detected by mycological analysis. For this reason, the varietal composition of the pathogenic complex of fungi Fusarium on winter and spring wheat has not been thoroughly studied yet. Working with the problem in the conditions of the Tambov region, it was found that the grain of these varieties was infected with various species of Fusarium. The most infected spring wheat varieties were “Nik” (69%), “Biora” (45%) and “Prokhorovka” (30%). The varieties “Saratovskaya 29” (4%) and “Tulaikovskaya 100” (5%) were less infected than the other. Nine species of fungus Fusarium spp. found on spring wheat seeds were F. acuminatum Ellis, an Everhart (1895), a Wollenweber (1917), F. avenaceum (Corda ex Fries) Saccardo (1886), F. culmorum (WG Smith) Saccardo  (1895), F. equiseti (Corda) Saccardo (1886), F. poae (Peck) Wollenweber in Lewis (1913), F. sambucinum Fuckel (1869), F. semitectum Berkeley and Ravenel in Berkeley (1875), F. sporotrichioides Sherbakoff (1915) and F. tricinctum (Corda) Saccardo (1886). The leading position was occupied by the species Fusarium sporotrichioides and F. avenaceum. The frequency of their occurrence on spring wheat seeds was 56.6 and 20.9%, respectively. The contamination of winter wheat with a Fusarium fungus was lower than the infection of spring wheat (1–8%). Four species of Fusarium spp. were identified on the seeds of winter wheat, they are F. avenaceum (Corda ex Fries) Saccardo (1886), F. graminearum Schwabe (1838), F. poae (Peck) Wollenweber in Lewis (1913) and F. sporotrichioides Sherbakoff (1915). The dominant position belonged to the species Fusarium poae and F. sporotrichioides (41.7 and 37.5%). It has been shown that the level of infection of wheat seeds by Fusarium fungi depends on the variety resistance to the infection.