In recent years the Russian Federation is among the world's leading grain producers. The country is considered a world leader in export of wheat. Russian wheat in the world market attracts with its price and quality. How is high-quality wheat flour valued in the domestic market, in multiple shops? To study the problem, there were purchased flour samples in such multiple shops as Magnit, Record and SuperU (France), as well as flour of local production in AO “Uchkhoz Zernovoye” (Zernograd). We evaluated flour quality not only according to the information indicated on the packages, but also there were conducted analysis in our own laboratory (on protein percentage, SDS sedimentation, grain prolamins). The study results showed that protein content in flour was actually more by 0.3–2.9% (except “Farine de ble T-65”), which in terms of grain (cake meal) corresponded to grain of 1–3 class. According to SDS-sedimentation, all flour samples corresponded to the traits of “strong” and “valuable” wheat, except for rye flour and a special product “Pudov (French recipe)”. The gliadins in the studied samples were rated as “good” and “+”, “-”. Consequently, the price of premium baking flour was formed not only due to its quality, but also according to the brand's popularity (“MAKFA”, “Pudov”), according to supply and demand, and it sometimes differs twofold e. g. “Petrovsky niva” costs 22.45 rubles per kg., “MAKFA” costs 42.90 rubles per kg.

The current paper has presented a material on agroecological estimation of the new soybean lines developed in the Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”. As a result of the competitive variety testing in 2017–2019, five soybean lines of the middle-early ripening group were selected with a vegetation period less than 120 days, exceeding the standard variety “Don 21” in seed productivity. The temperature and water conditions during the years of study were different, which allowed evaluating the lines in contrasting cultivation conditions. Statistical data processing was carried out by B. A. Dospekhov’s analysis of variance (2012). Agroecological estimation of the new soybean lines was carried out according to S. A. Eberhart and W. A. Russell’s method (1984) and according to V. V. Khangildin’s method (1984). Based on the conducted study, there were identified the lines “L-1016” and “L-1017”, which are characterized by stabile productivity, and the lines “L-1001”, “L-1012” and “L-1013” which are responsive to the improvement of the agricultural background. The identified soybean lines “L-1016” and “L-1017” will be used in future breeding as the sources of adaptability, and the lines “L-1001”, “L-1012” and “L1013” to develop varieties of intensive type. Comparing the time cost, the need for computer technology to carry out calculations according to the methods of agroecological estimation proposed by S. A. Eberhart / W. A. Russell and V. V. Khangildin, the first method is more labor-intensive. According to the first method, the indicators of agroecological estimation must be recalculated if the number of samples changes, since they affect the final result of the calculations, but the second method does not need it. It has been recommended when working with a large number of breeding material to use the method proposed by V. V. Khangildin to speed up math calculations in agroecological estimation.

The improvement of grain production is the most important global task. The introduction of new highly productive varieties of the leading grain crop, winter wheat, plays a huge role in its solution. The paper presents the study results of 80 winter soft wheat varieties of various ecological and geographical origin. Frost and winter resistance rise of the developed winter soft wheat genotypes today and in the nearest future is one of the main directions of breeding work. The preservation of highly productive winter soft wheat varieties varied from 0.0% to 78.3% at a freezing temperature of –19 °C. The varieties “Kaprizulya”, “Lilit”, “Zhavoronok”, “Lydia”, “Krasa Dona”, “Polina”, “Volnitsa” and “Volny Don”, developed in the Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” have the highest frost resistance among the studied samples, they preserved 57.0 ... 78.3% of living plants. Grain productivity of the samples ranged from 6.36 to 8.90 t/ha in 2015–2017. The 16 out of 80 studied varieties reliably (НСР₀₅ = 0.64 t/ha) exceeded the standard variety “Don 107” for this trait. Productivity of the best samples ranged from 8.14 t/ha (“СО 911”) to 8.90 t / ha (“Laureat”). The biological productivity of winter soft wheat varieties varied from 8.37 to 9.07 t/ha, exceeding the standard variety from 0.67 t/ha (“СО 911”) to 1.37 t/ha (“Laureat”). It should be noted that the correlation coefficient of actual and biological productivity was 0.84±0.06. As a result of the current study, there were identified the genotypes “Lydia”, “Volnitsa” and “Zhavoronok” combining high productivity, grain quality and resistance to low negative temperatures.

The current paper has considered the following issues: determination of the drought phenomenon and its classification (atmospheric, soil and combined), drought harmfulness and spread in the Russian Federation. It has been established that regional droughts have specific features, namely soil or atmospheric, spring, summer or autumn. There has been given a classification by intensity and coverage of territories by droughts (very strong, strong, medium and weak). There has been shown a response of agricultural plants to various types of droughts. The northwestern and southeastern droughts (the second type) negatively affect the plants, as they combine low air humidity and soil with high temperature. There has been given a partial characteristic of the climate of the North Caucasus region (on the example of the Rostov region). The most used indicators of meteorological research are Selyaninov’s hydrothermal humidity factor (HHF) which is the ratio of the amount of precipitation for a period of at least a month to the sum of temperatures above 10 °C for the same period, reduced by 10 times. The classification of humidification zones according to the HHF is as follows: wet (1.6–1.3); slightly arid (1.3–1.0); arid (1.0–0.7); very arid (0.7–0.4); dry (<0.4). The data of the HHF are given on the example of meteorological conditions of the Zernograd district of the Rostov region (the years of 2001–2015). It has been found that in 2001–2015 the hydrothermal humidity factor over the autumn period was 0.13–0.17 (dry) on average, and the HHF of the summer period was 0.28 (dry). During the studied period, the hydrothermal factor during the growing season was 0.78 (dry) on average. Thus, for the period 2001–2015, the conditions for plants growth and development were unfavorable.

Annual and perennial grasses are important not only as a source of green fodder, hay, silage, grass meal and haylage in feed production, but also as good forecrops, due to the ability to accumulate biological nitrogen in the soil (since it decreases the cost of mineral fertilizers), to disinfect the soil from micro zoo pests, to improve the physical condition of the soil (since it decreases soil density). Perennial grasses are also an important component of biologized crop rotations, since the amount of crop residues remaining in the soil after harvesting is several times greater than after winter crops. The field trials were conducted in 2009–2016 by the staff of the laboratory of row crop cultivation technology of the FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”. The experimental plot is located in the southern soil-climatic zone of the Rostov region (with insufficient and unstable moisture). The soil of the experimental plot is ordinary heavy loamy chernozem on loesslike loams, with 3.2% humus, neutral pH, and a high content of movable phosphorus and exchange potassium according to Machigin. The current paper has presented a bioenergetic estimation of grain (4-crop rotation sequence with annual grasses included) and biologized (8-crop rotation sequence with 25% perennial grasses) crop rotations. It has been established that nutrients’ amount per 1 ha of crop rotation area of biologized crop rotation is higher than in grain crop rotation on 22% of dry matter, on 40% of raw protein and on 39% of metabolic energy. Energy consumption per 1 kg of raw protein is lower on 27%.

Winter durum wheat is one of the most important crops. This grain crop forms the grain from which high-quality pasta and groats are obtained. The insufficient knowledge of the elements of cultivation technology of this grain crop is one of the factors that limits its widespread use. The sowing date is one of the main elements of cultivation technology of winter durum wheat, which determines the duration and conditions of vegetation, which its productivity depends on. The study was carried out at the FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” in 2013–2018 in the field crop rotation of the laboratory of grain crop cultivation technologies. There were studied four sowing dates, September 10, 20, 30 and October 10 according to three forecrops (weedfree fallow, peas, sunflower). The total area in the trials was 55 m², and the accounting area was 41.25 m², fourfold repetitions. The arrangement of variants in the repetitions was systematic and sequential. The trial was laid down and carried out in accordance with Dospekhov’s methodology of a field trial (1985). As a result of the conducted study, it was determined that the minimum period from sowing date to winter durum wheat sprouting was in the variant with weedfree fallow (from 21 to 27 days) maximal period was in the variant with sunflower (from 27 to 37 days). From the germination period to the finish of autumn vegetation of winter durum wheat (from the early sowing date (September 10) to the late sowing date (October 10)), the vegetation period of the plants decreases, their provision with positive and active temperatures and moisture increases depending on the forecrop. The largest productivity of winter durum wheat was obtained due to weedfree fallow (from 5.74 to 6.44 t/ha), and the smallest productivity of winter durum wheat was obtained when sown after sunflower (from 4.61 to 5.09 t/ha). For all forecrops, the largest yields of winter durum wheat are formed when sowing from September 10 to September 30, which proved to be optimal for this grain crop.

To successfully increase grain production and improve its quality, the development and introduction of new winter wheat varieties is of great importance. The winter soft wheat varieties developed by the FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” and included into the State List of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation are able to form grain with 30.0% gluten and more, and are suitable for the first, second and third class of baking. A comparative characteristic of the grain quality of winter wheat varieties of the intensive type included in the State List and their ability to form food grain suitable for baking is currently of practical interest. There have been studied 6 varieties in the conditions of drought in 2013 and 2014 (the amount of precipitation during the growing season was 190.0–191.5 mm, the average daily air temperature was 20.3–20.9 °C), and in the conditions of excess moisture in 2016, 2017 (the amount of precipitation was 274.2–292.8 mm, the average daily air temperature was 19.5–20.4 °C). The studied varieties formed the highest productivity from 8.70 to 9.01 t/ha under conditions of excessive moisture. Under drought conditions, productivity of the varieties decreased significantly and ranged from 6.50 to 7.69 t/ha. Better grain quality of the studied varieties was formed in the conditions of the drought of 2013, 2014 with 14.9 to 15.9% of protein and 27.9 to 31.0% of gluten. Food grain close to the first class (from 30.0 to 31.0% of gluten) were formed by the varieties “Aksiniya”, “Tanais” and “Nakhodka”; the second class (more than 28.0% of gluten) was obtained from the varieties “Shef” and “Etuyd”. The ranking method according to grain quality indicators allowed establishing an average rank and identifying the varieties “Aksiniya”, “Tanais”, “Nakhodka” and “Shef” with the best baking traits.

The concentration of carotenoid pigments in durum wheat kernels determines up to 30.0% of the quality of the final product.  The purpose of the current study is to analyze the results of breeding improvement of spring durum wheat according to this trait in  Russia, at all breeding stages. There was conducted the study based on the varieties of 4–7 stages of breeding in 11 environmental  complexes (year, point) in 2014–2018. There were studied 29 genotypes. The plot area was 5.0–10.0 m² with a 3-fold repetition.  The concentration of yellow pigments in kernels was identified by extracting them with saturated n-butanol and with a subsequent  photo-colorimetry at a wavelength of 440 ... 450 nm. As a result, there was established a significant increase in the concentration of  carotenoids in kernels of the best genotypes in the main breeding Russian centers (+25–70.0% to the variety of 4-th stage of breeding  “Kharkovsky 46”). The best varieties were “Bezenchukskaya zolotistaya”, “Bezenchukskaya krepost”, “Bezenchukskaya 210” (Samara  RIA), “Saratovskaya zolotistaya” (RIA of the South-East) and the breeding lines “Gordeiforme 677” (FGBNU FANTSA), “D2098”  (RIA of the South-East) and “1368D-18” (Samara RIA). These genotypes are recommended to be used as initial material in breeding  and for the development of recombinant inbred lines for marking QTL that control the synthesis of carotenoids in durum wheat kernels  and organize a marker-associated breeding technology on this basis.

The improvement of genetic diversity and acceleration of breeding process are the most important tasks in wheat breeding. In vitro biotechnological methods are of practical interest for breeding process. The current paper has considered the effects of genotypes and nutritious medium on the formation of regenerants. The purpose of the research was to study the ability to androgenesis in winter soft wheat anthers and to identify promising winter soft wheat genotypes. The estimation of the ability to androgenesis was carried out among ten winter wheat samples. 8711 anthers were planted on medium of N6 and PII induction; the 190-2 medium was used for regeneration. As a result of the study, it was found that the process of neoplasms occurrence depends both on the variant of the nutrient medium and on the chosen genotype. It has been proven that the most favorable medium for the cultivation of winter soft wheat anthers is medium N6. It was found that the maximum percentage of neoplasms (5.21%) from winter soft wheat anthers was recorded in the sample “595/13”. It was found that the samples “595/13” (9 plants) and “Niva Dona” (6 plants) developed by the FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” showed the highest responsiveness to the formation of calluses and plants-regenerants. There were obtained 6 green regenerants and 3 albino forms from the pollen callus of the sample “595/13” and 4 green regenerants and 2 albino regenerants from the sample “Niva Dona”.

A significant part of perennial legumes seeds, including alfalfa, after ripening, has a seed coat nonpermeable for water and air, and therefore they do not germinate immediately after sowing. This property is called seed hardness. The purpose of our research was to study seed hardness of the alfalfa samples in the collection of the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” depending on the seed storage time. The seed hardness of the studied varieties after 1 month of storage ranged from 31 to 74% on average for two years. The varieties “Sonora 76” (the USA) and “Stavropolskaya 430” (Russia) possessed the highest value of the studied trait (62% and 74%, respectively). The seed hardness of the standard variety “Rostovskaya 90” was 49.5%. After 6 months of storage, the percentage of seed hardness in all studied varieties significantly decreased. The studied indicator of the standard variety “Rostovskaya 90” decreased to 24%. The varieties “Smuglyanka” (Ukraine), “Zvezdochka” (Russia), “Veko” (Canada), “Admiral” (Canada), “Verta+” (Canada), “AZNIHI-5” (Azerbaijan), “Tashkentskaya 1” (Uzbekistan), “Karlygash” (Kazakhstan) with the indicators from 7% to 13% had a significantly lower percentage of seed hardness compared with the standard variety. The varieties “Sonora 76” (USA) and “Stavropolskaya 430” (Russia), with seed hardness of 38.5% and 49%, respectively, significantly exceeded the standard variety “Rostovskaya 90”. After 12 months of storage, seed hardness of the studied varieties ranged from 4 to 22.5%. The indicator for this trait of the variety, taken as a standard was 16.5%. A significantly lower percentage of seed hardness (from 3% to 10%) was in 12 studied varieties, the lowest indicator was shown by the variety “Zvezdochka” (Russia). The two varieties “Sonora 76” (USA) and “Stavropolskaya 430” (Russia) showed a significant excess with indicators of 21.5% and 22.5%, respectively.

Rice in the conditions of the Rostov region is an important food crop. The reproduction process of rice varieties results in its gradual deterioration because of mechanical, biological clogging, spontaneous pollination with impurities, followed by hybrid splitting, as well as an increase in the level of disease damage. Therefore, there is a constant need to update seeds of the cultivated rice varieties. The purpose of the study is to identify the dynamics of rice seed productivity change and elements of yield structure during their reproduction. In laboratory conditions, according to the standard methods there were determined “plant height”, “number and weight of stems and panicles per 1 m², “length of panicle”, “number of full and empty spikelets on panicles”, and “1000 seed weight”. For the study there were taken the original seeds of the nursery for progeny testing (PIP), reproduction nursery (OS-1), superelite (OS-2) and elite (ES), the varieties “Akustik”, “Boyarin”, “Kuboyar” and “Yuzhanin” grown in the Proletarsky district of the Rostov Region in 2018–2019. It has been established that productivity tends to decrease from higher reproductions (reproduction nursery) to lower ones (elite seeds). The largest seed yield was obtained in the nursery for progeny testing, it was 9.2 t/ha on average for 4 varieties, exceeding the value of elite seeds on 3.2 t/ha.

The current paper has presented the estimation results of the collection material of winter soft wheat according to the presence of alleles of short-stem gene Rht-B1. Identification of the samples with short-stem genes is of great necessity in the development of winter wheat varieties of the steppe ecotype with high adaptability to harvesting. Search, identification and development of a new highly productive and short-stem source material of winter soft wheat is of great relevance nowadays. The purpose of our study was to identify alleles of short-stem gene Rht-B1 in the collection samples of winter soft wheat. The study was carried out in the laboratory of the marker breeding of the FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” in 2017. There were used the following research methods: a DNA extraction by the CTAB-method, estimation of the quantity and quality of the extracted DNA on a spectrophotometer, fulfillment of polymerase chain reaction and agarose gel electrophoresis, detection of amplicons in ultraviolet by gel photodocumentation system. As a result, due to the use of SSR-markers there were studied 162 short-stem samples of winter soft wheat of various ecological and geographical origin. There were identified 7 winter soft wheat samples with the Rht-B1a allele, such as “Grom”, “Kraplina”, “Stepovichka”, etc. and 13 winter soft wheat samples with the Rht-B1b (Rht1) allele, such as “1765/13”, “1816/15”, “GK Margit”, etc. There were identified 9 winter soft wheat samples with the Rht-B1e (Rht11) allele, such as “GK Margit”, “Minestrel”, “1004/14”, etc. It was recommended to use winter soft wheat samples with the Rht-B1b and Rht-B1e alleles when breeding for short stems.

The developed winter durum wheat varieties should combine potential productivity with resistance to abiotic and biotic environmental factors through increased adaptability. The purpose of the study is to evaluate a new winter durum wheat variety “Eyrena” according to its productivity, stress factors resistance and grain quality. The current study of the variety sown after peas, maize for grain, sunflower and in green fallow was performed at the Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” in 2014–2018. There have been presented morphological, biological, economically valuable traits of the variety “Eyrena” included in the State List of the Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation in the North Caucasus Region since 2017. The variety is characterized with a high and stable productivity potential. The average productivity over the years of study in the competitive variety testing (2015–2018) ranged according to the forecrops as follows: 8.47 t/ha (green fallow), 6.99 t/ha (peas), 7.29 t/ha (maize for grain), 6.47 t/ha (sunflower). The average increase to the indicators of the standard variety was 0.52; 0.57; 1.41 and 0.75 t/ha, respectively. The maximum productivity (11.80 t/ha) was obtained in the variant with green fallow in 2018. The new variety, in comparison with the standard one, has an increased heat and drought resistance both in the initial phases of plant growth and development and in subsequent periods of active vegetation, has sufficient winter tolerance, and resistance to the main diseases specific for the region. Qualitative traits of grain, groats, pasta comply with the GOST requirements in the country and existing durum wheat standards. The grain hardness on average over the years of study is up to 90% and higher, nature weight is 804 g/l, falling number is 405 sec., protein content in the grain is 3.9%, gluten content is 25.2%, gluten quality (SDS test) is 37 ml, amount of carotenoid is 600 μg/%, pasta color is 4.3 points. The variety “Eyrena”, having a high productivity potential and stability, a number of positive economically valuable traits, can be a good partner to the varieties of this grain crop in the region.

Present Russian agriculture tends to increase grain production not only due to increased productivity, but also by improving the quality of seed material. Due to the large number of injured grains in the total amount, their sowing qualities deteriorate, and the future yield decreases. The purpose of the current study is to identify the degree of the effect of seed injury on their sowing qualities. The objects of the research were the winter soft wheat varieties “Aksiniya” and “Lydia” developed in the Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”. It has been established that it is impossible to obtain high-quality seeds without reducing grain injury during harvesting and post-harvesting processing. Seeds with a damaged hull and partly an embryo can germinate under laboratory conditions. In our trials, laboratory germination of the variety “Aksiniya” ranged from 92 to 99%, and that of the variety “Lydia” varied from 95 to 99%. The field germination rate of injured seeds is much lower than laboratory germination and it was 81 to 92% for the variety “Aksiniya”, and 92% for the variety “Lydia”. This is due to the fact that soil microflora has a negative effect on injured seeds. Seed processing increased a number of injured seeds from 11 to 17% of the total injury after a combine threshing, which resulted in a decrease of the number of sprouts and their dry weight for the variety “Aksiniya” by 7 pieces and 0.13 g; for the variety “Lydia” by 8 pieces and 0.1 g, respectively. The study of the injured seeds of winter soft wheat revealed that sprouts from injured seeds lag behind not only in growth and development, but also form a smaller weight of sprouts compared to the weight of sprouts grown from non-injured seeds. It was established that harvesting equipment injures from 11 to 39% of seeds, and the share of grain processing equipment accounts for 11–17% of injured seeds.

The current paper presents the 3-year assessment results of domestic and foreign winter barley varieties and lines for smut resistance. The smut pathogen in the Rostov region causes one of the most harmful diseases, which, in addition to direct crop losses (head destruction), causes the so-called hidden losses, which can several times exceed direct ones. An effective way to counteract the disease is to cultivate resistant varieties, and farmers need the reliable sources of resistance to the pathogen. The immunological properties of winter barley varieties were studied in an infectious nursery (2016–2018). Seed infection with spores was carried out by S. Dimitrov’s method (1968) using a nutrient medium. Inoculated seeds were sown at the end of the optimal time. There was estimated a number of infected stems. The variety “Dobrynya 3” was used as a susceptible test-variety, which percentage of infection throughout the years ranged from 20.6 to 71.8%. There were studied 115 domestic and foreign varieties and lines. Among 69 domestic commercial varieties and breeding lines, 11 ones (15.9%) showed good resistance, 21 ones (30.4%) showed weak susceptibility, 30 ones (43.5%) possessed average susceptibility and seven varieties (10.1%) were severely affected by the pathogen. Among foreign varieties, resistance to barley smut has been established in seven German varieties, in three French varieties, in two Swiss varieties, one Czech variety and one Ukrainian variety. The varieties “Rocca”, “Nixe” (Germany), “Metelitsa” (Ukraine) are classified as the best ones in resistance to the pathogen during the artificial infection. The French variety “18513 ЕН11” had no affected plants during the study and was identified as an immune variety. The identified sources of winter barley resistance to smut are recommended for use in breeding programs for immunity.