The current paper has presented the study results of correlation between productivity and morphobiological traits of the collection peas samples. The study was carried out at the FSBSI “AgriculturalResearchCenter“Donskoy”, located in the southern part of theRostovregion. The purpose of the study was to analyze the correlation between the quantitative traits of collection peas samples and their productivity. The study of the pea collection was conducted in the collection nursery of pea in 2017–2019, in accordance with the IPI methodology for the study of legumes (1975), the methodology of the State Commission for Variety Testing of Agricultural Crops (2019) and the methodology of a fi trial (2012). The objects of the study were 100 samples of pea of domestic and foreign breeding taken from the world collection of VIGR named after N. I. Vavilov. The variety “Aksaysky Usaty5”was used as a standard variety. The forecrop was winter wheat. The sowing of the collection samples was carried out in the third decade of March with the SSFK-7 seeder, with a seeding rate of million germinating seeds per1 ha, with a row width of15 cm. The plots contained seven rows. The plot area was5 m2 with a single repetition. The registration plot was0.25 m2. There has been identifi that in 2017-2019 the average productivity ranged from 1.12 t/ha (“Omega”,Moldova) to 2.82 t/ha (“Kazanets”, Rossiya) with average 2.13 t/ha in the collection. The most productive samples were plants with a plant height of 45–55 cm, an average number of beans 2.7–3.3 pcs/plant, 1000 seed weight of 210–270 g, a vegetation period of 69–73 days, and seed weight per plant of 3.3–4.3 g, an average number of seeds 13–19 pcs/plant. The study results of correlation between productivity and morphobiological traits of the collection peas samples are going to be used as an initial material in further breeding work.

The purpose of the current study was to determine the amount of moisture consumed by winter wheat to produce yields with the use of biological products and fertilizers. Under the conditions of insufficient and unstable moisture in theRostovregion, the granular mineral fertilizers applied in winter wheat cultivation caused by a moisture deficit do not always give a positive effect. In this case, in our opinion, the use of new biological products and fertilizers in a liquid form for the pre-sowing treatment of seeds and vegetative plants is a very promising direction. Thus, there have been carried out field trials to study the effect of various water-soluble fertilizers and biological products on the moisture consumption and productivity of winter wheat variety “Niva Stavropoliya” sown in fallow lands. The field trials were conducted in 2016–2018 at the AFC (SA) “Rus” of the Salsky district, located in the southern part of theRostovregion. There have been studied such biological products as “Extrasol”, “Rostok”, “Aquamix” and water-soluble fertilizers “Aquarin5”and “Aquarin9”when using optimal doses of fertilizers. The trials have shown that the combined use of biological products and water-soluble fertilizers was the most effective, when used 0.1 kg/t “Aquamix” for seed treatment + 2 kg/ha “Aquarin5”during a period of tillering + 2 kg/ha “Aquarin9”during a period of head formation together with the use of mineral fertilizers. As a result, productivity increase was 36% compared with that of the control.

In the arid south ofRussiasainfoin is one of the key perennial legume forage grasses. It has a number of economic and biological traits and properties, such as anything goes approach to soil cultivation, drought tolerance, early maturity, stability of green mass and seed productivity; seeds don’t need any insecticides, it is convenient for growing in field crop rotation, it is a good forecrop for winter grain crops and it is used as a green manure crop. The purpose of the current study was the estimation of productivity and forage quality of the sainfoin varieties developed in theFSBSIAgriculturalResearchCenter“Donskoy” to the results, there has been found that the sainfoin varieties of theFSBSIAgriculturalResearchCenter“Donskoy” produced stable and large yields of green mass, dry matter and seeds. Throughout the years, productivity of green mass and dry matter of the sainfoin varieties “Veles”, “Sudar” and “Shuravi” varied from 30.0 t/ha to 36.5 t/ha and 8.1 t/ha to 8.3 t/ha, which was higher than that of the standard variety “Zernogradsky2”, respectively 6.5–12.5% and 8.0–10.7%. The productivity of the seeds of these varieties was 0.72–0.77 t/ha, or 9.1–16.7% higher than that of the standard variety. The largest yields among all varieties were produced by the variety “Shuravi”. The varieties “Veles”, “Sudar” and “Shuravi” exceeded the standard variety in the yields of forage units per1 haon 8.0–10.7%, raw protein on 8.1–14.1%, and digestible protein on 9.7–12.9%. Due to the larger yields of dry matter, they produced 83 430–85 490 MJ of gross energy per1 hectare.

The current paper has presented the study results on estimating the effect of the upper leaves’ area of winter bread wheat samples on productivity and its elements. There have been tested nine winter bread wheat varieties of intensive type developed in the FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”. The current study has identified that the largest upper leaves’ area under insufficient moisture supply during the periods of head formation and flowering was produced by the variety “Etyud” (31 cm² in a heading period; 29.4 cm² in a flowering period). During the period of milky kernel ripening, the variety “Shef” has also shown the largest upper leaves’ area under insufficient moisture supply (17.7 cm²). The variety “Yubiley Dona” has shown a minimal decrease in the upper leaves area to milky kernel ripeness (40%). The evaluation results of productivity and its structure have shown that the largest value of the number of productive stems per 1 m² in arid conditions was identified in the varieties “Etyud” (261 pcs.) and “Shef” (254 pcs.). According to the number of kernels per main head, the variety “Donskaya Step” was the best with 32 pcs. Large kernel weight per main head was identified in the varieties “Donskaya Step” (0.72 g), “Shef” and “Etyud” (0.67 g), and according to 1000 kernel weight the varieties “Etyud” (25.9 g) and “Zodiak” (25.2 g) were the best ones. The varieties “Etyud” (163.7 g/m2) and “Shef” (168.6 g/m²) have produced the maximum yields, that means the best functioning of all productive systems of winter bread wheat. The estimation of the samples according to the correlation between photosynthesis efficiency of the upper leaves’ area and kernel percentage (ZFL) has identified the samples “Donskaya Step”, “1005/14”, “Univer”. According to the correlation between photosynthesis efficiency of the upper leaves’ area and kernel weight per head (MFFL) the variety “Donskaya Step” showed the best results. The conducted study ad obtained results made it possible to identify the varieties “Shef”, “Etyud” and “Donskaya Step”. The identified varieties have been proposed for further use in the breeding process.

The current paper has presented the analysis of the structure of sown areas under winter bread wheat in the Voronezh region in 2016–2018, and there has been established a recent increase the share of the varieties lutescens L. In order to substantiate the present tendency, there have been also used the study results of the varietal set of the Eryshevsky State Varietal Plot of the Voronezh region. The field trials on the Plot to study winter bread wheat productivity were carried out according to the Method of the State Variety Testing for Agricultural Crops (1989), grain quality was estimated by the methods described in the reference book “Grain quality estimation” (1987), and according to the recommendations for the corresponding devices. The data on varietal sowings of winter wheat was provided by the Department of Agricultural Policy of the Voronezh Region. According to the study results, there have been shown the main originators on the market of varieties in the winter bread wheat sowings, as well as in the State Variety Testing. There has been identified a presence of two varieties erythrospermum (er.) and lutescens (lut.) in the set of varieties, and shown their correlation and interrelationship among the originators. In the State Variety Testing there has been noted a significant increase in wheat varieties from foreign farms and varieties of lutescens. According to the study results, when averaging the obtained productivity data and grain quality indicators at the the Eryshevsky State Varietal Plot, there hasn’t been found any significant difference between winter bread wheat varieties of the lutescens and erythrospermum varieties. There has been given average data on productivity and grain quality of varieties obtained from various originators.

The current paper has presented the study results of grain quality and pasta properties of the new and promising winter durum wheat varieties developed in the FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” in 2016–2018. The purpose of the study was to evaluate winter durum wheat varieties according to such traits as grain quality and pasta properties to identify the best genotypes and recommend them for use in the breeding process and wider introduction into production. There have been identified the varieties “Yubilyarka” (96%), “Kristella” (94%), “Lakomka” (92%), “Diona” and “Yantarina” (91%) with maximum values of general hardness. All studied genotypes have formed the nature weight of grain corresponding to a first quality class (from 786–814 g/l). There have been identified the varieties “Kristella” (13.9%), “Donchanka” (13.8%), “Diona” (14.0%), “Yakhont” (14.0%), “Yubilyarka” (13.6%), “Yantarina” (13.7%), “Uslada” (13.6%), “Zoloto Dona” (13.6%), “Solntsedar” (13.9%) and “Almaz Dona” (13.5%) with protein percentage in grain corresponding to a first quality class. As a result of the study, it was found that all the studied varieties had good rheological properties of gluten and formed a DCI from 80 units (the variety “Eyrena”) to 102 units (the variety “Donchanka”) and belonged to the 2-nd group. The varieties “Diona”, “Eyrena”, “Yakhont”, “Yantarina” and “Solntsedar” had high rheological properties of dough. There have been identified the genotypes of the varieties “Donchanka” (613 μg/%), “Solntsedar” (626 μg/%) and “Almaz Dona” (630 μg/%) with the maximum concentration of carotenoid pigments, which could be used as sources to improve the trait “carotenoid content”. Throughout the years of study, the varieties were characterized by high indices of dry pasta color (4–5 points). According to a brittle strength of dry pasta there have been identified the varieties “Kristella” (775 g), “Donchanka” (774 g), “Diona” (757 g), “Yantarina” (782 g), “Solntsedar” (766 g) and “Dinas” (769 g) with the best indices of the trait. The varieties identified both by a single and by a set of traits characterizing grain quality of winter durum wheat and its final products, can be used in the breeding process as an adaptive initial material. The introduction of the best varieties into production will partly solve the problem of deficiency of high-quality durum wheat in the south of Russia.

The field trials were carried out in 2018–2019 in the laboratory for cultivation technology of row crops of the FSBSI “AgriculturalResearchCenter“Donskoy” (Zernograd). The experimental plot is located in the southern agricultural part of theRostovregion characterized with insufficient and unstable moisture. The soil of the experimental plot is ordinary heavy loamy blackearth (chernozem) on loess-like loam, with 3.2% of humus, 18.5–20.0 of P O , 342–360 mg of K O per a kg of soil. The value of the hydrothermal coefficient in the years of study ranged from 0.28 to 0.55 (insufficient moisture supply of the growing season). The current paper has presented the study results of the effect of effect of seeding rates, sowing dates, sowing methods on productivity of the middle early ripening chickpeas variety “Privo1”. The applied agricultural techniques affected on indicators of the yield structure elements. So, the increase of the seeding rate from 0.3 to 1.0 million units/ha reduced number of seeds per plant by 7–11 pcs., decreased seed weight per plant by 1.7–2.6 g and 1000-seed weight by 35–65 g. The sowing date had the greatest effect on chickpea productivity (the effect of the factor was 42.2%), and the sowing method had the smallest (4.1%) effect on it. The largest productivity was formed in the first period with the ordinary-row method of sowing (0.76–1.06 t/ha), and the smallest productivity was formed in the third period with the wide-row method of sowing (0.44–0.71 t/ha). The correlation between the main elements of productivity (“number of seeds per plant”, “seed weight per plant”, “1000-seed weight”) and cultivation technologies was average positive (r = 0.39–0.47).

The current paper has presented the estimation results of the adaptive indicators of the traits “productivity” and “a falling number” of nine winter rye varieties developed in theFederalAgriculturalResearchCenterof the North-East named after N. V. Rudnitsky. The study was conducted in 2015-2019 inthe experimental plots of the Falenskaya breeding station, the branch of the FSBSI of FARC of the North-East (theKirovregion). The weather conditions in the years of study greatly varied. There has been established that throughout the years of study, the most promising variety was “Batist” (5.15 t/ha). High values of genetic flexibility were identified in the varieties “Batist” (5.21 t/ha), “Sara” (5.05 t/ha), “Nioba” (5.06 t/ha), “Rushnik” (4.96 t/ha). According to the parameters of ecological adaptability and stability of the trait “productivity”, there have been identified such varieties of the intensive type as “Grafinya” (bi = 1.22; S²d = 0.01), “Rushnik” (bi = 1.39; S²d = 0.04) and such varieties of extensive type as “Flora” (bi = 0.63; S²d = 0.09), “Falenskaya 4” (bi = 0.75; S²d_i = 0.03) and “Batist” (bi = 0.76; S²d_i = 0.05). High stress resistance was demonstrated by the varieties “Flora” (–1.98 t/ha), “Batist” (–2.01 t/ha). Under contrasting weather conditions, in the periods of grain filling and ripening, there has been identified the most adaptive variety “Rushnik” (according to the trait “falling number”), which had the highest average indicator 195 c throughout the years of study (with a minimum value of 109 c in unfavorable weather conditions of the year and a maximum value of 275 c in favorable weather conditions of the year

The current paper has presented the results of three years’ study (2012–2014) of the application of various terms and methods of nitrogen additional fertilizing for the winter bread wheat variety “Stanichnaya”. There has been studied efficiency of various terms and methods of nitrogen additional fertilizing with various forecrops. There has been identified an effect of these additional fertilizing on winter bread wheat productivity according to the forecrops. In the control variant, the productivity of the variety according to the forecrop depended greatly on the forecrops: 5.52 t/ha (weedfree fallow), 5.26 t/ha (peas), 4.29 t/ha (maize for grains) and 3.57 t/ha (winter wheat). There has been identified large productivity in the autumn ammonium nitrate fertilizing by the scattering method (in all variants of the forecrops), the productivity raised on 0.38–0.73 t/ha. The study has shown that the economic effect of the ammonium nitrate fertilizing in the autumn was also at maximum profitability, 76–154%, and the conditional net income was 10 675–22 955 rubles/ha. The efficiency of ammonium nitrate fertilizing by the scattering method in the spring on thawed/frozen soil was lower, the productivity increase ranged from 0.21 t/ha sown after peas to 0.65 t/ha sown after maize. Root additional fertilizing with a seeder gave a positive effect only when the variety was sown after for winter wheat and maize, in that case the productivity increase was 0.52 t/ha and 0.46 t/ha, respectively. The conditional net income in these variants exceeded the control variant on 1574–2123 rubles/ha. Carbamide (urea) additional fertilizing was only effective for the variety sown after maize, where the productivity increase was 0.40 t/ha, but profitability (100%) and conditional net income (16 593 rubles/ha) were lower than with ammonium nitrate fertilizing by the scattering method in the spring (112% and 18 080 rubles/ha respectively).

Barley productivity varies significantly in various agricultural areas, therefore, there should be conducted an ecological testing to identify varieties’ response to various soil and climatic conditions. That gives an opportunity to identify varieties adapted to specific soil and climatic conditions of a particular area or a region. The purpose of the current study was to conduct an ecological testing of winter barley varieties in the arid central part of theRepublicofKalmykiafor the subsequent identification of the most drought-tolerant, adaptable winter barley varieties, as well as to compare productivity of winter barley with that of spring barley in the arid conditions of the Kalmykia steppes. The study was carried out on the experimental plots of the Kalmyksky RIA named after M. B. Narmaev, a branch of the FSBSI “Pre-Caspian Agricultural Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences” (PCAFRC) in 2018–2019. The objects of research were 9 winter barley varieties of various breeding institutions. The variety of winter barley “Erema” was a standard one, the only one from the entire set of studied varieties that has been included into the State List of Breeding Achievements of theRussian Federation, recommended for cultivation in theRepublicofKalmykia. The trials were laid in four sequences with a systematic arrangement of variants. The total area of the plot was60 m², the registration plot was50 m². The seeding rate was 350 pcs. Of germinating seeds per1 m². The forecrop was winter wheat sown in a fallow land. The study has found that the productivity of the varieties “Timofei”, “Romans”, “Sprinter”, and “Molot” were significantly inferior to that of the standard variety. The productivity of the varieties “Espada”, “Kuzen”, “Vivat”, “Samson” were at the same level as of the standard variety. It should be noted that the maximum yield (4.13 t/ha) was produced by the new variety “Vivat” in 2018. The variety has an undoubted prospect to be cultivated in this region, as it is a facultative one according to the biological type of development, unlike the other studied varieties.

Rice can form not only white, but also red, brown and black kernels. In black rice, pericarp kernels contain anthocyanin, which has an antioxidant effect and is beneficial to human health. The current paper is devoted to the development of new rice lines with black pericarp based on the hybrid Svetly × Mavr. The purpose of the work is to develop new forms of rice with anthocyanin pericarp by a hybridization of varieties with white and black kernels, a genetic analysis of a number of quantitative traits and by a selection of the best variants with compact vertical black-kernel panicles to use them in future breeding work. There has been conducted a genetic analysis of varying quantitative traits affecting the rice productivity. The cleavage by a pericarp color was carried out according to the type of recessive epistasis in a ratio of 9 : 3 : 4. The black color of the pericarp was formed in the presence of two dominant genes Pb and Pp in the genotype, the brown color was due to the Pb gene, the white color was due to the rest combinations of genes. The traits “plant height” and “number of spikelets per panicle” of the hybrids F₂ and F₃ were inherited by the type of superdomination of large values of the trait controlled by two loci, the interaction of which resulted in transgressive forms. According to the traits “panicle length” and “1000 kernel weight”, there has been identified intermediate monogenic inheritance and two-peaked characteristic frequency distribution curves. There have been identified rice forms with black pericarp color, combining the optimal values of the traits “plant height”, increased “panicle length”, “number of spikelets per panicle” and “1000 kernel weight”. On its basis there has been also developed an initial material for practical breeding. The study was carried out in 2018–2020 on the fields of the EP “Proletarskoye” of the Rostov region.

Grain sorghum is the most important feed and food agricultural crop with a number of advantages. The purpose of the current study was to develop the feed sorghum variety being early-ripening, productive, low height, adaptable, resistant to the main diseases for the arid conditions of the Middle Povolzhie and the Urals. The variety has been developed by the method of individual selection from a hybrid population, which was based on a complex stage hybridization, which included the varieties “Slavyanka”, “Zersta97”, “Perspektivny1”. The current paper has presented the results of the study conducted in 2016–2018 on the plots of the Povolzhsky RIISS. There have been presented the traits and properties of a new grain sorghum variety “Derzhavnoe” sent to the State Variety Testing and intended for cultivation in the Middle Povolzhie and Ural regions. The advantage of the variety is its low height, large productivity, good adaptability, resistance to lodging, to brittle stems and panicles and grain shedding. Grain productivity in the Competitive Variety Testing has averaged 3.55 t/ha, which is higher on 0.73 t/ha than that of the standard variety “Slavyanka” (2.82 t/ha). The grain of the new variety contains 10.6–12.2% of raw protein, 62.8–76.8% of starch and 3.4–3.6% of oil.100 kgof grain contains 128 u. The variety is productive both in wet and dry weather conditions when sown in mid-May by continuous sowing method. The variety is suitable for mechanized harvesting with conventional grain combines both separately and directly.

There have been carried out the route surveys to assess the development and distribution of the main pathogens of wheat and barley in 57 districts ofKrasnodar,StavropolTerritoriesand Rostov Region. The collection, organization and analysis of information on the damage degree of the production and breeding sowings of these grain crops by the main pathogens was conducted using a single spatial information environment designed by the Russian company “NextGIS”. During the field surveys, there have been included the data on the resistance to causative agents of yellow leaf spot of wheat, wheat Septoria leaf spot, powdery mildew on wheat and barley, rust diseases on wheat and barley, net spot of barley, and brown spot of barley into the program. In addition, while filling in the survey card, there were taken into account the date and time of the assessment, the phase of development of the grain crop, the variety; there was carried out a photographic fixation of the examined plants. In the field, there was used the freely distributed NextGIS Mobile software, installed on mobile digital devices (smartphones) running by the Android operating system. According to the results of field surveys using the NextGIS QGIS full-featured desktop geographic information system there were prepared thematic cartographic materials of the main wheat and barley pathogens in the southern region ofRussia. The collected long-term data of phytosanitary surveys will allow conducting a temporary analysis of the spatial distribution of pathogens in the studied area. This information can be useful for specialists dealing with plant protection, for employees of breeding institutions who develop varieties resistant to economically significant diseases of grain crops. The data can be used also by a wide range of specialists engaged in plant breeding who conduct field surveys and account any parameters of plant conditions, harmful facilities and the environment, as well as by the consumers of such information.

The purpose of the current work was to study the development of tan spot, the causative agent of yellow leaf spot Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Died) Drechsler on winter bread wheat in the conditions of the Saratov region of Russia. In 2018–2019 there was carried out an estimation of the resistance of 33 winter bread wheat samples to the causative agent of yellow leaf spot. It was established that the varieties “Gostianum 237” and “Levoberezhnaya 1” were characterized by a high level of resistance in the fields. There were identified such weak susceptible varieties as “Victoria 95”, “Gubernia”, “Mironovskaya 808”, “Donskaya bezostaya”, “Smuglyanka”, “Kalach 60”, “111-96 / Zhemchuzhina Povolzhiya”, “L 329 / Urozhaynaya”, “Gubernia / Zhemchuzhina Povolzhiya”, “Saratovskaya 90/ Ukraina”, “L 503 / M Freeman”, “81-93 / (Saratovskaya 11 / Kharkov 82)”. There was identified a moderate damage in the varieties “Lutenscens 230”, “Saratovskaya 80”, “Saratovskaya 90 / 14431 M”, “Sozvesdie”, “Anastasia”, “Saratovskaya 8 / Yubilyar”. The varieties “Zhemchuzhina Povolzhiya”, “Saratovskaya 17”, “Elvira”, “Saratovskaya 8 / B.Z.D.”, “(26-72 / N 49)/(L 15 / Pia)/Sar. 8)”, “Saratovskaya 8 / Yubilyar”, “L 503 / M Freeman”, “30-99/(Saratovskaya 11 / Kharkovskaya 82)”, “Sharada / L 31-98”, “346-06 / L 1334-5”, “Saratovskaya 90”, “L 329 / Saratovskaya ubileynaya”, “Istok/(Saratovskaya 90 / L 503)”, “Brigantina / Don 74” were found susceptible to the pathogen. It was identified that the proportion of winter soft wheat samples resistant to Pyrenophora tritici-repentis was 42% of the total number of varieties studied. There was studied dynamics of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis development in the winter soft wheat variety “Saratovskaya90”. It was found out that the damage degree of the winter bread wheat variety “Saratovskaya90” greatly depended upon the remoteness of the sowings from the source of infection.

Loose smut (Ustilago avenae (Pers.) Rostr.) is the most dangerous and harmful disease with a wide distribution area. The purpose of the current study was to screen spring oat genotypes for resistance to loose smut and the stability of this trait on an artificial infectious background, and to identify resistant forms. There has been established that the large varieties damage in the first 5–10 days after sowing infected seed was caused by negative temperatures on the soil surface (correlation coefficient (r) was 0.95 and 0.90, respectively), and by average daily air temperature (r = 0.94–0.76), the minimum temperature on the soil surface (r = 0.86 and 0.82) and soil temperature at a depth of 5 cm (r = 0.87 and 0.78). The effect of precipitation was noted in a later period of 30–60 days after sowing (r = 0.88–0.72). On an infectious background there have been estimated 296 chaffy and hulled oats varieties. Among them there have been identified the genotypes with very high (188h12, 256h12, I-4845, 213h13, 233h13 and 256h13) and practical (119h11, 178h13, 194h13, 245h14, I-4857 and I-4903) resistance to the pathogen of 0 to 5%. In conditions of the natural development of the disease, the samples from the USA and Germany prevailed among foreign varieties with a lack of damage signs. Among the domestic ones the best results were identified in the varieties from Kirov and Ulyanovsk regions, Krasnodar Territory. The varieties 188h12, 256h12, I-4845 did not respond to changes in the environment (bi = 0). The parameters of variability (V), stability (S²), and stress resistance (x_min – x_max) of these genotypes were 0. The varieties 119h11 showed high stability (S2 = 2.2) and stress resistance (x_min – x_max = –3.7) of the trait. The oats varieties, selected due to loose smut resistance and due to stability of this trait on an infectious background are of great importance in breeding varieties with resistance to this disease.