The current paper has presented the characteristics of the new winter bread wheat varieties of unified type developed by the FSBSI Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”. Winter wheat is the most valuable grain food crop grown in vast areas. Breeding plays an important role in increasing production volume and improving grain quality as the basis of the country’s food fund. Expanding grain crops area, among which wheat predominates, there is a problem of crop rotation. Therefore, the development of unified varieties capable of producing stable high grain yields after various forecrops is one of the most urgent areas of breeding work for winter bread wheat. The purpose of the current study was to characterize the new winter bread wheat varieties of unified type developed by the FSBSI Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” according to the main economically valuable traits. Due to the intensive breeding work over the past decade, on the basis of some of the best zoned varieties ‘Ermak’, ‘Stanichnaya’, ‘Donskoy syurpriz’ there was developed a number of new promising genotypes, which are already being used in production sowings of winter wheat in the Rostov region and other regions of our country. The new winter bread wheat varieties of unified type ‘Lydia’, ‘Kapitan’, ‘Lilit’, ‘Krasa Dona’, ‘Volnitsa’, ‘Volny Don’, ‘Zhavoronok’ and ‘Polina’ are more productive than their parental forms. In combination with grain of high quality, resistance to bio and abiotic environmental factors, they are very valuable, beneficial for cultivation and improvement of the production of commercial wheat grain of high quality.

The growth and productivity of drought-prone varieties are strongly influenced by the chlorophyll pigment content and the development of plants’ foliage. The current climate changing, characterized by long no-rain periods followed by short intense rainfalls, is forcing plants to adopt different strategies to cope with drought. The purpose of the current study is to estimate the effect of growing conditions on the indicators of the total leaf area, leaf surface index (LSI) of sowing, the concentration of chlorophylls (Chl) in the leaves and the yield of winter wheat, depending on the value of their moisture supply. There have been established that the leaf surface index change and the preservation of chlorophyll pigment in foliage during the vegetation period is closely related to plants’ drought resistance, soil moisture reserve and a genotype. Under conditions of insufficient moisture supply, the maximum values of the leaf surface index in the heading phase were formed by the varieties ‘Krasa Dona’ (5.99 r.u) and ‘Etyud’ (2.49 r.u.). The highest content of chlorophyll pigment, both in the heading phase and in the flowering phase, was identified in the varieties ‘Krasa Dona’ (3.7; 3.0 mg/100 g of raw material), ‘Etyud’ (3.4; 3.2 mg/100 g of raw material) and ‘Volny Don’ (3.2; 3.0 mg/100 g of raw material), respectively. Acording to the value of productivity, the reliably standard variety ‘Don 107’ has exceeded the varieties ‘Etyud’, ‘Krasa Dona’, ‘Asket’, ‘Volny Don’.

Nowadays in Russia and in the world, the problem of improving food security is becoming more and more urgent. One of the main crops grown worldwide is winter bread wheat. Varieties resistant to main leaf diseases can produce large grain yields. Thus, the study and identification of resistance genes are of great importance. The purpose of the current work was to estimate the gene pool of winter bread wheat from the CIMMYT collection (Mexico) according to the age brown rust Lr 34 resistance gene. In the study of collection samples, there have been used such methods as DNA extraction using CTAB, PCR, electrophoresis on agarose gels. As a result of the study, there has been identified a presence of a functional allele of the Lr 34 gene in 146 winter bread wheat samples out of 411 studied ones (sets 20^th IWWYT-SA, 21^th IWWYT-IRR, 25^th FAWWON-IRR, 25^th FAWWON-SA). There have been identified three samples with a heterozygous allelic state of the Lr 34 gene. There have been identified 232 samples with the non-functional Lr 34 gene allele. 30 winter bread wheat samples had no amplification of DNA fragments with the molecular marker csLV34, which means a significant microsatellite sequence variability for which the molecular marker was developed in their genotype. 121 out of 146 winter bread wheat samples with the functional brown rust Lr 34 resistance gene showed resistance in field conditions and in the infectious plots. The rest 25 samples with the Lr 34 gene belonged to the group of moderately resistant ones in the infectious plots. The identified 121 CIMMYT collection winter bread wheat varieties, with the Lr 34 gene possessing a resistant type of pathogen damage response (for example, 9919, 9921, 9928, 9809, 9811, 9812, 23, 24, 30, 262, 265, 266, etc.) have been recommended for use in leaf rust resistance pyramiding in future breeding programs.

In the modern world, the use of isolated anther cultivation technology is currently an integral part of the wheat breeding process. The development of haploids in the winter bread wheat anthers will allow obtaining new forms of wheat in the shortest possible time and without large areas. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the F₃ winter bread wheat hybrids according to the anthers’ sensitivity to androgenesis and plant regeneration in vitro and to identify the factors affecting the yield of haploid production. There has been studied the ability to androgenesis in vitro in the anthers of four winter bread wheat hybrids of intensive and semi-intensive type of the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy”. There has been assessed the role of the mineral composition of three induction nutrient media N6, W14 and NPB-99. There has been established a correlation between the main stages of development of haploids and a genotype. The highest regeneration rate of green plants was obtained in the sample F₃ 623 of intensive type (3.3%). The most suitable medium for androgenesis of the winter bread wheat anthers in vitro is NPB-99. Since the genotype F₃ 623 of intensive type demonstrated high values of haploid production capacity, it could be successfully used in breeding programs for the rapid production of homozygous wheat anther lines in vitro. Using two-way analysis of variance, there has been identified a correlation between the effects of a genotype, nutrient medium and their interaction with the main parameters of haploid formation in winter wheat. The formation of embryogenic structures is mainly associated with the effect of a genotype (46.52%). The proportion of the nutrient composition of the medium was low (1.82%), and the correlation factor was 2.1%. The genotype had the greatest effect on the indicator of the regenerants’ number. The nutrient medium had little effect. Regarding the regeneration of green plants, which is the main indicator of the haploid production, the share of a genotype effect was the largest (47.32%). The contribution of the medium and the correlation of factors were less important, but statistically significant.

The selection of pairs for hybridization requires knowledge about the correlation of the most important quantitative traits that affect grain yield of maize hybrids. The current study was carried out in the Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” located in the south of the Rostov region with unstable moisture. The years of study (2018–2020) were arid (HThC 0.32–0.89). The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the correlation between quantitative traits and their influence on grain yield of maize hybrids under arid conditions. The objects of research were 96 interline maize hybrids. The analysis has identified the correlation between grain yield and such quantitative traits as ‘one maize ear weight’ (r = 0.64...0.87), ‘number of grains per one maize ear row’ (r = 0.37...0.75), ‘number of grains per maize ear’ (r = 0.32...0.51), ‘number of maize ears per plant’ (r = 0.41...0.53), ‘grain yield’ (r = 0.45...0.64). The traits ‘1000-grain weight’ and ‘number of grain rows’ had either no or slight effect on the formation of grain yield of maize hybrids (r = -0.12...0.28). There have been established the traits, the high values of which were well-combining in one genotype. The values of the trait ‘one maize ear weight’ raised due to an increase of the trait ‘number of grains per one maize ear row’ (r = 0.27...0.74), ‘number of grains per maize ear’ (r = 0.26...0.55), ‘grain yield’ (r = 0.21...0.52). The trait ‘number of grains per maize ear’ raised with an increase in the values of such constituent components as ‘number of grains per one maize ear row’ (r = 0.70...0.76), ‘number of grain rows per maize ear’ (r = 0.59...0.66), and also with an increase of ‘number of maize ears per plant’ (r = 0.32...0.51) and ‘grain yield’ (r = 0.36...0.38). There have been identified difficulty-combining quantitative traits, when the value of the trait ‘1000-grain weight’ decreased with the increase of the ‘number of grain rows per maize ear’ (r = – 0.18...-0.56), ‘number of grains per a maize ear row’ (r = -0.15...-0.31) and ‘grain yield’ (r = -0.01...-0.36).

The purpose of the current study was to identify the effect of the length of a vegetation period of the collection soybean samples on grain productivity and quality. The study was carried out in the southern part of the Rostov region in the fields of the FSBSI Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” in 2018–2020. The climate is semi-arid with moderately hot summers. The soil is ordinary thick calcareous heavy loamy blackearth (chernozem). The forecrop was winter wheat. The objects of the study were collection soybean samples of the ARIGPR named after N.I. Vavilov. The study was carried out on 75 samples, including 52 middle early samples with 110-120 days of vegetation and 23 middle maturing samples (120-130 days of vegetation), differing in morphobiological and economically valuable traits. The analysis of a vegetation period, grain productivity and quality of the collection soybean samples has shown that in the southern part of the Rostov region the most variable trait was grain productivity (Cv = 22.5%). The less variable characteristics were protein percentage in grain (Cv = 3.8%), a vegetation period (Cv = 4.2%) and oil content in grain (Cv = 5.3%). There has been identified a positive effect of the length of a vegetation period of soybeans on grain productivity and oil content in grain for both groups of maturity, protein percentage in both groups of maturity having a negative dependence on a vegetation period. The study has shown that in the middle early group, the largest grain productivity was obtained with 117 and 118 days of vegetation, the highest protein percentage with 110 and 114 days of vegetation, and the largest oil content in grain with 118 and 120 days of vegetation. In the middle maturing group, the maximum productivity indicators were obtained for the samples with 126 and 130 days of vegetation, the maximum protein percentage with 122 days of vegetation and the maximum oil content in grain with 123 and 130 days of vegetation. The samples showing the maximum indicators will be included in further soybean breeding.

Rice can form not only white-color kernels, but also of red, brown and black colors. In black-color rice kernels, the pericarp contains anthocyanin, which has antioxidant activity and therefore has a positive effect on human health. The purpose of the current study was to develop rice samples with black pericarp. The paper has presented the study results of the hybrid population ‘Mavr × Kontakt’ of the second generation. The variety ‘Mavr’ has a black pericarp, the variety ‘Kontakt’ has a white one. In the process of hybridological analysis there have been identified the patterns of inheritance of the main quantitative traits affecting productivity; there have been identified the best samples, in which formed compact erect panicles and black kernels; there has been selected the initial material for breeding work. The study was carried out in 2020 on the plots of the ES “Proletarskoye” in the Rostov region. There was established that the color of pericarp was inherited according to the type of complementary interaction of two genes. There was found an overdominance and interaction of two pairs of genes of different strengths according to ‘plant height’. There was also seen partial positive dominance, transgressions, and digenic differences of the initial varieties according to ‘panicle length’. According to the traits ‘number of spikelets per panicle’, there was identified overdominance of large values and positive transgression. There were found the forms with well-kerneled panicles. The trait ‘1000 kernel weight’ was characterized by negative dominance and dihybrid cleavage of 9:6:1. There have been selected the best morphotype F₂ forms with black pericarp, which possessed optimal plant height, long panicles, larger kernel size, and an average 1000 kernel weight.

There have been represented the study results of flour quality of the winter bread wheat varieties of semi-intensive type of the FSBSI Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”. The purpose of the current study was to estimate variability of the values of indicators that characterize physical and rheological dough properties, to identify the correlation between them, and to isolate genetic sources. The objects of study were 20 winter bread wheat varieties. Field trials were carried out in 2017–2019 in the fields of the department of winter wheat breeding and seed production, the forecrop was maize for grain. The variety ‘Don 107’ was used as a standard. The quality of grain and flour of the winter bread wheat varieties was assessed in the laboratory for biochemical estimation of breeding material and seed quality. There have been identified the varieties ‘Asket’ (26.9%), ‘Podarok Krymu’ (26.2%), ‘Zolotoy Kolos’ (25.5%) and ‘Izyuminka’ (25.5%) with the maximum gluten content in grain. It was determined that the trait ‘gluten deformation index’ varied from 62 u.v. to 77 u.v., all varieties corresponded to the 1st quality class. There have been identified the genotypes ‘Volny Don’, ‘Don 93’, ‘Premiera’, ‘Podarok Krymu’, ‘Ambar’, ‘Donskoy Surpriz’ and ‘Izyuminka’ with low values of the variation coefficient of the trait. There have been identified the varieties ‘Krasa Dona’ (6.7%), ‘Zhavoronok’ (6.8%) and ‘Asket’ (8.2%) with low values of the variation coefficient of the trait ‘specific work of dough deformation’. There have been identified the varieties ‘Don 93’, ‘Izyuminka’ and ‘Podarok Krymu’, which according to P/L corresponded to the class of strong wheat. It was found that the varieties ‘Zolotoy Kolos’ and ‘Volnitsa’ corresponded to the class of strong wheat according to the valorimetric assessment. Correlation analysis showed that the rheological dough properties were significantly influenced by gluten content in grain. There has been estimated the quantitative manifestation and variability of the traits, which characterize the rheological and physical dough properties. There have been identified the varieties with the smallest varietal variation of traits, which are recommended to use in the breeding process as sources of useful traits and properties. The selection according to the traits ‘delute of dough’ and ‘valorimetric assessment’ allow developing and introducing into production genotypes with good baking properties.

The current paper has presented the study results (2015–2020) of the influence of changing weather conditions on durum winter wheat productivity and grain quality. The purpose of the study was to identify the main stress factors limiting durum winter wheat productivity under changing climate conditions and to determine the direction and issues for further breeding. The objects of the study were the varieties ‘Amazonka’, ‘Agat Donskoy’, ‘Kristella’, ‘Lazurit’, ‘Oniks’, ‘Diona’, ‘Eyrena’, ‘Yakhont’, ‘Kiprida’, ‘Yubilyarka’, ‘Yantarina’, ‘Uslada’, ‘Donchanka’ (a standard variety) developed by the FSBSI Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”. There have been studied the meteorological data (average daily temperatures and precipitation) through the years of study as well. On the basis of the analysis, there have been established main stress factors of these years that affected productivity, namely drought in different vegetation periods with the pre-sowing and sowing periods in August and September of 2019; the periods ‘sprouts-tillering’ in October, December and the periods ‘tillering-stem extension’ in March, April; grain filling period in 2020; atmospheric drought during the period of active vegetation in April, June of 2018; excessive moisture with rainfalls and squally winds that caused lodging, diseases, grain flowing off and discoloration in 2014–2015, 2015–2016. The agricultural year 2016–2017 was the most favorable in terms of temperature regime, precipitation and their distribution (at the level of the long-term average), with an average varietal productivity of 9.49 t/ha. Yield decrease depending on this or that stress factor (in comparison with the favorable year of 2017) was on 54.5% in 2019, 32.5% in 2020 and on 21.4 in 2015 and 27.2% in 2016. The exception was the year of 2018, when with sufficient soil moisture, productivity was on 26.3% more than in 2017. Due to the study results of winter durum wheat varieties according to their traits and properties to the indicated stress factors in 2015–2020, there have been identified the issues for each direction, the solution of which will be aimed at developing stress-resistant, resistant to lodging and diseases varieties with large stable yields and high grain quality.

The current study was carried out on the experimental plots of the Samarsky Research Institute of Agriculture in 2014–2020 in order to estimate the adaptive potential of the approved winter wheat varieties of the Samarsky RIA according to grain quality under varying weather conditions. Mass fraction of protein and gluten in grain, gluten quality, falling number were established according to GOST. The adaptive potential for all grain quality traits was evaluated according to A.A. Rossiell, J. Hamblin (1981), the factor of phenotypic stability of traits was determined according to D. Lewis (1954), the coefficient of traits’ variability was estimated according to B.A. Dospekhov (1979) in Microsoft Office Excel. Over the years the average mass fraction of protein in grain of the studied varieties was 15.7% (the variety ‘Malakhit’), 15.6% (‘Svetoch’,) 15.3% (‘Bezenchukskaya 380’), 14.1% (‘Biryuza’), 14.4% (‘Bazis’), 15,5% (‘Viyuga’) with 5.9; 5.4; 11.6; 6.7; 14.5; 10.9% of variability respectively. There have been identified the winter bread wheat varieties ‘Malakhit’, ‘Svetoch’, ‘Biryuza’ and ‘Viyuga’ with high phenotypic stability of the trait ‘mass fraction of protein in grain’ (SF = 1.2). The average (in 2014-2020) mass fraction of crude gluten in grain was 33.6% (‘Malakhit’), 33.2% (‘Svetoch’), 32.8% (‘Bezenchukskaya 380’), 30.5% (‘Biryuza’), 30.6% (‘Bazis’), 34.2% (‘Viyuga’) with 7.8; 8.6; 17.4; 15.2; 17.1; 15.0% of variability respectively. The phenotypic stability of the trait ‘mass fraction of crude gluten in grain’ of the varieties ‘Malakhit’ and ‘Svetoch’ was high (SF = 1.2 and 1.3, respectively). There have been identified the varieties ‘Malakhit’, ‘Svetoch’, ‘Bezenchukskaya 380’, ‘Biryuza’, ‘Bazis’, ‘Viyuga’ with high phenotypic stability of the trait ‘gluten quality’ (SF = 1.2; 1.3; 1.2; 1.1; 1.2; 1.2 respectively). The average (in 2014-2020) value of the trait ‘falling number’ of the varieties was 232c (‘Malakhit’), 240c (‘Svetoch’), 258c (‘Bezenchukskaya 380’), 349c (‘Biryuza’), 223c (‘Bazis’), 347c (‘Viyuga’) with 34.7; 42.6; 11.2; 21.6; 43.3, 24.8% of variability respectively. There have been identified phenotypically stable varieties according to the trait ‘falling number’, namely ‘Bezenchukskaya 380’ (SF = 1.3), ‘Viyuga’ (SF = 1.9). According to the maximum expressivity and phenotypic stability of the traits ‘grain quality’, ‘mass fraction of protein and gluten in grain’, ‘falling number’ there have been identified the winter bread wheat varieties ‘Bezenchukskaya 380’, ‘Biryuza’ and ‘Viyuga’.

The development of bakery industry is possible due to the use of such non-traditional raw materials as durum wheat. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the effect of varietal traits of durum wheat when mixed with bread wheat according to the results of rheological parameters of dough, technological and bakery estimation of flour. There have been studied technological indicators of grain, rheological and physical parameters of dough, general bakery estimation. There has been established that the high gas-forming ability of durum wheat allows it to be used (30%) as bread wheat improver during baking. However, the positive effect was present not in all years of the study. There has been estimated an improvement effect due to mutual compensation of the missing components and complementarity of the bread and durum wheat varieties. There was found that in 2008, 2010 there was practically no improvement effect when durum wheat flour was added to the mixture in a ratio of 30:70%. There was established that in 2015 the maximum bread volume of 930 cm³ and a good bakery estimation (flat surface, oval shape, golden brown crust, as well as fine thin-walled porosity with elastic light crumb) were obtained by adding bread wheat varieties to durum wheat varieties, which during the year of the study there was formed weak grain (dilute of dough was 110 u.f.; valorigraphic number was 46 u.v.). In 2020, the varieties used in the mixtures of both spring bread and durum wheat were of high quality, and bakery estimation gave excellent indicators both in the control (the variety ‘Tulaykovskaya 108’ with 1300 cm³) and in the mixtures with 1140–1255 cm³; the appearance of bread and crumb in almost all variants had an excellent mark. The largest volume of bread, 1255 cm³, was obtained when the durum wheat variety ‘Bezenchukskaya Niva’ was added to the mixture. Adding durum wheat flour to the mixture in an amount of 30:70% when baking bread reduced its staleness by 6.5% relative to the control (bread wheat); bread remains fresh for a long time with an elastic, quickly regenerated crumb.

One of the main problems in most of the world rice-growing regions is soil salinity. Rice is considered a saline sensitive crop, especially at the early stages of development and in the period of maturity. In the Rostov region, rice is grown in the south-eastern parts, where there are currently difficulties with the operation of the existing reclamation facilities. The problem of saline soils for this region is especially urgent, since a significant part of the arable lands has alkali complexes. In order to return the saline lands into exploitation, it is necessary to develop salt tolerant varieties, which, under crop rotation and maintenance, can contribute to soil desalinization. Due to the difficulty of determining salt tolerance only by estimating the phenotype, it is necessary to use molecular markers associated with this trait. Thus, the purpose of the current work was to identify one of the main Saltol QTL in breeding rice samples of the eighth generation (F₈) obtained from hybridizing the donor variety NSYC Rc106 with Russian varieties. For that purpose, there have been used such marker-assisted selection methods as DNA isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), electrophoresis on 2% agarose gels, gels’ coloring in ethidium bromide solution, photography in ultraviolet light and evaluation of the obtained electrophoregrams. As a result of the study of 398 breeding rice samples, there have been identified 67 samples with the functional allele of Saltol QTL (6865/3, 6874/2, Don 7343/4, Don 7343/5, Don 7343/6, Don 7343/7, Don 7343/8, Don 7343/9, Don 7343/10, Don 7337/1, Don 7337/3, Don 7337/4, Don 7337/5, Don 7337/6, Don 7337/7, Don 7337/8, etc.). There have been recommended to use these samples in the further breeding process in order to develop new salinity resistant rice varieties.

Breeding success is determined by the correct choice of agro-ecotype. In this regard, we have carried out a comprehensive estimation of 75 winter bread wheat varieties and samples of the competitive trials. The variety ‘Ermak’ was used as a standard. The study was carried out using the material and technical base of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” (FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy”) in 2017–2019. The purpose was to study the correlation among economically valuable traits of winter bread wheat varieties and samples and to find genotypes similar in their parameters to the model variety based on curvilinear regressions. As a result of the phenotypic estimation of the quantitative traits of winter bread wheat varieties and samples, there was determined an average level and their variability degree. Their productivity ranged from 8.52 to 10.51 t/ha. Through the years of study, the variation coefficients indicated a high stability of these features (from 0.9 to 10.0%). In order to identify the similarities and differences between varieties and samples, there has been conducted a cluster analysis. As a result of this analysis, there has been selected the winter bread wheat variety ‘Yubiley Dona’ (C25), parameters which were more identical to the model (C76). This variety is recommended for further breeding process to improve the studied basic economic traits.

Weather and climatic conditions determine moisture supply, which is the main factor affecting winter wheat productivity in the area of unstable moisture. The current study was carried out on the experimental plot of the laboratory for cultivation technology of grain crops of the FSBSI Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” in 2010–2020. The soil of the experimental plot was ordinary calcareous heavy loamy blackearth (chernozem). The humus horizon was powerful up to 140 cm. The humus content was 3.9%. The purpose of the study was to establish the moisture supply of winter bread wheat when cultivated according to various forecrops. There has been found that the autumn periods in the most years of study were arid with 37% of precipitation. Winter wheat plants from September to June were provided with 70% of precipitation, with a 1022.55 of air humidity deficit and 664.7 mm of water demand. There was found that, on average over the years of study, 88% of moisture supply promoted yielding of 7.03 t/ha of winter wheat sown in weedfree fallow. In order to yield a ton of grain there was required 591.7 m³ of total moisture. The share of precipitation in this moisture consumption was 84%, and the share of soil moisture was 16%. When sown after sunflower, moisture provision was 77%, and winter wheat yield was 5.32 t/ha. In order to yield a ton of grain there was required 657.3 m³ of total moisture, which was on 65.6 m³ more than in the variant with a weedfree fallow. The share of precipitation in this moisture consumption was 96%, and the share of soil moisture was 4%.

The current paper has presented the trial results of the winter wheat varieties developed by the ARC “Donskoy” in 2018 -2020. Currently, the farmers have bred a lot of different wheat varieties, but they are not able to take into account all the peculiarities of their cultivation. The purpose of the current work was to study the features of the autumn and spring-summer vegetation periods of the winter wheat varieties developed by the ARC “Donskoy” in the area of dark chestnut soils of the Volgograd region. There have been selected 10 winter wheat varieties for the trials. The field trial was laid down on dark chestnut soils of the lands of the Serafimovichsky district in the Volgograd region. The study was carried out according to the generally accepted B.A. Dospekhov’s methodology. The field trials showed that the germination of winter wheat was influenced by a seeding depth, which was 7-9 cm. The best germination was found among the varieties ‘Asket’, ‘Etyud’, ‘Lilit’, ‘Donskaya Step’ and ‘Zhavoronok’. During the trials, the formation of a productive stand was greatly influenced by the weather (the length of a spring tillering period, precipitation in May), as well as the traits of the variety. The winter wheat varieties ‘Etyud’, ‘Shef’, ‘Donskaya Step’, ‘Krasa Dona’ were able to form a large number of productive stems under favorable weather conditions. Under insufficient moisture supply, the largest number of productive stems was formed by the varieties ‘Lidiya’ and ‘Lilit’. The highest tillering intensity during an autumn vegetation period was shown by the variety ‘Lidiya’ (4.7–6.2 shoots), including the varieties ‘Zhavoronok’ (4.2–5.4 shoots) and ‘Etyud’ (4.0–5.3 shoots). The largest productivity was produced by the varieties ‘Donskaya Step’ (4.97 t/ha), ‘Zhavoronok’ (4.95 t/ha), ‘Krasa Dona’ (4.90 t/ha) over three years.

The analysis of the Crimean weather conditions during the autumn vegetation period of winter wheat indicates climate warming and, in this regard, the necessity to adjust the optimal sowing dates. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the productivity and grain quality of winter bread wheat varieties depending on different sowing dates. The objects of the study were five winter wheat varieties sown in 5 dates from October 1 to November 30 with an interval of 15 days. Field trials were conducted with appropriate observations, records, measurements and analyzes, according to the methodology of the State Variety Testing. Statistical processing of the trials was carried out by the B.A. Dospekhov’s method of dispersion and correlation analyzes. The study was carried out through three years, two vegetation periods of which (2017–2018 and 2019–2020) were dry, one period (2018-2019) was favorable for the development of winter grain crops. According to the results of the analysis of variance, there have been identified significant differences in the effect of all three factors (‘variety’, ‘length’ and ‘year’) and their correlation in all combinations on the productivity formation. The factors ‘sowing date’ (33%) and ‘correlation between date and year’ (49%) had the greatest influence on the productivity formation. In 2018, the most optimal for all studied varieties was the second sowing date (15.10), in 2019 it was the first (1.10), and under the conditions of 2020, the later sowing dates were more favorable, and the 4th period was marked as optimal (15.11). The mean productivity of all varieties at the optimum sowing dates was 4.0; 5.5 and 3.46 t/ha, respectively. The factors ‘sowing date’, ‘year’, and the correlation between them significantly influenced protein percentage in grain. Their effect on the manifestation of the above trait was 29%, 14% and 23%, respectively; on gluten content it was 29%, 16% and 21%, respectively.

In the Southern Federal District, winter wheat is a main food crop. One of the most important factors that can destabilize gross grain yields and reduce grain crop productivity are parasitic organisms. One of the most common wheat diseases is septoria blotch (Zymoseptoria tritici). The purpose of the current study was to analyze the biological cycle of distribution, harmfulness, measures to combat septoria blotch on winter wheat. The paper has considered the importance of winter wheat septoria disease in various countries and in Russia. There was noted a leading position in distribution and harmfulness of the disease, and according to the results of study conducted by Russian and foreign researchers, it was found that this pathogen was inferior in importance only to wheat rust. There were presented three types of septoria blotch pathogens and there was established a dominant type in the Southern Federal District. Yield losses caused by septoria blotch can reach upto 30-40%, and the optimal temperature for its development and spread is from 5 to 20°C, with frequent precipitation. There have been given the technological methods under which the crop damage by pathogens increased. There have been presented the measures to combat septoria blotch and there has been described the most effective, economical and environmentally friendly method, namely the development of resistant varieties and their introduction into production. There has been considered qualitative and quantitative resistance of varieties. Currently there have been identified 21 major septoria blotch resistance genes. There has been considered longevity of stb-genes and the reasons for its loss. It has been established that the development of winter wheat varieties resistant to septoria blotch is a priority issue of breeding, since this control measure reduces yield losses and potential reserve of the pathogen in the agrocenosis.