The current paper is devoted to the study of melatonin as an adaptogen capable of increasing wheat tolerance to stress caused by excess levels of easily soluble salts in the environment. The purpose of the study was to evaluate, within the framework of a laboratory model experiment, the ability of melatonin to increase seed germination and stimulate growth processes in wheat sprouts against the background of salinity. The study was conduc ted at the FSBI All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Agrochemistry named after D.N. Pryanishnikov in 2024. The study objects were seeds of the spring wheat variety ‘Darya’. Before the experiment, the seeds were treated with aqueous solutions of melatonin in concentrations of 0; 0.01; 0.1; 1 and 10 mg/l using the priming method. Distilled water and a 150 mM sodium chloride solution were used as background solutions for germination. As a result, there has been shown that within the framework of the experiment, there is an increase in seed germination against the background of treatment with melatonin solutions in concentrations from 0.1 to 10 mg/l against a saline background. Seed treatment with melatonin has demonstrated a pronounced growth-stimulating effect on wheat sprouts, especially in relation to the root system. However, the strength of this effect was somewhat reduced on a saline background compared to control conditions. There was a maximum growth-stimulating effect of melatonin on both backgrounds when using a solution with a concentration of 1 mg/l. There was also established that priming seeds with melatonin promoted water retention in seedling root cells, which may be one of the mechanisms for increasing plant resistance to salinity.

The selection of promising grain sorghum varieties according to the breeding results is complicated by the fact that it is necessary to take into account 49 characteristics (identifiers). This essentially multi-criteria comparison problem currently has neither a theoretical nor an unambiguous practical solution, which determines the relevance of the current study. The purpose of the study was to identify the essential characteristics (identifiers) and their scientifically based scoring of a standard grain sorghum sample based on the method of expert estimations. Based on the results of the expert estimation including leading specialists in grain sorghum breeding, there have been ranked 26 traits out of 49, provided for by the current international classifier, which can be quantitatively digitized and which also reflect biological properties, morphological descriptors of the variety, its productivity, resistance to diseases, chemical composition, etc. After conducting a ranking procedure, estimation of the representativeness of the selection, the consistency of expert opinions and the non-accidentality of their agreement, there was carried out a structuring of the totality of statistical material (rank estimation) according to the integral function of the accumulated frequencies of each ranked feature’s appearance using the original author’s computer program. As a result, there have been identified 13 significant (most significant) estimation traits of grain sorghum, amounting to 64.1 % in terms of ranking and 50 % in terms of quantitative significance. There was set up an estimation scale for them, based on their rank significance on a 100-point scale for the standard grain sorghum sample (“Zernogradskoe 88” developed by the “ARC “Donskoy”). Based on the data of determining the significance of the corresponding traits in physical terms of the compared and standard samples, as well as its score rating for the standard, there was established a point rating of the corresponding traits for the compared samples and complex estimation indicators as their sum. The complex indicator for the compared samples of the varieties ‘Ataman’ and ‘Esaul’ developed by the “ARC “Donskoy” was calculated in accordance with the share of each index relative to the standard one. Their quantitative comprehensive estimation was 111.43 and 101.93 points, respectively. Thus, these varieties exceeded the standard for a set of traits by 111.43 and 101.93 %, respectively.

Winter wheat in the Republic of Tatarstan is sown annually on an area of more than 300 K hectares. The purpose of the current work was to develop a new variety ‘Saban’ and characterize its ability to produce high yields and grain quality in the northern regions of the Middle Volga region. The study was conducted on the fields of the Tatarsky RIA, SSU of the FRC KazRC of RAS in 2020–2022. Seeds were laid in ‘black’ fallow at the optimal time. The variety ‘Saban’ was developed by the method of individual selection from a hybrid population obtained from crossing the varieties ‘Kazanskaya 285’ and ‘Bezenchukskaya 380’. On average, over three years of testing, winter resistance was 88 %, and the plant height was 74 cm, which is 9.7 cm lower than that of the standard variety ‘Kazanskaya 560’. Lodging resistance was 8.7 points with a coefficient of variation of 6.66 %. The variety ‘Saban’ is of the intensive type, responsive to the application of complex fertilizers. The variety was better than the standard variety ‘Kazanskaya 560’ in productivity by 0.64 t/ha. Under arid conditions of 2021 the variety yielded 4.20 t/ha, which was 0.65 t/ha more than the standard variety did. This result was due to the productive stem density and a large number of grains per ear. The variety produced heavy kernels, its nature weight was 770–802 g/l. Crude protein percentage in grain ranged from 13.2 % to 15.2 %, and gluten varied from 27.0 % to 29.7 %. The variety formed high indicators of rheological qualities, such as 301 u.a. of flour strength, and 59 % of valorimetric estimation. The general baking assessment for three years of study was 4.5 points. The variety can be recommended for cultivation in the Middle Volga region of the Russian Federation from 2024.

Development of dihaploid lines using biotechnological methods can reduce not only the time required to breed a new variety, but also labor costs and technical resources. Earlier in our studies, there has been obtained seed material of androgenic dihaploid of the regenerated plants of the R0 generation, grown ex vitro. The next stage of the work delt with sowing the seeds of these plants in vivo. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the development of winter wheat plants of androgenic dihaploid lines of the R1 generation and parental varieties in vivo according to such characteristics as a length of phenophases, a vegetation period, morphometric estimation for comparison with each other and with parental genotypes, as well as for seed propagation. As a result of the study carried out in 2022–2024, there has been estimated a new nitial material of winter common wheat obtained on the basis of previously conducted biotechnological work. There have been studied androgenic dihaploid R1 lines according to the traits of vegetative and generative organs, for grain productivity of plants and seed germination. There have been selected promising lines for further breeding evaluation. Androgenic dihaploid lines of winter wheat of the R1 generation 79.1.5.1, 79.1.5.2, 79.2.1.1, 84.3.1.1, 84.3.3.1, 85.2.1.1 were the best according to vegetative, generative traits, grain productivity and seed germination. The best indicators of productivity and germination were characterized by androgenic dihaploid lines based on the hybrid ‘Rostovchanka 7 x Bezostaya 100’.

The most important indicator of the initial material’s value in breeding for heterosis is its combining ability. The purpose of the current work was to study the combining ability of new self-pollinated maize lines according to grain productivity and its main components. The study was conducted at the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy”, located in the southern part of the Rostov region with unstable moisture, in 2021–2023. The objects of the studies were 9 new constant self-pollinated maize lines and the line ‘RD 329’, used as a standard. The objects of the studies were also 3 testers, simple maize hybrids ‘Kros 1’, ‘Kros 2’, ‘Kros 3’ and 30 new test-cross hybrids of maize. There have been identified new highly heterotic maize hybrids of practical interest ‘Kros1×Sl 303’ (5.05 t/ha), ‘Kros1×Sl 308’ (4.75 t/ha), ‘Kros1×Sl 309’ (4.84 t/ha). There have been identified new self-pollinated lines ‘Sl 303’ (gi = 0.56), ‘Sl 308’ (gi = 0.43) and ‘Sl 309’ (gi = 0.47) with high combining ability according to the trait ‘grain productivity’ and are recommended for use in programs of hybridization. Self-pollinated lines with high GCA according to grain productivity, as a rule, had higher GCA for such productivity traits as ‘a number of grains per ear’, ‘one ear weight’ and ‘a number of ears per plant’. This contributed to the formation of a large number of grains per ear in test-cross maize hybrids (623–655 pcs.), the formation of ears with a large weight (131–147 g), and the absence of sterile plants in dry conditions. The combining ability according to the trait ‘1000-grain weight’ had no effect on productivity of test-cross hybrids in dry conditions. The use of self-pollinated lines with high values of productivity traits and transmitting high values to hybrids made it possible to develop new productive hybrid combinations.

Along with hulled oats, hulles oats are increasingly used in the processing industries, both for feed and food purposes without preliminary hulling. In the Middle Volga region, in the conditions of a sharply continental climate, the cultivation of oats for feed and food purposes is difficult, therefore, breeding of highly productive oat varieties with grain quality for a specific area of use is promising. The purpose of the current study was to estimate productivity and grain quality of hulled and hulles oat varieties in the Middle Volga region. There has been found that during the years of study, hulled oat varieties produced the highest grain yield of 29.2 hwt/ha (a mean value among the varieties). The maximum grain yield was obtained in 2022 with 41.6–42.4 hwt/ha due to productive tillering (r = +0.72 at p < 0.05) and 1000-grain weight (r = +0.82 at p < 0.05). The variety ‘Sapsan’ was the best one in the group of hulled varieties with the best indicators of protein 14.6 %, starch 40.2 %, oil 5.3 % and grain nature weight 470 g/l with the lowest value of grain husk content; these oat varieties are preferable to grow for the production of feed and feed mixtures. In the group of hulles varieties, the mean productivity among the varieties varied at the level of the standard variety ‘Persheron’ and was 16.8 hwt/ha. The largest productivity was formed by the varieties in 2023 with 24.6-24.7 hwt/ha and it was due to productive tillering (r = +0.68 at p < 0.05) and grain weight per ear (r = +0.80 at p < 0.05). Hulles oat varieties with a high content of protein 18.7 %, starch 53.0 %, oil 6.4 %, low amylolytic activity of grain 323 s and grain nature weight 597 g/l, corresponding to the requirements of GOST 28673-2019 are suitable for food purposes (groats production, functional products, bakery).

The most important thing in the production of durum wheat is to obtain high-quality grain. In this regard, in the Rostov Region, there has been studied the physical and chemical properties of this crop and identified several sources for high-quality grain breeding. The objects of study were 30 winter durum wheat varieties and lines of our own breeding, with the standard variety ‘Kristella’. Large grain (1000-grain weight over 40 g) was formed by 12 winter durum wheat samples. According to the GOST, 26 varieties and lines (770–809 g/l) belonged to the 1st class of grain. In 2021–2023, grain hardness varied from 69 % to 93 %. This trait was influenced by weather conditions during the years of study, grain with large hardness (100 %) was formed in the favorable 2022, in 2023 the grain was floury (51 %). The protein percentage in grain varied over the years from 13.70% in 2022 to 14.91 % in 2021. The mean gluten content of winter durum wheat samples was consistently high over the years and ranged from 28.0 % (2022) to 30.1 % (2021). The mean carotenoid content over the years varied significantly from 472 μg/% (2023) to 718 μg/% (2021). There were significant fluctuations among the samples. Due to the diversity of weather conditions during the years of study, there have been identified 6 winter durum wheat varieties and lines ‘Diona’, ‘Dinas’, ‘Pridonie’, ‘691/20’, ‘390/20’, ‘1377/20’ according to the complex of physical and chemical properties.

The solution to the most urgent problem of stable and smooth production of vegetable protein in the agro industrial complex of Donbass is practically impossible without introducing new pea varieties into production, the main legume of the region. The main tasks set by the breeders are to improve productivity stability over the years and the overall productivity potential by developing and introducing new, more environmentally flexible and adapted to specific growing conditions genotypes into production. In this regard, there has been given a special role to improving a number of quantitative traits that directly or indirectly affect the overall productivity of plants. The purpose of the current research was to identify the closeness and direction of the correlation of traits that determine productivity and protein percentage in pea seeds, their stability and variability depending on weather changes during a vegetation period. The weather conditions of 2022–2024 were very contrasting, which allowed evaluating the significance of each productivity element in more detail. There has been found that close correlations between seed weight per plant and a number of seeds per plant (r = 0.79***…0.83***), as well as a number of beans per plant (r = 0.69**…0.80***), between a number of beans and seeds per plant (r = 0.79***…0.85***) were studied in relatively favorable years (2022 and 2023). Identification of valuable breeding material by indirect traits in extreme years (2024), when the HTC < 0.2, was significantly complicated. All the obtained correlation coefficients under these conditions were low and unreliable. The results of the correlation of protein percentage in pea seeds with yield structure elements did not reveal a clear correlation between these traits. The correlation between protein percentage in pea seeds and yield structure elements has not been identified due to low and unreliable correlation coefficients, which allows directing pea breeding towards increasing protein percentage in seeds without taking into account the effect of seed productivity.

Drought and heat stress have significant effects on plant growth and productivity. In the natural environment, these abiotic stresses often occur simultaneously, which amplifies their negative effects. Therefore, understanding heat and drought influence on plant growth and productivity is particularly valuable. Winter barley, compared to other winter grain crops, is characterized by a relatively high resistance to moisture deficiency in soil and the effect of relatively high air temperatures. The current paper has highlighted the study of physiological indicators of winter barley resistance to moisture deficiency and high temperature effect. There have been presented the results of laboratory study for the period of 2022–2023. Identification of drought and heat resistance was carried out in the initial period of plant development on 100 winter barley samples of local selection and the VIR collection. The purpose of the study was to identify winter barley resistance to high temperatures and moisture deficiency using a set of laboratory methods. There has been studied the effect of sucrose solution of different concentrations (8, 12 and 14 atm.) and ambient temperature (52 and 54 °C) on the ability of seed germination under stress conditions. During the trials, there has been identified the best differentiation of resistance values under osmotic stress (8 atm.) and temperature (-54 °C). There have been identified the samples ‘Step’ (211.9 rel. units) and ‘HVW 36/72’ (157.9 rel. units) combining high resistance to osmotic and thermal stress, which reliably exceeded the values of the standard variety ‘Timofey’ by 25.3–79.3 rel. units.

The current paper has presented the estimation results of the grain sorghum varieties and samples in a collection nursery. The purpose of the study was to analyze the collection material of grain sorghum and select the best variety samples for breeding work. The study of the samples was carried out in the laboratory for grain sorghum breeding and seed production of the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” in 2020–2023. The objects of the study were 40 grain sorghum samples and varieties. Morphometric analysis was carried out according to the methods presented by B.A. Dospekhov (2014). The variety ‘Zernogradskoe 88’ was used as a standard one. During the analysis, there have been identified the samples that exceeded the standard variety in 1000-grain weight, number of grains per panicle, and productivity per plot. According to productivity there have been identified such samples as ‘Milo 168/Combeine 7078’, ‘No. 93-23-13’, ‘Hegari’, ‘Kitayskoe 3’, ‘DN – 33f’, ‘D.D. Yellow Sooner Milo-2501’, ‘No. 50-13’, which produced over 600 g/m². According to 1000-grain weight, the sample ‘No. 61-13’ was of the greatest breeding value with a 1000-grain weight of 39.3 g. According to number of grains per panicle the variety ‘Kitayskoe 3’ was the best with 2324 pcs. The identified samples have been recommended for use in breeding programs as grain sorghum sources.

Since rice blast is a disease that causes significant damage to rice all over the world, the intensive development of disease-resistant genotypes is of great urgency. The use of molecular biology technologies, new biotechnological approaches and molecular genetic methods allows creating disease-resistant varieties while reducing the time of their development, which plays an important role in growing competitive products. The current paper has highlighted the results of estimating rice samples developed at the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” for blast resistance. The objects of the study were new samples developed in the laboratory of rice breeding and seed production. In 2022–2023, there were screened one hundred eighty-seven rice samples. They were identified on a presence of the blast resistance gene Pi-2. One hundred fifteen samples were estimated for the blast resistance gene Pi-b. Genomic DNA was isolated from young rice leaves. After estimating the quantity and quality of the isolated DNA there was conducted a polymerase chain reaction for the target genes Pi-2 and Pi-b. In order to identify the alleles of the desired genes there were used specific intragenic molecular SSR markers of dominant (for Pi-2) and codominant (for Pi-b) types. Electrophoresis of the obtained amplicons was performed on 2 % agarose gels during an hour. The results of the analysis were recorded in ultraviolet light and processed in ImageLab 5.1 software. As a result of the conducted study, there were identified new rice breeding samples that carry blast resistance genes Pi-2 and Pi-b. These samples are recommended for use in the further breeding process for blast resistance.

The purpose of the current study was to determine the effect of crop rotations and doses of mineral fertilizers on productivity, grain quality of spring barley and fertility of typical chernozem in the Central Сhernozem Region (CBR). The study was conducted in a multifactorial trial located on the watershed plateau of the research and production department No. 2 of the Federal Agricultural Kursk Research Center in 2018 and 2022. The soil of the experimental plot was typical medium-loamy chernozem, with 5.9 % of humus. There have been studied such factors as grain-fallow-row and grain-grass-row crop rotations; with fertilizer doses and no fertilizers, N₃₀Р₃₀К₃₀, N₆₀Р₆₀К₆₀. The highest biological productivity of spring barley up to 5.99 t/ha was identified in the grain-fallow-row crop rotation with the dose of N₆₀Р₆₀К₆₀. However, the presence of perennial leguminous grasses in the grain-grass-row crop rotation contributed to a smaller decrease in humus, the maximum loss of which in it was 0.14 %, which was 0.02 % lower than in the grain-fallow-row crop rotation. The trends of agroecological effect of crop rotations and mineral fertilizers on the indicators of spring barley grain production were estimated with a digital method, namely the Harrington desirability function. There has been established an “acceptable, satisfactory” effect of crop rotations and mineral fertilizers on the studied indicators (d_i = 0.50), but in relation to individual indicators of grain production, the level of effect of crop rotations varies significantly from d_i = 0.12 “completely unacceptable” to d_i = 0.83 “most acceptable”. The ecological properties of crop rotation are manifested in the estimation of its effect on the humus content in the soil: “acceptable, satisfactory” (d_i = 0.38–0.52). The comprehensive estimation of the effect of mineral fertilizers for most indicators has increased proportionally to their dose, reaching d_i = 0.49–0.65, which indicates their “acceptable, satisfactory” effect.

The current study was conducted in the pre-Azov agricultural area of the Rostov region in the stationary trial of the FSBSI FRARC in 2020–2023. The purpose of the study was to establish the effect of elements of cultivation technology methods, such as methods of basic tillage, seed sowing rates and a level of mineral nutrition on productivity of new winter wheat varieties in the conditions of ordinary blackearth in the Rostov region. The objects of the study were two new winter wheat varieties ‘Bylina Dona’ and ‘Akapella’ developed in the FSBSI FRARC. The scheme of the trial included three factors for each variety. The experiment was repeated three times. When conducting the study, there was used the generally accepted methodology of a field trial. The effect of different rates of mineral fertilizers and seed sowing with different methods of basic tillage affected the grain productivity of new winter wheat varieties. As a result of three-year study, there has been found a positive effect of moldboard plowing and a seeding rate of 5 million pcs./ha against the background of N₁₂₀Р₈₀К₈₀ kg/ha of active substance for both varieties, which provided the best productivity of 6.66–7.02 t/ha. There has been established a tendency for changes in productivity of new winter wheat varieties under the effect of the studied elements of agricultural technology, for which there have been identified individual factors and calculated the mean productivity independently of the other two factors, taking into account the experimental options for each of them. The largest mean grain productivity of the winter wheat varieties ‘Bylina Dona’ and ‘Akapella’ with 5.77 and 6.05 t/ha, respectively, was provided by the highest level of mineral nutrition, with a norm of N₁₂₀Р₈₀К₈₀ kg/ha of active substance, which made it possible to improve productivity by 48.3–49.4 % compared to the control without fertilizers. There has been determined an optimal background of mineral nutrition N₈₀Р₆₀К₆₀ kg/ha of active substance, which ensured the maximum feedback of grain due to fertilizers. The variety ‘Akapella’ in all experimental variants produced grain on 4.5–5.1 % higher than that of the variety ‘Bylina Dona’.

The purpose of the current work was to study the effect of mini-till, no-till and traditional agricultural technologies on productivity and quality of malting barley grain. Field trials were carried out in three crop rotation sequences ‘winter rye – spring wheat – barley’ on medium loamy gray forest soil of Chuvashia with 2.42 % of humus; 188 mg/kg of mobile phosphorus; 160 mg/kg of exchangeable potassium and 6.2 of exchangeable acidity. During the vegetation period of 2020, the hydrothermal coefficient was 1.04; in 2021 it was 0.60; and in 2022 it was 1.05. The object of the study was an early-maturing variety ‘Elf’. Traditional agricultural technology was based on autumn disk plowing and autumn plowing, early spring harrowing, seedbed cultivation and sowing with subsequent rolling. Mini-till cultivation included autumn disk plowing, spring cultivation and sowing with the multifunctional complex “Cultibar 9000”. No-till cultivation consisted of autumn treatment with the non-selective herbicide “Sprut Extra" and “direct” spring sowing “Cultibar 9000”. The seeding rate was 200 kg/ha. The dose of mineral fertilizers was N₃₀P₂₀К₂₀. The crops were protected from weeds, diseases, and pests. On average, the largest (2.49 t/ha) productivity of malting barley grain was obtained using mini-till technology, and the smallest (2.34 t/ha) when using no-till. The mean productivity with traditional agricultural technology was lower than the maximum by 0.03 t/ha, but larger than the minimum by 0.12 t/ha. The analysis of the qualitative characteristics has shown a reliable effect of agricultural technologies on the brewing properties of barley grain. Thus, traditional technology contributed to obtaining grain of the 1st class, mini-till technology contributed to obtaining grain of the 2nd class, and no-till technology contributed to obtaining grain of the 3rd class of the interstate standard.

The current study was conducted in the southern part of the Rostov region in the agrotechnical crop rotation of the laboratory for cultivation technology of grain and row crops of the FSBSI Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” in 2021–2023. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of seeding rates on productivity of various winter barley varieties sown after sunflower. The conducted study allowed identifying the response of winter barley varieties to different seeding rates. The winter barley variety ‘Marusya’ on average over the years of research formed the mean maximum grain productivity of 6.43 t/ha when sowing with the lowest seeding rate (3 million pcs. of germ. grains per 1 ha). For the varieties ‘Vivat’ and ‘Foks 1’, the optimal seeding rate was 4 million pcs. of germ. seeds per 1 ha, and the obtained productivity was 6.31 and 5.81 t/ha, respectively. The response of the studied winter barley varieties to seeding rates was different through the years, but the effect of this factor was 4.6–10.5 %. Reliable differences in the experiment were obtained only for the variety ‘Vivat’ for all seeding rates. The winter barley productivity was determined by the choice of a variety, and the effect of this factor ranged from 32.5 to 78.1 %. There was determined that when sowing with the lowest seeding rate (3 million pcs. of germ. grains per 1 ha), all winter barley varieties in the trial had the largest number of grains per ear and grain weight per ear with 36.3–43.2 g and 1.62–2.10 g, respectively. There was established that in the variant with this seeding rate, the varieties formed a heavy, large-size grain (nature weight of 637–660 g/l) with ‘1000-grain weight’ of 42.1–43.8 g and 10.8 to 11.3 % of protein in grain. There has been established an economic efficiency of cultivating the varieties ‘Vivat’, ‘Marusya’ and ‘Foks 1’ when sowing them with the lowest seeding rate of 3 million pcs. of germ. grains per 1 ha. With a low cost price of produced grain (5405–6136 rubles/t), in this variant of trial, the varieties obtained the maximum conditional net income (34378–45499 rubles/ha) and production profitability (108–147%).

In order to obtain high-quality seeds and high yields of agricultural crops, it is important to preserve crops until harvesting. Ear diseases cause the greatest harm, affecting the most valuable part of the plant. The studied causative agent of loose smut Ustilago nuda (C.N. Jensen) Rostr. destroys the ear completely, leaving only a black dusty mass. Winter barley is of great demand in production throughout the country, especially in the southern regions. Breeding varieties for resistance to this pathogen is still relevant today. The current paper has presented the results of the immunological characteristics of winter barley varieties undergoing competitive and inter-station variety testing. The purpose of the study was to identify winter barley varieties that were stably tolerant and resistant to the pathogen. The study was conducted at the infection plot of the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” in the period 2021–2023 using forced infection during the flowering period. There have been identified the varieties and lines of the ARC that demonstrated high and practical resistance to the pathogen. There has been identified a maximum number (102 samples) under the conditions of 2023, 78 samples under the conditions of 2022, and only 71 under the conditions of 2021. There were no highly susceptible samples in the studied material. The maximum damage was 34.9 % for the variety ‘Caprice’ under the arid conditions of 2022. There has been given characteristics of the varieties that have shown high resistance over all the years of the study, such as ‘Timofey’, ‘Step’, ‘Marusya’, ‘Kvant’, ‘Foks 1’, ‘Master’, ‘Samson’, ‘Sprinter’, ‘Dostoyny’, ‘Espada’, ‘Onega’. There has been noted that the breeding lines of the ARC ‘Parallelum 2019’, ‘Nutans 2137’, ‘Parallelum 2149’, ‘Parallelum 2136’, ‘Parallelum 2110’, ‘Parallelum 2131’ have shown high resistance to the pathogen.