Yield losses caused by pests pose a serious threat when cultivating peas. From the earliest stages until maturing, pea plants and seeds are seriously damaged. The pea weevil (Bruchus pisorum L.) is among the most dangerous pests. According to some researchers, its harmfulness can significantly reduce yields by 30–40 % in some years. The purpose of the current study was to identify a seed damage rate (Bruchus pisorum L.) of pea collection samples with different vegetation periods, to select valuable initial material with subsequent use as a donor of increased resistance to the harmfulness of pea weevil. The weather conditions during the years of study (2021–2023) were different, which made it possible to determine the damage rate to pea forms of different maturity groups. There has been found that the mid-maturing group with a vegetation period of 65–85 days was the most vulnerable. The general damage rate was 36.8 %. The samples with a vegetation period of 51–60 days were more resistant to the pest. Seed damage rate was on average 22.9 %, which was 13.9 % less than that of mid-maturing forms. According to this criterion, the samples ‘Stengolt’, ‘Charlston’, ‘Rodegune’, ‘Imposant’, ‘Pu-726’ are of significant breeding value. According to the indicator of pest activity, there have been identified the forms ‘Stengolt’, ‘Charlston’, ‘Pu-726’, ‘Imposant’, ‘Exsellans’. The samples ‘Stengolt’, ‘Pu-726’, ‘Imposant’ are of particular interest for practical breeding since they carry complex resistance in the genotype, both by selectivity and by larvae activity inside the seed. The identified samples can be used in future breeding programs as donors of relative resistance. The analysis has revealed a reliable high correlation between damage rate of pea seeds and the length of a vegetation period of the studied forms, a selectivity rate of pea samples by pea weevil and larvae activity inside the seed.

Breeding of perennial grasses is the foundation for developing a forage base to produce high-quality livestock products. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the variability of phenotypic traits of alfalfa collection populations, as well as to identify the most promising ones in terms of possession of important agronomic traits for developing varieties that meet modern requirements of agricultural production. There have been estimated economically valuable traits of 80 alfalfa populations of various ecological and geographical origins from the collection of the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” for the period 2019–2023. The variety ‘Rostovskaya 90’ was used as a standard. There was determined a biochemical analysis of the green mass of alfalfa collection samples, including content of protein, fat, ash, fiber, and NFE, and there was carried out a statistical analysis of the experimental data. As a result of the research, there were identified the samples ‘Smuglyanka’ (Ukraine) – 7.9 kg/m² , ‘Rambler’ (Canada) – 7.7 kg/m² and ‘Stavropolskaya 430’ (Russia) – 7.6 kg/m² with large productivity of green mass. The samples with high indicators of green mass quality ‘Tibetskaya’ (Kazakhstan), ‘Sinegibridnaya 1316’ (Russia), ‘Stavropolskaya 430’ (Russia), ‘Rhizoma’ (Canada), ‘Rambler’ (Canada), ‘VNIIOZ-16’ (Russia), ‘Smuglyanka’ (Ukraine), ‘Karlygash’ (Kazakhstan), ‘Prowler’ (USA), ‘Sarga’ (Russia), ‘G-4’ (Russia), ‘Donskaya 5’ (Russia), ‘Sin 4’ (Russia), ‘Sin 5’ (Russia) and ‘Sin 6’ (Russia) have been recommended for breeding programs to develop alfalfa varieties with large productivity of green mass and nutritional properties of dry matter.

The wide introduction of new maize hybrids into production is possible only if they are transferred to a sterile basis. This requires data on the lines’ response to cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS). The purpose of the current study was to classify new self-pollinated maize lines according to their ability to fix and restore based on various sources of sterility and contrasting weather conditions during the conducted estimation. The study was carried out at the FSBSI Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” in 2022–2024. The conditions during the study were contrasting (HTC = 0.49 – 2022, HTC = 0.83 – 2023, HTC = 0.22 – 2024). As the sterility sources there were used the forms М₁ and М₂ with different sterilizing capacity of the Moldavian (‘M’) type, and the forms С₁, С₂ with different sterilizing capacity of the Bolivian (‘C’) type of CMS. The objects of the study were 15 new constant (I₆) self-pollinated maize lines and 60 test-cross hybrids obtained from analyzed crossings. The response of the self-pollinated lines depended on the source of sterility and the weather conditions of the year of study. The fertility level of testers with the participation of the sources M₂ and C₂ was higher than that of testers of the sources C₁ and M₁. In the arid year of 2024, the selfpollinated lines SK 7, SK 9 and SK 11 reduced the fertility level according to the ‘C’ type from partial fertility (class 2) to complete sterility (class 0), or from complete fertility (class 5) to partial fertility (class 3). According to the ‘M’ type, there was a fertility decrease in the lines SK 11 and SK 12. There have been identified such new self-pollinated maize lines as SK 1, SK 6, SK 7, SK 8, SK 14 and SK 15, which are sterility fixers of the ‘M’ type of CMS. These lines are valuable as maternal forms when transferring maize hybrids developed with their participation to a sterile basis. There have been identified the lines SK 5 and SK 9 as the natural fertility restorers of the ‘M’ type, which are valuable for use as paternal forms of hybrids. According to the ‘C’ type of CMS, the sterility fixers SK 5, SK 12, SK 14 and the constant fertility restorers SK 2, SK 3, SK 6, SK 10 and SK 13 are of the greatest interest.

Grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is one of the important grain crops in world production. In order to develop valuable heterotic hybrid lines, breeders use cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), which is mainly based on the A1 (milo) cytoplasm in Russia. This type of CMS is controlled by several genes, one of which is the Rf1 gene. The purpose of the current work was to study the allelic diversity of the Rf1 gene in breeding and collection grain sorghum samples. Genomic DNA of grain sorghum was isolated by the CTAB method from young sprouts. The quantity and quality of DNA were estimated by a spectrophotometer. For PCR analysis, there was used a specific molecular marker Xtxp18, which established a wide allelic diversity of the 30 grain sorghum samples studied. The comparison of the results of molecular analysis and the fertility level of samples in field conditions has shown that the greatest share in the fertility formation belonged to the alleles Rf1j (30 %) and Rf1d (32 %) in the group of fertility restorer samples (B); and the alleles Rf1a (23.33 %), Rf1d (23.33 %) and Rf1c (15 %) in the group of fertile plants not involved in crossing. Alleles Rf1a, Rf1d and Rf1c had a high percentage of association with field fertility of the samples (similar to the effect of the Rf1j allele), and therefore can be used in grain sorghum breeding aimed at developing fertility restorer lines. In order to breed grain sorghum to develop fertility restorer lines, it can be recommended to use samples with the Rf1j allele (associated with fertility), in which it was revealed to a greater extent, and the samples themselves belonged to the group of fertility restorers 21/22, 22/22, 23/22, 24/22 and 27/22. In order to develop sterile lines, there can be used grain sorghum genotypes with the Rf1e allele (associated with sterility) 7/22, 8/22, 9/22 and ZSK 1497/21 after confirming their fixation ability in field conditions.

The current paper has presented the study results of 14 synthetic spring wheat lines developed at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). The study was conducted at the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy. Field trials were carried out at the field experimental station in 2022–2023. Agricultural technology was typical for the zone. The plot area was 1 m2 with a threefold sequence. Weather data were obtained from the V. A. Mikhelson Meteorological Observatory. There has been found that the spring wheat lines 70, 220 and 221 are early maturing under the conditions of the Central Region of Non-Black Earth Area. The rest lines are middle maturing, with 7–10 days later with the standard variety. The lines 70, 178, 215 and 220 are resistant to powdery mildew and brown rust. The lines 147, 217 and 223 are the most stable in productivity. A positive correlation was identified between yield and the number of grains per ear (r = 0.56), as well as between yield and grain weight per ear (r = 0.83*). Additionally, a moderate positive correlation was observed between the length of the growing season and the weight of 1000 grains (r = 0.57*).

The high demands to the quality of Triticum durum grain place by modern pasta processing plants dictate the need to use additional methods and approaches to estimating breeding material and selecting high-quality genotypes. The purpose of the current study was to identify sources of valuable traits of winter durum wheat for targeted inclusion in breeding programs to develop varieties with strong gluten. Field trials were conducted in the laboratory for breeding and seed production of winter durum wheat of the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” in 2022–2024. Laboratory study was conducted in the laboratory of biochemical and technological estimation in accordance with the methods and GOSTs. The material for the study was a set of the varieties of the inter-station variety testing (n = 36). The variety ‘Kristella’ was used as a standard. As a result of the study, there were identified the varieties as the sources of high protein and gluten percentage. There were also identified the varieties with high gluten quality according to SDS sedimentation, IDC, and gluten index. There was found that the gluten index limited the gluten quality. There were identified the varieties ‘Diona’ and ‘Gavan’ with strong gluten. There have been presented the results of the correlation between grain quality traits. There have been established the most accessible informatively significant traits such as protein percentage, gluten quantity and quality (IDC), SDS-sedimentation, gluten index, which have a decisive effect on gluten strength and can be used as breeding criteria in the breeding process, including at early stages.

The study was conducted to estimate and select spring breeding and collection forms of triticale for hybridization based on the calculation of the contribution of quantitative traits to plant ear productivity and to grain nature weight. The material was manually laid in black fallow on the plots of 0.5 m2 in 2021 and 2023. There were studied thirty-two spring triticale samples from the world collection of VIR and 31 breeding forms of wheat-rye amphiploids developed on the basis of hybridization of emmer wheat T.dicoccum (Schrank) Schuebl. with the facultative form of triticale UK30/33 (×Triticosecale Wittmack ex A. Camus) according to a set of quantitative traits that correlate with grain weight per ear and with grain nature weight. The selection of the best forms of wheat-rye amphiploids was carried out using the method of correlation analysis and based on the developed algorithms for calculating the coefficient of significance and the general estimation according to a set of traits. There was considered a contribution of each trait to grain weight per ear and with grain nature weight. According to the calculated high breeding value based on a set of the most important traits of spring triticale, there were selected 10 collection samples of triticale and 10 breeding forms of wheat-rye amphiploids with emmer cytoplasm. Three triticale samples ‘Susi (k-3535)’, ‘Karmen (k-3933)’ and ‘Arsenal (k-3874)’ from the world collection of VIR showed a 44–48-day interphase sprouts-heading period in 2021 and 33–38 days in 2023, more than 3 g of grain weight per ear, more than 46 g of 1000-grain weight. They have been selected as parental forms for hybridization in the breeding program. The breeding forms developed based on emmer crossings with triticale were characterized by a grain nature weight exceeding 700 ml/g. They are going to be used in further breeding.

The current paper has presented the estimation results of sainfoin samples developed in the collection nursery of the “ARC “Donskoy”. The purpose of the study was to estimate the main economic and biological properties, feed, and seed productivity of sainfoin collection samples. The objects of study were 25 sainfoin samples of local hybridization. The study was conducted in 2019–2021. Growing and harvesting activities were carried out according to the cultivation technologies recommended for the area of cultivation. The study results of new sainfoin samples developed over several years have shown some patterns in their phenological phases. The studied material includes samples whose time of spring regrowth, beginning of flowering and seed ripening were at the standard level on average over 3 years; these phases of some other samples were longer. The length of economically important periods, from spring regrowth to beginning of flowering and full ripening of sainfoin samples was, respectively, 48–53 days and 91–93 days. The plant height at the beginning of flowering, which has a great influence on sainfoin feed mass productivity, varied from 112 cm to 123 cm. On average, over 3 years, the studied samples were identified by high crude protein percentage in plant mass, varying from 18.12 % to 19.71 %. Samples with 4.4–4.8 kg/m² had a larger and significantly larger green mass productivity than the standard (3.5 kg/m²). The highest indicators were identified in samples ‘Sin 127’ (186 g/m²), ‘Sin 131’ (170 g/m²), ‘Sin 142’ (184 g/m²), ‘Sin 1.15’ (172 g/m²).

The purpose of the current study was to characterize the spring common wheat variety ‘Nitsa’ of Ural breeding by its economically useful traits and properties in comparison with the standard variety and varieties of domestic and foreign breeding. The study was conducted at the Ural Federal Agrarian Research Center of the Ural Branch of the RAS in a specialized breeding crop rotation, the fields of which present the main range of soils in the Middle Urals region in 2020–2023. The variety ‘Nitsa’, developed by the method of intraspecific hybridization between the parents ‘Ekaterina’ (mother) and ‘Krasnoufimskaya 100’ (father), has been included in the State List of Breeding Achievements in the Volga-Vyatka and East Siberian regions of the Russian Federation since 2024. The mean productivity of the variety over the years of competitive variety testing was 3.82 t/ha, which is higher than that of the standard variety (‘Ekaterina’) by 0.36 t/ha or 10.4 %. In the environmental testing at the Krasnoufimsk Breeding Center (2021–2023), the mean productivity of ‘Nitsa’ was 3.40 t/ha, or 0.42 t/ha (14.1 %) higher than that of ‘Ekaterina’, there was identified an excess over the early-maturing varieties ‘Ekstra’ and ‘Iren’ (5.0–32.8 %), the middle-early varieties ‘Tyumenskaya rannyaya’, ‘Svecha’ and ‘Novosibirskaya 31’ (13.7–17.6 %). It was determined that the new variety formed the same productivity as the middle- maturing varieties ‘Ekada 70’, ‘Dariya’, ‘Omskaya 36’. It was established that stress resistance of ‘Nitsa’ was equal to ‘Iren’ and ‘Ekaterina’ and surpassed all the studied middle-early and middle-maturing varieties. The trait ‘breeding value of a variety genotype’ has shown that ‘Nitsa’ forms a high productivity combined with stability. There has been proven a variety’s advantage according to all energy efficiency indicators. There was established weak susceptibility of the variety ‘Nitsa’ against infectious background to loose and kernel smut, root rots. There was identified that baking properties of the new variety belonged to valuable wheat, and to the third class according to the standards for harvested grain. The research results have shown that wheat can be used in breeding as a source of high productivity, stability, disease resistance and improvement of the baking properties of grain.

Peas is one of the most common leguminous crops, the value of which is determined by a wide range of use. Traditional pea varieties often suffer from poor productivity and insufficient tolerance to adverse weather conditions such as drought, frost, and diseases. Modern plant breeding has made it possible to develop new leafless pea varieties with a determinate growth type (limited stem growth), which significantly simplifies mechanized harvesting. In this regard, the purpose of the current study was to develop a new highly productive pea variety with resistance to extreme environmental conditions and high feed and food qualities. During a long-term breeding work, including a various initial forms’ crossing, a selection of the best genotypes and a strict control of productivity and stability parameters, the variety ‘Kazak’ was studied in the Competitive Variety Testing under number G-1122 in 2020–2022. The yield structure elements have shown that pea seed productivity has increased due to all elements of seed productivity. Number of productive beans per plant of the variety ‘Kazak’ was 4.9 pcs., number of seeds per plant was 16.3 pcs., 1000-seed weight was 206.7 g, productivity of one plant was 3.4 g, and protein in seeds was 25%. Due to higher indicators of the yield structure elements, it was possible to form productivity from 2.40 to 4.41 t/ha, which is on average 0.50 t/ha higher than that of the standard (2.07–3.42 t/ha). Economic efficiency of the variety cultivation has shown an additional output of 10,110 rubles per hectare, and the profitability level was 70.6%. Further work is going to be aimed at the study of adaptive potential of the variety in various climatic areas and the features of varietal agricultural technology to achieve maximum productivity. Particular attention is going to be paid to the study of genetic potential of the variety ‘Kazak’ for breeding new, even more productive and resistant pea varieties.

In order to improve the breeding process and expand the genetic diversity of winter wheat, haploid lines can serve as new initial material. One of the methods for developing haploids in wheat plants is distant hybridization when crossing with maize plants and subsequent selective elimination of chromosomes. Postgamic incompatibility of parent plants can be overcome by growing embryos in vitro. The purpose of the current study was to develop haploid winter common wheat plants using the method of distant hybridization when crossing with maize and selective elimination of chromosomes. The current paper has presented the hybridization results of winter wheat varieties and hybrids ([(‘Odesskaya 200’ x ‘Agrofak 100’) x ‘Razdolie’], ‘1608/21’, ‘1638/19’, ‘Stanichnaya’, ‘221/20’, ‘Volnitsa’, ‘Knyaginya Olga’, ‘Bezostaya 100’, ‘Alekseich’) and haploproducer lines of maize (SM7, Kr 935/86, Kr 651) using the embryoculture method in vitro. As a result, there was established that the mean setting rate of hybrid grains was 64 %. The highest percentage of grains with embryos was in the combinations ‘Stanichnaya x SM7’ (30 %), ‘Bezostaya 100 x SM7’ (33 %) and ‘Volnitsa x SM7’ (36 %). The maximum number of haploid sprouts was formed in the hybrid combinations ‘Stanichnaya x SM7’ (8 pcs.), ‘Bezostaya 100 x SM7’ and ‘Volnitsa x SM7’ (7 and 7 pcs.). There were developed 37 haploid plants from 13 cross combinations. The survival rate of plants after putting into soil was 62 %. It is being planned to evaluate the developed breeding material.

The research literature studies the effect of different types of radiation on the viability and safety of grain crops. At the same time, there has been found a selective approach to the problem of using radiation and other abiotic factors, based on the goals in plant growing or in the food industry, which determined the complexity of the current work in estimating the effect of low doses of γ-radiation on the technological properties of grain, flour and bread, taking into account different doses of γ-radiation, controlled germination, whole grain milling. The primary object of the study was the grain of spring common wheat variety ‘Iren’. The wheat grains were irradiated at the “Era” RCOHS” using the RTU-3000 unit. Germination was carried out under controlled conditions. There has been estimated the effect of increasing the radiation dose to 20 Gy on enhancing the kinetics of grain germination and increasing the hardiness of the grain. There has been found that sprouted wheat grain bioactivated by radiation, which has improved nutritional value, can be used as a raw material for flour production and in bread baking. The obtained flour is of low moisture 9.1–9.2 %, which provides its better storage. There have been characterized regularities of uniform porosity, dense and elastic crumb of bread in whole-ground wheat bread samples baked from grain treated with low doses of radiation due to the greater amount of gluten (36.0–36.3 %) and its good quality, elastic properties of the dough. There has been found that in bread samples made from sprouted grain, due to the high quality of gluten (75–80 units of IDK) with lower porosity values compared to bread made from non-sprouted grain, the organoleptic properties of the bread fully comply with the established requirements for whole wheat bread. The results of the current study have shown the feasibility of using low doses of radiation, germination, and the use of whole-ground flour to form the consumer value of wheat bread.

The purpose of the current work was to study the effect of deep subsoil tillage on productivity and grain quality of spring wheat variety ‘Iren’ in the northern forest-steppe of the Tyumen region. The study was conducted on the experimental plot of the Northern Trans-Ural State Agricultural University in 2020–2022. There has been established that with annual moldboard plowing of leached heavy loamy blackearth, there is a dense subsurface soil layer with a density of 1.6–2.1 g/cm² , which restrains the flow of water into the deep soil layers and limits the development of the root system. The deep (35–40 cm) subsoil tillage PCHN-2.1 allows reducing the soil density to 1.2 g/cm² , increasing the moisture reserve in the arable layer from 19 to 24 mm, in the meter layer from 147 to 173 mm. The wheat plants have grown, developed well and formed a leaf area of 42.4 thousand m² /ha, which is 7.7 thousand m² /ha higher compared to moldboard plowing. 4.41 million plants remained for harvesting with deep subsoil tillage, 4.06 million plants/ha with moldboard plowing, the productive acidity was 1.1; 1.3, respectively, the number of grains per ear was 14 and 18 pcs. in favor of deep subsoil tillage. The productivity was 4.61 t/ha, which was 0.69 t/ha higher compared to moldboard plowing. There were no significant differences in grain quality; in both tillage options the grain met the requirements for valuable wheat. Profitability was 40.3 %, which was 15.5 % higher than with moldboard plowing.

Sorghum is a drought-resistant, heat-loving crop, the grain of which is highly nutritious and widely used in animal husbandry. In the Russian Federation, the Rostov Region ranks first in terms of sowing areas for this crop. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effect of seeding rates and sowing dates of grain sorghum on productivity, water consumption and nutrient status in the southern part of the Rostov Region. The study was conducted at the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” in 2022–2023. As a result of the study, there has been found a decrease of grain nitrogen available to sorghum plants to 4.1–4.7; 4.1-4.9 and 4.2–4.7 mg/kg of soil for the varieties ‘Zernogradskoye 88’, ‘Ataman’ and ‘Esaul’, respectively. By the complete maturity stage, the mobile phosphorus content in soil decreased to 15.3–17.0; 16.0–17.0; 14.1–15.7 mg/kg of soil, respectively, for the varieties ‘Zernogradskoe 88’, ‘Ataman’, and ‘Esaul’. At the end of grain sorghum vegetation period, the exchangeable potassium content was at the level of 271–306; 275–295; 261–290 mg/kg of soil, respectively, for the varieties ‘Zernogradskoe 88’, ‘Ataman’, and ‘Esaul’. Water consumption was at the level of 227.4–277.9 mm/ha for the variety ‘Zernogradskoye 88’, 219.6–272.1 mm/ha for the variety ‘Ataman’ and 222.8–271.5 mm/ha for the variety ‘Esaul’. At the same time, moisture consumption for the formation of grain productivity was 48.42–70.41; 42.92–69.85; 47.15–83.70 mm/t, respectively, for the varieties ‘Zernogradskoye 88’, ‘Ataman’, and ‘Esaul’. Over the years of study, the mean grain productivity was 4.51 t/ha for the variety ‘Zernogradskoye 88’, 4.66 t/ha for the variety ‘Ataman’, 4.11 t/ha for the variety ‘Esaul’. The largest productivity was identified in the third sowing date (4.66 t/ha on average according to a sowing date) and at a seeding rate of 0.4 million germ. pcs. per ha (4.94 t/ha on average according to a seeding rate).

The analysis of the literature data on the assessment of the impact of crop rotations on the protection of cereals and other crops from a complex of dominant pests using elements of landscape design is carried out. The conservation of biodiversity and the activation of natural entomophages with an increase in their efficiency contributes to the stabilization of agroecosystems. There has been established a positive effect on the life expectancy and number of natural enemies of phytophages when using nectar crops and other methods, which make it possible to reduce chemical pesticide treatments up to their complete abolition without loss of productivity and product quality. There has been clarified the importance of crop rotations in creating a refuge for natural entomophages. Proper planning of crop rotations refers to methods of manipulating the habitat and can significantly increase the efficiency of entomophages in pest control, which is especially important for organic farming. Scientifically substantiated crop rotation with the inclusion of various methods (sowing of variety mixtures, nectar-bearing crops, marginal trapping crops, etc.) contributes to the stabilization of the ecological state of agroecosystems, increases the level of profitability of agricultural production and safety of the natural environment. The current paper may be of greatest interest to farmers and large commodity producers.

The current paper has presented the stages of the development on plant protection study over 115 years and the history of the establishing and functioning of the laboratory for plant immunity since 1974 (50 years) at the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “ARC “Donskoy”. There has been presented the papers of such specialists in plant protection and immunity as Cheskis F. N., Deyanov I.G., Shchegolev V. N., Makarova V. A., Pronicheva L. L., Chala V. A. and others, who began their research from the beginning of the last century till its second half. Taking into account the immunological characteristics in conditions of infectious disease backgrounds of varieties and parental forms, there have been developed new grain varieties, combining high productivity with resistance to a complex of local populations of the main diseases and strong immunity to pests. The heads of the laboratory for plant immunity and protection set up in 1974 were Georgievskaya N. A., Derov A. I., Derova T. G., Shishkin N. V. (who is a current head). In the field plot there were formed infectious disease backgrounds and backgrounds with high pest numbers using both generally accepted methods and new ones developed by the laboratory staff, where there were studied up to 25–30 thousand samples of various crops annually. The staff developed methods for forming backgrounds with high pest numbers, there were improved and proposed simpler and more accurate methods for insect counts. In order to estimate the number of corn bug larvae, there was developed and proposed a convenient productive screencollector, as well as methods for accounting for corn thrips using test tubes and plastic bags and methods for identifying wheat and barley grain damaged by pests. In different years, there were studied such crops as maize, perennial grasses, peas, soybeans, and rice for resistance to diseases and pests. The identified resistant varieties and samples were given to breeders for using them in breeding programs for immunity. Many employees are co-authors of the developed varieties of various crops.