A.V. Alabushev, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, professor, academician of RAS; V.A. Yatsenko, leading research associate; A.S. Popov, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, leading research associate; G.P. Gerasimenko, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, leading research associate; A.A. Dontsova, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, leading research associate FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center ‘Donskoy” (347740, Zernograd, Nauchny Gorodok, 3; email: vniizk30@mail.ru) Productivity and quality of spring barley varieties in the eastern part of the Rostov region The choice of the variety is one of the main methods to increase productivity of spring barley. The trials were carried out by the associates of the laboratory of the cultivation technologies of grain crops on the experimental fields of OOO ‘Niva’ in the Orlov district of the eastern part of the Rostov region. The experiments were conducted on dark chestnut soil of medium power and weak alkalinity. According to granule content the soils were heavy loam with 60-75% of physical clay, with medium content of mobile phosphorus and exchangeable potassium. The content of humus in the layer of 0-20 cm ranges from 2.5 to 3.1%. The object of the study were the spring barley varieties ‘Priazovsky9’, ‘Ratnik’, ‘Zhedry’, ‘Leon’, ‘Novik’, ‘Gris’ and ‘Yula’ developed in FSBSI ARRIGC named after I.G. Kalinenko. The study was carried out during the years of 2012-2015, which were different in moisture supply. The 2012 agricultural year was dry; the 2014 and 2015 agricultural years were more favorable, due to the amount of precipitation, so the productivity of the crop significantly ranged during the studied years. The varieties ‘Gris’ (2.15t/ha), ‘Priazovsky9’ (2.06t/ha) and ‘Ratnik’ (2.05t/ha) formed the largest yields on average during the years of study. The varieties ‘Novik’ (12.73%), ‘Leon’ (12.34%) and ‘Ratnik’ (12.31%) showed the largest content of protein in kernels. The varieties ‘Priazovsky9’ (41.3g), ‘Ratnik’ (41.2g) and ‘Gris’ (40.6g) possessed the largest index of the trait ‘1000-kernel weight’.

G.A. Batalova, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, professor, corresponding member of RAS, deputy director on breeding work FSBSI ‘Regional Research Institute of Agriculture of North-East named after N.V. Rudnitsky’ (610007, Kirov, Lenin Str., 166^a, tel.: (8332) 35-28-04, email: g.batalova@mail.ru) Grain crop breeding for immunity in the North-East of the European Territory of Russia The Research Institute of Agriculture of the North-East and Falensk SS (the Kirov region) has developed the grain crop varieties, resistant to diseases and pests. The spring soft wheat variety ‘Bazhenka’ is tolerant to loose and kernel smut; the variety ‘Svecha’ is resistant to brown rust, leaf and head blotch; the oats variety ‘Fakir’ is tolerant to crown and cauline rust; the varieties ‘Teremok’ and ‘Faust’ are resistant to crown and cauline rust as well as to loose and kernel smut. The variety ‘Medved’ is tolerant to frit flies (oscinis frit), weakly responsive to loose smut in the laboratory infectious conditions and resistant in natural conditions; the variety has got only 0.8% of damage made by root rot. The barley variety ‘Ekolog’ is resistant to loose and kernel smut, weakly responsive to stripe blotch and tolerant to root rot. The barley variety ‘Rodnik Prekamie’ combines resistance to loose smut with average tolerance to root rots, weak damage by cauline rust and stripe blotch. The variety of spring barley ‘Pamyati Rodinoy’ is characterized with average resistance to barley net blotch. The barley variety ‘Forvard’ is tolerant to loose smut (with 1.0% of damaged plants on the infectious background), to net and dark-brownish blotch of leaves. The new oats variety ‘Satur’ combines productivity with high quality of grain, i.e. 581 g/l of nature weight, 26.6% of husk, 14.44% of raw protein, 2.87% of oil. It’s weakly responsive to loose smut in the laboratory infectious conditions and resistant in natural conditions, rather resistant to crown rust (not more that 5% of plants), tolerant to frit flies (oscinis frit). The winter rye varieties ‘Falenskaya 4’, ‘Rushnik’, ‘Flora’, ‘Grafinya’, ‘Rada’ have been found resistant to snow mold. The varieties ‘Kirovskaya89’ and ‘Snezhana’ are rather resistant to brown rust. The promising rye varieties ‘Sarmat’ and Populyatsiya 41/08’ are characterized with the resistance to black grain (ergot). The peas varieties ‘Albumen’, ‘Luchezarny’, ‘Severyanin’, ‘Ryabchik’ and ‘Vita’ are tolerant to black stem (Ascochyta). The variety ‘Krasivy’ is weakly responsive to black stem, pot spot (rust) and root rots.

A.V. Kalinina, Candidate of Biological Sciences, leading research officer; S.V. Lyashcheva, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, head of the breeding center; A.D. Zavorotina, senior research officer; N.Yu. Larionova, research officer FSBSI ‘Research Institute of Agriculture in South-East’ (410010, Saratov, Tulaykov Str., 7; tel.: 8(8452) 64-76-88; email: raiser_saratov@mail.ru, Kalininaal@mail.ru) The evaluation of cold tolerance of winter soft wheat sprouts according to a degree of root growth speed repair One of the most essential features of the assessment of winter crops tolerance to low temperatures is a level of repairing properties of a variety. The use of the sources of high adaptive properties as initial material is one of the most important terms of successful breeding of winter wheat. The article presents the results of the evaluation of cold tolerance of some varieties of winter soft wheat developed in Saratov and in other regions. The researches have been carried out by the laboratory of winter wheat breeding and seed-growing in Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution ‘Research Institute of Agriculture in South-East’. The purpose of the study was to select the sources of high adaptive properties tolerant to low positive temperatures. As criteria for the assessment of the primary resistance and adaptive opportunities of the varieties, a degree of repairing growth speed of the main germinal root in per cents was used. The criteria can characterize not only primary tolerance and adaptive opportunities of the variety, but also its ability to homeostasis. Due to the conducted study, there have been found varietal differences of the tested parameter among the varieties belonging to various species of winter soft wheat (lutescens, suberythrospermum, gosteonum), as well as among the varieties belonging to single specie (lutescens). The varieties ‘Mironovskaya 808’, ‘Saratovskaya 8’, ‘Saratovskaya 90’, ‘Kalach 60’, ‘Sozvezdie’, ‘Saratovskaya 17’ and ‘Viktoriya 95’ have been found resistant and tolerant to low positive temperatures. The received data allow recommending these varieties as initial material for breeding of new varieties, hybrids and lines with this trait.

S.I. Gorpinichenko, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences; N.A. Kovtunova, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences; V.V. Kovtunov, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center ‘Donskoy” (347740, Zernograd, Nauchny Gorodok, 3; email: vniizk30@mail.ru) The working results of the research institutions of the Russian federation on sorghum The article presents the complete analysis of the data concerning sorghum taken from the State List of the Breeding Achievements for 2016. About 20 research institutions are conducting breeding work in the selection of varieties and hybrids of sorghum in Russia, among them such leading establishments as the FSBSI ARRI of Grain Crops named after I.G. Kalinenko, FSBSI Russian RI o Sorghum and Maize, FSBSI Stavropol RIA, FSBSI Nizhne-Volzhsky RIA, FSBSI RIA of South-East and the Academy of Bio and Nature resources, FSAEI HE Crimea federal University named after V.I. Vernadsky. There are 221 sorghum varieties and hybrids, including 55 varieties and 39 hybrids of grain sorghum, 35 varieties and 10 hybrids of sweet sorghum, 29 sorghum-Sudan hybrids, 39 varieties of Sudan grass, 13 varieties of broomcorn and 2 varieties of perennial sorghum registered in the State List in 2016, among which the share of 6 major research institutions in Russia accounts for 118 (53%) sorghum varieties and hybrids. Analyzing the distribution of sorghum varieties and hybrids according to the date of introduction into the State List, we have found that for the last years Russia has been conducting a successful breeding work with grain sorghum, sweet sorghum and sorghum-Sudan hybrids, among which the new (less than 5 years) varieties account 40-53%. For the last six years (2011-2016) the leading institutions developed and introduced into the State List 22 varieties and hybrids of grain sorghum, 14 varieties of sweet sorghum, 8 varieties of Sudan grass, 8 sorghum-Sudan hybrids and 2 varieties of broomcorn.

Yu.V. Zeleneva, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, senior research associate; V.V. Plakhotnik, Candidate of Biological Sciences, head of the laboratory; V.P. Sudnikova, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, senior research associate Middle-Russian Branch of FSBSI ‘Tambov RIA’ (392553, Tambov region, Tambov district, v. of Novaya Zhizn, Molodezhnaya Str., 1; tel.: 8(4752)62-90-60, e-mail: tmbsnifs@mail.ru) Identification of Lr-genes in the breeding lines of spring soft wheat, tolerant to the pathogen of brown rust in the Central Black earth region The research showed that the direct introduction of the donors of other regions into the breeding process do not always give a desired result because of the weak adaptive ability of the following generations. The development of highly efficient genetic sources and donors adapted to the regional conditions and possessing a complex of positive traits and properties (e.g. group and/or complex tolerance to stress factors of environment) is of special importance, in order not to damage the balance of associated genes among wheat varieties in the CNeR and to increase breeding results. The molecular markers have been applied to identify Lr-genes in 79 breeding lines of wheat, grown in the Middle-Russian branch of FSBSI ‘Tambov RIA’. The wheat lines combined tolerance to brown rust and other positive traits, e.g. resistance to stem pests, drought tolerance, high productivity, and technological quality of grain. The molecular analysis of the material identified single Lr-genes as well as the combination of several genes with different efficiency in one genotype. Among the studied material the Lr9, Lr10, Lr19, Lr20, Lr24, Lr26 and Lr34 genes have been found. There were a lot of lines with the Lr19 gene in a combination with Lr10, Lr20 and Lr26 genes in one genotype.

Breeding of the innovative varieties of spring barley in the Central Black earth Region The long-term study of the variety-testing showed that the breeding work with spring barley in the Central Black earth region is of significant success. For the last decades there have been grown several regional and promising varieties of spring barley possessing high and stable productivity and having advantages over the German variety ‘Xanadou’ during the years with different humidity. The breeding and economic value of the best varieties ‘Moskovsky 86’, ‘Yaromir’ and ‘Nadezhny’, selected as the most productive ones in the competitive variety-testing, has been confirmed by the biochemical analysis of grain, that indicate not only yield increase, but also improvement and stability of the indexes of grain quality of new developed barley varieties. It is the result of the development and application of new methods of estimation and selection of the breeding material, development of promising initial material. The use of the indexes of stability allowed revealing the varieties with tolerance to stress factors and high productivity in dry years as well as in wet years of growing. The ecologic-genetic approach in the breeding process gave an opportunity to obtain true ecological characteristics of the spring barley varieties selected in Moscow RIA to find highly adaptive varieties. The correlation analysis of interconnection of grain productivity and elements of yield structure showed the importance of the productive stand in the increase of plasticity of barley varieties. The data about the level of the development of economic-valuable traits depending on the conditions of the vegetation period of different varieties in different years of use, allowed establishing the role of selection in productivity increase and substantiating the further direction of its improvement. The purposeful work in the improvement of variety resistance to infectious diseases and lodging has been a prerequisite of the success in the improvement of the adaptive potential of the varieties. Thus, the application of the modern selection methods allowed developing the innovative varieties with a vast agro ecological adaptive ability and resistance to diseases, able to produce stable yields with high technological qualities of grain.

А.А. Sukhorukov, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, chief research officer; E.N. Shabolkina, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, leading research officer; L.V. Pronovich, research officer of the laboratory of techno-analytical service FSBSI ‘Samara RIA’ (446254, Samara region, v. of Bezenchuk, Karl Marks Str., 41; tel.: 8 (84676) 2-11-40; email: samniish@mail.ru) Improvement of rheological traits of dough made from winter wheat varieties through breeding The article presents the study results of rheological traits of dough made from winter wheat varieties, which have been developed by the N.M. Tulaykov RIA in Samara in 2006-2015. The crop was sown in fallow land. The soil was blackearth (chernozem), medium loamy, medium-thick. The experiment was conducted four times. The area of the plots was 25m². The rheological traits of dough made from winter wheat varieties were estimated according to the an average sample of grain by GOST R 51404 - 99. The amount of precipitation in the first decade of July (waxy maturity of kernels) was on less (1.0-3.4 mm) than the standard amount in 2006, 2010, 2014. In 2009 it corresponded to the norm, but it exceeded the norm four-fivefold in 2007, 2008 (62.6-86.1 mm with the norm of 15 mm). There have been determined high phenotypic variability of such traits as ‘dilute of dough’ (СV=39-71.3%), ‘stability of dough’ (СV=56-83.7%) and average phenotypic variability of the trait ‘valorimetric assessment’ (СV=20.5-29.9%). The dough made from the strong and valuable wheat varieties ‘Bezenchukskaya 380’ and ‘Bezenchukskaya 616’ possesses the most stable rheological properties. Under conditions of excessive humidity during the first decade of July (waxy maturity) the trait ‘dilute of dough’ negatively correlates with the volume of bread (r= - 0.86; Р 0.05) and total assessment of bread (r= - 0.53; Р 0.05). The valorimetric assessment positively correlates with the resistance of dough (r=0.92; P 0.05) and content of protein in kernels (r=0.52; P 0.05). Under insufficient humidity in the period of grain ripening (the period ‘flowering-waxy maturity’) (as happened in June 2015) the trait ‘resistance of dough’ positively correlates with content of protein (r=0.59; P 0.01) and gluten (r=0.60; P 0.01) in kernels. The valorimetric assessment positively correlates with the content of protein (r=0.62; P 0.01), content of gluten (r=0.72; P 0.01) and the resistance of dough (r=0.94; P 0.01). The trait ‘dilute of dough’ negatively correlates with a falling number (r= - 0.44; P 0.05). There have been selected the lines of winter wheat with the highest indexes of rheological properties of dough, namely moisture absorbing ability of flour (63.5-65.5%), time of dough and its stability (20-28 min), dilute of dough (30-50 u.f.), valorimetric assessment (97-100 u.v.) and a total assessment of bread (4.8-5.0 points).

The effect of inoculation (plating) together with the use of boron and molybdenum micro fertilizers on productivity of common vetch seeds The article deals with the study of the effect of inoculation (plating) of the grain forage common vetch variety ‘Lugovskaya 98’ made by the production strains of nodule bacteria №112,142,145 in the combination with boron and molybdenum micro fertilizers on the formation of grass stand structure and productivity. It has been determined that the variety possesses a high susceptibility to plant-rhizobial interaction with nodule bacteria №142 or 145 and responsiveness to the effect of molybdenum. In the controlled conditions of vegetation and under favorable growing regime of moisture supply, the inoculation with the production strains and seed treatment with microelements had a positive effect upon the formation of structure and seed productivity of common vetch. The application of inoculant fertilizer and micro fertilizers stimulate the process of nodule formation that increases the number of active root nodules in 1.6-2.0 times during the bud-formation period. As a result a number of beans per plant rise on 58-86%, bacterial number rises on 13-28% compared with the control variety. Under the favorable conditions with sufficient moisture supply during vegetation periods the application of inoculant fertilizers together with the strains №142 and №145 increased the productivity of vetch seeds on 12-15%. The application of molybdenum is of great effect both in the combination with the selected strains of nodule bacteria and with the spontaneous populations. The complex application of the strain №142 with molybdenum increases number of beans on 13% and bacterial number on 10%. Thus, the improvement of the main parameters of the structure the productivity of vetch increases on 15% in comparison with the control variety. Under more favorable conditions during vegetation period the increase of vetch productivity was 24%. The additional use of boron had no significant effect on the efficiency of the combined use of the strain №142 and molybdenum. The interaction of molybdenum and boron during their combined use for pre-sowing treatment of vetch seeds is non-additive. The pre-sowing treatment of seeds just by molybdenum increases seed productivity on 12%. If the soil contains active spontaneous nodule bacteria, according to the results of molybdenum effect on vetch productivity, its application can be compared with the seed inoculation by production strain.

Productivity and parameters of intensity and stability of spring barley varieties The article presents the study results of the promising spring barley varieties approved to use in the 10^th region (West-Siberian) due to their high productivity and stability shown during the trials under two contrast climate zones of the Tyumen region. The variability of the duration of the vegetation period was average; the plant height was medium in the zone of pod-taiga and low in the southern forestry steppe area. The trait ‘1000-seed weight’ slightly varied and didn’t depend on the nature-climate zone. The variety ‘Vorsinsky 2’ turned to be the best one in average productivity independent from the nature-climate zone. The average productivity of the most varieties grown in different areas does not coincide, and that shows dependence between a genotype and environment. The changeability of productivity has been determined as strong irrespective of the nature-climate zone. According to the intensity there have been formed three groups of varieties: extensive, half-intensive and intensive. Irrespectively of the nature-climate zone all varieties of spring barley are characterized with medium indexes of stability. The largest index of the genotype effect has been shown by the varieties ‘Vorsinsky 2’ (pod-taiga, southern forestry-steppe), ‘Abalak’ (pod-taiga) and ‘Salair’ (southern forestry-steppe). According to the complex assessment of productivity and parameters of adaptive ability irrespectively of the nature-climate zone the variety ‘Vorsinsky 2’ has been determined as the best one.

Breeding improvement of winter wheat on the trait ‘falling number’ The researches were conducted on the experimental base of FSBSI ‘Samara RIA’ in 205-2016. The crop was sown in fallow land. The experiment was conducted four times. The area of the plots was 25m². The meteorological conditions during the years of study largely varied in the amount of precipitations in the period ‘earing-maturing’ that allowed selecting varieties with resistance to stress factors and estimating the effect of genotype and vegetation conditions on the formation of the trait ‘falling number’. The variety ‘Bezenchukskaya 380’ showed the largest expressivity of the trait with 408s, the variety ‘Bezenchukskaya 616’ - 416s, the variety ‘Biryuza’ - 401s, the variety ‘Santa’ - 366s. Genotype has got a determining effect on the formation of the trait ‘falling number’. The share of the genotype in the range of the trait was of 68%, the share of the environmental conditions was 24%. The winter wheat varieties ‘Bezenchukskaya 380’, ‘Bezenchukskaya 616’ and ‘Biryuza’ showed high genotypic flexibility and compensatory resistance to stresses during the years of study. As genetic sources of the trait ‘falling number’ we recommend using the following varieties and lines in winter wheat breeding: ‘Bezenchukskaya 380’, ‘Biryuza’ and ‘Yunona’; ‘Ferrugineum 897’, ‘Lyutestsens 898’ with the falling number of 353-406s and with other valuable traits and properties (grain productivity of 3.65-4.56 t/ha, plant height of 74-101 cm, bread volume of 858-993 ml, general baking assessment of 4.3-4.8 p). The new lines of winter wheat ‘Ferrugineum 897’and ‘Lyutestsens 898’ developed in FSBSI ‘Samara RIA’ are of special interest due to their economic-valuable traits and properties.

The search of the sources of short stem to grow tolerant to lodging varieties of winter triticale for the Central Black earth region The article presents the study results of the variety samples of winter triticale taken from the World collection of ARIPG (more than 250) to find the sources of high tolerance to lodging, of adaptive ability to limiting factors of environment and the sources of high productivity. The experimental data, obtained in Moscow RIA and in other home and foreign institutions and firms dealing with the developing of new improved varieties of triticale are being discussed in the article. The varieties and lines of winter triticale, grown in the Moscow breeding center during the last years are being analyzed.

Productivity and quality of winter soft wheat varieties and lines sown after different crops and studied by FSBSI ARRIGC named after I.G. Kalinenko The study was carried out in 2013-2015 to estimate the effect of various forecrops on the formation of productivity and quality of winter soft wheat varieties and lines in the Rostov region. The objects of the study were 7 varieties and 6 lines of winter soft wheat developed by FSBSI ARRIGC named after I.G. Kalinenko. During the study the average productivity of winter soft wheat sown in bare fallow land ranged from 7.25 to 8.16 t/ha; the productivity of winter soft wheat sown after peas ranged from 6.47 to 7.17 t/ha; the productivity of winter soft wheat sown after sunflower ranged from 6.14 to 7.07 t/ha. According to the productivity the following varieties and lines of winter soft wheat showed the best results, namely ‘Nakhodka’ (8.16t/ha), ‘Kazachka’ (8.10t/ha), ‘1377/06’ (8.08t/ha), ‘1062/09’ (7.91t/ha) and ‘1401/09’ (7.91t/ha) sown in bare fallow; ‘Nakhodka’ (7.17t/ha), ‘Kazachka’ (7.04t/ha), ‘1062/09’ (7.04t/ha) and ‘1491/07’ (7.05t/ha) sown after peas; ‘Kazachka’ (7.01t/ha) and ‘1062/09’ (7.07t/ha) sown after sunflower. According to the amount of protein in winter wheat, the variety ‘Nakhodka’ sown in bare fallow produced 15.01%, the line ‘1401/09’ produced 14.99%; the varieties ‘Nakhodka’ and ‘Aksiniya’ sown after peas produced 14.58% and 14.40% respectively. According to the content of gluten in kernels the varieties ‘Nakhodka’ and ‘Aksiniya’ sown in bare fallow gave 28.1%; sown after peas ‘Nakhodka’ produced 29.4%; the varieties ‘Nakhodka’,‘Aksiniya’ and the line ‘1491/07’ sown after sunflower showed 23.7%, 23.8% and 23.7% respectively. According to SDS-sedimentation the following varieties and lines showed the best results. The varieties ‘Aksiniya’, ‘Kipchak’, the lines ‘1377/06’, ‘1062/09’, ‘1401/09’ sown in bare fallow showed 56-60 ml; the varieties Aksiniya’, ‘Kipchak’, ‘Kazachka’, the lines ‘1377/06’, ‘1062/09’, ‘1401/09’ sown after peas showed 50.3-53 ml’ the variety ‘Kazachka’ and the line ‘1038/07’ sown after sunflower showed 50-50.3 ml.

He nutritional value of grain sorghum Grain sorghum is an ecologically adaptive, heat and drought resistant culture. Sorghum grain is good concentrated forage for domestic animals and poultry which has a positive effect on their growing and development and produces high yields and good quality of husbandry products. The purpose of the work is to determine the content of exchangeable energy and fodder units in sorghum kernels in the process of feeding of different animals and birds. The objects of the study were 307 collection samples and varieties of grain sorghum developed by FSBSI ARRIGC named after I.G. Kalinenko, namely ‘Khazine 28’, ‘Zernogradskoe 53’, ‘Luchistoe’, ‘Orlovskoe’, ‘Velikan’, ‘Zernogradskoe 88’. The conducted study has showed that sorghum grain with 189 f.u. (min=187 f.u., max=193 f.u.) is the most nutritional one for poultry. Grain with 176-181 f.u. (average=178 f.u.) per 100 kg is the best for pig raising and grain with 124 f.u. is the best for cattle breeding. The forage produced from sorghum grain possessed the least nutrition in feeding sheep (120 f.u. (min=118 f.u., max=123 f.u.)). According to the study, it has been established that 100kg of sorghum grain contain 1491-1523 mJ (average=1507 mJ) of exchangeable energy in feeding poultry; 1457-1484 mJ (average=1472 mJ) in feeding pigs; 1282-1309 mJ (average=1295 mJ) in feeding sheep and 1264-1286 mJ (average=1276 mJ) in feeding cattle. Among the grain sorghum varieties developed in ARRIGC named after I.G. Kalinenko and approved to use, the white kernelled varieties ‘Velikan’ and ‘Zernogradskoe 88’ possess the largest nutritional value. The content of fodder units and exchangeable energy of these varieties is 123-193 f.u. and 1291-1529 mJ in dependence of the kinds of domestic animals.

DNA-markers of heterosis of sunflower hybrids of domestic breeding The article presents the results of the analysis of polymorphism conducted on micro satellite loci of core genome by 12 SSR-markers (Ha 432, Ha 514, Ha 1442, Ha 1608, Ha1287, IUB6, ORS6, ORS 509, IUB4, HNCA1, OSU-1, HNCA2). Seven genotypes of the hybrid F₁ of sunflower (Donskoy 151 -♀ВД 151 х ♂ ВД 541; Partner - ♀ ЭД 1443 х ♂ВД 541; Donskoy 22 - ♀ВД 22 х ♂ВД 541; Garant - ♀ЭД 931 х ♂ВД 62; Prestizh - ♀ЭД 169 х ♂ВД 62; Signal - ♀ЭД 236 х ♂ВД 110; Donskoy 1448 - ♀ВД 1448 х ♂ВД 62) and their parental lines developed by the Donskaya Experimental Station named after L.A. Zhdanov have been analyzed. 36 allelic variants have been established. For each genotype there has been designed a separate allelic formula which can be used as its molecule-genetic passport. The studied marker system has a high discrimination potential for identifying sunflower selection samples. The heterosis of hybrid F₁, genetic diversity of parental lines based on SSR-markers as well as genetic distances with combination ability of sunflower have been studied. Ten basic inbred lines (3 Rf lines and 7 CMS lines) and their hybrids have been studied according to such traits as height, plant productivity, 1000-kernels weight, oil content and hull content. The field trials were conducted during 6 seasons. Genetic distance among parental lines of sunflower ranged from 0.45 to 0.74. There has been found a reliable positive correlation of heterosis effect on the yield of seeds in hybrids (r=0.79, р<0.05) from genetic distances among parental lines.

The effect of cultivation technologies on chick pea productivity in the southern part of the Rostov region Chick pea with its high tolerance to drought, resistance to lodging, pests and diseases is the most promising grain culture for dry areas of the Rostov region. The purpose of the research is to improve chick pea productivity due to fertilizing with microelements and growth regulators. The study was carried out in 2012-2014 on the fields of All-Russian Research Institute of Grain Crops named after I.G. Kalinenko (the laboratory of cultivation technology of row crops), located in the southern soil-climatic part of the Rostov region characterized with unstable and insufficient humidity. The soil of the experimental plot is common heavy loamy, lime black earth (chernozem). The subject of the study was the chick pea variety ‘Volgogradsky 10’ approved to use in the Rostov region. The article presents the data about the effect of fertilizing with microelements and growth regulators on field germination, safety of plants before harvesting, elements of yield structure and productivity, economic and bioenergetics efficiency of chick pea cultivation. The largest indexes of field germination (82.4%) and chick pea safety before harvesting (89.1%) have been achieved after fertilizing with microelements combined with seed treatment by ‘Ekomak’ and plant treatment by ‘Mikroel’. Due to it there have been received the maximum indexes of elements of yield structure, namely ‘number of beans per plant’ - 15.8 pc.; ‘number of kernels per plant’ - 17.4 pc.; ‘kernel weight per plant’ - 4.83g; ‘1000-kernel weight’ - 247.2g. In the same experiment the largest increase of productivity was 0.57 t/ha (or 39.0%) in addition to the control, and there were the highest indexes of energetic and economic efficiency of chick pea cultivation with 22.73 GJ/ha of net energetic profit, 6.49 GJ/t of energy content in the product, 2.72 coefficient of energetic efficiency, 13141 rub/ha of net income, 8527 rub/t of net cost, 75.9% of profitability.

Productivity of corn grown in the crop rotation and as monoculture under long-term fertilizing In 1971-2015 on the Voronezh leached black earth there were conducted the researches of the effect of long-term use of various kinds, doses, combinations of fertilizers in the 10 crop rotation sequences and in corn-corn monoculture on its productivity. It has been determined that the yearly N₆₀Р₆₀К₆₀ fertilizing increased the productivity of green chop, dry matter and corn grain on 8.8, 2.53 and 1.29 t/ha in crop rotation and on 10.1, 2.71 and 1.32 t/ha in monoculture in comparison with the productivity of green chop, dry matter and corn grain without fertilizing (26.2, 6.42 and 3.42 t/ha in crop rotation; 22.1, 5.65 and 2.81 t/ha in monoculture). Due to the crop rotation the increase of green chop, dry matter and corn grain productivity was 2.4-4.1; 0.3-0.8 and 0.5-0.6 t/ha respectively. The largest content of organic carbon was estimated in the topsoil. The archive soil sample contained 3.19% of carbon; in black fallow (since 1960) it was 3.12%; in corn-corn monoculture without fertilizing it was 3.37% and with the yearly N₆₀Р₆₀К₆₀ fertilizing it was 3.42%. In the soil layer of 60-80 cm there were no significant differences in the amount of organic carbon.

Infestation of winter barley varieties with leaf diseases in the southern part of the Rostov region The yearly assessment and analysis of leaf diseases is carried out on the infectious field and the plots of the laboratory for barley breeding and seed-growing of FSBSI ARRIGC named after I.G. Kalinenko. The study allows estimating the variety resistance in the natural conditions and extreme infectious conditions similar to epiphytotic disease. The article presents the results of immunological assessment of the varieties of local development and of other RI. The study of the disease manifestation was conducted during the years of 2014-2016. The varieties ‘Timofey’, ‘Erema’, ‘Vivat’, ‘Artel’ (of ARRIGC named after I.G. Kalinenko), ‘Gordey’, ‘Samson’ (KRIA named after P.P. Lukiyanenko) have been found the most resistant to the complex of pathogens on average during 3 years of study.