There have been studied adaptability, stability, and breeding value of winter wheat varieties developed by the Tatar Research Institute of Agriculture in the northern regions of the Middle Volga region. The current study was conducted on gray forest soil from 2020 to 2024. There were used sowing dates and seeding rates generally accepted for the region. The most favorable spring-summer growing conditions were observed in 2020 (HTC = 1.09) and 2022 (HTC = 1.23). In 2023 and 2024, there were conditions with insufficient moisture where the HTC was 0.86 and 0.72, respectively. The year of 2021 was characterized by the driest conditions during the spring-summer vegetation period (HTC = 0.45). The varieties produced large average yields in favorable years of 2020 (5.55 t/ha) and 2022 (4.49 t/ha), while there was a minimum productivity in the dry year of 2021 (2.81 t/ha). There have been identified highly productive varieties Ilvina and Saban, with maximum average yields over the years of study (4.36 t/ha and 4.23 t/ha, respectively) under various growing conditions. There has been established that the greatest impact on productivity was due to weather conditions during the years of study (89.56%), while the genotype of the studied varieties had a lesser influence (6.62%). Among the winter wheat varieties developed at the Tatar Research Institute of Agriculture, the varieties Ilvina (0.556), Saban (0.425), and Darina (0.125) demonstrated positive values of general adaptive capacity. The varieties Darina (1.947), Ilvina (1.876), and Saban (1.561) have also demonstrated the best values for specific adaptive capacity. These varieties were less stable and produced higher yields under improved growing conditions. The highest values of the genotype breeding value were demonstrated by the varieties Universiada (2.14), Saban (2.12), and Ilvina (2.05), which could be recommended for production.

Much attention is currently being paid to studying the genetic resources of agricultural plants. Most spring wheat varieties have low genetic diversity, which impacts their productivity and quality. In order to increase the genetic potential of newly developed varieties, it is necessary to use other wheat species. The long-term study of the biological characteristics and agronomic traits of the tetraploid species of Kartalinskaya wheat with the BBAUAU genome has shown that this variety can be included in breeding programs in the Tyumen region. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to analyze the inheritance of gliadin components in hybrids of the tetraploid species Triticum carthlicum Nevski. (=Triticum persicum Vav.). The crossings were conducted in the field in 2006. The laboratory study of the hybrids using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) were conducted in 2009, and then in 2023 and 2024. On the obtained electropherogram data there were compiled binary matrices. As a result of the current study and the application of cluster analysis in two hybrid populations from direct and back crossings of Kartalinskaya wheat varieties K-17581 and K-32484, there have been identified linkage groups based on morphological traits. There have been identified three clusters in both hybrid populations (K-17581 x K-32484; K-32484 x K-17581). Application of a two-way hierarchical agglomeration algorithm to 24 phenotypic classes has revealed polymorphism in marker traits that are presumably inherited codominantly. The resulting hybrids have been included in further breeding and are currently undergoing testing in a control nursery. 

The purpose of the current work was to study the influence of key yield structure elements of the spring barley varieties on their productivity in the Republic of Tuva. The study was conducted at the experimental steppe plot of the Tuva Research Institute of Agriculture in 2019 to 2021. The objects of the study were the spring barley varieties Acha, Biom, and Olenek.  On average, over the years of study, the variety Acha produced 3.9 t/ha, Biom 4.2 t/ha, and Odenek 3.4 t/ha. The spring barley varieties Biom and Olenek being new for the Republic of Tuva, have shown no significant differences from the variety Acha, which is being cultivated in the region, according to such yield structure parameters as grain weight per ear, stem height, and number of productive stems. Maximum values of the trait ‘1000-grain weight’ was noted for the variety Biom, and high values of the trait ‘number of grains per ear’ were demonstrated by the variety Olenek. The conducted analysis allowed establishing the correlation between morphological traits and their significance for the yield formation. In most cases, there was a direct positive correlation between the studied barley productivity indicators. There has been established a reliable positive correlation between productivity and grain weight per ear. The strongest correlation between these traits, on average over three years of research, was 0.84 for the variety Acha, 0.51 for the variety Olenek, and 0.5 for the variety Biom. When grown in the Republic of Tuva, the spring barley variety Acha demonstrated a moderate positive correlation between productivity and stem length, ear length, and number of grains per ear, as well as a high positive correlation between productivity and ear weight. The varieties Biom and Olenek have demonstrated a positive correlation between productivity and grain weight per ear, and a negative correlation between productivity and 1000-grain weight. These direct and indirect indicators and the calculated regression coefficients may be important when selecting barley varieties for cultivation in extreme continental climate.

There have been presented the results of spring barley samples in the competitive variety testing. The evaluation was based on the length of a vegetation period and grain yield. Yield structure depends primarily on productive tillering, ear weight, and 1000-grain weight. The purpose of the current work was to study and evaluate spring barley samples in the competitive variety testing in the Central Yakutia. The study was conducted in the experimental plots of the Yakut SRIA at the breeding station in 2020-2022. The objects of the study were four samples from the competitive variety testing nursery. The variety Tammi was the standard of the trial. It is an ultra-early maturing variety with moderate drought tolerance and loose smut resistance. Sowing was carried out on the designated dates, according to the standard scheme. There was a fourfold repetition. Soil fertility was assessed in the biochemistry laboratory. The soil was permafrost permafrost-affected, taiga-pale and solodized. The weather conditions varied in temperature and precipitation. As a result of the study, the samples in the competitive variety testing varied in the length of a vegetation period, averaging from 68 to 78 days. The mean productivity of the spring barley samples ranged from 2.8 to 3.8 t/ha over the studied period. Productivity of the standard variety Tammi averaged 3.5 t/ha. The trait ‘1000-grain weight’ of the tested varieties ranged from 38.8 to 48.8 g. The sample Dygyn formed mall grains of 38.8 g, while larger grains of 48.8 g were produced by the sample E-68. The productive tillering capacity of the studied samples ranged from 2.1 to 3.1. The highest productive tillering capacity was observed in the sample Dygyn (3.1).

Improving the resistance of agricultural crops to diseases is an urgent issue. Breeding work was conducted to develop a middle-maturing, highly productive rice variety resistant to blast. The purpose of the current study was to develop a highly productive, middle-maturing rice variety with high nutritional value, resistant to blast, and suitable for cultivation in the Rostov Region and other irrigated areas. The process took place from 2013 to 2024 in the fields of the ExF “Proletarskoye” in the Rostov Region. There were used intervarietal crossing methods, individual and mass selection of plants with the most grain-rich panicles. The variety Admiral was developed in 2013 due to hybridization of the highly productive variety Kuboyar with the line Il.28, which possessed three blast-resistant genes. Between 2015 and 2018, there were conducted multiple individual selections from hybrid populations. During the final stages of selection, the best rice line Don 7805 was selected and tested in control and competitive nurseries from 2020 to 2024. The weather conditions during rice growth and development in the competitive variety testing were favorable for large productivity. The variety Admiral was sent to the State Variety Testing in 2025. This middle-maturing variety matures in 120 days after watering the field. The plant habit is erect, compact, with erect leaves and panicles. Plants reach 90-95 cm in height, 5 cm shorter than the standard Yuzhanin. Panicle length is 16 cm, shorter than that of Yuzhanin. Panicles have an average of 128 spikelets, with some having up to 170. The kernels are oval (8.4 mm in length and 3.3 mm in width). 1000 kernels have an average weight of 30.2 g. Grain hardiness is 94.3 g, hull content is 17.8 g, kernel yield is 72.0 g, and the whole kernel yield is 91.2 g. In the field, the variety demonstrates resistance to lodging, shattering, and blast. Productivity in the competitive variety testing (2023–2024) averaged 7.64 t/ha, exceeding the standard Yuzhanin by 1.50 t/ha.

Currently, the problem of developing spring oat varieties with high adaptability potential, capable to produce highquality yields under unstable growing conditions, is of great relevance. The purpose of the current study was to analyze the economically valuable traits of new spring oat varieties ‘Kiyura’ and ‘Debutny’ developed at the National Center of Grain named after P.P. Lukyanenko (Krasnodar Region, Krasnodar, Russia) in comparison with with the standard variety ‘Valdin 765’. The study has demonstrated that the new oat varieties surpass the standard variety in productivity. On average, over four years of study (2016–2019) at the NCG named after P.P. Lukyanenko the variety ‘Kiyura’ exceeded ‘Valdin 765’ by 5.6 t/ha. The maximum productivity of the variety ‘Kiyura’ with 8.03 t/ha was recorded in the year of 2017 with favorable weather conditions. Over three years of trials (2018–2020), the variety ‘Debutny’ yielded on 6 t/ha more than the variety ‘Valdin 765’. The maximum productivity of the variety ‘Debutny’ in 2018, which was characterized by favorable weather conditions, was 5.9 t/ha. As part of the development and preservation of a national catalog of particularly valuable plant genetic resource samples, there have been formed herbariums of the varieties ‘Kiyura’ and ‘Debutny’, designated as nomenclature standards. The herbarium samples were registered in the VIR Herbarium database and sent for storage to the Herbarium of Cultivated Plants of the World, Their Wild Relatives and Weeds (WIR), the National Center for Plant Genetic Resources.

Breeding new productive, tolerant bean varieties remains an urgent issue to meet market demand for high-quality plant protein. One powerful tool for increasing the genetic diversity of breeding material is radiation mutagenesis, the effectiveness of which depends on the selected radiation dose. The purpose of the current study was to identify changes in the morphometric parameters of plants, the development of nodules and the germination of bean pollen after γirradiation of seeds at doses of 25, 50 and 75 Gy in order to select the optimal dose for radiation mutagenesis. There have been sown two new common bean varieties Omsky Rubin and L’dinka developed by the Omsk SAU, γ-irradiated at doses of 25, 50 and 75 Gy in three replicates (populations M1) and the beans of the second generation of the variety Omsky Rubin (population M2), irradiated at a dose of 50 Gy in order to estimate morphometric parameters, such as plant height, pod length, attachment of a lower pod, distance from a lower pod tip to soil, number of pods per plant, number of beans per pod, number of beans per plant, weight of beans per plant; length of development phases, number and weight of nodules, content of iron, zinc, calcium and protein, as well as to evaluate the germination of pollen grains. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal–Wallis H test with Dunn’s multiple comparison test or the Mann–Whitney U test. There has been found that seed irradiation negatively affects morphometric parameters, such as pod length, number of beans per pod, number of beans per plant, and weight of beans; the length of development phases of the M1 population, and nodule development of the variety Omsky Rubin, while it had a positive effect on the number and weight of small nodules of the variety L’dinka. M2 plants of the variety Omsky Rubin, with higher indicators of productivity (number of pods, weight of beans) compared to the parent variety, will be recommended for breeding. For the radiation mutagenesis protocol of common beans there has been recommended a dose of 50 Gy.

Modern agriculture places high demands on new varieties and hybrids when cultivating any crop. Therefore, to correctly select parental forms, breeders must have precise characteristics and an understanding of the future variety’s morphotype. Modern methods of molecular marking using highly polymorphic marker systems significantly simplifies the estimation of the diversity of collection forms, the sources of donors of economically valuable traits, by marking target genes. In order to evaluate 70 collection tomato samples from VIR with different ecological and geographical origins, to identify potential donors of resistance to bio- and abiotic stressors, there has been conducted their genetic analysis based on PCR using iPBS markers. There have been tested 15 iPBS markers in the amplification reaction, only ten of which have demonstrated high levels of polymorphism in the analyzed samples. There have been identified 1,923 alleles ranging from 100 to 3,000 bp. The marker 2273 (271 bands) has demonstrated the highest polymorphism with 90.75%. Thus, testing of iPBS markers to estimate the genetic diversity of tomato has shown the possibility of their use, which is confirmed by statistical analysis of the allele frequency, and they can be recommended as an effective method in studying the biodiversity of both collection and breeding forms of tomato.

The current study was conducted at the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” (south of the Rostov region) in 2020-2024. The purpose was to analyze productive and adaptive potential of modern winter common wheat varieties in comparison with varieties of previous years (stages) of breeding. In addition, there have been envisaged to identify the nature of changes in adaptive properties during the breeding process (according to adaptability parameters); to determine the most dynamic of them for the evaluation of breeding material; to give recommendations for the practical use of varieties based on the data obtained. The objects of the study were 20 winter common wheat varieties included in the Russian State Register and used in agricultural production from 1981 to 2025, divided into five breeding periods. There have been presented the results of a comparative analysis of productivity, adaptability, and plasticity indicators through the breeding periods. There has been established a consistent productivity increase from period to period. Compared to the variety Donskaya bezostaya (period I), the average productivity of modern varieties bred in period V (2020-2025) improved by 2.13 t/ha or 26.1%, the maximum productivity by 3.87 t/ha (43.6%), and the minimum productivity by 0.53 t/ha (7.2%). There has been identified the nature of changes in adaptability indicators in the course of breeding work. According to the parameters of stress resistance, variability, homeostasis, and stability factor, there has been established a tendency of their decrease in the process of breeding. According to the indicators of genetic flexibility, ecological adaptability and stability, and the adaptation coefficient, there has been found a tendency of increase with the maximum expression of the value in modern varieties. Based on a comprehensive rating evaluation of the studied varieties according to productivity and adaptability, there have been identified such best varieties as Vasilich, Aksiniya, Priazovie, Marafon, Donskaya step’, Rubin Dona with a combination of stable productivity, regardless of stress conditions, and basic adaptive properties.   

Sweet sorghum breeding programs aimed at bioenergy production pursue the goals to increase the sugar content of plant stems and improve biomass productivity. The purpose of the current work was to study the influence of origin, weather conditions, and key agronomic traits on ‘sugar percentage in stem juice’ and to identify promising varieties for use as a source of bioethanol. Sorghum breeding work was conducted in the ARC “Donskoy” in the Rostov region from 2015 to 2024. There have been used 200 sweet sorghum samples of various ecological and geographical origins and 20 competitively tested varieties. The trials were conducted in accordance with the Methodology for the State Variety Testing of Agricultural Crops. According to correlation and regression analysis, the sugar percentage in stem juice has a strong negative correlation with the amount of precipitation during the vegetation period (r = -0.9667 ± 0.09) and a moderate positive correlation with the sum of active temperatures over the same period (r = 0.5256 ± 0.3). When the HTC value increases, the proportion of samples with very low values increases, the proportion of samples with high values decreases, and those with very high values reaches zero. The highest average group values have been observed in the samples from Bulgaria, Australia, Argentina, Mozambique, Hungary, Germany, and Yugoslavia (VIR data) with 18-20%. There have been identified the varieties RS-124/19, DK-3868, SK-44/1634, and KL-388 with a high sugar percentage in stem juice (over 15.0%) and green mass productivity at or above the standard (34-35 t/ha), which can be recommended for obtaining sugary substances, as well as for use in bioenergy.

The purpose of the current study was to identify the impact of phosphorus-potassium nutrition on the dynamics of soybean seed chemistry in the forest-steppe part of the Chechen Republic. The objects of the study were the promising soybean varieties Amadeus, SG SR Pikor, and Smuglyanka. Between 2022 and 2024, leached chernozems sown with soybean were supplied with various levels of available phosphorus and potassium. There has been established that the rate of mineral fertilizer Р₉₀ К₆₀ was optimal for soybean crops under these environmental conditions, as it provided the best conditions for legume-rhizobial symbiosis. This, in turn, enhanced nitrogen accumulation in various plant parts. During the phase of bean formation, the leaves had the highest nitrogen concentration of 2.09–3.11%, while in the stems and root system, this value ranged from 0.97–1.68% and 0.78–1.03%, respectively. The nitrogen content in nodules was 2.46–4.69% during the flowering period, 3.03–4.80% during the phase of bean formation, and 1.94–3.29% during the period of bean filling. The fertilized background has increased the protein and oil percentage in beans, and this trend was characteristic of all the studied varieties. Protein yield in the control variant ranged from 877.6 to 1039.6 kg/ha, and in the fertilized background it varied from 989.8.4 to 1158.7 kg/ha. Similar indicators for oil yield were from 479.8 to 598.8 kg/ha and from 537.9 to 658.3 kg/ha. Peak dry matter accumulation in plant organs occurred during the phase of bean formation, with the bulk of the dry matter concentrated in the leaves and stems. During the period of bean filling, the proportion of dry matter accumulated in beans reached its maximum values of 1027.1–1651.3 kg/ha. Nitrogen consumption by crops has raised throughout the vegetation period and reached its maximum values by the period of bean filling with 66.48–106.48 kg/ha in the control variants and 99.03–137.70 kg/ha in the fertilized variants.

There has been given an analysis of the use of rice varietal mixtures in production compared to one variety crops. Since the productivity of most varieties has reached its biological potential, it is necessary to develop new methods and approaches to improve productivity. Nowadays the rice varieties Rapan 2, Polevik, Patriot, Nautilus, and Apollon occupy the main production areas. In accordance with the instructions of the Russian Minister of Agriculture, rice production in Russia must increase to 2 million tons by 2030. In this regard, the purpose of the current study was to find new ways to increase crop productivity, including the acceleration of the breeding process using DNA technologies and the use of variety mixtures in production. There were conducted lysimeter, greenhouse, and production trials in 2023-2024. Production trials of rice varietal mixtures have shown their advantage in productivity and blast and lodging resistance compared to one variety crops. Productivity increase of the varietal mixtures compared to one variety crops ranged from 3.6 to 13.9 hwt/ha. The varietal mixture Apollon+VNIIR7442 has demonstrated the largest productivity at LLC “P.P. Lukyanenko Agricultural Enterprise”, with 82.2 hwt/ha, exceeding the yields of individual rice varieties by 10.2 hwt/ha. 

The current paper has presented three-year data on the chelated micronutrient fertilizers of the “new generation” for grain sorghum crops grown in the arid conditions of the Saratov Right Bank. The primary purpose of the current study was to determine the impact of chelated micronutrient fertilizers on the yield structure of grain sorghum varieties and to establish the economic and production benefits of their use. To achieve this goal, there have been set the tasks to identify the effect of micronutrient fertilizers on the indicator of seed weight per panicle, to evaluate the effect of the products Reasil Micro Amino Zn and Reasil Forte Carb Ca/Mg/B-Amino on the trait ‘number of seeds per panicle’, to study the effect of the above-mentioned products on the trait ‘1000-seed weight’, to determine the economic effect of the use of micronutrient fertilizers in chelated form. The current study has established a significant impact of chelated micronutrient fertilizers on the analyzed yield structure elements. A one-liter dose of the product Reasil Micro Amino Zn on the varieties Asistent, RSK Lokus, and Kulon had a significant impact their trait ‘seed weight per plant’ exceeding the control by 27.3%, 56.9%, and 21.4%, respectively. When using the product Reasil Forte Carb Ca/Mg/B-Amino, the most responsive varieties were RSK Lokus and Kulon. On these varieties, all three doses showed significant differences in the trait, exceeding the control by 26.9% to 38.9%. These products were found to affect the trait ‘seed number per panicle’. The variety Garant was the most responsive to the fertilizers; both products and all doses tested were most effective on this variety. The differences from the control ranged from 46.9 to 63.7% and from 21.1 to 88.2%, respectively. There has been identified a significant effect of chelated micronutrient fertilizers on the increase of ‘1000-seed weight’. The most effective results were demonstrated by applying all studied doses of both products to the varieties Bakalavr and Prints, which demonstrated significant differences compared to the control, ranging from 4.5 to 17.2%. There has been found a profitability increase by an average of 40-50% when using fertilizers (in all studied dosages) in the grain sorghum varieties Bakalavr, Asistent, Lokus, Kulon, and Prints.

The current paper has presented the results of the study aimed at a comprehensive assessment of the effect of presowing treatment of cucumber seeds with a melatonin solution on productivity and quality of the resulting yield in protected soil conditions. The trials were conducted over three years (2021–2023) on the F₁ cucumber hybrid Lel. There have been studied four treatment options, such as control (no treatment) and seed soaking in melatonin solutions at concentrations of 0.001%, 0.01%, and 0.1%. There have been assessed such key agronomic and biochemical parameters as time of seed germination, a beginning of key phenological phases (including the beginning of fruiting), productivity, yield structure, and commercial and biochemical characteristics of the fruits. The trials have shown that seed treatment with melatonin had a positive effect on plant growth and development. There was established an accelerated seed germination and earlier fruiting compared to the control. Furthermore, melatonin treatment has increased the number and size of fruits, as well as the proportion of marketable products. Depending on the solution concentration and the year of study, productivity increase ranged from 13.0% to 48.9%. There has been also found an improvement in the biochemical parameters of the fruits, such as increased content of dry matter and ascorbic acid, indicating improved nutritional value. The obtained results can be used to develop practical recommendations for increasing cucumber productivity and improving the quality of commercial fruits.

The purpose of the current work was to study the effect of a suspension of the strain Pseudomonas sp. GEOT18 on growth and productivity of spring barley variety Sonet with application of phosphorus fertilizers in the Non-Blackearth Zone of Russia (using the Vologda Region as an example). The study was conducted during the vegetation periods of 2020–2024, at the same time in 2023–2024 the study included examining the effect of the strain suspension on barley plants with additional application of phosphorus fertilizer. The study was conducted at the experimental plots of the Vologda Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Vologda Oblast, Non-Blackearth Zone of Russia). During the study, bacteria were introduced twice, by pre-sowing seed soaking and by spraying the phyllospheres with a working solution of the suspension during the tillering stage. The working solution of the studied strain was obtained by diluting the suspension (cell density 10⁹ CFU/ml) with tap water at a ratio of 1:20. Tap water was used as a control. Superphosphate was used as a phosphorus fertilizer at doses of 25, 50, and 100 g/m². The study has demonstrated the growthpromoting effect of the suspension of the strain Pseudomonas sp. GEOT18 with an increase in the assimilatory surface area, photosynthetic pigment content in leaves, and weight parameters of the experimental barley varieties compared to the control. While application of phosphorus fertilizers significantly increased barley growth parameters, the crop achieved even greater results when both phosphorus fertilizer and the suspension of the studied strain were applied simultaneously. Grain productivity from the suspension of Pseudomonas sp. GEOT18 alone exceeded the control by 16– 40%, depending on seasonal conditions. Phosphorus fertilizers increased barley grain yield per area unit by 48–100%, and their combined use with the suspension of the studied strain by 72–109% (5–12% increase relative to variants with the exclusive use of phosphates), depending on the conditions of the season and the dosage of fertilizer application.

The winter common wheat variety Tanya was included in the State Register of Agricultural Varieties and Hybrids approved for use in the Russian Federation in 2005. It is one of the most popular and widely used varieties in production. A significant advantage of this variety is its moderate susceptibility to a range of foliar diseases during the vegetation period. The purpose of the current study was to provide an agronomic and economic estimation of the efficiency of fungicide protection for the variety Tanya, depending on the agricultural background. There has been analyzed productivity development based on the contribution of yield structure elements depending on the option of fungicide protection. There has been established that, under high agricultural conditions, the maximum average productivity of the variety over seven years (90.6 hwt/ha), which was on 4.8 hwt/ha more than that of the control variant was formed with double protection with fungicides. Smaller yield increases were achieved with fungicide application during a booting stage, and in the period of flag leaf formation with 88.3 hwt/ha and 87.8 hwt/ha, respectively. The highest net income of 99, 930 rubles/ha was achieved with double protection, while the lowest of 98,440 rubles/ha was achieved with the control variant, although the control variant had the highest profitability of 226.7%. With double protection, there was the lowest profitability of 202.3%. Fungicide application to the variety Tanya sown after row crops without nitrogen fertilization was unreliable, within the НСР₀₅ range, reducing productivity and worsening economic indices.