Orel State Agrarian University

The article discusses the main conditions and development trends, as well as issues of ensuring the financial stability of enterprises in the flour and cereal industry using the example of JSC "Makfa", which is one of the industry leaders. The relevance of the study is determined by the fact that the high export potential of the grain-product subcomplex leaves its mark on the trends and features of the development of the domestic grain market and grain processing products. This is due to the fact that the priority is to address export issues, including ensuring the necessary quality of exported grain and appropriate market prices for raw materials and products, but at the same time the domestic market is influenced by negative factors. For the purposes of the study, the financial reporting data of JSC "Makfa" were considered, which were used to conduct a comprehensive analysis of financial and economic activities, allowing for an objective assessment of the current financial condition and, based on the results obtained, to form a model for ensuring the financial stability of the enterprise. For the purposes of the study, a hypothesis was formed that the increased influence of the political factor on the development of the agro-industrial complex contributed to the emergence of new risks and threats to the development of the flour and cereal industry, which determines the importance of constant monitoring of the financial situation and the development of a model to ensure financial stability in the medium term. It was revealed that for the industry, the period is 2020-2022. It was a difficult period, which was accompanied by a decrease in the profitability of production and economic activities, as well as a deterioration in business activity and financial stability indicators. However, in 2023-2024, the industry, as well as the agro-industrial complex as a whole, managed to adapt and adjust to the current market conditions, which contributed to the improvement of basic indicators of financial and economic activity and the formation of a financially stable position.

Current hypotheses and experimental data concerning the origin of biological homochirality, a phenomenon in which living systems predominantly use L-amino acids and D-sugars, are analyzed in the review. Various physical and chemical factors that may lead to the formation of an enantiomeric excess are considered.

The studies were conducted in the educational garden of the Oryol State Agrarian University (Oryol, Oryol Region, Russia) on dark gray forest soil. The orchard was planted in October 2021 with one-year-old seedlings in a 3x5 m layout (rootstock 54-118). The objects of the study were apple trees of the Veteran and Orlovskoe Polosatoe varieties, as well as the organic-mineral fertilizer-biostimulant Biostim Universal, which contains 6.0% N (total), 1.3% K 2 O, 5.0% SO 3 , and 10.0% free amino acids of plant origin. Leaf fertilization was carried out 4 times per season. The experience scheme: 1 - control (without treatment); 2-4 - spraying of trees with agrochemicals with consumption rates of 3, 5 and 7 liters/ha. The repetition of the experiment is threefold, with 5 trees each. In July 2025, there was a pronounced drought due to abnormal heat, including an absolute season high of +34.3 °C. The GTC was 0.6, which is classified as an average drought. The water content of apple tree leaves directly depends on the level of moisture availability. In conditions of overwatering (June and August), this indicator was maximum (62.464.7%), whereas in the dry period (July), it decreased to 54.2–55.9%, depending on the variety. The use of organic-mineral fertilizer-biostimulant increased leaf moisture content and reduced water deficit. The most pronounced positive effect was observed at a dose of 7 l/ha: the increase in leaf water content was up to 2.7% (under drought conditions); the water deficit decreased by 2.9% compared to the control in both varieties; and the transpiration rate decreased by 3.5–3.9 mg/cm²·h, indicating a more efficient use of moisture. The Orlovskoe Polosatoe variety showed higher water content values under favorable conditions, but the difference between the varieties was insignificant during the stressful period (July). The Veteran variety initially had a lower transpiration rate, but it responded well to biostimulant treatments, especially in terms of reducing transpiration losses.

The objective of research is to identify promising tree species and cultivars for subsequent use in forest climate projects. The study was conducted using a systems approach and modern instruments for measuring respiration and photosynthesis activity. The objects of the study were tree genotypes of different ages: 4- and 10-year-old poplar (Populus L.), 4- and 46-year-old silver birch (Betula L.), and 4- and 50-year-old Scots pine (Pinus L.), which were grown on the experimental calibration site of the VSTU educational and experimental forestry enterprise. A CI-340 gas analyzer (SID Bio-Science, USA) was used to measure the rate of carbon dioxide absorption and emission by leaves in vivo. Online measurements of photosynthesis rates were taken on intact tree leaves in the morning from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM, when cell water saturation is high and sunlight intensity and air temperature are close to optimal. Dark respiration activity was recorded from 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM. The leaves of fast-growing poplar exhibited the most active dark respiration, exceeding those of silver birch by an average of 21.0% and Scots pine by 26.3%. Species-specific differences in photosynthetic activity were identical. In 10-year-old poplar (variety 'E.s.-38'), the photosynthesis intensity and dark respiration rates were 9.6 and 15.8 % lower, respectively; in 46-year-old silver birch (variety Ug.-1), they were 32.6 and 13.3 % lower, respectively; and in 50-year-old Scots pine, they were 10.9 and 14.0% lower, respectively, compared to 4-year-old trees. Fast-growing poplar is the most promising of the studied tree species for the development of forest climate projects to improve the ecology of habitats and production.

The objects of the study were trees of the Veteran and Orel striped apple varieties and the biostimulator organomineral fertilizer “Biostim Universal”, containing N (total) 6.0%, K2O 1.3%, SO3 5.0% and free amino acids of plant origin 10.0%. Leaf top dressing was carried out 4 times per season with an interval of 14 days, starting from the second decade of May. The experimental scheme included 4 options: 1st — control (without treatment); 2 nd –4 th — spraying of trees with agrochemicals with consumption rates of 3, 5 and 7 l/ha. The repetition of the experiment is threefold, with 5 trees each. The increase in the diameter of the Orlovskoye striped strain by the end of the growing seasons of 2024 and 2025 was the maximum for the “Biostim” variant of 5 l/ha — 49.3% and 34.9%, respectively. According to the Veteran variety, 53.5% in 2024 for the “Biostim” variant of 5 liters/ha and 41.9% in 2025 for the “Biostim” variant of 7 l/ha. The winter variety Veteran revealed more stable values of biometric indicators for the variants, regardless of the formative pruning, weather conditions during the research years and the consumption rate of the drug. In the autumn variety Orlovskoye striped, an increase in the dosage of the drug to 7 l/ha in the arid conditions of 2024 with elevated temperatures in the summer months had a negative impact on crown formation. In 2025, in conditions of sufficient moisture supply in this variant, the trees recovered, the increase in crown diameter relative to 2024 was the maximum — 102.9%. According to a set of biometric indicators, higher and more stable values were obtained with leaf top dressing with “Biostim Universal” agrochemicals of 5 l/ha.