The challenge of selecting optimal apple cultivars suitable for the conditions of the Russian climate remains relevant due to the specific characteristics of the territories, such as severe frosts and susceptibility of apple cultivars to diseases – particularly scab. The study was aimed at identifying promising apple cultivars and elite forms developed at the I.V. Michurin Federal Scientific Center that could be effectively used in industrial production. The main objectives were to assess the resistance of new cultivars to adverse environmental conditions, determine their fruit quality characteristics, and evaluate their potential productivity. A standard methodological approach was applied, including field trials and laboratory analyses. The study focused on four cultivars and two elite apple forms developed by the research team. It was found that the ‘Gurman’ and ‘Pokrovskoe’ cultivars, as well as the elite form 11‑3‑1, exhibit high tolerance to low temperatures and good resistance to scab. Their yield exceeds that of existing cultivars, while the fruits are characterized by good consumer qualities. Thus, the research confirmed the high efficiency of the developed cultivars and the promise of continuing work to improve the apple assortment for Russian regions.
The article gives a brief overview of the current level of black currant varietal renewal. The Russian scientists made a significant contribution to the improvement of the crop assortment, thanks to whose works the domestic cultivars are almost completely represented in the State Register. When studying inbred and clonal families using heterosis breeding methods, the scientists of the All-Russian Lupine Research Institute created large-fruited cultivars Izyumnaya, Selechenskaya 2, Dar Smolyaninova and others, which have high commodity and consumer qualities of fruits,. Crossings carried out by the breeders of the FSBSI "I.V. Michurin FSC", using the European and Siberian subspecies of black currants, Ribes dikuscha (Golubka, Pamyat Michurina, etc.), made it possible to create bud mite-resistant, high-vitamin cultivars Otbornaya, Rossiyanka and Smuglyanka. Invaluable contribution to the improvement of black currant cultivars has been made by the researchers of VNIISPK. As a result of targeted research, 15 black currant cultivars resistant to powdery mildew and white pine blister rust have been created and submitted to the State Variety Testing since 1991. Black berry breeding is also carried out by scientists from the Sverdlovsk Horticultural Breeding Station, where the basis of the crop assortment of the vast region of northern horticulture has been created, and such cultivars as Napev Uralsky, Voevoda, Fortuna, Shaman, etc., have become the visiting card of the Institution. An important contribution to the breeding of black currant was made by the Research Institute of Horticulture of Siberia named after M. A. Lisavenko, Department of the Federal Altai Scientific Centre for Agrobiotechnologies, where such popular cultivars as Rita, Sokrovishche, Sharovidnaya, Yadrennaya, etc. were created. Scientists of the FSBSO «Federal Horticultural Center for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery» have been working with the crop for many years, thanks to whom, ten cultivars of black currants from the Kokinsky stronghold of the FSBSO ARHCBAN: Gamayun, Strelets, Vera and others have been included in the State Register since 2011 and new promising cultivars Favorit and Kaskad have been transferred to the State Test.
The results of breeding for the creation of blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) hybrids suitable for cultivation in the regions of the taiga zone of the European part of Russia are given. The hybrids were obtained using two original maternal blueberry cultivars – Northblue and Putte. The pollinators of Northblue were economically valuable forms of V. angustifolium and the pollinators of Putte were forms and cultivars of highbush blueberry (V. corymbosum). 13 most promising forms of V. angustifolium were selected for cultivation in the conditions of the European part of Russia on the basis of comprehensive assessment results; these forms have the ability to be propagated using rhizomatous cuttings and partial bushes and differ in terms of berry ripening and some other characteristics. The indicators of fruiting (yield, average berry weight) of selected forms in the conditions of the Kostroma region are given for 3 years of observation. Four hybrid forms were registered as the first cultivars of V. angustifolium in Russia (Neya, Nerl, Lakomka, Pomorochka) in 2022—2023. The created cultivars and hybrids are characterized by high winter hardiness, good yield, large size of fruits and a number of other positive features. The yield of V. angustifolium cultivars and hybrids obtained from Northblue was 1.5—3.1 kg/bush with an average berry weight of 1.2—1.6 g. The yield of cultivars and hybrids obtained from Putte was 3.2—6.4 kg/bush with an average berry weight of 1.0—1.3 g.
The purpose of the study is to examine the characteristics of the seed germination of some taxa from the Castanea genus grown in the conditions of the Moscow region. The objects of study were the fruits of two species of chestnuts: C. dentata and C. sativa, and their interspecific hybrid. Morphological characteristics of fruits were described visually. To measure the fruits, a 250-0.05 mm caliper was used. The fruits prepared for sowing were cleaned from the cupules and stored in the refrigerator (+5ºС), without preliminary drying. Sowing was carried out in containers at a depth of 1—2 cm, in a mixture of neutralized peat, loam soil, sand in a ratio of 3 : 2 : 1. Crops were subjected to cold stratification: containers were kept in an unheated greenhouse for 3 winter months, while they were subjected to natural temperature fluctuations, including short-term freezing of the substrate. It was established that the smallest fruits are C. “dentata” (cf. C. dentata × C. sativa) (Botanical Garden Dresden, Germany): length – 1.689±0.055 cm, diameter – 1.537±0.047 cm. Fruits of C. dentata (MBG RAS Natural Flora Exposition) have the greatest length – 2.290 ± 0.052 cm, and the fruits of C. sativa (Tharandt Botanical Garden, Germany) have the largest diameter – 2.030 ± 0.076 cm. C. sativa seeds have the highest germination rate - 91.3%, the smallest – in C. dentata – 38.1%. Seed germination of C. “dentata” (cf. C. dentata × C. sativa) is rather high – 63.2%. Seedlings of C. dentata have reddish, thin stems; leaves of the lower formation, including 2, crescent-shaped, about 0.5 cm long, arranged alternately; the first true leaves are similar to the leaves of adult plants. On average, the growth of C. dentata seedlings (MBG RAS Natural Flora Exposition) for the first week was 2.063 ± 0.050 cm, for the second week – 9.375 ± 0.565 cm. C. sativa, C. dentata and their hybrid are promising for further seed propagation and introduction research in the conditions of central Russia.
The article presents the study results of the of auxins effect on in vitro root formation efficiency of Viburnum opulus L. Perspective cultivars Granatovy Braslet and Krasny Coral were studied. Rhizogenesis media on the base of diluted culture medium Murashige-Skoog supplemented with the various concentration of two growth regulators of auxin nature (IBA and IAA) were tested. Data of morphological parameters such as average plant length (cm), average root length (cm) and average root number per plant at in vitro root formation stage is given. Effective concentrations and type of auxin for each genotype were determined. The MSr medium containing 20 g/l sucrose with 0.5—1.0 mg/l IBA was optimal at the stage of rhizogenesis of Granatovy Braslet. The frequency of rooting was 58.5—65.0 %. The maximum frequency of rhizogenesis (100 %) of Krasny Coral was obtained on the rooting medium with 0.25 mg/l IBA, but the maximum number of roots per rooted cutting of this cultivar was obtained in the medium with 0.25 mg/l IAA.
The creation of new apple cultivars with improved chemical composition of fruits is one of the priorities of the breeding program of the Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding. Phenolic compounds are the most important indicator that determines the antioxidant activity of apples. This article presents the long-term studies of 75 apple cultivars according to the content of P-active catechins in fruits and the total number of phenolic compounds. Genotypes of different maturation periods, of different origin, immune (Rvi6) and resistant (Rvi5) to scab, having a diploid (2x) and triplet (3x) set of chromosomes, strong-grown and of intensive type (Co gene), have been identified as sources of the studied traits. The highest indicator of catechin content in fruits (185.9±18.8 mg/100 g) was noted in the group of cultivars of the autumn ripening period, the best of them are Sokovinka, Slavyanin, Pamyat Isaeva, Zaryanka and Orlovsky Pioner, developed from crossing Antonovka Krasnobochka × SR0523 (159,0-288,0 mg/100 g). From the cultivars of the summer ripening period the following cultivars have been distinguished: Zhelannoye, Orlovim, Rannye Aloye and Yubilyar (152,0-170,0 mg/100 g); from the cultivars of the winter ripening period - Kurnakovskoye, Olimpiyskoye, Poeziya, Svezhest, Bezhin Lug, Kulikovskoye, Start, Zdorovie, Academic Saveliev, Prazdnichnoye, Orlovskaya Zarya, Pamyati Blynskogo, Vita, Mars, Imrus, Pamyat Semakinu, Chistotel, Kandil Orlovsky and Utrenya Zvezda, (161,2-353,5 mg/100 g). The following cultivars were selected and analyzed in more detail as sources of the total amount of phenolic compounds (more than 400.0 mg/100 g): with Rvi6 gene - Start, Zaryanka, Ivanovskoye, Imrus, Orlovskoye Polesie, Zdorovye, Bolotovskoye, Pamyati Hitrovo, Candil Orlovsky; with Rvi5 gene - Orlovsky Pioner and Chistotel; triploids - Pamyt Semakinu, Bezhin Lug, Turgenevskoye, Mars, Orlovsky Partizan, Trener Petrov, Patriot and Avgusta (404,0-623,9 mg/100 g), of these Mars and Trener Petrov have the Rvi6 gene.
