The current paper is devoted to the study of melatonin as an adaptogen capable of increasing wheat tolerance to stress caused by excess levels of easily soluble salts in the environment. The purpose of the study was to evaluate, within the framework of a laboratory model experiment, the ability of melatonin to increase seed germination and stimulate growth processes in wheat sprouts against the background of salinity. The study was conduc ted at the FSBI All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Agrochemistry named after D.N. Pryanishnikov in 2024. The study objects were seeds of the spring wheat variety ‘Darya’. Before the experiment, the seeds were treated with aqueous solutions of melatonin in concentrations of 0; 0.01; 0.1; 1 and 10 mg/l using the priming method. Distilled water and a 150 mM sodium chloride solution were used as background solutions for germination. As a result, there has been shown that within the framework of the experiment, there is an increase in seed germination against the background of treatment with melatonin solutions in concentrations from 0.1 to 10 mg/l against a saline background. Seed treatment with melatonin has demonstrated a pronounced growth-stimulating effect on wheat sprouts, especially in relation to the root system. However, the strength of this effect was somewhat reduced on a saline background compared to control conditions. There was a maximum growth-stimulating effect of melatonin on both backgrounds when using a solution with a concentration of 1 mg/l. There was also established that priming seeds with melatonin promoted water retention in seedling root cells, which may be one of the mechanisms for increasing plant resistance to salinity.

Изучалось влияние экзогенного мелатонина на эффективность и защищённость фотосинтетического аппарата яровой пшеницы в условиях полевого опыта. Фотосинтез – ключевой этап в формировании урожая и его качества. В полевых условиях растения постоянно подвержены целому комплексу неконтролируемых неблагоприятных фак- торов, которые негативно сказываются на эффективности фотосинтеза. В процессе формирования физиологи- ческой реакции на стресс хлоропласты подвергаются разрушающему воздействию реактивных форм кислорода и азота. Растения имеют систему внутренней защиты от возникновения свободных радикалов. Одним из её компонентов является мелатонин. Рабочая гипотеза состояла в том, что дополнительный экзогенный источник мела- тонина позволит улучшить протекание фотосинтеза у пшеницы. Показано в результате исследований, что обработка пшеницы 0,0003%-ным раствором мелатонина по вегетации позволяет повысить стабильность фотосинтетических пигментов, увеличить эффективный выход флуоресценции и нефотохимическое регулируемое ее тушение, что свидетельствует о повышении эффективности и стабильности работы фотосинтетического аппарата яровой пшеницы. The article studies the influence of exogenous melatonin on the efficiency and security of the photosynthetic apparatus of spring wheat under field experiment conditions. Photosynthesis is a key stage in the formation of the crop and its quality. In field conditions, plants are constantly exposed to a whole range of uncontrollable unfavorable factors that negatively affect the efficiency of photosynthesis. In the process of forming a physiological response to stress, chloroplasts are exposed to the destructive effects of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Plants have an internal defense system against the formation of free radicals. One of its components is melatonin. The working hypothesis was that an additional exogenous source of melatonin would improve photosynthesis in wheat. As a result of the research, it was shown that treating wheat with a 0.0003% melatonin solution during the growing season can increase the stability of photosynthetic pigments, increase the effective fluorescence yield and non-photochemical controlled fluorescence quenching, which indicates an increase in the efficiency and stability of the photosynthetic apparatus of spring wheat.

The article is devoted to the study of the influence of a complex of amino acids of plant origin with microelements on the yield and quality of the Lobo apple tree in 2019-2020. In our studies, we studied the effect of a complex of amino acids of plant origin with microelements in three doses of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 l/ha on the main factors of plant development to obtain a high-quality yield. We have found that during the growing seasons 2019–2020. When assessing the effect of two-time foliar feeding of apple trees of the Lobo variety with amino acids of plant origin + microelements, a positive effect of the fertilizer was found, most manifested at a fertilizer consumption of 1.5 l/ha and a working solution of 800 l/ha. Thus, the use of an agrochemical contributed to the development of generative productivity of plants: an increase in yield in 2019 by 13.9%, by 14.5% in 2020, the average weight of one fruit - by 12.1% in 2019, by 16.4% in 2020, fruit set - in 2019 by 0.4%, in 2020 by 0.6%, as well as in improving the biochemical parameters of the fruit. The vitamin C content in 2019 in this variant was 11.8%, in 2020 – 10.4%.

Рассмотрен диапазон оптимальных концентраций ЭДТА лантана при обработке клубней картофеля сорта Сантэ в условиях Московской области в 2022-2023 г. Исследование направлено на оценку эффективности применения ЭДТА лантана в качестве удобрения для картофеля. В ходе полевых экспериментов изучено влияние ЭДТА лантана на урожайность, качество клубней и устойчивость растений к болезням. Результаты показали, что применение ЭДТА лантана способствовало значительному увеличению урожайности картофеля, улучшению качества клубней и повышению устойчивости растений к альтернариозу и фитофторозу. Кроме того, установлено, что совместное применение лантана и фунгицидов в меньшей дозе обеспечивает не худший эффект по сравнению с применением полной дозы фунгицида. Полученные данные свидетельствуют о перспективности использования ЭДТА лантана в качестве эффективного и экологически безопасного средства повышения продуктивности картофеля. This article examines the optimal concentration range of Lanthanum EDTA for treating potato tubers of the Sante variety under the conditions of the Moscow region in 2022-2023. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using lanthanum EDTA as a fertilizer for potatoes. Field experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of lanthanum EDTA on potato yield, tuber quality, and plant disease resistance. Results showed that the application of lanthanum EDTA significantly increased potato yield, improved tuber quality, and enhanced plant resistance to early blight and late blight. Furthermore, it was found that the combined application of lanthanum and fungicides at a lower dose provided results that were no worse than those obtained with a full dose of fungicide. The findings suggest the potential of using lanthanum EDTA as an effective and environmentally friendly means of increasing potato productivity.

The predictive accuracy of total metal content in contaminated soils for determining phytotoxicity has long been debated. Attempts to determine the “phytoavailable” metal fraction have yielded inconsistent results. Further complications arise in contaminated soils containing multiple metals, making interpretation of results difficult. Therefore, our study focused on an agricultural field in El Melón, Valparaíso region, central Chile, which is predominantly contaminated with copper due to the destruction of a tailings dam by the 1965 earthquake. Our primary objective was to determine which soil copper pool, either soluble or total, controls copper phytotoxicity at this unique site. Total copper ranged from 76 to 1672 mg/kg, while soluble copper (extracted by 0.1 M KNO3) ranged from 0.11 to 0.34 mg/kg. Using a prolonged 128-day ecotoxicity assessment with pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), our results indicate that total soil copper content emerges as a robust predictor of various plant responses. Regressions showed significant relationships for shoot copper content (R2 = 0.77, P < 0.001), shoot dry weight (R2 = 0.56, P = 0.02), xylem thickness (R2 = 0.33, P = 0.08), and leaf thickness (R2 = 0.29, P = 0.10). Conversely, the influence of soluble copper concentration on pepper responses and shoot copper content was not statistically significant (P > 0.1). Our discussion underscores that plant element uptake depends not only on the concentrations in the soil solution (intensity), but also on the total element content in the soil (quantity) and its supply kinetics (capacity). Therefore, the total metal content of the soil was found to be a more reliable predictor of plant responses than the soluble copper fraction in the soil. The anatomical changes observed in this study represent, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of metal-induced stress in Capsicum annuum. From this novel perspective, the results of our study are significant, especially for plant water relations, given their dependence on xylem and leaf thickness.

A field trial to study the effect of preplant and foliar treatment of potatoes (lat. Solanum tuberosum) of Red Scarlett variety with dispersions of silver nanoparticles stabilized with polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride was conducted. Silver nanoparticles were obtained by chemical reduction and characterized by UV–Vis spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. The obtained nanoparticles were roughly spherical shape with the average diameter of 4.92 ± 2.66 nm. Preplant treatment of potato tubers and foliar treatment of potato plants were conducted with dispersions of silver nanoparticles with the concentrations of 5 and 0.2 mg/L, respectively. The treatment of potato with the dispersions resulted in an increase in values ​​of morphological indicators such as stem height, tops weight and leaf weight which in turn caused a significant increase in the yield (from 10.6 to 21.9% compared to the control variant) and commercial quality of the tubers. Notably, the maximum increase in the yield was obtained with the largest number of the treatments. In addition, silver dispersions showed a phytoprotective effect on potato plants which manifested in a decrease in damage to leaves by Phytophthora infestans from 30 to 7–8%. An explanation for the observed phytoprotective effect of silver nanoparticles based on the analysis of enzymatic activity in plant leaf tissues was proposed. The obtained results demonstrate high potential of application of drugs based on silver nanoparticles in horticulture as means of stimulating of growth and protection of plants.

Представлены результаты серии полевых опытов, проводимых в условиях Нечерноземной зоны на дерново-подзолистой почве с целью оценки эффективности применения различных форм ретардантов на основе хлормекватхлорида и тринексапак-этила в посевах яровой пшеницы сорта Рима. Установлено, что комбинированный препарат Эммер, содержащий хлормекватхлорид и тринексапак-этил, независимо от обеспеченности растений пшеницы влагой, эффективнее снижает высоту растений пшеницы по сравнению с однокомпонентными препаратами Моддус и Центрино, а также положительно влияет на формирование урожая. В зависимости от погодных условий морфорегулятор Эммер способствовал увеличению урожайности яровой пшеницы на 4,2-14,0% и не уступал по своей эффективности однокомпонентным регуляторам роста растений. The results of field experiments conducted in a non-Chernozem zone on sod-podzolic soil in order to assess the effectiveness of the use of various forms of retardants based on chlormequat chloride and trinexapac-ethyl in spring wheat crops are presented. It was found that the combined preparation Emmer, containing chlormequat chloride and trenxapac-ethyl, regardless of the moisture content of wheat plants, effectively reduces the height of wheat plants compared to single-component preparations Moddus and Centrino, and also has a positive effect on the formation of the crop. Depending on weather conditions, the Emmer morphoregulator contributed to an increase in the yield of spring wheat by 4.2-14.0% and was not inferior in its effectiveness to single-component plant growth regulators.

В условиях вегетационного опыта в фитотроне проведено изучение влияния листовой обработки кукурузы хелатами редкоземельных элементов на рост, содержание питательных элементов и физиолого-биохимических параметров в условиях краткосрочного низкотемпературного стресса. Растения кукурузы выращивались в условиях контролируемого программируемого температурного режима. Дважды проводилась обработка растворами ЭДТА La, Y, Er в двух концентрациях. После воздействия на растения пониженными температурами были изучены их биометрические параметры, физиолого-биохимические показатели-маркеры стресса, элементный состав надземной биомассы, интенсивность протекания фотосинтеза. Установлено, что обработки растений растворами хелатов РЗЭ имеют разнонаправленное влияние на растения, повышая их устойчивость к пониженным температурам. Характер и степень влияния зависят от применяемого редкоземельного элемента и его концентрации в рабочем растворе. In the conditions of the vegetative experiment in phytotron, the influence of the leaf treatment of corn with chelates of rare earth elements on growth, nutrient content and physiological and biochemical parameters under conditions of short-term low-temperature stress was studied. Corn plants were grown under controlled programmable temperature conditions. Treatment with solutions of EDTA La, Y, Er, in two concentrations was carried out twice. After the plants were exposed to low temperatures, their biometric parameters, physiological and biochemical indicators-stress markers, the elemental composition of aboveground biomass, and the intensity of photosynthesis were studied. It has been established that plant treatments with REE chelate solutions have a multidirectional effect on plants, increasing their resistance to low temperatures. The nature and degree of influence depend on the rare earth element used and its concentration in the working solution.

Представлены результаты исследований по изучению состава и численности микроорганизмов, а также урожайности ярового ячменя под действием и последействием препарата Рестарт (живые клетки штамма Rhodococcus erythropolis OPI-01, не менее 1-5·10 КОЕ/мл) в условиях Центрального района Нечерноземной зоны РФ. Применение биостимуляторов роста способствует увеличению урожайности ярового ячменя, что впоследствии приводит к повышению численности микроорганизмов в почве при обработке растений препаратом Рестарт. Урожайность ярового ячменя была выше в год последействия препарата. The results of studies on the composition and abundance of microorganisms, as well as the yield of spring barley under the action and aftereffect of the drug Restart (live cells of the Rhodococcus erythropolis OPI-01 strain, at least 1-5 × 109 CFU/ml) under the conditions of the Central region of the Non-Сhernozem zone of the Russian Federation is presented. The use of biogrowth stimulants helps to increase the yield of spring barley, which subsequently contributes to an increase in the number of microorganisms in the soil when plants are treated with Restart. The yield of spring barley was higher in the year of aftereffect of the drug by an average of 3.1-4.1% for the variants of the experiment.

The Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Seed Production of Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy studied the complex of economically valuable properties of 15 varieties of soft spring wheat of different ecological and geographical origins. The studies took place at the Field Experimental Station in 2019–2021. The researchers confirmed that the Central region of the Non-Black Earth zone of Russia remains a zone of risky agriculture. The article emphasizes that meteorological conditions substantially affect the formation of yields and grain quality. At the same time, the hydrothermal coefficient, calculated for the whole vegetational season,does not objectively assess the effect of meteorological conditions on the plants. This fact requires a detailed analysis of the meteorological conditions prevailing in each specific interstage. The vegetation conditions in 2020 contributed to the formation of a high grain yield of low baking quality in all the varieties studied. The vegetation conditions in 2019 and 2021 influenced the formation of the average grain yield. Grain quality was medium in 2019 and high in 2021. The most stable variety-specific properties were grain body, 1000 grains mass, and flour yield. The vitreousness of the grain and the volume yield of the bread turned out the most unstable properties in our studies. The researchers recommended varieties of high baking qualities (Gerakl, Ljubava, KVS Akvilon, Tyumenskaya 25, Ekada 109, and Sudarynya) as starting material in the selection of spring wheat of high baking qualities. Varieties Ivolga Fioletovaya and Kinel’skaya Otrada can form grain of advanced baking quality in dry conditions. They can be recommended for testing in areas with insufficient moisture.

В настоящей статье представлен обзор материалов онлайн-конференции, проведенной 31 марта 2021 года ВНИИ агрохимии. Основная цель конференции состояла в рассмотрении актуальных вопросов и проблем, возникающих при проведении процедуры государственной регистрации пестицидов и агрохимикатов. В докладах освещены вопросы правового и методического обеспечения регистрационных испытаний в части биологической эффективности и безопасности пестицидов и агрохимикатов, связанных с внесением изменений в федеральное законодательство. Участникам конференции были представлены доклады по методикам закладки полевых опытов и результатам регистрационных испытаний новых инновационных регуляторов роста растений и удобрительных продуктов на сельскохозяйственных культурах и декоративных насаждениях в различных почвенно-климатических зонах Российской Федерации. This article presents an overview of the materials of the online conference held on March 31, 2021 at the Institute of Agrochemistry. The main purpose of the conference was to consider topical issues and problems arising during the procedure of state registration of pesticides and agrochemicals. The reports highlight the issues of legal and methodological support of registration tests in terms of biological efficacy and safety of pesticides and agrochemicals related to amendments to federal legislation. The conference participants were presented with reports on the methods of laying field experiments and the results of registration tests of new innovative plant growth regulators and fertilizer products on agricultural crops and ornamental plantings in various soil and climatic zones of the Russian Federation.

Исследование проводилось в лаборатории испытаний элементов агротехнологий, агрохимикатов и регуляторов роста, на базе ФГБНУ «ВНИИ агрохимии им. Д. Н. Прянишникова». Испытуемой культурой являлся гибрид кукурузы (Zea mays L.) Нур. Изучалось действие трёх форм цинксодержащих микроудобрений с пролонгированным эффектом, который достигался за счёт закрепления микроэлемента на медленно разлагающейся матрице-носителе. В качестве матриц рассматривали два вида метиленмочевины с разными пролонгационными характеристиками и целлюлозно-лигниновый концентрат. Пролонгационные характеристики метиленмочевины зависят от исходного соотношения мочевины и формальдегида при синтезе. В качестве тестовой культуры выбрана кукуруза, которая хорошо отзывается на внесение цинковых удобрений. Вегетационный опыт проводили в условиях контроля факторов внешней среды с использованием фитотрона. Кукуруза выращивалась в контейнере, в заправленном нейтрализованом торфяном субстрате. Оценка действия удобрений проводилась по следующим параметрам: содержание подвижного цинка в субстрате, содержание цинка в вегетативной массе, биометрические показатели растений (высота и масса), параметры протекания фотосинтеза, оцениваемые методом PAM-флуориметрии. Содержание цинка в субстрате определяли в вытяжке ацетатно-аммонийным буфером с pH = 4,8, содержание цинка в кукурузе после сухого озоления — методом атомной адсорбции. Показано, что применение хелата цинка и обеих форм метиленмочевины в дозе 0,3 кг Zn/га позволяет незначительно увеличить содержание цинка в вегетативной массе кукурузы (на 2,2–10,9%) по сравнению с контролем. При этом изменения указанного показателя наблюдаются через 6 недель после внесения удобрений. Положительное влияние исследуемых удобрений на ростовые параметры кукурузы связано с кратковременным улучшением азотного питания при использовании метиленмочевины. Прирост массы растений по отношению к контролю на 20,7–41,4% наблюдался через 2 недели после внесения метиленмочевины. The investigation took place at the laboratory of Testing Elements of Agro-technologies, Agrochemicals and Growth Regulators at the All-Russian Pryanishnikov Institute of Agrochemistry. The impact of Zn microfertilizers was tested on maize hybrid Nur. The fertilizers have long-term effect due to the spread of the microelement on slow-release methylene eurea and cellulose-lignin concentrate. Methylene eurea break down depends on the ratio of eurea to formaldehyde. Maize was selected for this experiment due to its good response to Zn fertilization. The experiment was conducted in phytotron. The crop was grown in a neutralized peat substrate. The following parameters were analyzed: contents of soluble Zn in the substrate and green mass, plant height and weight. Photosynthetic efficiency was evaluated by Pulse-Amplitude-Modulation (PAM) fluorometry. Substrate Zn was measured in the ammonium acetate buffer extract (pH = 4.8). Zn content in maize was tested by atomic absorption spectroscopy after dry ashing. The application of Zn chelate and methylene urea at a rate of 0.3 kg Zn ha-1 insignificantly increased Zn accumulation in maize green mass (by 2.2–10.9%). Zn increase was observed 6 weeks after fertilization. Positive effect of these fertilizers on maize growth was associated with a short-term improvement in nitrogen nutrition when using methylene eurea. Plant mass increase of 20.7–41.4% was observed 2 weeks after the application of methylene urea.

Изложены результаты исследований применения трех комплексов: хелатов микроэлементов, микроэлементов с аминокислотами и аминокислот в технологии возделывания озимой пшеницы в условиях Нижегородской области за 2018-2019 гг. Показано, что максимальная продуктивность получена при применении удобрений, содержащих хелатные формы микроэлементов и комплекс аминокислот с микроэлементами, которые способствовали существенному увеличению массы 1000 зёрен на 2,8-3,4 г (6,3-7,6%). Установлено, что максимальная прибавка урожая в 2018 г. была при применении комплекса микроэлементов с аминокислотами в дозе 1,5 л/га, что на 17,8 % выше контрольного варианта (25,9 ц/га), а в 2019 г. при применении двойной дозы комплекса аминокислот с микроэлементами – на 2,1 ц/га (5,6 %) выше контрольного варианта (37,3 ц/га). The results of research on the use of 3 complexes: chelates of trace elements, trace elements with amino acids and amino acids in the technology of winter wheat cultivation in the Nizhny Novgorod region for 2018-2019 are presented. It is shown that the maximum productivity indicators were obtained when using fertilizers containing chelated forms of trace elements and a complex of amino acids with trace elements, which contributed to a significant increase in the mass of 1000 grains by 2.8-3.4 g (6.3-7.6%). It is established that in 2018 the maximum yield increase was obtained with the application of a complex of trace elements with amino acids in the dose of 1.5 l/ha, which is 17.8% higher than the control group (25.9 kg/ha), and in 2019 the best results were obtained by applying a double-dose of complex chelated micronutrients, 2.0 t/ha (5.4 percent) above the control group (3.73 t/ha).