The review paper discusses the problems ofpostharvest physiology associated with maintaining the quality of floriculture products. Petals are an excellent model system for studying the aging process and programmed death of plant cells. The authors outline achievements of molecular biology and epigenetics in studying the regulation mechanisms of aging and cell death, and state their role in the loss of the decorative qualities of flowers. The study of water metabolism, the activity of antioxidant systems, and the stability of cell membranes has shown that their changes begin in the early stages of flower development and precede visible signs of the loss of decorative qualities. Common features and differences in the aging dynamics of leaves and petals are noted. Maintaining the water status of leafy shoots is an important factor in maintaining the quality of flower products. Using the inhibitory method (STS, 1-MCP) the authors have shown that ethylene is a trigger of the aging process only in a limited range of plants. Many modern hybrids of garden cloves that are typically considered ethylene sensitive are not sensitive to ethylene. In alstroemeria, lilies, and freesia, ethylene is involved only in the final stage offlower aging and petal fall. The threshold value of the activity of hydrolytic enzymes that ensure the mobilization of proteins and lipids can be a leading factor in starting the aging mechanisms. Ethylene only increases the efficiency of using nutrients to form seeds and fruits. Research based on physiological, biochemical, and genetic approaches should provide a clearer picture of aging and its regulation. Studyig the role of ROS and antioxidant systems can be quite promising for assessing the common and different signaling pathways in different parts of a plant. 5-sulfosalicylic acid, which increases the activity of antioxidant systems, can gain its rightful place in a series ofproducts to slow down the aging of cut flowers, especially in ethylene-insensitive species.

The production of planting material for fruit, forest and ornamental perennial crops has been recently characterized by a tendency to obtain and use seedlings with a root-balled system (RBS) for setting out new plantings. To obtain the best results in the cultivation of this type of planting material, it is necessary to study a sufficiently large number of parameters, including the selection of the optimal soil substrate, taking into account its composition, which will depend on chemical and physical parameters, resistance to leaching of nutrients, etc. This study was conducted in order to establish patterns of changes in the elements offertility in the soil mixture for cultivating seedlings with the RBS, evaluate the effectiveness of substrates and determine the optimal composition of the substrate for growing apple seedlings with the RBS. The authors studied some regularities of changes in the following components of soil fertility of the substrate depending on its composition: the content of organic matter, the reaction of the soil environment, the absorption capacity, the amount of absorbed bases, and the content of the main macronutrients. According to the data obtained, the use of various components in the soil composition significantly affects the elements of fertility and the dynamics of changes in their parameters during the period of growing seedlings in containers. The use of organic additives contributes to partial compensation of nutrients, due to the process of mineralization of these components. On the other hand, such substrates showed a longer mobilization of nutrients that are provided to plants. The results have shown that perlite and humus are the most effective components of soils that ensure the greatest growth of shoots of the studied plants. The maximum changes in nitrogen were observed in the variant of a sandy substrate. The content of mobile phosphorus in the composition of substrates based on peat and humus was the most stable. A significant decrease in the content of exchangeable potassium was found in the variants using perlite, ver-micompost and humus.

S with alfalfa varia were carried out under environmental conditions of the premountain zone of North Ossetia-Alania on the black soil of peeled pebbles. The authors compared the effect of biological and mineral forms of nitrogen on the formation of yield and protein productivity of alfalfa crops. In the considered three-year study, eight full-fledged alfalfa harvests were obtained - two in the year of sowing and three in the following years. During the whole period, the control variant yielded 13.38 t/ha of hay. The industrial strain rhizo-bium 425a contributed to crop growth of 1.57 t/ha or 11.7%. The largest harvest was formed in crops with the highest level of symbiotic activity (In-1800) and amounted to 16.01 t/ha, which is 19.7% higher than the control variant. The protein productivity of alfalfa depended mainly on the activity of the symbiotic system and the mode of a nitrogen diet. The protein productivity for the entire study period was 2186 kg/ha in the control variant. The efficiency of starting doses of nitrogen fertilizers was only 1.6%. The combination of starting doses of fertilizer and active rhizobium strains increased protein productivity by 538 kg/ha or 24.6%. The maximum protein productivity was obtained in the variant with inoculation of seeds with active high-mountain strains of tuber bacteria and amounted to 2779 kg/ha, which is 27.2% more than in the control variant. On average, over three years, each harvest yielded 1.67 t/ha of hay in the control variant, which was equivalent to about 273 kg of protein. The maximum positive effect was obtained in the In-1800 variant: the average hay yield was 2.0 t/ha, and the protein productivity reached 347 kg/ha, which is 19.5 and 27.2% higher than the control variant, respectively.

Bacterial blight is one of most harmful diseases of legumes, reducing the profitability of soybean production in Russian Federation. Among a number of Pseudomonas isolates obtained from diseased seeds and plants of soybean, 4 strains were selected and confirmed as Pseudomonas savas-tanoi pv. glycinea (Psg). Properties of the isolated bacteria were similar to type strain of Psg CFBP 2214 in plant virulence, LOPAT tests, and PCR analysis for coronafacate ligase gene, and partly -in the phage reaction profile. Four isolates of bacteriophages specific to Psg were obtained from soil samples taken from fields with soybean crops. Virulence testing for the bacteriophages showed that bacteriophage фG17 infected 4 of 5 tested Psg strains, and it was chosen for further experiments with bacterial blight control. The bacteriophague effect control conducted on soybentplants inoculated by Psg experiments confirmed that 2 treatments of plants by the bacteriophage significantly reduced the disease development. Biological effect of the bacteriophage application was 74.75%, which is very close to the pesticide Strekar in a concentration of 0.5%.

The paper presents the results of four-ear trials of preparations with silver nanoparticles Ze-rox, Zeromiks, and Zerebra Agro on varieties with varying degrees of resistance to the main potato diseases. The four-ear trials made it possible to conclude that preparations with silver nanoparticles were effective in protecting potatoes from rhizoctoniosis and alternariosis, comparable to the effectiveness of chemical treaters (Maxim and Celeste Top) and fungicides used in the treatment of vegetative plants (Abiga Peak andRidomil GoldMC). The biological effectiveness of preparations with silver nanoparticles was lower than that of Abig Peak by an average of 49.8% against late blight on the unstable Ilyinsky variety. The biological effectiveness of Zerebra Agro was low (24.6%) in relation to late blight on the Sante variety in the epiphytotic year. It was high (65.7%) in the non-epiphytotic year, and it was not much worse than chemical fungicides (30.4 and 78.1%, respectively) in both the epiphytotic and non-epiphytotic years. In 2018, when the effectiveness of the preparations was high for all major potato diseases, the yield increase was significantly higher than the check. In the standard version, it exceeded the check by 26.4%, in the variant with Zerebra Agro - by 27.1%. No significant difference was found between the standard variant and Zerebra Agro.

The paper deals with some issues related to the meat productivity development of three breeds of sheep of different production purposes: Kuibyshev (meat-wool), Romanov (wool skin) and Texel (meat). Most studies on meat productivity are based on determining the carcass composition: all the muscles, bones, and fat tissue. It should be taken into account that the muscles that form the animal’s body differ in their internal structure depending on the location and function. Morphofunctional classification is based on a number of structural and biochemical parameters of muscles (tissue ratio, diameter of muscle fibers, amino acid composition, etc.). The authors have studied and analyzed 11 dynamic (type I), 8 statodynamic, 1 semistatodynamic and 1 statodynamic muscles. The Romanov lambs are of the smallest weight (2820 g), which affected their subsequent growing. At the age of 4 months, the pre-slaughter weight of the Romanov rams is lower than that of their Kuibyshev and Texel counterparts by 32.4 and 26.5%, respectively. The relative mass of carcass and muscle increases most significantly in the Texel meat breed - by 35.1 and 31.1% (36.61%), despite intensive fat accumulation (13.25%). This does not negatively affect the ratio of total muscle and bone mass, which is the highest in the meat breed (4.7:1) and is higher than in other breeds. In general, the proportion of muscles of type I and II in meat animals tends to increase relative to individuals of the meat-wool and wool skin groups. The carcass and muscles of all sheep breeds are characterized by a low but positive allometry. The muscle growth of meat individuals is slightly higher than that ofother sheep breeds (b=1.091 vs. 1.063-1.077). Unlike muscles, bones are inferior in growth to the mass of animals, i.e. they have a negative allometry (b=0.793-0.820). The highest power coefficients of allometric equations are inherent in visceral adipose tissue (b=1.760-1.934). In meat animals, the growth rate of the trapezoid and latitudinal muscles reaches the highest values (b=1.19-1.27). The authors believe such studies to be promising and necessary in assessing the meat productivity of farm animals of various breeds.

Many breeds of sheep show pronounced seasonality in reproduction. The aim of the study was to study quantitative and qualitative characteristics of semen taken from Dzhalginsky Merino (DzM) and Russian Meat Merino (RMM) rams in different seasons of the year. Semen samples were taken from five rams of each breed weekly for 12 months using an artificial vagina. The study results showed significant (P<0.05) seasonal variations in semen concentration and survival. It was found that the highest semen quality was obtained in autumn, the lowest possible in spring (semen volume: 1.41 ml in DzM and 1.25 ml in RMM vs. 0.96 ml in DzM and 0.79 ml in RMM; concentration: 3.61 billion/ml in JM and 3.35 billion/ml in RMM vs. 2.66 billion/ml in DzM and 2.33 billion/ml in RMM; motility 9.08 points in DzM and 8.57 points in RMM vs. 7.42 points in DzM and 6.45 points in RMM). The estimation of semen motility after cryopreservation showed a 50% decrease on average as compared to fresh semen. Despite the high variability of most semen indices of both breeds, the conclusion was made that it is possible to use rams of Dzhalginsky Merino and Russian Meat Merino in autumn-winter and summer months. However, the revealed differences between the studied indicators within each breed indicate the need to select the producing rams based on their individual evaluation.

To increase competitiveness, management of an economic entity in conditions of high competition and economic instability requires the formation of an analytical base for making effective and economically sound decisions. In this connection, management analysis aimed at identifying internal resources and external capabilities of the organization becomes especially relevant, as it allows assessing the current state of production, sales and management processes, and identifying strategic problems in the functioning of an economic entity. Industrial production, which is quite resource- and labor-intensive, requires targeted control and analytical procedures, namely, a comprehensive study of the activities of structural divisions that perform various functions, aimed at improving the quality component of management processes. The study involved the analysis of theoretical and practical knowledge of the management analysis methods, comparative assessment of financial and management analysis, in terms of their purpose, subject, data base, information user, etc. The authors have identified information flows generated in the system of management accounting and serving as the basis for conducting the management review. The expediency of using key performance indicators (KPIs) of structural divisions and individual categories of emploees has been proved, since KPIs indicate the effectiveness and acual degree of achieving the goals set. The study helped form key performance indicators of industrial organizations engaged in research activities in the field of heat power engineering (the manufacturing of central heating boilers) to ensure their subsequent mass production and sale.

In the current conditions of uncertainty and financial instability against the background of the coronavirus pandemic, small and medium-sized businesses are the most vulnerable. Entrepreneurs suffer huge losses, and the viability of many small businesses tends to zero due to the lack of internal reserves and unaffordable financial losses. The issue of state support for small and medium-size businesses, preferential lending and a number of other government measures aimed at supporting entrepreneurs in all affected areas remains acute. At the same time, the development (revision, reevaluation, re-orientation) of the internal functioning of small and medium-sized businesses, the implementation of competent management decisions that can support the enterprise in crisis conditions, becomes important. The purpose of implementing internal control in small and medium-size businesses is to avoid abrupt, disjointed, contradictory management decisions. The task of internal control is to ensure the consistency and expediency of management actions. Thus, the issues of organizing internal control ofvarious economic life aspects for small and medium-size businesses are becoming relevant. The paper explains the need to implement an internal control system in difficult economic conditions in order to stabilize the financial position of an enterprise. The authors have studied some factors that hamper the implementation of the internal control system in small and medium-size businesses.

The diffusion of innovations is described as a process in a number of scientific papers. At the same time, the causes of this process have not been sufficiently studied. The author’s goal is to consider the main regularities, under which the life cycle of innovations begins, and propose measures to enhance diffusion in modern conditions. As a scientific hypothesis, the author accepts the postulate about the primary role of the obolescence of attracted innovations in this process. The analysis revealed not only the economic proportions that initiate the start of innovation promotion, but also the influence on the diffusion rate of the obsolescence degree of innovations and the market share occupied by the new product. Methodological approaches have been developed to determine economic efficiency depending on the moment of technological change-over, as well as to determine the absolute and relative speed of innovation diffusion. Sociological studies were conducted to determine the state of innovation development and the time lag between obtaining information about an innovation and its practical implementation. The author presents his “Agroopyt” information system developed to disseminate knowledge in the agricultural sphere and ensure technology transfer in agriculture. Digital methods provide for significant accelerateion of the diffusion of innovations and expand its scope.

The paper proposes the methodology for estimating the effect of climate change on the prospects of increasing agricultural workers ’ wages and the stocks reserved for wages, providing this capacity is employed. The methodology relies on the scenario analysis, which is conducted using the economic model of partial equilibrium in the agricultural markets of Russia’s regions (federal subjects). The capability of increasing agricultural workers ’ wages is measured by means of the shadow prices of regional agricultural labor resources. It has been found that in the majority of the federal subjects the wages in agriculture are economically reasonable and the same situation extends to the modelled warming scenario. However, 21 federal subjects are characterized by the unused capacity of wages increase in agriculture. The prevailing influence of climate warming on this capacity is negative for all but five regions (federal subjects), where the effect is opposite. The largest positive effect is possible in the Orel region and Zabaykalsky krai. The study entails two practical conclusions: it is recommended, first, to eliminate obstacles to the use of the existing capabilities for higher wages, including those that emerge due to the failures in risk management; second, to proactively respond to reduced demand in agricultural workers caused by warming via distributing the funds aimed at developing alternative labor and entrepreneurship opportunities according to the expected labor demand reduction in a particular region.

The formation of high productivity of any agricultural crop largely depends on the sowing period and the seeding rate. It is generally accepted that mustard is less demanding as to the sowing period. However, the moist topsoil is more favorable for better development of the root system in an early sowing period, respectively, such crops will be easier to tolerate spring-summer drought. Mustard reacts very strongly to the seeding rate and, accordingly, to the nutritional area for plants, which is caused by its biological characteristics. So, for example, very dense and, on the contrary, rare crops will be unproductive. Based on this, field experiments to study the effect of sowing terms and seeding rates on the yield of aboveground mustard biomass were laid in 2017-2019 in the experimental fields of the Udmurt Scientific Research Institute of RAS UdmFRC UB. The author studied the formed productivity of white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) - the Raduga variety, brown mustard (Brassica juncea L.) - the Nika variety, depending on the sowing period - 1 (control), 2, 3 decades of May and the seeding rate - 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 (control), 3.5 and 4.0 million germinating seeds/ha. The study found that in the considered years, mustard seedlings got enough moisture with sufficient precipitation in May-June, as a result of which the sowing period of mustard did not significantly affect its yield. So, on average for the three studied years, the нушв of white mustard was 15.32-15.52 t/ha, brown mustard - 12.88-13.96 t/ha. The highest yield of both types of mustard was formed at a seeding rate of 3.0-4.0 million germinating seeds/ha, for white mustard -15.64-17.11 t/ha, brown mustard - 13.66-14.85 t/ha.

According to the current “Instruction" used in dairy cattle selection and breeding in the Republic of Kazakhstan, bulls-producers of dairy breeds are assessed according to the their offspring quality based on the principle of“peer daughter". This means that the phenotypic indicators of the daughters of the tested bulls are compared with the corresponding indicators of their peers. In European countries with developed dairy cattle breeding, as well as in Canada, the USA, etc., to ensure a reliable forecast of the genetic value of individuals (primarily, bulls-producers), use is made of the best linear unbiased forecast method (BLUP method). This method implies that the breeding value of producers is determined by the deviation values of the development of traits of the examined animal from its average values in the population. Especially urgent area is the research aimed at improving breeding programs, including assessing the breeding value of bulls-producers of dairy breeds using BLUP methods based on the productive qualities of the mass of dairy cattle in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The research material included the data on the phenotypic indicators of the milk productivity offirst-calf cows (the amount of milk yield, the content offat and protein in milk, the yield of milk fat and protein) of the Holstein black-motley dairy cattle breed, obtained from the information and analytical database of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2016-2017. It was found that when evaluating according to the official “Instruction”, 16 sires out of 256 bulls (6.2%) got the stud category in 2016, 14 sires (9.2%) out of 152 bulls in 2017, and - 30 sires of 249 bulls (12.0%) over the cumulative period. The results of the conducted research prove that the use of the classic “Instructions” in dairy cattle breeding has lower efficiency (by 42.8-90.0%) as compared with the assessment of the breeding value of bulls based on the BLUP method. The selection of sire bulls into breeding groups based on the “peer daughter” methodology is not reliable enough and rather ineffective. Comparing the results of assessing the breeding qualities of sire bulls, obtianed using two methods in all compared periods (2016, 2017, 2016-2017), the authors established a clear superiority of the BLUP method over the current Instruction used in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The paper is dedicated to Grigory M. Loza, the outstanding scientist-agrarian economist, VASKhNIL academician, who made a great contribution to the development of domestic agricultural economics. The author emphasizes his role and outlines his activities carried out in Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy and in the VASKHNIL Department of Farm Production Economics and Organization.

The paper is a tribute to the 100^,h anniversary of V.V. Rachinsky, a Soviet physical chemist, Doctor of Chemistry, the founder of the Soviet school of radiochromatography, long-term Head of the Department of Applied Atomic Physics and Radiochemistry of Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy. The paper shows the formation stages of an outstanding scientist as a researcher and teacher. The authors particularly describe V.V. Rachinsky’s contribution to the development of radiological research at the Academy and to the development of radiochromatography methods.