The article summarizes the outcomes of the International Scientific Conference “Agrobiotechnology-2021”, which took place November 24-25, 2021, in Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy. Scientists presented results of their research in the following sections: “Plant growing, grassland science, farming”, “Plant protection”, “Safety and quality of agricultural raw materials and food”, “Biotechnology, breeding and seed production of agricultural plants”, “Horticulture and medicinal plants”. The main emphasis was on the research on the development of resource-saving agro-biotechnologies. It is one of the priorities in implementing programs of the Russian Federation Government in the field of food safety till 2030 and tasks on the self-sufficiency of the country in primary domestic agricultural produce, raw material, and foodstuffs. The conference participants discussed the concept and prospects of organic farming in Russia, issues of crop production sustainability and its functioning, ways to overcome factors negatively affecting yield formation and crop quality. They tried to find ways to improve natural and old grasslands. The researchers analyzed climate change and related cultivation technology and agronomic practices, soil cultivation methods, weed control, and herbicide use. The participants put forward theses on the importance of crop rotation combined with advanced farming practices. The conference addressed yield loss issues in crop production due to unfavorable conditions of the vegetation period: frost, drought, overwatering, and other stressful situations for plants. The participants suggested resource-saving, soil-protective, energy-saving techniques, and search for new environmentally safe plant seed growth stimulants. They discussed critical factors of plant nutrition and phytosanitary status of soils, soil formation. The conference addresses the challenges of global climate change associated with steadily increasing average annual temperatures, new breeding methods, and seed production as the basis of agricultural production.

The article analyzes the results of the studies to assess the role of weather conditions in the formation of gluten in spring wheat grain in the conditions of the Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe. The researchers carried out the work based on the experiments conducted in the educational farm “Minderlinskoe” of Krasnoyarsk State Agrarian University in 2013-2021. At the present stage in Siberia, it is not always possible to equate high yields with good grain qualities. More often, there is a negative trend. In years with heavy precipitation but with a small amount of heat, high grain yields are obtained but of reduced quality. In dry years, the farmers harvest low yields with a high gluten content in the grain. They hand over the most high-quality grain in arid steppe areas. It isn t easy to get a grain of valuable wheat in the northern forest-steppe and foothill areas, although it is possible. In the research, the authors evaluated the varieties of soft spring wheat included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements Approved for Use, cultivated in the forest-steppe of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, for gluten content and its stability over the years. The relationships of this indicator with the temperature factor, the impact of moisture availability during the growing season, and its contribution to the amount of gluten in soft spring wheat are determined. The effect of the hydrothermal coefficient by month on the above feature is estimated. The researchers found that the quantitative average gluten content in the studied varieties ranges from 29 to 33%, and its maximum amount is formed in the varieties Novosibirsk 15 and Novosibirsk 29 reaching 35%. The study of correlations of gluten content in the grain of soft spring wheat with the heat supply of the growing season revealed a positive, favorable role between the amount of gluten and average monthly temperatures. The nature of the relationship between precipitation and this sign was negative.

Intensification of agricultural production provides the development and introduction of new, progressive, and cost-effective practices, including plant growth regulators. The effect of various growth regulators on the productivity of fodder beet of the Eckendorf yellow variety type was studied in the conditions of the Central-Non-Chernozem region of the Russian Federation in an experimental field in the Kaluga branch of Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy in the period from 2019 to 2021. The studies found that the level of productivity of fodder beet under the action of various growth regulators relative to the control variant significantly increases during pre-sowing seed treatment on 5-10,9% and when using phytoregulators by vegetation on 4,8-11,5%. The most significant increase in productivity and the yield of absolutely dry substances of root crops were noted in an intensive version of the technology using growth regulators Biodux and Zircon. The yield range for three years with these regulators was in the range of 560-561 c/ha, the yield of ACB was 72,5-72,8 c/ha during seed etching, and 559-564 c/ha and the yield of ACB72,5-73,1 c/ha during foliar treatments. In general, the percentage increase in the content of absolutely dry matter of fodder beetroots relative to the control variant with the use of growth regulators was 0,24-0,25%, the increase in the yield of feed units for variants with pre-sowing use of growth regulators was 3-6,6 c/ha or 4,9-10,9%, with foliar application - 2,8-7 c/ha or 4,6-11,5%. Thus, the research work for 2019-2021 proved the effectiveness of modern growth regulators in the Non-Chernozem zone of the Russian Federation.

Most genotypes of white cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) have a low frequency of microspore-derived embryos germination and regeneration through adventitious shoots or secondary embryogenesis. Increasing the frequency of regeneration and the formation of seedlings can ensure the production of a large number of doubled haploids. This work studied the effects of gelling agents, such as agar (11 g/l), agargel (4.5 g/l), and phytagel (2 g/l), on the frequency of regeneration/germination of microspore-derived embryos of white cabbage (B. oleracea L.), as well as the effect of a cold incubation of kohlrabi cabbage embryos (B. oleracea var. gongylodes L. ) at 5°C for 3, 6, 9,12 and 15 days in complete darkness. The studies showed that when culturing embryos on regeneration medium B5 solidified with agar, the embryo germination and seedling regeneration were higher than those on media solidified with agargel and phytagel. No embryo germination but vitrification of embryo tissues was observed on media containing agargel and phytagel. Cold incubation of Kohlrabi cabbage embryos at 5°C for 3, 6 and 9 days in complete darkness twice increased the frequency of embryo germination compared to the control sample. More extended periods of cold incubation for 12 days in the dark, on the other hand, twice reduced the rate of direct embryo germination compared to the control sample, and for 15 days - 6 times.

In the modern world, potatoes remain a consistently valuable culture for humans. It primarily serves as a component of good nutrition due to the high content of carbohydrates in tubers. It is a raw material for producing alcohol, starch, protein, and other products used in various areas of the national economy. Scientists currently pay attention to potatoes with colored tubers, as they contain many antioxidants. These secondary metabolites help people cope with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, overweight, cancer, hypertension, and other diseases. Therefore, creating new forms of potatoes with colored tubers is one of the primary tasks of potato farming. The article studied 16 potato samples with a high content of anthocyanins and carotenoids. We conducted the studies at the Department of Biotechnology of Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy and in the field trial of the All-Russian Research Institute of Phytopathology (Bolshie Vyazemy, Odintsovo district, Moscow region, Russia). We used biotechnological introduction methods into in vitro cultivar, reproduction, and chemical treatment during the study. As a result of this work, among the studied samples, we identified No. 3 and No. 5 with an increased starch content of 18.53% and 19.08%, respectively. In vitro cultivar showed that samples with red flesh had a higher growth rate and development, while samples with blue flesh significantly lagged in these terms.

The article determined and presented the productivity components of different varieties of white lupine (Lupinus albus L.) in the field experiments of2019-2020 in the conditions of the northern part of the Central Chernozem region. The varieties Degas, Delta, Start, Manovitsky, adapted to the region ’s conditions were studied, as well as the varieties Timiryazevskiy and Ghana recently included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements. Despite the high potential of the varieties, there is a significant decrease in yield and its instability during cultivation in different years and different soil and climatic conditions. During the years of research, weather conditions had a substantial effect on the rate ofplant development, the duration of individual periods of crop formation, and, in general, the time of the growing season from sowing to the complete ripening phase. The studies determined the effect of stress factors associated with changes in meteorological conditions of the growing season on the variability of plant seed productivity parameters. The varieties of white lupine with a determinant growth type created at Russian State Agrarian University -Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy were characterized by a high level of adaptive potential to moisture deficiency (drought) and heat stress. The biological yield of the varieties was high; on average, for the varieties, it was 530 g/m² in 2019 and 570 g/m² in 2020. The seed yield was formed by 85 and 90% over the years due to the seeds of the main shoot. The coefficient of variation (V%) averaged 12% and 10% for varieties; on lateral shoots, it was three times higher.

The article presents the results of studies on the evaluation of legume precursors (soybeans, peas, lupin, chickpeas), methods of primary tillage, and plant protection during spring wheat cultivation in the conditions of chernozem soils of the Middle Volga region. Studies have shown that the studied precursors had different growing season duration and water consumption, which provided different water regimes and accumulation of productive moisture in the soil and ultimately affected the productivity of spring wheat. The accumulation of productive moisture in the soil occurs mainly in the autumn, winter, and spring periods; after harvesting peas, no more than 19% of precipitation (28-33 mm) accumulated after harvesting soybeans, lupine, and chickpeas - 29-39% (29-39 mm) until the time of a steady transition of air temperature below 5oC. According to the yield level of spring wheat, the researchers arranged the studied precursors in the following row: after peas - 3,80 t/ha > after chickpeas and lupine -3,49-3,50 t/ha > after soybeans - 3,45 t/ha. There was an increase in the yield of spring wheat for combined tillage in crop rotation (for the studied crop - soil disking by 10-12 cm + plowing by 20-22 cm) in comparison with minimal tillage by 0,52 t/ha or by 15,6%, and on adaptive-integrated plant protection by 0,36 t/ha or 10,6% in comparison with the level of standard technologies. The effect of the studied factors on the formation of yield was as follows: tillage -40,7% > plant protection - 25,3% > precursors - 19,1%. The mentioned variants also increased the quality of spring wheat grain.

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 lvolga 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.

The article analyzes the effect of cytokinin 0.4 g/l 6-furfurfurilaminopurin on the yield and quality of the sunflower variety Yubileyniy 60 in 2019-2020. In our experiment, we tried to show the mechanism of action when applied 0.4 g/l 6-furfurfurilaminopurine in three doses of 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 g/l on the essential factors of plant development and high yield. The researchers obtained maximum sunflower productivity with 6-furfurfurilaminopurine treatment at a dose of 0.75 l/ha. It increased the leaf area in 2019 by 32.1% and in 2020 by 26.6%, 1000 seeds weight by 6.0 g in 2019, and 3.8 g in 2020 (3.8 and 6.4%). The studies found the highest mass fraction of crude fat in the dry matter of sunflower seeds in 2019 and 2020. It was in the variant sprayed at a dose of 1.0 l/ha and was 41.06 and 41.32% (on the control 38.29 and 39.16%, respectively). The yield increased to the maximum in 2019 at a dose of 1.0 l/ha. It was 22.6% higher than the control variant (4.38 t/ha), and in 2020 the same variant was 0.57 t/ha (16.6%) higher than the control variant (3.07 t/ha).

The authors carried out studies at the experimental field station of Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy in 2008-2020. The study aimed to determine the resistance of white clover in mixtures with various types of grasses with two- and three-cut clipping treatments. In the experiment with four to five-component mixtures, the proportion of white clover reached 36-53% in the botanical composition of swards with the content of perennial ryegrass in the fourth year of life. It did not exceed 22-23% in the mixtures with cock’s foot. With the application of nitrogen fertilizers at a dose of N180, the clover content in the second year of swards was only 1-27%. With the aging of the swards, the proportion of clover in the harvest decreased. In the ninth year of life, its amount in swards with the content ofperennial ryegrass without nitrogen application decreased to 13-24%, and in agrophytocenoses with cock’s foot and with nitrogen application to 0-14%. The cock’s foot dominated in the four-component grass mixtures, but during the overwintering of 2015-2016, cock’s foot and perennial ryegrass almost entirely dropped out of agrophytocenoses. Tall fescue was a more resistant species. The yield of grass mixtures composed of grass varieties of Russian selection amounted to 4.16-5.52 t/ha of dry weight on average for eight years, and from varieties of Dutch selection, the yield equaled 4.07-5.24 t/ha. There were no significant differences in yield between grass-legume mixtures based on perennial ryegrass and cock’s foot. With the introduction of nitrogen in a dose of N180 on grass/legume herbage, the yield increased by only 31%, and the return on fertilizers by yield increases was low, making up 4.6-8.9 kg of dry matter per 1 kg of nitrogen. The aftereffect of nitrogen fertilizers on the yield of grass-legume mixtures without the additional introduction of phosphorus and potassium was insufficiently effective. In long-term three-component swards, used from the 14th to the 24th years of life, white clover was more stable in the composition of agrophytocenoses after three-fold mowing than with two-mowing. In years with favorable atmospheric moisture conditions, the proportion of white clover in two and three mows reached 20.1-34.7 and 2.2-24.3%, respectively, and with a moisture deficit, it decreased to 0-9%. For 26 years of growing grasses, there was a significant increase in soil acidity - pHKCl decreased from 6.3 to 4.91-5.36, which negatively affected the resistance of clover as the herbage was aging.

A significant part of bulky feed obtained from natural fodder lands is characterized by low quality due to the loss of valuable forage plants from herbage and non-observance of the terms and technologies of harvesting. Nutritional adjustment is an effective means of improving the composition of the herbage and the feed quality. To study the effect of various types and doses of fertilizers on the botanical composition and quality of forage for long-term hayfield at the FWRC FPA long-term field experiment has been conducted since 1947. For the 72-74th years, the use of hayfield without fertilizer application, with use of one- and two-component fertilizer and complete mineral fertilizer with a low dose of nitrogen, phytocenoses are formed with a predominance of short grasses, significant content of forbs and legumes (in technologies without the use of mineral nitrogen). The forage obtained from such grasslands meets the requirements of state standard specification for the first and second classes of hay of natural grasslands. Applying a complete mineral fertilizer with a nitrogen dose of N90-180, phytocenoses forms a predominance of high grasses. Considering the higher requirements of the standard for the hay of sown grasslands, the feed obtained from such grasslands mainly meets the second class ’s requirements. In all management systems, the second cut provides a higher quality of forage, which is associated with an increase after mowing in the content of well-leafed shoots of grasses and legumes. The authors noted the effect of weather conditions on the quality of hay. In years with favorable moisture conditions, the efficiency of the applied fertilizers increases, and the quality offeed improves.

The study aims to improve winter wheat cultivation technology in the arid zone of the Stavropol Krai based on the optimization and renewal of the variety base of winter wheat grown by NoTill technology. The authors carried out the work in 2019-2020 in the arid zone of the Stavropol Krai. In the experiment to evaluate winter wheat varieties grown on pea and sunflower forerunners, there were 15 varieties of different breeding. The variety Yuka was used as a control. The total size of the experimental plot - 1.9 ha. Pea forerunner yield was 23.92-39.44 c/ha, depending on the variety. The highest yielding variety was Tanya (39.44 c/ha), 12.6% higher than the farm variant Yuka (35.04 c/ha). The varieties Aksinya and Volny Don increased 4.8-7.1% compared to the Yuka variety. All studied varieties showed a relatively high degree of resistance to the development of pathogens. The highest coefficient of prevalence and intensity of pyrenophorosis in winter wheat plants sown after peas were observed in the variety Alekseich with 67% prevalence and 0.63% intensity, and the lowest in the variety Aist with 22% and 0.33%, respectively. The highest prevalence and intensity factor for pyrenophorosis in winter wheat plants sown after sunflower was in the variety Krasa Dona, with 47% prevalence and 0.63% intensity, and the lowest in the variety Niva Stavropolia, with 21% and 0.33%, respectively.