The article is devoted to one of the outstanding scientists and lecturers of Timiryazev Academy in the field of vegetable growing and breeding, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Professor, Academician of VASKhNIL and RASKhN German I. Tarakanov. The stages of his life and creative path, his formation as an outstanding scientist of the country in the field of vegetable growing and breeding, an outstanding lecturer and the head of the scientific school are presented. The contribution of the scientist to various fields of research is shown: the study of biological features of vegetable plants as a theoretical basis for the development of industrial cultivation technologies, original studies of life forms, detailed studies of the ecology of vegetable plants and microclimate in structures with polymer coatings. More than 50 varieties and hybrids of cucumbers, tomatoes and other vegetables for protected and open cultivation were created by the scientist. As the head of the scientific and pedagogical school German I. Tarakanov made a great contribution to the development of education in the field of vegetable growing on the scale of the university and the country, graduated more than 60 doctors and candidates of sciences, published more than 300 scientific works, including monographs and textbooks for universities.

When producing planting material in the taiga zone, it is extremely important to assess problematic sites in forest nurseries. Attention should be paid to poor soil quality, which can significantly affect the growth rate of seedlings and the yield of standard planting material. The article considers a comprehensive assessment of soil conditions in forest nurseries of the taiga zone of the European part of Russia. The research was conducted in six forest nurseries. Agrochemical and physical properties of soils were determined. The content of organic matter in the soils of forest nurseries is low, mobile forms of phosphorus, exchangeable potassium and alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen are insufficient for optimal growth and development of coniferous seedlings. The level of acidity in the soils of nurseries in the taiga zone of the European part of Russia turned out to be favorable. Half of the studied forest nurseries have increased density of soil composition, which can lead to the formation of soils with low pore volume, limiting air intake and moisture retention in the soil. A decrease in the intensity of seedling growth and yield of standard seedlings may occur due to the lack of technological measures such as weed control, lack of irrigation, etc., but one of the most important reasons is the insufficient supply of soils with mineral and organic substances. Equalization of soil fertility parameters in forest nurseries can be achieved by application of necessary fertilizers and by means of cultivation. The results of the presented work will make it possible to draw the attention of specialists engaged in the cultivation of planting material in the taiga zone of the European part of Russia to the problem of low soil fertility.

The research was carried out at the Department of Fruit Crops of the Educational, Scientific and Production Center of Horticulture and Vegetable Crops named after V.I.  Edelstein of the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy in Moscow in 2021–2023. Flowering and fruiting of Juglans regia L. were evaluated during three years. It was found that J. regia plants with the lateral type of fruiting, which is characterized by the formation of female flowers in most axillary buds of the current year’s growth, have a high adaptive potential. The identification of the features of J. regia flowering phenology taking into account the peculiarities of the natural and climatic character allows to establish the best forms and determine the most optimal temperature conditions. The evaluation of the phenological phases showed significant differences between the J. regia cultivars in terms of the onset and duration of the phenological phases. A significant factor in reducing fruit set is systematic damage to male and female flowers and shoots by recurrent frost. The highest resistance to recurrent frost was observed in a number of forms with late leaf shooting: 1.26KSK. Unequal blooming of male and female flowers was revealed, the phenomenon of protogyny was observed in 70% of the studied forms, while the difference in blooming of male and female flowers ranged from 1 to 10 days. Fruits have a high amplitude of variability. The study showed that the shape and size of the fruit are constant on one plant.

The possibility of cultivating mullein species in Central Yakutia, which are relatively undemanding plants in terms of moisture, is of scientific and practical interest in order to determine their biological potential and the possibility of using them as ornamental and medicinal plants. The aim of the work is to identify the peculiarities of the developmental rhythms of some species of the genus Verbascum in the permafrost conditions of Central Yakutia. The objects of the study were 11 samples of the species V. chaixii subsp. austriacum, V. densiflorum, V. nigrum, V. nigrum subsp. abietinum, V. phoeniceum and V. thapsus. The material was obtained in the form of seeds in 2018–2021 from institutions in Russia, Denmark, Romania and Poland. The seeds of the first V. phoeniceum sample were sown in a greenhouse and the resulting seedlings were transplanted into the field collection. The remaining seeds were sown outdoors in the second half of September. The plants overwintered under the snow without any additional protection. Phenological phases in the conditions of Central Yakutia were 3–4 weeks later in the calendar than in Central Russia; the end of the growing season was limited by the onset of autumn frosts. The results of the introduction in Central Yakutia showed high resistance in culture of the species V. phoeniceum, V. nigrum, V. nigrum subsp. abietinum, V. chaixii subsp. austriacum and V. thapsus. When sown in the fall, plants of these species flower profusely in the second year and produce mature seeds, except for V. chaixii subsp. austriacum, which flowers profusely in the first year. These species are very decorative and can be recommended for inclusion in the range of ornamental herbaceous plants for Central Yakutia. V. thapsus is also promising as a medicinal plant. V. densiflorum plants developed as annuals without having time to form mature seeds. To use V. densiflorum as an ornamental or medicinal plant, a seedling period is required.

Many crops have a very small genetic “base”. The use of a limited number of parental forms reduces the genetic diversity of commercial varieties and exacerbates the problem of their resistance to adverse environmental factors. Induced mutagenesis is one of the means to generate genetic variation in crops in a shorter time compared to crosses and can be used to develop source material for breeding and new varieties with high yields, excellent product quality, resistance to climate change and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. The aim of the research is to evaluate mutant forms of spring barley for economic characters based on competitive variety testing data, to identify sources of breeding valuable traits for further use as source material in breeding. The research was carried out in 2021–2023 at the FARC of the North-East, Kirov. The object of research were nine mutant samples and variety Pamyati Dudina, created at the Vyatka State Agrotechnological University through the influence of various combinations of mutant factors on the seeds of spring barley variety Bios 1. During the research period a comprehensive study of mutant forms of spring barley was conducted in the nursery of competitive variety testing. The conducted research has confirmed the possibility of obtaining beneficial mutations on barley crop as a result of application of chemical and physical low-toxic and safe factors. Stress-resistant mutant forms capable of stable yield in both favorable and unfavorable years have been identified: M 4–10, M 5–3, M 9–5–3 and M 6–10. The conducted research has shown that all the studied mutant forms are characterized by a complex of breeding-valuable traits and are a valuable source material for the creation of new varieties of spring barley for the conditions of the Volga-Vyatka region. However, it is necessary to include them in crosses with lodging resistant genotypes.

Improving the efficiency of doubled haploid technology is an urgent task to expand the possibilities of fundamental research and to increase the selection rate of commercial F1 hybrids. This study investigated the effect of the components of the induction nutrient medium: casein hydrolyzate ( 250 mg/l and 500 mg/l ) , glutathione  ( 10 mg/l) , a combination of growth regulators TDZ  ( 0.04 mg/l)  and 2,4-D ( 0.15 mg/l)  on the gynogenic response of cucumber in unfertilized ovules culture. The results showed that the addition of 250 mg/l of casein hydrolysate to the induction medium resulted in a more than twofold increase in the frequency of gynogenic ovules in two samples. The addition of 10 mg/l of glutathione to the induction medium helps to increase the frequency of gynogenic ovules by 1.5 to 2 times in 3 out of 6 samples. The results showed that cultivation of cucumber ovary fragments on the induction medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l of putrescine leads to decrease in frequency of gynogenic ovules. The obtained data on the influence of the components of the induction medium in the culture of ovules can be used to optimize the technology for the production of doubled haploids in cucumber.

The work is devoted to molecular genetic methods for the diagnosis of pathogens of bacterial spot of tomato – a harmful bacterial disease of tomatoes and peppers, predominantly spread in the open ground in the southern regions. The research was conducted on the basis of the All- Russian Plant Quarantine Center (FGBU “VNIIKR”) in 2022–2023. The objective of the work was to determine the analytical sensitivity and specificity of molecular genetic methods for the detection and identification of three species of different pathological types of bacteria of the genus Xanthomonas – pathogens of bacterial spot of tomato. Due to the necessity of import substitution of expensive reagents, the tests were carried out with domestic reagents produced by OOO “Evrogen” and ZAO “Dialat”. The results of the effectiveness of real-time PCR (qPCR) are presented, the analysis of which showed that all tested primer systems can be recommended for the detection of bacteriosis pathogens. At the same time, qPCR AFLP derived Taqman PCR and XopD Taqman PCR were found to have high analytical sensitivity (10²–10³ CFU/ml). It has been shown that three out of four primer systems according to to the methodology of Koenraadt et al. (2009) also have a high sensitivity of 10² CFU/ml. The analytical sensitivity of the Bs-XpF/R primers for the detection of X. euvesicatoria pv. perforans was 10⁴ CFU/ml, which is sufficient for samples with a high concentration of the pathogen and for the identification of a pure bacterial culture. All primers are 100% specific for the target strains of pathogens; no cross-reactions with other strains have been observed. The proposed reliable operational method for detecting pathogens of bacterial spot in tomato and pepper seeds will significantly reduce yield losses and increase the economic efficiency of domestic vegetable production.

The article presents data on the results of testing complex micronutrients when sowing seeds of Robinia pseudoacacia L. and Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe. at a production nursery. Stratification provides seeds with rapid germination under optimal conditions of oxygen access and maintaining a humidity level and temperature of 10°C. Fertilizers “Volski Biochem” are able to increase the energy of germination of seeds of the studied species, increase their growth rate and contain all the necessary nutrients for plants. The highest content of trace elements is found in the preparation “Microel”. Established that the best option for planting seeds are RCL‑81 forest cassettes, which naturally and correctly distribute the root system of seedlings, increase their ability to form active root tips, provide oxygen to plants and eliminate waterlogging with improper watering. The percentage of safety for seedlings in the first and second year was almost the same. Pine seeds require de-spraying on the VSG‑01 air gravity apparatus before processing and planting. The possibility of using tools for tillage and crops is provided by an ordinary method with the location of narrow sowing lines along the tapes. Proven that the use of complex micro fertilizers allows pine and robinia seedlings to have an optimal ratio of the aboveground part and the root system, accelerated growth and development, and an even stem. The maximum growth of robinia was 71–98 cm, pine trees 10–29 cm, which fully met the standards and requirements for the cultivation of planting material of woody species. Revealed that the differentiation of robinia and pine seedlings in height begins in the second half of June, in the variant of the experiment with sowing seeds in a box, the largest gains of seedlings were observed in the third decade of June, after which there was a noticeable decrease in growth. As a result, the best growth and development indicators were observed in Crimean pine in the 1st variant of the experiment, in robinia pseudoacia in the 1st and 2nd variants. The growth rates of two-year-old seedlings of the studied species are identical to those of annual seedlings.

In the researches carried out in 2021–2023 at the Federal Agricultural Research Center of the North-East named N.V. Rudnitsky (Kirov) in the conditions of the vegetation experiment, 10 varieties of spring barley of different origin were evaluated by simulation of drought (breeding varieties of the Federal Agricultural Research Center of the North-East named N.V. Rudnitsky of hybrid and regenerative origin, collection samples). The drought was simulated at the onset of the phase “stem elongation” by stopping irrigation and film sheltering from atmospheric precipitation, eliminating the greenhouse effect. The time of water stress application corresponded to the vegetative interphase of the plants “stem elongation – earing”. The aim of the research was to determine the effect of productivity elements on the yield of spring barley varieties and to determine the elements associated with the variability of the yield of varieties with an increasing drought in the interphase period “stem elongation – earing” and, based on these data, to select drought-resistant varieties. To evaluate the drought resistance of varieties, the Drought Resistance Index (DSI) was used as the ratio of the variety parameters to the average value for all varieties in the presence and absence of stress. The conducted researches have shown that the studied varieties reacted differently to the presence of drought in the interphase period “stem elongation – earing”. It was found that water deficiency significantly reduced the yield of all barley varieties by an average of 73g/m2 and affected the development of most elements of its structure. In the presence of drought, there was no evidence of productivity of barley plants associated with the yield of varieties. Under favorable vegetative conditions (absence of drought), an influence of head length (r = 0.613), head productivity (r = 0.81) and plant productivity (r = 0.84), thousand grain weight (r = 0.56) on the yield of barley varieties was found. The calculation of the correlation between yield DSI and structural elements showed a reliable relationship (r = 0.91) only between the yield DSI and the index “thousand grain weight”, therefore, highly productive genotypes under water stress in the interphase period “stem elongation – earing” should be selected according to the severity of the feature “thousand grain weight”. The varieties Novichok, Tallon, Forward and Bionic can be used as crossing components in appropriate breeding programs.

During early postnatal ontogenesis, juvenile rainbow trout undergo a number of morphological and physiological changes, passing through various stages of development of body systems and behavioural traits. The most important factor influencing these processes is the fish diet. The present study provides data on external indicators, morphometric and ethological characteristics of juvenile rainbow trout fed with factory starter and frozen feeds. Methods of continuous logging and recording of fish behavioural responses and morphometric methods to analyse juvenile growth were used. It was found that the compound feed had a better effect on the development of the juvenile rainbow trout studied than the frozen feed, despite the fact that the fish started eating the frozen feed earlier.

High productivity and longevity of animals are the key challenges in modern dairy farming. In addition to high milk yields, first-calf heifers also have to increase their body weight. Due to their physiological characteristics, they are unable to consume large amounts of bulky forage to provide energy and nutrients for potential productivity. One of the ways to solve this problem is to increase the feeding level of first-calf heifers at the expense of concentrates. The assessment of the relationship between the level of feeding and the level of productivity and health of the animal was carried out by studying metabolic processes using biochemical markers of blood serum. The studies were carried out in the Moscow region for 150 days on 36 first-calf heifers, which were divided into three groups of 12 cows each according to the group-analogue principle. The control group received a ration balanced according to detailed norms for annual productivity of 8 to 9 thousand kilograms of milk per lactation. The second experimental group received a ration with increased content of metabolizable energy by 7.8% and crude protein by 8.2% of the requirement, the third group – by 15.1% and 16.4%, respectively, due to additional feeding of a targeted protein- vitamin-mineral concentrate. The researchers found that increasing the feeding level allowed to increase the live weight of first-calf heifers by 5.6% and 6.8% and the average daily milk yield by 6.4% and 9.6% in comparison with the control, and did not have a negative effect on the character of metabolism. All indicators of protein, lipid, carbohydrate and mineral metabolism were within reference values. The content of the albumin fraction in the blood serum of cows in the experimental groups was 39.7% and 39.5% of the content of total protein, while in the control group it was 36%. A significant increase in the content of the albumin fraction, by 5.12% (p=0.04) in the 2nd experimental group and by 7.24% (p=0.01) in the 3rd experimental group, with a simultaneous decrease in the content of total protein, characterizes a higher intensity of biosynthetic processes in the body associated with increased milk formation. Indicators of mineral metabolism were also within the physiological norm. The increase in magnesium content in cows of the 3rd experimental group is associated with an increase in its level in the diet of first-calf heifers. The increase in alkaline phosphatase activity indicates an increase in the functional activity of the liver, which is also associated with milk formation.

In beef cattle breeding, it is necessary to identify and widely use animals characterized by high rates of nutrient utilization in the diet for the synthesis of meat products. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficiency of digestion of nutrients in the diet of purebred bull calves of the breeds Simmental (group I) and Limousine (group II) and their crossbreeds of the first (½ Simmental × ½ Limousine – group III), the second (¼ Simmental × ¾ Limousine – group IV) and the third (1/8 Simmental × 7/8 Limousine – V group) generations. It was found that due to the heterosis effect, crossbred bull calves of the first generation of group III outperformed their counterparts of other experimental groups in dry matter intake by 67.8 to 255.3 g (0.86 to 3.31%), organic matter – by 61.3 to 230.8 g (0.84 to 3.24%), crude protein – by 10.5 to 78.1 g (0.99 to 7.85%), crude fat – by 1.7 to 6.4 g (0.90 to 3.50%), crude fiber – by 21.5 to 81.4 g (1.20 to 4.70%), BEV – by 27.6 to 354.8 g (0.65 to 9.04%). The purebred Simmental bull calves of group I differed in the minimum consumption of all types of nutrients. Similar intergroup differences were observed in the digestibility of feed nutrients. The crossbred bull calves of group III outperformed the bull calves of the other experimental groups by weight of digested dry matter by 119.8 to 390.3 g (2.37 to 8.15%), organic matter – 130.6 to 396.6 g (2.87 to 8.71%), crude protein – by 22.5 to 98.3 g (3.24 to 15.90%), crude fat – by 2.7 to 9.2 g (2.11 to 7.58%), crude fiber – by 67.9 to 162.1 g (7.28 to 19.33%), BEV – by 37.5 to 417.0 g (1.26 to 15.54%). The highest coefficients of digestibility of nutrients were characterized by crossbred bull calves of groups III and IV. They better digested dry matter by 2.91 to 1.73%, organic – by 3.38 to 1.96%, crude protein – by 4.63 to 2.29%, crude fat – by 2.62 to 0.56%, crude fiber – by 6.76 to 1.87%, BEV – by 4.08 to 2.72% than peers of groups I, II and V.

The  article  presents  a  scenario  analysis  of  the  possible  consequences  of  the  current  sanctions on agriculture in the Southern Federal District of the Russian Federation. The study is based on the spatial model of partial equilibrium in the wholesale markets of agricultural products of the subjects of the Russian Federation of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “All-Russian Institute of Agrarian Problems and Informatics named after A.A. Nikonov” – Branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Federal Research Center of Agrarian Economy and Social Development of Rural Areas – All-Russian Research Institute of Agricultural Economics”. The methodology of using the results of modelling to assess the impact of sanctions on agriculture in the Southern Federal District is pro-posed. The main threats caused by illegal sanctions are considered: reduction of the machine and tractor fleet and barriers to the export of manufactured products. During the analysis the volumes of production and consumption of the main types of agricultural products in the Southern Federal District were studied. Conclusions are drawn on the impact of the sanctions on the region’s dependence on external supplies of livestock products, namely: the deterioration of the agribusiness situation, violations of the reproductive process will sooner or later lead to a decline in agricultural production, which will cause instability in the situation of food supply to the population. Special attention is paid to the consideration of cash flows of the grain industry of the Southern Federal District. The possible impact of the sanctions on agricultural foreign trade is assessed in the context of scenarios. The special role of the state in overcoming agricultural crises is highlighted: financial support for local agricultural producers and the development of measures to eliminate the negative impact of export barriers. On the basis of the identified trends, the conclusions on the negative impact of the sanctions on the agricultural sector are formulated, namely: their serious negative impact on food security of the population, participants in foreign economic activity and on the financial situation of agriculture has been established.