№ 6 (2025)

The article presents the results of laboratory studies of the effect of the fungicidal seed protectants Delti Pro (pyraclostrobin) and Maxim (fludioxonyi) on the formation of the symbiotic apparatus of soybeans when combined with inoculants based on strains Bradyrhizobium japonicum (Jordan, 1982), Sinorhizobium fredii (Scholla, Elkan, 1984), Bradyrhizobium elkanii (Kuykendall et al., 1992). The experiments were carried out using the Kinbarovsk 4 soybean variety and collection strains of rhizobia isolated from natural populations of the Far Eastern region of Russia and the border regions of China. It was found that simultaneous treatment of seeds with mordants and rhizobia in most cases reduces nodule formation rates: on average by 2 times for Deltipro and 1.5 times for Maxim compared with the control. The virulence of the strains decreased by 16% and 7%, respectively. However, individual strains (B. japonicum MM-140, S. fredii OB-46, B. elkanii 11554, Wu-15) demonstrated resistance to mordants, maintaining or increasing the intensity of nodule formation (by 18–84%). The dependence of the effect of mordants on virulence on a specific strain has been revealed. The results emphasize the need to develop regulations for the combined use of inoculants and pesticides to optimize seed treatment technologies.

The results of studies on the effect of fungicides and the biological product НВ-101 against Rhizoctonia solani in the Kamchatka Territory are presented. An integrated system of plant protection against diseases is effective with the inclusion of biological products and the ability to simultaneously increase plant resistance to diseases and abiotic stresses, as well as activate growth processes. The research has shown that a positive result in the fight against rhizoctonia was obtained by treating the soil with fungicides Uniform or Quadris and spraying plants with the biopreparation НВ-101. The degree of rhizoctonia development was 3.1 and 2.9%, the prevalence of the disease was 13.0 and 11.5%, which is lower than the control without treatment by an average of 14.9 and 47.1%, the damage to sprouts decreased by 1.7%, tubers — 8.6%. The biological efficiency of the preparations was 81.5% versus 70.6% when treated with fungicides only. The combined effect of the fungicides Uniform or Quadris on the soil and the biopreparation НВ-101 on potato plants ensured the maximum yield increase compared to the control by 6.0 and 5.9 t/ga (25.4 and 25.0%), the number of commercial tubers increased by 3.5 and 3.9%, the weight of commercial tuber — by 11.5 and 7.1 g, seed — by 5.6 and 3.1%, vitamin C — 0.63 and 5.20 mg%. When using the fungicides Uniform and Quadris, the preparation НВ-101, the maximum preservation of tubers was 96.5 and 96.3%, which is higher than the control by 13.8 and 13.6%. The biological efficiency during storage averaged 83.4%. The economic efficiency of using fungicides Uniform or Quadris and biological product НВ-101 averaged 230.5 thousand rubles per hectare.

Breeding of citrus crops in Russia has been carried out at the Federal Research Center "Subtropical Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences" since 1994. As a rule, seeds from distant crosses of Citrus reticulaia Blau. var unchlu (mandarin) contain nucellar embryos and, rarely, a weak zygotic one. Nucellar seedlings are of great importance in breeding aimed at developing early-ripening varieties with high-quality fruits. When multi-embryonic seeds germinate in situ, one or two embryos usually develop, while the rest die due to lack of nutrients. In such a case, it is possible to save the embryos in vitro culture. Hybrid mandarin seeds obtained from 7 crossing combinations (C. reticulata 01-04 × 3252; C. reticulata 'Solnecbury' × pollen mixture; C. reticulata 98-9 × pollen mixture; C. reticulata 202-5 × pollen mixture; C. reticulata 204-1 × C. medica; C. reticulata 2025 × C. limon 'New Zealand'; C. reticulata 99-04 × C. medica) were introduced into sterile culture. The aim of the study was to develop a sterilization protocol, introduce seeds from distant crossing combinations into in vitro culture, and induce the growth of nucellar seedlings. The sterilization option (Domestos gel (5 min), 96% ethyl alcohol and fruit burning) showed a result with a higher yield of sterile culture — 96%. Contamination in the options was relatively low and varied from 4,0 to 16,7%. The percentage of seed germination on the Murashige and Skoog medium + 6-BAP (1,0 mg/l) + mesoinositol 100 (mg/l) was 63,1—87,2%. The highest seed germination was noted in the combination 98-9 × pollen mixture (87,2%). On average, 3—4 full-fledged nucellar seedlings without noticeable anomalies were obtained from 1 seed.

The article presents the results of many years of research on the state of plant communities and their transformation under conditions of global warming and anthropogenic pressure. The reasons for the development of vegetation change processes in the phytocenoses of pastures in conditions of insufficient moisture are also considered. Studies have established the negative impact of external factors on the preservation of valuable forage grasses. The influence of arid ecosystems of natural pastures of the Kochubey Biosphere Station of the Northwestern Caspian Sea on changes in vegetation structure, processes of community transformation, dynamics of species diversity and productivity of plant communities has also been studied. The spatial structure and current state of the arid landscapes of the Kochubey Biosphere Station have been studied and the analysis of modern landscape conditions has been carried out. The characteristics of the general features of seasonal dynamics of landscapes are also studied. Possible trends of climatic changes in the landscape structure of the territory and trends of anthropogenic transformation of arid landscapes of the region are revealed. The role of the hydrothermal regime in the functioning of landscapes is revealed, the analysis of modern climatic conditions of landscapes is carried out, the characteristics of the general features of seasonal dynamics of landscapes are studied. The species composition of the occurrence of species by year in the seasonal aspect under natural moisture, depending on environmental, anthropogenic and soil factors, has been studied. The factors influencing the species composition, the occurrence of species and the productivity of phytomass in the long-term regime have been studied.

The intensive, mid-season spring triicule variety Zarya Sibiri was created through targeted, multi-year selection from an F₄ hybrid population obtained by crossing winter triicule (?) WTCL 83/KB//Fand 8 and (c) spring bread wheat variety Tymmenskaya 26. The maternal cytoplasm retained the triicule's appearance, while the paternal form ensured spring development and a well-formed wheat-type grain. Zarya Sibiri is characterized by a plant height of 83 cm, a shortened upper internode, and a smaller ear stand; the lower internodes are thickened and have thick walls. This provides the variety with good lodging resistance. The stem under the ear is formed, with a small hole, elastic, and has a 2–3-wave bend, providing springiness to the heavy ear. The spike is white, cylindrical, dense, owned, and has a high grain count (48 grains). The 1,000-grain weight is comparable to wheat – 38.8, and the grain weight per spike is 1.76 g. The microdistribution index is similar to wheat – 26.4%. Horizontal immunity provides Zarya Sibiri with resistance and tolerance to pathogens and pests. This variety is flexible, with a grain yield of 5.37 to 7.43 l/ha, and a potential yield of 11.27 l/ha. Maximum green mass is 15.05 l/ha. The variety is resistant to germination into grains in the spike.

In order to select the best forms in breeding practice, the analysis of lines according to breeding indices is widespread, which makes it possible to identify samples according to the complex of studied characteristics against the background of certain soil and climatic conditions. The article presents data on the assessment of winter wheat-wheatgrass hybrids from the collection of the Distant hybridization department of the MBG RAS by crop structure elements and breeding indices for 2022–2024. On average, over the years, the height of plants ranged from 75.1 to 102.5 cm, the length of the ear – from 8.3 to 10.8 cm, the number of grains per ear – from 26.7 to 48.5 pcs, their weight – from 1.47 to 3.24 g per ear, the weight of 1000 grains – from 44.1 to 58.6 g, biological yield – from 513.5 to 1232.5 g/m2. Nine samples were identified according to the Finnish-Scandinavian index, three according to the Mexican index, and ten according to the Canadian index. The value of the linear density index of the ear above 4 pcs/cm had twenty-one lines, four lines were distinguished in relation to the size to the number of grains in the ear. Three lines had the highest productivity index. According to the totality of all the signs, the best lines were identified: WWH 43, WWH 49, WWH 50, WWH 51, WWH 57 and WWH 90. These samples are recommended for further study and management of the breeding process.

For three years (2023–2025), spring wheat of the Zlata variety was grown on the sod-podzolic light loamy soil of the Gubino agropolygon of the All-Russian Research Institute of Reclaimed Lands, a branch of the V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute, under the N45P45K45 background. The crops were foliar treated twice with preparations developed at VNIIMZ: the humic preparation BoHum (1 l/ha, working solution rate of 300 l/ha) and the biological preparation LPB (3 l/ha, working solution rate of 300 l/ha) during the tillering and early heading phases. 2023 was characterized as optimal in terms of moisture, 2024 as insufficiently moistened, and 2025 as excessively moistened. It was found that both preparations affected the growth and development of wheat plants. The maximum changes in biometric parameters of wheat were observed in 2024. Overall, over the three years of the study, the use of BoHum contributed to an increase in the dry biomass of plants after the first spraying by 24.7% compared to the control variant, while the use of LPB after the second spraying – by 24.1%. During the same periods, an increase in the photosynthetic activity of plants was noted: the NDVI vegetation index values increased by 3.4% and 3.2%, respectively, for the variants with BoHum and LPB. In all years of the study, the preparations statistically significantly affected the increase in productive stems (on average over three years by 1.9% (abs.) in the variant with BoHum and 1.4% (abs.) in the variant with LPB). Over the period 2023–2025, the use of the preparations contributed to an increase in the number of grains per ear by an average of 8.4%. As a result, wheat yield increases with BoHum varied between 12.0 and 30.4% (average 20.5%), while those with LPB ranged from 7.7 to 22.2% (average 14.8%). The maximum effect of the products was observed in the insufficiently moistened 2024 year, and the minimum in the over-moistened 2025 year.

The red-motiled breed is one of the promising domestic breeds of dairy cattle that meet modern technological requirements and have a high genetic potential for milk production. It is bred in the Central, Southern, Volga, Ural, Siberian, and Far Eastern Federal Districts, which is a testament to its viability in certain natural and climatic conditions. The productivity and quality of milk from red-motiled cows have been studied in various regions of the Southern Federal District. The results of the conducted research showed that the highest productivity of red-motiled cows (6,471 kg) is observed in the Volgograd Region, which higher by 15.8% than in the Rostov Region and by 1.0% than in the Republic of Crimea. The highest values of fat, protein, and dry matter were recorded in the Republic of Crimea, which exceeded the values in the Volgograd Region by 0.09%, 0.02%, and 0.05%, and in the Rostov Region by 0.14%, 0.12%, and 0.26% respectively. In terms of milk fat yield, the Republic of Crimea is in the lead (254 kg), exceeding the Volgograd Region by 1.2% and the Rostov Region by 18.7%; in terms of milk protein yield, the Volgograd Region and the Republic of Crimea are in the lead (208 kg), exceeding the Rostov Region by 19.5%. The highest calcium content was found in the milk of cows from the Republic of Crimea (128%), while the highest phosphorus content was found in the milk of cows from the Volgograd Region (98%). The lowest percentage of both calcium and phosphorus was found in the milk of cows from the Rostov Region. In terms of the amount of vitamins, the advantage is established in the milk of the Republic of Crimea.

In order to increase the reproductive qualities of guinea fowls of the parent flock bred on a farm, along with egg production, it is necessary to control the age of puberty of the bird. By using sperm from early-mainting males in artificial insemination of guinea fowls, incubation rates can be significantly increased when breeding Yoga while guinea fowls on a farm. The selection of poultry based on precocity will improve the composition of the parent flock of guinea fowl, increase the profitability of the farm by improving the quality of eggs obtained from them and increasing the number of hatchlings. A comprehensive study of the patterns of growth and development of farm guinea fowl, as well as the introduction of new approaches to breeding, will make it possible to develop and implement methods for selecting guinea fowls based on phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. It will also provide an opportunity to create a promising breeding program and develop a methodology for selecting highly productive guinea fowls based on traits with additive and non-additive conditioning. It will be important to determine appropriate selection parameters for paternal and maternal guinea fowl lines based on reproductive performance and meat qualities. Optimal parameters of the live weight of birds in different age periods have been established. The introduction of this program over 4 years of breeding work has increased the yield of meat from the parent pair of guinea fowl by 5.1–5.8%, while maintaining a high yield of edible parts and excellent taste characteristics of meat.

The article presents the results of studying the meat productivity of young rabbits of the new domestic breed Velikorodskaya Belaya. The work was carried out at the state breeding farm of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution NIIPZK. To conduct the experiment on the control fattening of young rabbits from 45 to 120 days of age, 80 heads were selected based on the average daily live weight of their litters. The young animals were individually weighed at 45-, 60-, 77-, 90-, and 120-day of age, and the average daily (absolute) and relative gains in live weight were calculated. The results of slaughter were used to study the productivity indicators of the young animals, including live weight, carcass weight, and slaughter yield. Rabbits of the new Velikorodskaya Belaya breed grew most intensively after weaning from their mothers between 45 and 90 days of age, with an average daily growth rate of 43.2 ± 0.5 g. The growth rate decreased starting from 3 months of age, although the animals continued to increase their live weight by 120 days of age. The study of animal meat productivity has shown that it is more expedient to slaughter rabbits of the Velikorodskaya Belaya breed for meat between 77 days of age, when the slaughter weight is 51.2%, and 90 days of age, when the slaughter weight is 53.4%, and the meat has the best dietary qualities. Reducing the age of slaughter for young rabbits reduces the cost of raising them and allows for increased production growth rates.