No 4 (2025)

Collections of agricultural plants and their wild relatives play an important role in achieving the country's food security goals. In 1845, the arboreal nursery (now the Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (VNIISPK)) began studying 20 varieties of apple trees. Today, the collection includes about 700 specimens from different climatic zones, a significant part of which forms the basis of the institute's breeding programs. The massive replenishment and search for new parental forms began in 1956 by Sedov E.N. In 1972, Nina Krasova, the curator of the largest bioresource collection of apple and pear trees, began her life's work. She collected 2,500 forms and varieties of apple trees and 500 varieties of pears. More than 100 varieties of apple and pear trees have been studied and included in the breeding programs of the gene pool. Nina Krasova is a co-author of 18 cultivars of apple trees and 10 cultivars of pears, many of which are widely used both in industrial and amateur gardens. Nina Krasova is a well-known pomologist who enjoys authority not only in Russia but also abroad. She has published more than 300 scientific papers on the study and use of apple tree collections and varietal agricultural techniques in breeding. For her work, Nina Krasova was awarded the Order of Honor, the Honorary Diploma of the President of the Russian Federation, diplomas and medals of the Academy of Sciences, departments and authorities.

The relevance of this study stems from the lack of data on the cytological and morphological variability of cranberries across a vast area of Asia and Russia, as well as the need to identify progressive research and approaches to cranberry breeding. This research included examining chromosomes, morphometric traits of shoots, leaves, inflorescences, flowers, fruits, and seeds, cranberry genotypes of different ecological and geographical origins, and research into promising economic sources. Chromosome numbers were measured by counting at the metaphase stage on crushed preparations of root meristems and shoot apices. Morphological traits were measured
20-fold using direct morphometric analysis with repeated mechanical means. Cytological studies confirmed that Vaccinium macrocarpon and Vaccinium microcarpum are exclusively diploid
(2n = 24). A tetraploid (2n = 48) sample was found in the latter species. Vaccinium oxycoccus contains two additional chromosome races: tetraploids (2n = 48) and a mixture of heterochromosomal races: diids - 2n = 24, polyploids - tri-, 2n = 36, penta- 2n = 60, hexa- 2n = 72, octa- 2n = 96, and nonaploids – 2n = 108, as well as aneuploids. – 2n = 54, 56, 66, etc., and mixoploids. Morphological studies also confirmed the presence of three cranberry species in the subgenus Oxycoccus. The greatest variability of morphological characters was noted in Vaccinium oxycoccus. Common and characteristic morphological and ecological characters of the three cranberry species were revealed. V. oxycoccos and V. macrocarpon are promising for breeding in Siberia based on a complex of characters.

This article presents the results of a study of fruit and berry varieties bred by the All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding in Belarus. As part of international collaboration, the fruit and berry genetic resource collections of the Institute of Fruit Growing were expanded with 97 accessions (apple, pear, cherry, sweet cherry, and currant) bred by the All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding, which are being studied for a range of economic and biological traits. Based on the results of the variety study, 27 fruit and berry varieties and hybrids bred by the All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crops (VNIISPK) were hybridized over the years, including apple trees (Orlovskaya Girlyanda, Imrus, Orlovim, Aphrodite, Rozhdestvenskoye, Solnyshko, and Sinap Orlovsky); pear trees (Botanicheskaya, Yeseninskaya, Pamyat Parshina, Tyutchevskaya, Lira, and 24-46-140); cherries (Livenskaya, Rovesnitsa, and Turgenevka); and blackcurrant trees (Azhurnaya, Arapka, Blagoslovenie, Dachnitsa, Iskushenie, Kipiana, Lentyai, Muravushka, Ocharovanie, Slastena, and Monisto). More than 41,000 flowers were pollinated, and more than 3,900 breeding seedlings were studied. As a result of many years of research, 3 varieties of apple (Imrus, Sinap Orlovsky, Yubilyar), 3 varieties of cherry (Rovesnitsa, Turgenevka, Livenskaya), 2 varieties of black currant (Lentyay, Orloviya), 2 varieties of red currant (Bayana, Dana) have been included in the state register of varieties of agricultural plants of the Republic of Belarus.

Research was conducted on the influence of frosts after a thaw in winter, late spring frosts and unfavorable weather conditions (temperature, humidity, wind) on the productivity of plum, cherry plum, apricot plants. The years of research are 2021—2025. An evaluation of 7 cultivars of plum (Vengerka Korneevskaya, Mechta, Nochka, Renclod Michurinsky, Renclod Tambovsky, Renclod Kharitonova, Utro), 7 cultivars of cherry plum (Ivolga, Iulskaya Roza, Karmina Zhukova, Medovaya, Rannyaya Rozovaya, Solnechnaya, Soneyka) and 8 cultivars of apricot (Viking, Vodolay, Kichiginsky, Krugly, Lyubitelsky, Pikanty, Syurpriz, Tovarishch) was carried out. Zoned cultivars of plum Etyud, cherry plum Kubanskaya Kometa and apricot Ulyanikhinsky were used as a control. The studies were conducted according to generally accepted methods. The purpose of the research is to assess the impact of abiotic stressors on the yield of stone crops, to identify adaptive cultivars s for further use in production and breeding. The yield of stone fruits depends on both the level of stress and the degree of resistance of the crop and cultivar. The greatest resistance the plum is characterized by the resistance of generative buds to frost damage after a thaw. A gradual decrease in temperature to -27°C after a thaw of +6°C causes almost complete destruction of generative buds in apricot plants. Varietal characteristics significantly influence the survival of flower buds in plum and cherry plum. Late spring frosts down to -2°C are not critical for stone fruit flowers. A further decrease in temperature during flowering causes almost complete flower death, regardless of the cultivar. Low temperatures, high humidity, and gusts of wind during flowering limit the activity of pollinating insects, disrupt fertilization, and thereby significantly reduce fruit set. The cultivars of apricot Kichiginsky, Pikanty, Lyubitelsky, Ulyanikhinsky, cherry plum Ivolga, Rannyaya Rozovaya, Kubanskaya Kometa, domestic plum Nochka, Etyud have the highest resistance of generative buds to frost after a thaw. The cultivars of apricot Ulyanikhinsky, Viking, cherry plum Ivolga, Rannyaya Rozovaya, Kubanskaya Kometa, domestic plum Nochka, Etyud, Vengerka Korneevskaya, Renclod Tambovsky, Utro have the highest yield.

The use of highly adaptable cultivars in horticulture significantly increases the environmental sustainability of the industry. Such cultivars provide sufficiently high yields in favorable conditions, and stable under stressful conditions. In this regard, the purpose of the research was to assess the ecological plasticity and stability of promising VNIISPK breeding cultivars. The observations were carried out in 2023—2025 in the conditions of the Orel region (Central Chernozem Region). 6 cultivars were monitored by yield and a statistical assessment was given on the ecological plasticity and stability of the manifestation of the trait according S.A. Eberhart’s & W.A. Russel’s method adapted by V.A. Zykin at al. The control cultivar is the ‘Orlovskaya Serenada’, zoned for the Central Chernozem region. As a result of the study, 2 cultivars were identified that significantly exceeded the reference yield in the years of research: ‘Ariadna’, ‘Narianna’, 2 – at the control level: ‘Nadia’, ‘Nyura’. Intensive-type cultivars with high yields and ecological plasticity have been identified: ‘Ariadna’, ‘Narianna’, ‘Nyura’, which easily adapt to changing environmental conditions. It is recommended to grow such varieties on a high agrotechnical background. Neutral type cultivars – ‘Nadia’ and ‘Chernookaya’, which have high fruiting stability, can be used on an extensive background, where they are able to maximize their potential with minimal costs. The control cultivar Orlovskaya Serenada and the promising cultivar ‘Assol’ are characterized by the correspondence of yield variation and its components to changing cultivation conditions. The ‘Ariadne’ is a highyielding, ecologically plastic, with a relatively stable level of fruiting, which is of interest as a source for breeding to obtain stable, highly productive cultivars.

The article presents the results of a three-year study of biochemical compounds in berries of Amur grapes (V. amurensis) of the Amursky proryv, Marinovsky cultivars; varieties Amursky triumph and Proryv bely, forms of Euro-Amur origin (V. amurensis × V. vinifera): Severny plechistik, Neretinsky, and european cultivar Oberlin Noir (V. vinifera). The purpose of the study is to study the quality of the harvest of young V. amurensis plants in the conditions of the Lower Volga region. The assortment of the young vineyard was studied, the technological features of the cultivated raw materials for the production of direct squeezed natural juice were determined. The accumulation of sugars, titrated and ascorbic acids in the juice of berries during the growth and development of grapes is determined. In the course of a laboratory study of the accumulation of sugars in young fruiting grape bushes in the third year of fruiting, it was found that the greatest accumulation of sugar between V. amurensis cultivars Proryv bely, Amursky proryv, Amursky triumph and others is within 27.0—22.0%, between Euro-Amur: Severny plechistik, Neretinsky, Marinovsky – 23.0—18.0%. Grapes of Amur and Euro-Amur origin in the conditions of the Lower Volga region have a high level of ascorbic acid, which correlates with the level of antioxidants in the berry. Optimal biochemical indicators allow using berries of the Amur, Euro-Amur varieties for the preparation of pasteurized juices of direct pressing.

The research objective is a scientific step-by-step assessment of the success of growing Acer saccharum Marshall in the Moscow region. Plants from 3 samples (22 specimens) of A. saccharum were studied. Annual shoot elongation and plant height were measured. It was found that most plants exhibited an annual leader shoot increment of no more than 20 cm. The maximum annual increment observed in A. saccharum seedlings was 47.6 cm, reached by one of the plants during its third year of development. The maximum total leader shoot increment over 3 years was 87.4 cm, with the maximum plant height reaching 87.0 cm. Most seedlings demonstrated consistent growth. The sample with the highest seed germination rate, collected from wild habitat, showed weaker growth and lower plant height compared to other samples. A decrease in annual increment was observed in 2020 in approximately 1/3 of all plants measured, but only in 1/8 of them it was over 10 cm. No clear correlations were found between plant growth (across samples) and temperature, sum of active temperatures, or annual precipitation. The weather conditions in the Moscow region are suitable for the growth and development of A. saccharum, and their fluctuations do not significantly impact the plants.