The introduction of fruit and small-fruit cultures in Zhezkazgan Botanical Garden (arid zone of Central Kazakhstan) takes place in the very severe climatic conditions. The main factor limiting the apple varieties introduction and causing the most harmful stress in plants are strong and prolonged frosts in midwinter, combined with a low level of snow cover. The article presents the results of the study of winter hardiness after unfavourable winters of 2005/2006 (the minimum temperature was minus 39,2 °C) and 2011/2012 (the sum of negative temperatures was 2033 °C). After the winter of 2011/2012 the plants were received the most significant damage for the entire observation period (2003/2004 - 2014/2015). According to the results of the study of winter hardiness of apple Russian varieties with high resistance to winter unfavourable conditions of arid zone of Central Kazakhstan were revealed

New dry fruit varieties that allow to solve the growing problem of the fruits of this crop for the production of high-quality prunes have been revealed to the Krymsk experimental-breeding station of Research Institute of Plant Industri based on the use of the gene pool of domestic plum, numbering more than 500 introduced, local and breeding accessions. Prunes of the best new varieties dries fruit as Kubanskaya legenda, Vengerka novaya, Osenniy suvenir, Prestige, Golubaya mechta and several others in quality are not inferior to the best foreign analogues. Winter-hardy varieties - Beglyanka, Sinyaya ptitsa, Vengerka novaya, Kubanskaya legenda grow successfully in the northern part of the South zone of horticulture Russia - Rostov and Volgograd regions. On the basis of new varieties of plum dries fruit a conveyor has been formed for maturation and supply raw materials for the production of prunes from mid - July to late September. The cultivation of such varieties in commercial orchards of southern Russia can completely solve the problem of supply of fruit processing enterprises of Russian industry fruits suitable for the manufacture of necessary quantity of prunes. The cultivation of such varieties in commercial orchards of southern Russia can completely solve the problem of supply of fruit processing enterprises of Russian industry fruits suitable for the manufacture of necessary quantity of prunes. Recommended new varieties of dries fruit directions as Debut, Kubanskiy karlik, Kubanskaya yubileynaya, Vengerka novaya, Beglyanka, Golubaya mechta, Bolshoy priz, Naslednitsa, Osenniy souvenir, Prestige, are well adapted to the conditions of the North Caucasus region and can be cultivated in industrial plantations of intensive type of South zone of horticulture of Russia.

Apple breeding has been carried out at the All Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (VNIISPK) for many years. Apple varieties with long stora-bility of fruit are especially required for the up-to-date production. It has been found that long storability of apple fruit is a recessive character and large hybrid pools are demanded for obtaining varieties with storable fruit. However, the development of the ‘Svezhest’ variety which has very long storability of fruit confirms the probability of selecting initial forms with positive transgression on this character. Brief economic and biological characteristics of apple varieties with long storability of fruit are given in this paper: Aleksandr Boiko - a triploid variety with high productivity, scab immunity, large size of fruit and storability until the second decade of March; Blagodat - a fruitful variety with highly marketable fruit which keep quality in cold atmosphere until late February; Vavilovskoye - a scab immune triploid variety with attractive fruit which are stored until late February; Vita - an early fruiting variety with high contents of ascorbic acid in fruit, storage life until middle of March; Ministr Kisilev - a triploid and scab resistant variety with fruit storage until middle of March; Pamyati Hitrovo - a scab immune variety with highly marketable fruit which are stored until late February; Patriot - a winter hardy triploid and scab resistant variety with beautiful and tasty fruit and storability until February; Turgenevskoye - a triploid scab resistant variety with highly marketable fruit and storage life until March; Yubiley Moskvy - a scab immune variety with fine marketable fruit which are stored until late February. Wide-spread varieties Kulikovskoye, Imrus, Sinap Orlovski and Svezhest are also of great interest. Fruit of the Kulikovskoye variety may be stored until late March; Imrus - until late February; Sinap Orlovski - until late April-early May; Svezhest - until late May. The introduction of the mentioned varieties in the orchards of the middle zone of Russia will give a chance to improve significantly the existing assortment and prolong the consumption of home fresh apple fruit.

The results of the studies of 150 recurrent parents of blackcurrant according to the main features suitability to the mechanized harvesting under the conditions of the Bryansk region (2009-2015) are presented. 3100 seedlings, which have been derived from controlled crossing, inbreeding and self-pollination were studied. For the further breeding sources of the separate agronomic characters, which define the suitability to mechanized harvest, are chosen. The best combinations of hybridization with a high density of berries (>7 H) are established: Kipiana x Glarioza, Debryansk x Selechenskaya 2, Nara x Selechenskaya 2, Istok x Tamerlan, 7-1-157 x Litvinovskaya, Trilena x Litvinovskaya, Barmaley x Debryansk, Yadryonaya x Istok, Debryansk x Dar Smolyaninova, Orlovskaya serenade x Mriya. The varieties and the selective forms, which meet the requirements to a combine harvest on a range of indicators, are chosen. These varieties are Bagira, Kipiana, Partizanka Bryanskaya, Miph, Kudesnik, Selechenskaya 2, Strelets, Sudarushka, Podarok veterans, Tamerlan, Debryansk and selections 33-27-1, 1-5-2, 18-18-6/05, 4-5-2, 73-03-2, 5-66-5.

The analysis of long-term experimental data on growth and efficiency of an apricot at cultivation on clonal stocks is submitted. It is shown, that in conditions of Moscow area apricot varieties had high winter hardiness and good fructification. Development of plants, their efficiency and durability was essentially influenced not only by the variety, but also the rootstock and the degree of their compatibility. There was marked the reduction of growth and dimensions of the crone in comparison with the seed stock of the cherry plum on the rootstock 140-1 and SVG-11-19. Acceleration of the introduction into fructification was promoted by clonal rootstocks OD-2-3 and 140-1. The greatest efficiency was characteristic for stock/scion combinations Samarskiy on OD-2-3, Samarskiy on 13-113, Lel on OD-2-3. Reduction of productivity and durability of trees on rootstocks 140-1 and SVG-11-19 is connected with the deterioration of the general common condition of the plants, caused by winter damages and insufficient compatibility. For the multiplication of apricot northern varieties it is recommended to use the clonal rootstocks 13-113, OD-2-3 and the seed rootstock of the cherry plum Fundamentalnaya.

Winter Olympics were held in Russian humid subtropics in 2014, where landscaping issues were on the same level with the construction of sport facilities and infrastructure. In these climatic conditions it is possible to cultivate many heat-loving plants in an open ground successfully, including subtropical crops. We conducted an analysis of floral arrangements during preparation for and after the XXII Winter Olympics and XI Paralympics 2014 in Sochi, including the evaluation of all types of the applied flower beds and composite solutions, quantitative representation, colour palette and applied range of flower crops. The basic cultures of winter season - viola, primula, tulip, hyacinth, daisy were revealed. We presented a range of flower cultures, positive and negative aspects in landscaping of the Olympic village in the Imeretinskaya Valley as an example of decorating an Olympic object were marked. The stages of design works, the questions of selection of a sustainable plants assortment for this area and the specifics of agrotechnical care were considered.