The article presents the analysis of the status and use of genetic resources for agricultural production. Constant updating and study of plant gene pool allows to identify new sources of resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses and on their basis to create high-yielding varieties and hybrids of plants. The article describes the priorities in the field of research of genetic resources.

A critical analysis of the problems encountered in the production of fruit mandarin in India and Russia was made. It was found the most significant factors limiting the cultivation of mandarin in India and in Russia. In India it was “No preservation industry”, and in Russia it was “Extreme climatic factors”. Some factors that are marked as limiting in India were not such in Russia. These include poor keeping quality of fruits, the damage caused by wild animals, the lack of credit opportunities in the region. The findings help to overestimate the priorities in the management of industrial plantations of citrus fruits to increase their productivity.

Virus diseases reduce yield of fruit and small fruit crops. The main direction of dealing with them is the transfer of nursery system on the virus-free base and the introduction of a mandatory system of certification of planting material. In the system of production of certified planting material of fruit and small fruit crops in the initial phase the process of obtaining the primary and basis plants is the most expensive. The purpose of researches was the carrying out of the economic estimation of technological process of sanitation of fruit and small fruit cultures at the present stage. Comparative cost analysis of different diagnostic methods (ELISA and PCR), and virus sanitation was carried out on the basis of the real expenses of ARHIBAN virology laboratory in 2016 and according to the technological cards. Economic feasibility of virus sanitation of plants is shown. The increase of cost of production was compensated for the expenses of virus sanitation within one year of the industrial planting. For virological diagnostics plant it was consumed about 70% of employment and 91 % of the total material costs required to for obtaining of healthy plants. When performing ELISA in the structure of direct costs 18 % of supplies was accounted, mainly in immunoglobulins and conjugates, 27 % - for equipment depreciation, 36 % - for salaries, 20 % - on utility bills. Cost of a single test sample when tested by ELISA for 1 virus was 645 rubles. In the structure of the direct costs of diagnostic PCR the highest costs account was for salaries - 35-50 %, for consumables- 27-35 % and for the depreciation of equipment - 20-28 %. Cost of one amounted test when performing RT-PCR is 800-850 rubles, RT-PCR in real time is 900-950 rubles. Economically it is more expedient to use methods of chemo- and magneto-therapy in vitro in comparison with the traditional thermotherapy technology. The most effective technologies of virus sanitation of fruit and small fruit cultures are the offered technologies combining in vitro culture and chemotherapy, in vitro culture and magnetotherapy. Cost of one primary plant is 5900-6100 rubles for fruit crops and 3500-5500 rubles for small fruit plants. Cost of certified plant of berry bushes is 135-185 rubles.

All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (ARRIFCB) is the author of more than 50 apple varieties included in the State Register of breeding achievements admitted for use in the regions of the Middle Zone of Russia. Brief economic and biological characteristics of 4 new apple varieties from 10 varieties created during the last 5 years (2011-2016) are presented in this paper. Two varieties (‘Dariona’ and ‘Osipovskoye’) are of summer maturing and two varieties (‘Vostorg’ and ‘Priokskoye’) are of winter consumption. Both summer triploid varieties are characterized by more regular fruit-bearing, fruit marketability and higher autogamy. ‘Dariona’ has been created from the intervalent crossing of 2x x 4x type (‘Melba’ x ‘Papirovka tetraploid’) and has beautiful marketable fruit with 170 g weight. ‘Osipovskoye’ is characterized by marketable dessert fruit. Two winter columnar apple varieties presented in this paper are characterized by high autogamy, productivity and scab immunity (gene Vf). From columnar varieties the variety Priokskoe is most interesting, in our opinion. It gives high yields and has beautiful marketable fruit with 150 g weight. Its fruit are evaluated by 4,5 point for appearance and 4,4- 4,5 points for taste according to the 5-point scale. “Priokskoye’ is distinguished by high contents of sugars (12,2%) and P-active substances (312 mg/100 g) in fruit. The involving of new varieties into the commercial orchards and amateur gardens will undoubtedly give a positive result in providing people with fresh home fruit and will ensure the health of people.

The prerequisites for effective cultivation of small fruit crops in the Central region of Russia and possibilities of expansion of their plantings have been substantiated. The economic and biologicalcharacteristic of perspective varieties of small fruit crops breeding of the Kokino Base Station of All- Russian Horticultural Institute for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery, included in 2017 in the state register of breeding achievements has been given. The variety Kupchikha (obtained as a result of crossing of garden strawberry and strawberry) has been zoned for the first time. It is characterized by reliable winter hardiness and drought-resistance, high field resistance to fungal diseases and strawberry mite, forms tasty fruit with a strong muscat aroma. The primocane raspberry Podarok Kashinu variety is characterized by record crop yield (up to 23 t/ha), large-fruited (average weight of 5,0-5,7 g, maximum up to 10 g) and prolonged period of maturation. The primocane raspberry Poklon Kazakovu variety combines the high productivity (2,0-2,5 kg/bush) with large-fruited (5,0-5,5g),dessert taste of fruits with “raspberry” aroma, their good transportability. The black currant Barmaley variety is characterized by high winter hardiness, late-term of ripening of berries. Its yield is 11.5-12.5 t/ha. The variety is suitable for machine harvesting; the berries are dense, with dry separation. The variety is resistant to the basic diseases and pests.

It is established that optimal, providing the best indicators of rooting, the ratio of bark and xylem from green cuttings gooseberry depends on the genotype of culture and for the varieties Cherniy Chekashina is 1,1-1,4, for Africanets is 0,9, for Muromets is 0,8. The effectiveness of rooting was obtained in the range: for Cherniy Cherkashina 53,3-66,7 %, for Africanets 26,6-35,0 %, for Muromets 40,0-60,0 %.