Species of genus Prunus (peach, plum, apricot, cherry and almond) are of great economic importance. Peach (P. persica) is one of the most well studied representatives of the genus, for which a series of SSR-markers has been developed. These markers were subsequently successfully applied to study other Prunus species. Microsatellite markers have also been successfully used for certification and genetic diversity studies of the American tetraploid cherry collection, collections of cherry varieties from Latvia and Iran. However, it should be noted that there were practically no studies of the Russian sour cherry gene pool using modern molecular genetic approaches. Work on the phenotypic evaluation of sour cherry varieties bred in All-Russian Horticultural Institute for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery is carried out for many years. As a result, for a number of varieties, obtaining identification passports using DNA markers became relevant. The aim of this work was the genetic diversity study of 10 sour cherry varieties bred in All-Russian Horticultural Institute for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery and SSR genotyping on the basis of Vavilov Institute of General Genetics of Russian Academy of Sciences. Six SSR-markers were used for the analysis: UDP96-001, UDP96-003, UDP96-005, UDP97-402, UDP97-403 and UDP98-406, for each of the markers stable, clearly reproducible results were obtained. As a result, 28 alleles were identified at six studied loci. The number of alleles per locus varied from 4 (UDP96-001, UDP96-003, UDP97-403) to 6 (UDP97-402), and on average was amounted to 4.7 alleles per locus. The polymorphism information content (PIC) averaged 0,64. The selected markers proved to be quite effective for the study of the Russian sour cherry varieties genetic diversity. For each studied variety, a unique combination of alleles was detected that can be used to identify and certify these varieties. The results can also be used to preserve and maintain the genetic collection of sour cherry.

In this article the comparative data on quality of fruits of triploid varieties from intervalence crosses and received from crossing diploid are presented. The aim of the work is to show the prospects of apple breeding on the polyploid level. Terms of fruit ripening, their keeping capacity, mass, appearance and taste, biochemical composition were evaluated by generally accepted methods. The determination of sugars was carried out according to the method of Bertrand, ascorbic acid by titration of oxalate extracts with Tilmans paint (2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol), vitamin P (P-active substances) by the colorimetric method in the modi fi cation of L. I. Vigorov. It was reliably shown that fruit of triploid apple varieties created from intervalence crosses have larger mass and contain more sugars, although they are inferior in ascorbic acid content of fruit of triploid varieties created from diploid parents. In the article it is described the best two zoned triploid scab immune varieties created from intervalence crosses (‘Aleksandr Boiko’ and ‘Vavilovskoye’) and the best two zoned triploid scab immune varieties created from crosses of two diploid varieties (‘Rozhdestvenskoye’ and ‘Yubilar’).

The article is devoted to the study of the problem of improving the apple assortment by creating new columnar varieties that combine in their genotype compact growth habit, high productivity, fruit quality, scab resistance and resistance to adverse abiotic environmental factors. The researches were held in proper genetics and breeding lab on the base of apple hybrid fund in the Breeding and Genetical Centre affiliated to I. V. Michurin Federal Scientific Center in 2008-2017. More than 20 000 seedlings were used as biological objects of researches. The seedlings were obtained as a result of diallel crossings and topcross-crossings of old russian apple varieties of domestic origin, promising donors and sources of high winter resistance, columnar growth habit, and scab resistance, all of them were selected in the Breeding and genetic center of I. V. Michurin Russian Research Institute of Genetics and Breeding of Fruit Crops and introduced. The experimental researches were based on methods of observations, as well as hybridologic analysis, modeling of stress-factors and comparison of the obtained data with the use of genetic & statistical methods. During hybridization, cultivation and study of hybrid seedlings, elite forms and varieties, the conventional methods of breeding and variety were used. New highly productive (25-35 t/hectare), winter resistant (-38…-40 °C), disease resistant, with high fruit quality columnar apple varieties Gotica, Geyzer, Stela, Strela, Kaskad were included into the State register of breeding achievement admitted to use. The highest economical efficiency was marked in columnar varieties Kaskad, Strela, Geyzer. The pro fi t per hectare in production of Kaskad variety was 413,4 thousand rubles with its pro fi tability in 248,7 %, this fact signi fi cantly exceeds the level of reference varieties.

In order to identify new complex sources of resistance to apple diseases, a hybrid fund, created in 1994-2007 – 22 364 plants of one year, obtained from 252 crossing combinations and selections in the breeding plot – 4936 plants was analyzed. 120 selections were evaluated in the primary test orchards on rootstocks 62-396 and PB-4, of which 12 promising hybrids were identified. DNA preparations were extracted from fresh apple-tree leaves using the Genomic DNA Purification Kit (Thermo scientific, EC) kit. Markers: OPL19, AD13-SCAR, OPB12 STS, VfC1 and VfC2, AL07-SCAR and AM19-SCAR, Vf2ARD, were used to identify the scab resistance genes Rvi2, Rvi4, Rvi5, Rvi6, Rvi17 and for identification of powdery mildew resistance genes Pl1, Pl2, Pl-w, Pl-d are the markers OPU02 SCAR, OPAT20450, EM M02, EM DM01. The presence of the dominant allele of the Rvi6 gene in the homozygous state (VfVf) was established in three hybrids: 94-13/39, 99-39/76 and 2007-18/19, in the heterozygous (Vfvf) – in six hybrids and cv. Diyament. Comparison of the results of DNA analysis and experimental field data of resistance to scab and powdery mildew allowed to obtain reliable results on the presence of resistance genes in the 12 apple genomes studied, obtained as a result of targeted hybridization of the original forms – derivatives of various apple species. New sources with complex resistance to scab and powdery mildew – carriers of several resistance genes in one genotype have been identified: 2000-45/70 (Rvi2, Rvi4, Rvi5, Rvi6 Pl-d), 94-13/39 (Rvi2, Rvi5, Rvi6), 2007-19/15 (Rvi2, Rvi6 Rvi17, Pl-d).

The possibility of using jasmonic acid during long-term storage of microplants of Malus Mill. apple was studied in culture in vitro, under different temperature regimes. The purpose of this research was to study the possibility of reducing the growth rate of microplants of clonal apple rootstocks, with the addition of various concentrations of jasmonic acid to nutrient media, in combination with different temperature regimes of deposition. The studies were carried out on a large sample of clonal apple rootstocks (found in the in vitro collection): 54-118, 57-490, 57-491, 57-545, 62-396, 69-6-217, MM106, M 26, Mark 9, which made it possible to obtain sufficiently diverse results in the form of clonal rootstocks and various variants of nutrient media. When jasmonic acid was used, its positive effect on the safety of microplants of clonal rootstocks of apple-trees was noted, in comparison with the control variant without its application. Cultivation at +20...22°C and the use of nutrient media with the addition of jasmonic acid in a concentration of 0.25-1.0 mg/l, allows maintaining the viability of the studied micro-plants clonal rootstocks of apple trees at the level of 4.8-23.8%, after 48 months direct deposit. Cultivation at +3...6°С and the use of nutrient media with the addition of jasmonic acid ensures the safety of microplants of clonal rootstocks of apple trees at the level of 5.3-52.4% after 48 months of deposition. Viability at cultivation at +3...6°С of microplants of clonal rootstocks of apple-tree above in comparison with cultivation at +20...22°С, moreover higher is marked in variants with addition of jasmonic acid in nutrient media. The maximum preservation was noted, when cultivated at +3...60С, in the variant with the addition of jasmonic acid in the concentration of 1.0 mg/l at the level of 21.1-52.4% (depending on the clonal stock). The deposition of apple microplants in an in vitro culture on media with the addition of jasmonic acid, even in small concentrations, and at a low positive temperature, ensures their higher viability during 48 months of non-stop culture.

The Federal laws of theRussian Federation(FL RF) on environmental monitoring and audit for agriculture were considered, based on their application for control over the ecology of garden lands of agricultural communities. The delay of their application for horticulture is seen in the fact that in the known techniques (agro-soil biological examination of fruit plantations and industrial bonitation) to control the efficiency of agricultural resources use by cultivated plants, there are no categories of greening production on a landscape basis. If we supplement the scientific platform of these methods taking into account modern achievements of ecology and landscape science, the application of the criteria of the Federal law of the Russian Federation for the assessment of the environmental situation on agricultural land, it can be implemented appropriate control over changes in habitat and productivity of plantations on garden lands with industrial landscape. For the purpose of justification of the methods to ensure control environment industrial garden landscape, was carried out search of a study on optimization of activity of the cultivated plantings at the expense of the counts of ecology, energy balance and specifics of application of intensive technologies. The principles of environmental monitoring, energy and environmental-energy management were used as a methodological basis for research. Taking into account the results of the research, a scenario of step-by-step solution of production tasks on using the potential of agricultural resources of the garden landscape in the format of controlled and effective application of production technology has been elaborated. The algorithms of the controlled impact of production technology on the ecological situation of the habitat by operational adjustment of its regimes to create favorable conditions for cultivated plants in the created landscape are shown. It is proposed to apply the principles of environmental monitoring and energy audit of the garden landscape of the agrotechcenosis community to formulate the structure of production control over the effective use of production technology in an ecological friendly situation.

Strawberry (transparent) tick (Phytonemus pallidus (Banks) ssp. fragariae (Zimm.) Lindquist) is the most dangerous phytophagous of wild strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) in all regions of its cultivation. The vast majority of varieties are badly damaged by Ph. pallidus. In recent years, both the percentage of planted plantations (often reaching 100%) and the degree of damage to plants (up to 3000 moving individuals and eggs on one unfolding triple leaf) have increased significantly, which is associated with non-compliance of phytosanitary requirements in the production of strawberries planting material. The fight against this secretive pest is very difficult, it is practically impossible to eradicate it in the field in fruit-bearing plantations. Obtaining certified planting material is the most effective method of combating this pest. To this end, we have developed an environmentally friendly method, which is available in all conditions of management, to prevent the spread of strawberry mites with planting material. When applied taking into account the bioecological peculiarities of phytophagous development, dynamics and intensity of vegetative growth of the host plant, this method can reach 100% efficiency.

The influence of foliar fertilization on calcium concentrations in leaves and apple fruit tissues ( flesh and skin) has been studied in the field experiment with mature ‘Imrus’ and ‘Sinap Orlovsky’ apple trees varieties in 2011-2015 growing seasons. The experiment was conducted in pedoclimatic conditions of forest-steppe of the Central Russian Upland (Orelregion). The experimental orchard is on loamy grey forest soil with high calcium content 4,8 ± 0,5 mmol/100g. The separate and combined foliar nutrient treatments with Н₃ВО₃ (0,1 %), К₂SО₄ (0,3 %) and СаСl₂ (1 %) were applied five times during the vegetation period. The results showed that meteorological conditions and yield load were the main factors affecting on calcium concentrations in leaves and fruit flesh and skin of both varieties. Foliar fertilization regardless of the calcium presence in the composition of fertilizers to a greater extent changed the calcium content in apple fruit tissues, then in leaves. All treatments one way or another resulted in changing of calcium concentration in fruit tissues, but in different years the contrary effect of the same treatments was observed. The variety ‘Sinap Orlovsky’ (known for its high susceptibility to bitter pit) was more responsive to foliar treatments, than the variety ‘Imrus’. In 2013 fruits of both varieties were remarkable for the least calcium concentrations (3,87±0,25 mg/100 g of fresh wt), and it was two times smaller than in the previous and following growing seasons. In the same year essential increase of calcium concentration in fruits was not observed after foliar fertilization, but some treatments resulted in essential reduce of this index. Despite of high soil calcium content calcium concentrations in leaves were low for both varieties: ‘Sinap Orlovsky’ – 0,75±0,08 %; ‘Imrus’ 1,08±0,14% dry wt. Signi fi cant negative correlations (R= -0,46…-0,34; P<0,05) were measured between calcium contents in leaves and fruit tissues of both varieties.