The article presents long-term data on the study of yield, biochemical parameters (tannin and extractive substances) and quality of tea raw materials (by the average mass of three-leaf fl ushes) of perspective mutant induced forms of tea breeding by Georgian scientists: 582 (radio mutant – aneuploid 2n = 36); 2264 (сolchicine mutant – mixoploid 2n = 38); 3823 (radio mutant – myxoploid 2n = 42). Standard Kolkhida variety was chosen as a control. The collection was planted in 1986 in CJSC «Dagomyschay» and is administered by the Russian Research Institute of Floriculture and Subtropical Crops. Vegetation of radio-mutant forms proceeded more actively, adaptability to summer drought was quite pronounced. By productivity, the following radiomutant forms can be distinguished: 582 (49.8 kg / ha) and 3823 (55.2 center/ha), with an excess over the control variety Kolkhida on 13.4-25.7 %. To a greater extent, the colchimutant form 2264 (30.2 C/ha) was inferior to the control, the credible diff erence was 31.2 %. In terms of the average weight of three-leaf fl ushes, the advantage was also in the mutant forms, it is 1.0 g and 0.96 g for the forms 3823 and 582, respectively, in the control variety the average weight was 0.89 g. It should be noting that the average mass of 3-leaf fl ushes was 0.4 g on the commercial plantations fi lled with local tea population. The biochemical parameters on tannin and extractive substances showed highest quality of fresh leaf yield of all mutant forms. At the same time, on this position, the mutant form 582 dominated, the tannin parameters exceeded the control variety Kolkhida by 2.6 %, the presence of extractive substances by 0.9 % (the infusion was moreintense). All the studying induced mutant tea forms represent practical interest for gene pool replenishment, breeding and implementation in commercial tea growing.

The study of the indigenous gene pool of Vitis vinifera L. of diff erent zones of viticulture with the involvement of molecular genetic methods is an urgent due to the wide diversity of grape varieties. The territory of Abkhazia is a unique zone, one of the hotbeds of the emergence of cultural grapes. «Kachich» is the oldest Abkhazian grape variety, known for the quality of wines obtained from its harvest. The variety is more resistant to fungal diseases compared to popular European varieties cultivated in modern Abkhazia, and is particularly resistant to rot of berries. However, often the local population calls old bushes by the name «Kachich», which give grapes of good quality for making of red wines and not always these forms correspond to the morphological description of the variety. The aim of the research is DNA fi ngerprinting of the «Kachich» grape variety based on the analysis of polymorphism of microsatellite loci. The object of the study was the plants corresponding to the variety description, growing in the collection of the agricultural company “Wines and waters of Abkhazia” (Sukhum, Abkhazia). DNA was isolated from the young leaves of the top of the shoot of typical plants of the variety by the CTAB-method. Genotyping was carried out by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with separation of reaction products by capillary electrophoresis. Highly polymorphic SSR-markers recommended for grapes varieties identifi cation were used for study (VVS2, VVMD5, VVMD7, VVMD25, VVMD27, VVMD28, VVMD32, VrZAG62, VrZAG79). The size of amplifi ed fragments was estimated using the automatic genetic analyzer ABI Prism 3130 and special software GeneMapper and PeakScanner. To clarify the size of amplifi ed fragments, the DNA of reference varieties was used. According to the results of microsatellite analysis, the DNA-certifi cate of the genotype of the «Kachich» grape variety was compiled: VVS2153 155 VVMD5234 240 VVMD7239 249 VVMD25239 267 VVMD27186 193 VVMD28234 248 VVMD32262 272 VrZAG62194 196 VrZAG79236 236. The resulting DNA-profi le was checked for matches in the Vitis International Variety Catalogue VIVC. No matches of the obtained DNA-profi le with any other DNA-profi le presented in the Database were found. DNA-certifi cate of genotype «Kachich» can be successfully used for varieties identifi cation of grape plants if necessary to clarify their varietals affi liation.

The purpose of the work was to select hybrids of Asian lilies promising for landscaping from the gene pool of the All-Russian Horticultural Institute for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery, to characterize their advantages. Peculiarities of hybridization (the optional isolation of stigmas and castration) are refl ected, as well as grouping of lilies by fl owering time and height of fl ower-bearing shoots, valuable traits for breeding. The main features taken into account in the preparation of combinations of crosses and selecting seedlings in order to obtain hybrids that are diverse in appearance and stable in culture were: fl owering periods – from early to latest, infl orescence shape – from hemispherical to pyramidal, compact infl orescence, anthers sterility, originality forms and colours of fl owers, resistance to botrythiosis and alternariosis, ability to vegetative propagation by traditional methods, including the ability to form bulbills in the leaf axils. Ten promising Asian hybrids have been selected from the Institute’s hybrid lily fund, which are stable in open ground culture, varied in colour (one-colour and two-colour in various tones), fl ower shape (wide open, cup-shaped, chalmoid), fl ower-bearing shoot height (from short to tall), fl owering periods (from early to medium late). Among them ‘Alye Parusa’ and ‘Izyashchnaya’ are originally from Lilium davidii and are characterized by high drought tolerance, tall, elegant fl owers; ‘Ogonek’, 15.17 and 15.22 possess cytoplasmic male sterility; ‘Ogonek’, 15.17 and 15.21 possess early or medium early fl owering; ‘Meduza’, ‘Ogni Biryulevo’, ‘Tsaritsa’ possess an interesting coloring of fl owers; ‘Alye Parusa’, ‘Zagorye’, ‘Izyashchnaya’, 15.22 are tall, suitable for long cuts; in hybrids ‘Zagorye’ and 15.22 large leaf bulbills form in the axils of the leaves, which will contribute to the long-term cultivation of these lilies. All characterized hybrids are valuable material not only for fl ower decoration, but also as parent forms for breeding.

Studying the genetics of harmful insects populations is of great importance in understanding the migratory processes of species, especially invasive ones, and the fl ow of genes between populations. In this regard, one of the priorities of the genetics of arthropod populations is to assess the genetic similarity of individuals, genetic diversity, and DNApolymorphism. Universal RAPD-primers (OPA07, OPA09 and OPA18) for lace bugs (Tingidae family) have been revealed. In order to study DNA-polymorphism and the genetic diversity of lace bugs using selected primers, a comparative PCR-analysis of four species of bugs of this family (Corythucha arcuata Say, Corythucha ciliata Say, Stephanitis pyri F., Monosteira unicostata Mulsant et Rey) was carried out. It was shown that the species Monosteara unicostata diff ered from the others in the lowest level of DNA polymorphism and genetic diversity. The high values of DNA polymorphism and genetic diversity of the other three species indicate a high migratory ability of these insect species and a signifi cant intraspecifi c gene drift. In the research process, clustering of lace bugs species based on the data obtained using RAPD-markers was carried out in order to determine their genetic relationship. Cluster analysis of the data was performed by the UPGMA-method using the Popgene program. We found out that the genetically closest species were the species of the genus Corythucha, and the most distant from others was the species Monosteira unicostata. It was shown that RAPD-PCR-method can be successfully used in the analysis of interspecifi c diff erences of insects, along with other molecular-genetic methods. The performed studies allowed us to assess the eff ectiveness of the RAPD-primers identifi ed in the work for diff erentiating the species of lace bugs and to obtain information on the genetic relationship of the Tingidae family species. The primers identifi ed in the work are also eff ective for assessing DNA-polymorphism and genetic diversity of insects of the Tingidae family. This method of molecular-genetic diagnosis allows carrying out a more eff ective monitoring of pests of this insect family.

The article presents the results of studies of the chemical composition, commercial qualities and taste of berries of promising strawberry varieties breeding of the All-Russian Horticultural Institute for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery (Moscow) in the conditions of the Orenburg Urals. The studies were carried out in 2016-2018 on the basis of the Orenburg Experimental Station of Horticulture and Viticulture of the All-Russian Horticultural Institute for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery in specific conditions, where almost annually dry and moderately dry climatic periods were observed during the formation of the yield (May-June). A comparative evaluation of varieties on the content of sugars, acids, vitamin C in berries, taste and attractiveness of appearance is given. The dependence of the studied parameters on the genotype of the variety and vegetation conditions was established. Depending on the variety and year, the content of soluble solids varied from 7.2 to 10.2 %, with an average content of 8.9 %; total acidity varied from 0.8 to 1.2 %, with an average content of 1.0 %; the content of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) was from 45.1 to 78.5 mg/100 g, with an average content of 56.4 mg/100 g. Varieties with high parameters of tasting evaluation (Darenka, Kokinskaya Zarya, Studencheskaya), soluble solids (Rosinka, Studencheskaya) and ascorbic acid (Kokinskaya Zarya, Bereginya) were revealed. They are recommended to be grown to obtain fresh consumption products and as processing products of various directions. Bereginya, Darenka and Rosinka varieties surpass control varieties in certain biochemical parameters and can be used in breeding in the Urals region to obtain new genotypes with an increased content of a specific biologically active substance. The variety Tsaritsa is selected for high commodity qualities of berries (weight, dessert taste, attractiveness of appearance) and is recommended for commercial production of berries and involvement in breeding process. It has been established that the taste of berries is determined by a complex of acids, sugars and aromatic substances. This parameter was greatly influenced by weather conditions, from which air temperature and precipitations were determining.

The article discusses the current state of the genetic resources of the apricot specy and the prospects for its cultivation in the world and the Russian Federation. Data from various literary sources and Internet resources dedicated to this issue were collected and analyzed. The article analyzed the development of culture from 1991 to 2017. Gross fruit harvest, yield and cultivation areas in 68 countries of the world are displayed. There has been marked a growing demand for this crop and, as a result, the expansion of the area of cultivation and gross fruit harvesting has almost doubled since the end of the last century. An increase in production effi ciency due to the introduction of new varieties more adapted to cultivation conditions and the use of innovative technologies was noted. Apricot plantings, according to 2017 data, occupy 560 thousand ha. The main production is concentrated in Asia (54 %) and European countries (27 %). The market leaders are 10 countries: Turkey, Iran, Uzbekistan, Italy, Pakistan, Spain, France, Algeria, Japan and Morocco. They accounted for 2.02 million tons, or about 50 % of the total world gross fruit harvest of this crop. The area of apricot plantations here is from 11 to 125 thousand ha. In Russia, the main landings are concentrated in the south of the country. They occupy about 10 thousand hectares. About 60 thousand tons of products are collected here annually. It is noted that from 1992 to 2017 the apricot yield has doubled, but still inferior to the level of Western countries. The average yield in the country is 5.36 t / ha. This yield parameter is at the level of Pakistan, Algeria and Japan. In Italy, Uzbekistan, France, and others, about 10 tons of fruits are obtained from 1 ha. Based on the analysis, a conclusion was made about the possibility of increasing the gross yield and productivity with a further increase in the level of intensifi cation of production.

The role of digital technologies in the management of production and technological processes in fruit growing on the example of the protection of fruit plantations and yield is revealed. On the example of the Krasnodar Region, basic elements of a process control model for protecting fruit planting from a specifi c disease or pest are proposed for the elaboration of digital technologies: a theoretical basis that reveals the organizational and functional structure of the control of protection processes; structural analysis of components of the protection process control model and optimization of the parameters of plant protection systems to ensure high biological and technological-economic effi ciency; design algorithm for the protection process management model, development of methods and cost optimization for protective measures according to the criteria of biological and environmental and economic effi ciency. The algorithm of the organizational structure of the management methodology, which is the basis for the development of digital technologies for managing production processes in commercial fruit growing is presented, the functional content of the stages of the algorithm is considered. An algorithm is proposed for the development of digital technology for process control, including: the formation of multifunctional databases and data banks, as well as an empirical database and geocoded data collection; diagnosis of diseases and pests; development of plant protection systems; selection of the optimal protection system; development of regulations for the use of chemical and biological agents; assessment of the biological and environmental and economic eff ectiveness of plant protection systems and yield; substantiation of the optimal parameters of the plant protection system and the yield. A predictive assessment of the eff ectiveness of the use of digital technologies in managing the protection of fruit plantations against diseases and pests is given: a comprehensive digitalization of the plantation protection processes, according to empirical data obtained through the use of individual digital technology elements in agricultural organizations of the Krasnodar Region, North Caucasian Federal Scientifi c Center of Horticulture, Viticulture, Wine-making, data of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia. This will allow reducing labor costs by collection, processing of information to justify the optimal solution on the application of system for protecting plantings and yield from pests and diseases, on average, 2 times as compared with traditional systems, comprehensive accounting of all factors that infl uence or determine the state of the system, 2 times higher labor productivity, cost savings on protective measures by 23 % on average, increased production effi ciency and the competitiveness of fruit products.