The phenomenon of seedlessness in grapes is a special form of sterility and it is characterized by the complete absence of seeds in the berry or the presence of their primordia. A phenotypic and genetic studies of 20 varieties of seedless grape growing at the Anapa ampelographic collection were carried out. The manifestation of the degree of seedlessness may depend on growing conditions and climatic peculiarities during crop formation. In the weather and climate conditions of 2019, which were characterized by an increased temperature regime, the degree of seedless berries of the studied varieties was determined. Genetic studies were performed on the basis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the separation of reaction products by capillary electrophoresis using the automatic genetic analyzer ABI Prism 3130. The DNA-marker p3-VvAGL11, closely linked to the VvAGL11 locus, which influences to the formation of seedlessness in grapes, was used in the work. The mass of rudiments was determined by extracting seed primordia from berries and their dehydration in a drying cabinet to final unchanged mass of rudiments. In the varieties Kishmish Sogdiana, Remaily Seedless and Kishmish Kruglyi rudiments were practically absent. The greatest mass of rudiments in the berry (over 14.1 mg) was observed in the varieties Pamyati Smirnova, Yangi Yer, Vanessa Seedless, Kishmish Luchistyi. In addition to the degree of development of seed rudiments, in seedless table grape varieties, an important indicator is the size of the berry, which generally affects the consumer choice of a particular variety. By the average weight of the berry, Kishmish Luchistyi variety (5.05 g) was distinguished. The smallest mass of berries observed in varieties Rozovyi Biser, Kishmish Siyekh, Kishmish Kruglyi, Kishmish Krupnyi, Bessemyannyi Ranniy (less than 1.5 g). DNA analysis using the p3-VvAGL11 marker revealed in all genotypes the presence of a PCR-product with a size of 198 nucleotide pairs, which corresponds to published data on the correlation of this size of the PCR-product with seedless berries.

The aim of the work was to identify genetic sources and donors in the transferring of the main economically valuable traits and properties to the hybrid offspring of primocane raspberry. The objects of researches were 30 primocane raspberry varieties of domestic and foreign breeding, 35 selected forms, as well as their offspring from controlled crossings, inbreeding and populations from open pollination with a total amount of more than 3,500 pieces of seedlings. The evaluation of parental forms and hybrid offspring was carried out on the hybrid plot and on the competitive variety testing plot in the period from 2016 to 2019. As a result of researches, it was established that reliable donors of early and compressed crop ripening are varieties Evraziya, Medvezhonok, Pingvin, Podarok Kashinu, Poklon Kazakovu, Snezhet’, as well as the selected forms 1-156-21 (Bryanskaya Yubileinaya open pollination), 1-16-11 (1-182-10 × Evrasiya), 13-118-1 (46-41-20 o.p.), 44-154-2 (Pingvin × Bryanskoe Divo), 5-19-1 (32-151-20 o.p.), 7-42-5 (1-16-11 o.p.). The best combinations of crossings in obtaining hybrids with a high load of stem generative organs were the Zhar-Ptitsa × Bryanskoe Divo, Podarok Kashinu × Atlant, 1-156-21 × 1-16-11, 13-118-1 × Podarok Kashinu, 44-154-2 × Poklon Kazakovu, 1-156-21 x Snezhet’ and populations from open pollination of primocane forms 3-59-30, 3-117-1, 9-77-10, 9-155-1, 29-101-20. In the hybrid offspring of these parents, a small number (from 2.5 to 10 %) of transgressive seedlings are guaranteed to be released, forming from 120 to 200 pieces of fruit, fl owers and buds per shoot. The large-fruited seedlings (average weight 5.5-6.0 g) are cleaved out in the offspring varieties of Atlant, Poklon Kazakovu, Karamel’ka, Podarok Kashinu, Nizhegorodets, Samokhval and selected forms 13-118-1, 4-111-1, 11-165-1, 3-59-30. In the breeding to increase the strength of primocane raspberry fruits, you should actively involve varieties Atlant, Karamel’ka, Zolotaya Osen’, Medvezhonok, Podarok Kashinu, Samorodok, Samokhval, Driscoll Maravilla, Poranna Rosa and a number of selected forms-3-170-1 (Atlant × Snehet’), 3-131-1 (5-46-30 o.p.), 9-163-3 (13-118-1 × 1-16- 11), 6-154-1 (44-154-2 × Poklon Kazakovu), 1-54-1 (7-141 o.p.), 9-113-1 (Atlant × Koldun’ya).

The article presents the results of 64 years apple breeding work at the Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (RRIFCB) and shows the high role of the interdisciplinary team. It is noted that at the RRIFCB, leading institute for fruit crop breeding in Russia, over the past period 54 apple varieties of different ripening periods have been created and included in the State Register of breeding achievements admitted for use. Among them 19 are first in Russia and in the world triploid varieties derived from intervalent crossings of type 2 × 4; 24 immune to scab (with the V_f gene), including the first immune to scab domestic variety Imrus (immune Russian) and 5 columnar scab immune varieties. Triploid apple varieties are characterized by more regular fruiting by years, high fruit marketability and partial self-fertility. Scab immune apple varieties when introduced into orchards contribute to a more favourable environmental situation in the orchards and their surroundings and reduce the cost of additional chemical treatments. Columnar varieties make it possible to create super-intensive orchards with an early abundant yield and to simplify and reduce labor-intensive costs for the formation and care of trees. The creation of all these types of varieties was possible thanks to a large interdisciplinary team, which in addition to the main breeder includes specialists of many other specialties: variety specialists, phytopathologists, biochemists, geneticists (about 20 researchers). Among the 54 new apple varieties created at the RRIFCB, only one variety Pamyat Voinu was created by one breeder and two varieties (Orlik and Orlovskoye Polosatoye) were created by the main author and one co-author. The rest of the varieties were created by three and more co-authors. Specialists of different specialties (interdisciplinary teams) are needed for successful breeding work. The success of breeding work also largely depends on the volume of the hybrid fund. With a large amount of material in the plant nursery and breeding orchard, a more rigorous selection for the desired characteristics is possible.

The aim of the presented work was to identify the peculiarities of the photosynthetic apparatus, the activity of redox enzymes and proline content in apricot varieties with different drought tolerance. Four apricot varieties such as Kazachok, Nagycorosi Orias, Khurmai and Krymsky Amur were used as objects of the studies. To determine the effect of drought on the state of the photosynthetic apparatus, a series of experiments was carried out to analyze chlorophyll fluorescence induction (ChFI) parameters, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity and proline content in apricot leaves. It was found out that in summer 2018, when the amount of precipitation exceeded the climatic norm, during the period of the maximum drought probability, catalase activity decreased, polyphenol oxidase activity increased or was unchanged and the proline content did not change significantly. Extremely arid conditions in summer 2019 resulted in peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activation and a decrease in the proline concentration in all the studied apricot varieties. However, the drought tolerant variety Nagycorosi Orias was characterized by the most stable indexes of peroxidase activity during the entire experiment. A decrease in the leaf tissue hydration was the reason for the increase in the base fluorescence and the decrease in the correlation index of the rate constants of photochemical and nonphotochemical deactivation of excitation in PS 2. In the drought tolerant varieties Nagycorosi Orias and Kazachok changes in the ChFI parameters were reversible. It has been demonstrated that disturbances during primary photosynthetic processes were most pronounced during the restoration of turgidity. It was revealed that the most sensitive parameters of ChFI in apricot are the characteristics of the fast phase. A decrease in reparative abilities in the midsummer was probably associated with age-related changes in leaves and fruit load.

The article summarizes the results of studying of the biology of flowering varieties of climbing large-flowered roses (Large-Flowered Climber). The varietal composition of climbing large-flowered roses used for landscaping has not been sufficiently studied in terms of the biology of varieties and their ornamental qualities in the conditions of the Stavropol Upland. In this regard the research conducted by us in 2016-2019 are very actual. Studies are relevant, given the increased demand for roses with climbing type shoots for vertical gardening among landscape industry experts and amateur gardeners. In the collection of the Stavropol Botanical Garden, there are 21 varieties of climbing large-flowered roses from leading breeders of Germany, the USA, France, England, and Holland. Representatives of this garden group are varieties with a single flowering in the first half of summer, in which flowers are formed on biennial and older lateral shoots. It also includes varieties with repeated flowering, whose flowers are formed on shoots of different orders and ages, including the current year. The beginning of flowering of large large-flowered roses falls in the first half of June, the flowering period is June – July, August – September, October. The order of flowering of climbing large-flowered roses over the years is preserved. The varieties Krasnyy Mayak, Glenn Dale, Copper Glow are the first to bloom and bloom profusely, on average 20-25 days. Regular flowering was observed in the varieties: Handel, Ramira, Blossontime, Swan Lace, Sympathia, Santana, The Generous Gardener, New Dawn, Casino, Polca, Elfe, Rosarium Uetersen, Michka, Benvenuto, Heidelberg, Golden Climber, Golden Showers, Paul’s Scarlet Climber. The duration of flowering of climbing roses prone to permanent flowering capacity is more than 130 days. Roses of the Climber group have the ability to self-pollination, 14 varieties have abundant fruit formation, 7 varieties have a single one. The ability of varieties to tie fruits from free pollination makes it possible to use them as mother plants in rose breeding. Due to the diversity of flower colors, aroma, abundant continuous flowering, this garden group of roses has become one of the most promising for vertical gardening.

In an experiment, within the framework of the developed research methodology, it has been studied the effect of single (N₆₀P₆₀K₆₀), double (N₁₂₀P₁₂₀K₁₂₀) and triple (N₁₈₀P₁₈₀K₁₈₀) doses of mineral fertilizers on the productivity parameters of the autumn varieties of Florin and Liberty apple trees cultivated in the conditions of the educational and experimental farm of the Stavropol State University. According to the results obtained for these varieties, the highest average fruit weight in the experiment, which exceeded the results of other nutritional backgrounds by 8.7-23.9 g, was noted when a triple dose of fertilizer was applied. As a result of the surveys, it was found that the highest yield on average for the considered varieties was observed when a double dose of fertilizer was applied, exceeding the rest of the nutrition by 0.4-3.9 t/ha. It was noted that the difference in the average weight of fruits and yield in the variants with double and triple doses of fertilizer was within the experimental error. According to the results of the analysis of the biochemical composition of the fruits, one can note the advantage of options with double saturation of fertilizers for all considered parameters. The content of nitrate nitrogen in fruits is directly proportional to the saturation of the studied doses of fertilizer, but in all cases the parameter was lower than the maximum permissible concentrations of nitrates in fresh fruits, which positively characterizes the use of these doses of mineral fertilizers in modern intensive orchards.

The North Caucasus is the main area of commercial production of fruit. Sustainable crop growth requires knowledge about the complex impact of natural resources (climate, relief, soil) on the productivity and production process of plants. The paper shows a systematic assessment of fruit crops in a changing climate. A method has been created that includes in the study not the whole mass of system attributes, but the main “essential variables”. A special complex language has been elaborated, since modern extremum methods are incompatible with concepts such as “frost resistance”, “drought resistance”, “heat resistance” and others. These problems are solved with the help of digital modelling and GIS- technologies. Based on the assessment of the suitability conditions in the winter-spring period for fruit crops, relief and soil a layered ecological maps of rational distribution, combined into the integral (for 159 regions of Northern Caucasus) has been created. The subject for further research is the knowledge of specific backbone links between elements of the interaction of “genotype-environment” system, the characteristics of the structure of these relationships that determines the integrity of a complex object (varieties of fruit crops) and evolving in his new - emergency - properties when growing conditions change. These knowledge allow to reveal the mechanism of interaction “genotypeenvironment” and lead to control of production process of fruit crops in a changing environment. Rational distribution of varieties according to the phases of development (customisation of varieties under the conditions of the environment) taking into account the relief and soils would increase yields by 1.5-2 times without additional financial injections and provide 80% quicker flow of production process.

In connection with the creation of the subprogram for the development of viticulture in the framework of the Federal scientific and technical program for the development of agriculture for 2017-2025 the analysis of foreign experience in supporting this sub-sector is relevant. The countries of the European Union (EU) are collectively the main producers, consumers and exporters of grape wine in the world. The goal of the EU viticulture support system is to bring the wine-growing and wine-making sector to structural change that are protected from a permanent market crisis. Each EU member-state has a budget set by the EU and can choose from the eight areas of support provided (promotion of wine products within the EU and in third-country markets – up to 50 % of regulated expenses; restructuring and rearrangement of wine yards – up to 50-75%; investment in tangible or intangible fixed assets, processing plants, wine infrastructure, marketing structures and tools for the production or sale of wine products – up to 40-75 %; innovation – supports material or non-material investments aimed at developing new products, procedures and technologies that improve the marketing and competitiveness of EU wine products – up to 50-75 % of regulated costs; distillation of by-products of wine in order to eliminate them and thus improve the quality of wines; “green” harvest-destruction of part or complete destruction of unripe grapes in a certain area-up to 50 % of the direct costs of destruction plus loss of income associated with destruction or disposal; mutual funds – for farmers who want to insure against market fluctuations; crop insurance), which must be applied within the framework of national programs to support agricultural industries for a period of five years. Goals, planned results, the range of organizations that can receive this support, the application procedure, eligibility criteria, subsidized and non-subsidized expenses, standard (normative) unit costs, the procedure for selecting applications, priority criteria and appropriate weighting, the timing of payment of subsidies, and advances are defined for each support area.