The majority of raspberry breeding programs focus on the creation of varieties with firm and transportable fruits that can be stored for a long time without losing their quality. Our research aimed to establish the possibility of creating remontant raspberry forms with the fruit firmness exceeding that of the best modern varieties in order to identify promising parental pairs. The physical and mechanical properties of raspberry fruits harvested in 2020 were studied. The research material included 19 remontant raspberry varieties, eight selected forms and 10 combinations of crosses with the total seedling number of 627 pcs. The original parental forms and hybrid offspring were evaluated in terms of berry crushing force and detachment from the peduncle using conventional horticultural methods. During the study period, no genotypes with very soft berries were identified among the studied varieties. Only two varieties (Oranjevoye Chudo and Elegantnaya) produced soft fruits (up to 5.0 N) unsuitable for transportation. More than 65 % of the samples exhibited a medium level of firmness, thus allowing the high quality of fruits to be preserved during manual harvesting and transportation over limited distances. The Sugana, Salut, and Atlant varieties, as well as 3-59-30, 2-53-1, 44-154-2, 1-60-1, and 9-113-1 selected forms produced firm berries withstanding a crushing force of 7.2–8.3 N. In the hybrid progeny of raspberry remontant type, large variations in fruit firmness were observed, depending on the combination of crosses. The calculation of dominance degree (D = -19-0) confirmed the difficulty in transmitting the trait of high fruit firmness to progeny. Among the studied hybrid families, the yield of transgressive seedlings ranged from 1.7 to 15.6 %. Only in the 9-113-1×Salut combination, no hybrids exceeding the best parental form in terms of fruit firmness were identified. Promising combinations of crosses in breeding for obtaining remontant raspberry varieties with increased fruit firmness include the following: 9-163-1×44-154-2, Podarok Kashinu×Atlant, 9-113-1×Podarok Kashinu, 9-155-1×Atlant, as well as populations from free pollination of Zolotaya Osen, Pokusa, and the 7-42-3 selected form. In the offspring of these parental forms, the 21-166-11, 21-166-10, 8-163-10, 1-188-2, 8-163-11, 15-132-1, 6-124-21, 2-159-10, and 1-135-31 selected forms withstanding a crushing force of 8.5–10.4 N were identified.

The domestic assortment of fruit and berry crops should include new varieties with high biological plasticity, group resistance against adverse environmental conditions, different ripening duration, and sufficiently high quality of the final products. These requirements are highly relevant in grape breeding. Nektariy, a new grape сultivar of interspecific origin, was admitted to state testing in 2021. This cultivar was created at Y.I. Potapenko All-Russian Research Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking under the state task for cultivation in the northern zone of industrial viticulture of Russia and for production of high-quality Muscat wine of various types. The studies were carried out according to conventional ampelography methods. The Nektariy agrobiological characteristics include the following: a cultivar of industrial purpose with an early ripening period. During the 2018–2022 period, the production period lasted, on average, 115 days under the effective heat sum of 2501°C. Nektariy is characterized by high winter hardiness and the budburst percentage from 84 to 100. Under the negative temperature sum of 586°C and the absolute minimum temperature of minus 24.6 °C, 49 % of live buds was registered. The number of fruiting shoots comprised 90–98 % under the fruiting coefficient of 1.4. On average, the yield per plant was 5.9 kg on a single-plane trellis under the planting scheme of 3×1.5 m. The cultivar ampelographic description is as follows: androgyne flower, cylindro-conical bunches of medium density weighing on average 153 g. The knot is very short, green, sometimes woody, green ridge. The berry is rounded, greenish-yellow, with an intense pruinous stain, with an average weight of 1.9 g. The flesh is juicy with a muscat aroma. In order to create a passport of the cultivar, the Nektariy leaf blade was measured in terms of 33 parameters using the SIAMS Mesoplant soft ware for analyzing the morphology and structure of plants. This cultivar is characterized by a high accumulation of sugars up to 29.3 g/100 cm³ under a moderate acidity of 5.8 g/dm³ . The resistance to major fungal diseases is high, which allows this cultivar to be used in breeding as a donor of resistance genes to mildew. The shoot growth strength is medium; shoots mature well. The affinity with rootstock varieties is high. The tasting score of dry wine and liqueur wine averages 8.65 and 8.8 points, respectively, on a ten-point evaluation scale. The cultivation of Nektariy grape is economically efficient due to low expenditures associated with uncovered cultivation and disease protection measures. Nektariy is used for the production of high-quality Muscat wine with the profitability 140 %. Nektariy is recommended for uncovered cultivation in wine-making Russian regions with an absolute minimum of winter temperatures up to minus 26 °C.

This article presents the results of DNA marker-assisted selection of apple tree varieties and breeding material obtained in the North Caucasian Region Research Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture for several genes – Rvi2, Rvi3, Rvi5, and Rvi15 – determining scab resistance (Venturia inaequalis (Cooke) G. Winter). The aim was to estimate the polymorphism of Rvi2, Rvi3, Rvi5, and Rvi15 scab resistance genes in representatives of Malus Mill. of domestic selection with the purpose of identifying the most prospective genotypes for further breeding. The research objects included apple-tree genotypes of different genetic origin. The following genotypes were used as controls for identification of DNA-marker alleles of target genes: Malus pumila R12740-7A (gene Rvi2); Q71 (gene Rvi3); Malus atrosanguinea 840 (gene Rvi5); and GMAL2473 (gene Rvi15). The research was conducted using the facilities of the Collective Use Center “Research and Breeding Collection of Genetic Resources of Horticultural Crops”, Krasnodar, using conventional research methods. DNA extraction was conducted using a modified STAB method previously developed by researchers of the North Caucasian Region Research Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture. Various degrees of the prevalence of resistance genes in the sample were revealed. The most frequent genes were found to be Rvi3 (45.95 % of carriers identified) and Rvi15 (43.24 %). The prevalence of Rvi2 was 27.02 %. The least frequent gene was found to be Rvi5 (2.70 %). Among the studied apple varieties, carriers of 2-3 scab resistance genes were identified, including Vesta (RVI2, RVI3, RVI15) and late winter Margo (RVI2, RVI15). The 12/1-21-63 (Golden Delicious (4×)×2034 (F2 M. floribunda×Golden Delicious))×Modi) hybrid family demonstrated the highest number of carriers of several scab resistance genes. Application of DNA marker-assisted technology made it possible to identify 4-hybrid forms containing three target resistance genes in the genome: Rvi3, Rvi2, Rvi15 – 17/1-6-1 (Karmen×Gemeni), 17/2-6-7(12/1- 21-63×Modi), 17/1-7-17 (12/1-20-56×Fujion); Rvi3, Rvi5, Rvi15 – 17/1-6-73 (12/1-21-63×Modi). The identified carriers of several target genes can be used in further breeding for long-term resistance against Venturia inaequalis (Cooke) G. Winter.

This article presents the results of a 3-year research study into the effect of soil and foliar application of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers on the taste qualities of the Veniaminovskoe (Rvi6) and Sinap Orlovskii (3×) apple varieties bred at the Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (VNIISPK). The assumption that varietal features are the most important factor that determines taste was confirmed. In addition, the influence of weather conditions of the growing season on the chemical composition of fruits was observed. Thus, the year of 2019 was characterized by the most favorable weather conditions of the growing season. In August, during fruit ripening, the optimum temperature and humidity regime had a positive effect on the accumulation of soluble solids, sugars, and titratable acids in both varieties under study. However, the varieties responded differently to the same doses of mineral fertilizers. The application of fertilizers had no significant impact on the content of the studied components and the sugar-acid ratio in Veniaminovskoe fruits. Conversely, Sinap Orlovsky was found to be responsive to this agricultural practice. In 2019, the joint application of triple foliar and soil fertilizing using N₃₀K₄₀, N₆₀K₈₀, and N₉₀K₁₂₀ in various doses had a positive effect on the reduction of titratable acidity in fruits of this variety. As a result, the sugar-acid ratio increased by 1.3–1.9 times. Over the entire study period (2017–2019), a significant decrease in the content of sugars in Sinap Orlovsky fruits was observed in the variant with additional foliar fertilizing compared to the control. During the study period, the high doses of N₉₀K₁₂₀ nitrogen and potassium fertilizers along with foliar application contributed to a significant increase in the sugar-acid ratio in Sinap Orlovsky fruits, which significantly exceeded the control.

Ornamental species of apple trees have gained large popularity in landscape design. The long-term work of Russian breeders has resulted in the selection of a number of ornamental apple-tree forms; however, insufficient attention has been paid to their practical implementation. At present, the Russian market is mainly represented by European varieties, which are unstable to the harsh conditions of Russian regions. The creation of adaptive varieties of ornamental apple trees with high aesthetic characteristics appears to be a relevant research task. In this work, ornamental apple tree forms for use in landscape design are evaluated using the methodology developed by V. V. Vasekha et al. (2017). Studies were conducted in the 2015-2022 period in experimental plots located in Michurinsk, Tambov Oblast. Research objects included trees planted in 2004 with a planting scheme of 6×2 m using 54-118 rootstocks. Depending on the genotype, the bud color was found to vary from white (M. sachalinensis), bright red (M. floribunda), and purple (M. purpurea pendula, Jay Darling, etc.). The new forms 7-13, 7-29, 4-100, and Nikas were characterized by large flowers over 35 mm in diameter. The leaf color varied depending on the season, from purple and red-purple in spring to green in autumn, which was typical of the majority of the studied genotypes. In summer, the genotypes having purple leaves turn red-green with the exception for the Royalty variety and M. purpurea var. aldenhamensis and M. purpurea species, whose leaves remain red until autumn. Fruits of ornamental apple trees are small, from 8 to 35 mm in diameter. Such varieties and forms, as Royalty, Profusion, M. sargentii, M. purpurea, M. floribunda, M. sachalinensis, M. Nikita floribunda, Jay Darling, Altaiskoe bagryanoe, M. floribunda, Nikas, 7-29, 7-13, and 4-100 are characterized by fruits up to 15 mm in diameter with high aesthetic characteristics. Nikas, 7-29, 7-13, and 4-100 have a columnar crown habitus, which significantly increases their ornamental value.

In 2018-2022, a series of studies was conducted in the experimental plots of the Novocherkassk branch of Potapenko All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking (Novocherkassk, Rostov Oblast) using conventional viticulture methods and GOSTs. A comparative study of the Joy grape, a new promising resistant seedless cultivar of the University of Arkansas (USA), and the Venus grape, one of the first seedless cultivars of the same institution, was carried out. The growing characteristics included the following: uncovered, unwatered, grafted, Berlandieri×Riparia Kober 5B rootstock, 3.0×1.5 m planting scheme, fan-shape formation on the middle stem. Agrobiological indicators, phenological observations, productivity, chemical and technological data, as well as tasting evaluations of fresh and dried grapes, are presented. During the study period, the preservation of buds in the Joy and Venus plants was 78.3 % and 80.1 %, respectively. Although the indicators of shoot fruitfulness and fruiting ratio were high in both cultivars, Joy showed a higher average weight of bunches and berries compared to Venus (311 and 282 g; 3.1 and 1.6 g, respectively). The yield was 13.8 t/ha and 12.4 t/ha, respectively. Both cultivars proved to be highly resistant to major grape diseases; in 2021, Joy grape bunches were slightly affected by mildew at the level of 2.5 points. The mass concentration (average for the study period) of sugars in Joy and Venus plants comprised 20.2 g/100 cm³ under the titratable acidity of 6.8 g/dm³ and 19.3 g/100 cm³ under the titratable acidity of 7.3 g/dm³, respectively. The conclusion is made that the studied cultivars present interest for cultivation as table wine and raisin varieties in areas with sufficiently moderate climate due to their high yield and seedless characteristics. These cultivars are recommended for possible expansion of vine plantations and further use in breeding.

This work investigates the effect of domestic plum rootstocks on the stability and productivity of Stanley plum plants. The main factor limiting the productivity of fruit crops in the floodplain soils of the foothill horticultural area of Krasnodar Oblast was found to be an unfavorable water-air regime of these soils in wet periods. The main geogenic factors that negatively affect the state and productivity of plum plants include the following: the presence of layers of low fertility and medium-clay granulometric composition in the soil profile. Depression and death of trees is promoted by prolonged overwatering of the upper part of the soil profile, caused by low filtration capacity of soil layers in combination with heavy granulometric composition and conditions of laying on the terrain (absence of horizontal surface runoff). A different degree of plum trees resistance to these unfavorable geogenic conditions depending on the type of rootstock was revealed. The lowest degree of depression under prolonged overwatering of the root-containing soil layer was observed in plum trees on the PK SK2 rootstock, which demonstrated the highest vegetative mass growth under the smallest number of dead plants. Stanley plum trees on rootstock AP1 were subjected to the greatest depression. The different degree of plum tree stability on different rootstocks is mainly related to the location of potentially active roots in the soil. The root system of plum trees on rootstock PK SK2 is characterized by the concentration of the main part (about 65 %) of potentially active roots in the upper soil layer of 0–40 cm. In plum trees on AP1 rootstock, potentially active roots penetrate to greater depths, with about 60% of the roots located in the soil layer of 40-80 cm. During wet periods and after abundant precipitation, when the soil below the 40 cm level is saturated with moisture, more than half of potentially active roots of plum trees on AP1 rootstock have to survive in unfavorable conditions.

In this work, we investigate the harmful effect of codling moth in industrial fruit plantations of Krasnodar Krai. An analysis of growing expenditures on protective measures is carried out in connection with the high dynamics of macroeconomic processes and sanction measures. A correlation between the distribution of codling moth and the magnitude of climate change is noted. The need to increase the efficiency of measures aimed at the development and implementation of plantation and crop protection is highlighted. According to long-term research studies into the bioecological features of the phytophage development during vegetation, its following adaptation features are established: high adaptivity to variable weather conditions; high potential of pest resurgence during one vegetation period; changes in the pest phenology; an increase in the overall number of pests in those sections of the orchard where trees grow for 15–16 years and more. A scheme for the automated control of monitoring processes, optimum regime selection, application of biorational systems of efficiency control based on digital technologies is proposed. The technology for managing biotechnological processes of fruit plantation protection is described in terms of functional components, including the formation of a system of ecological and economic parameters of implementing insecticides against harmful pests; development of multivariant models and adaptive instruments of phytosanitary stability management of apple-tree agrocenoses based on the criteria of biologicalization, ecologization, and rational nature management; monitoring of the number of pest populations; phytosanitary stability of apple-tree plantations; regulations for effective and safe use of biorational, low-toxic chemical and biological preparations of new generation in apple-tree plantations; evaluation of the action of the studied preparations on non-target organisms. The latter include fruit analysis for the presence of residual amounts of background and impact pesticides, determination of phytotoxic effects of used preparations on the protected plants, evaluation of the studied preparations action on associated pests. A comparative study of available technologies for crop protection against codling moth is carried out. The efficiency of biological methods in the field of crop protection is substantiated.