Representatives of the genus Paeonia (Paeonia L.) are economically and socially important ornamental plants. Moreover, some species are widely used in folk medicine. Various peony cultivars are prominent examples of active centuries-old plant breeding. They are commonly employed for soft landscaping of botanical gardens, urban landscapes, and household plots. With the development of molecular genetics, ornamental plant breeding received fresh impetus. Research has enabled the identification of markers that help to determine important ornamental and economic characteristics, such as the flower shape, leaf color, corolla color, degree of doubleness, and presence of fragrance. These advances accelerate the breeding process. Additionally, new cultivars can be certified quite accurately. Our article presents the results of the research aimed at testing the method of certification and verification of representatives of the genus Paeonia based on the variability in the ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2 region. In the course of the analysis, we managed to identify the P. arientina species which had been included in the collection of the Botanical Garden of the Ural Branch of the RAS under a different taxonomic name (P. mascula). Additionally, we assessed the genetic diversity of the studied ribosomal DNA region, including the ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2 sequences of several other species. Total DNA was isolated using the CTAB method. The consecutive sequences were evaluated using various programs (Mega6, Bioedit, DNAxp). The research has revealed that all peony species we studied are characterized by high variability in the region under investigation. The number of polymorphic sites was 155, and the total number of mutations amounted to 164. The number of sites with a single mutation was high (126). Haplotype diversity (Hd) for all species under study equaled 0.978±0.019. We verified the identity of the taxa included in the collection of the Botanical Garden of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences based on the analyzed ITS region of the ribosomal DNA. The article concludes that it is appropriate to use the ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2 region when certifying species of the genus Paeonia to include them in the collections of Botanical Gardens as it is difficult to identify some peony species solely by their morphological characteristics.

In this article, the author generalizes his own scientific observations and carries out an analysis of breeding achievements, as well as physiological and biochemical studies, into industrial black currant varieties. Account is taken of the producers’ need for regional black currant models. The priority task in the creation of an industrial variety of black currant for the conditions of Central Russia consists in obtaining genotypes capable to developing berry-producing plants with a yield per bush of 2.8 kg under a vegetation period of 130-180 days and active temperatures of up to 2000 °С. Frost resistance does not limit the area of crop distribution; however, resistance to winter thaws is an important adaptation criterion. The parameters of high plant productivity include the following: the number of fruit-bearing shoots – 18-22 ps, >15 fruit-bearing nodes, the average berry weight >2.0 g, the number of berries in a bunch – 10 ps and more, the proportion of multi-bunch nodes >20 %, the actual yield >12 t/ha. The industrial value of the variety determines its suitability for mechanical fruit harvesting. The latter operation is associated with significant costs, thus affecting the strategy of modern breeding. Mechanical harvesting imposes strict restrictions on the height and width of the bush, with preference being given to plants no higher than 1.8 m with a base width of up to 0.3 m. Industrial black currant varieties should yield fruits with >17 Brix RSV, <3 % organic acids, >7.5 % sugars, >200 mg/100 g vitamin C, >1000 mg/100 g P-active substances, >350 mg/100 g anthocyanins, >1.5 % pectin substances, >15 μg/100 g folic acid. The commercial and consumer indicators of berry quality include degustation evaluation, attractive appearance, ability to preserve fruits for a long period of time at ripening without quality reduction and falling off. The presence of this trait set in a new variety seems to be the main task in breeding the culture. This requires considerable efforts in developing, studying, and replenishing the sources of each represented trait using the created genetic collections, which will allow the proposed model to be implemented in new varieties.

The genus Campsis is of great interest as a valuable ornamental plant that blooms for a long period in the hot and dry months of June to September. The economic and biological qualities of Campsis enable different uses of this plant: as a liana for vertical soft landscaping, as compact and beautifully flowering shrubs formed with the help of heavy pruning, and as a standard plant. In the ornamental horticulture of the southern regions of Russia, the potential of the crop has not been fully unlocked. Moreover, there is no scientifically substantiated assortment; no breeding is being performed. Since 2014, the North Caucasus Federal Scientific Center for Horticulture, Viticulture, Winemaking (Krasnodar) has been introducing and forming a collection of the genus Campsis representatives. Specimens enter the collection from various sources. In the process of studying them, we address issues of the cultivar identity clarification of the introduced plants. ISSR genotyping of representatives of the genus Campsis makes it possible to form an idea of the available genetic diversity of the collection and select the most promising markers for further work. Using phenotypic and molecular genetic analysis, the research aims to study the diversity of the genus Campsis in the genetic bank collection of the North Caucasus Federal Scientific Center for Horticulture, Viticulture, Winemaking. The study was conducted on 13 specimens of the genus Campsis which are the basis for the emerging collection in the South of Russia. Phenotypic assessment was carried out from 2020 to 2022 on 11 specimens; it included the analysis of 4 morphological and 4 economic-biological characteristics. 8 ISSR markers were employed to perform genotyping of 13 representatives of the genus. The genotypes of Catalpa, Chitalpa, and Paulownia species were added as an outgroup. Specimen clustering according to phenotypic and genotypic characteristics was conducted using the UPGMA method. The results obtained by combining phenotypic assessment and ISSR genotyping made it possible to correct the specimen collection of the genus Campsis. The study confirmed the commonality of two genotypes of C. x tagliabuana (Madam Galen) and two genotypes of C. radicans (Flava). A new genotype of C. x tagliabuana, previously erroneously attributed to the hybrid ‘Madam Galen’, has been determined. In this regard, it is necessary to clarify the cultivar identification of the genotype. Hybrid forms of Campsis No. 1 and Campsis No. 2 are also subject to further study and genotype identification. An assumption was made that they belong to the species C. grandiflora. The position of the Campsis specimens relative to the genotypes represented in the outgroup corresponds to the current systematic position of this genus. The use of ISSR markers in assessing the core of the emerging genetic collection of the genus Campsis has demonstrated that they are a simple and convenient tool for genetic analysis.

The article provides a detailed analysis of the agrobiological, economically valuable traits and properties of white wine grape variety Johanniter, a complex interspecific hybrid obtained at the State Institute of Viticulture (Freiburg, Germany). The study was conducted at the All-Russian Research Ya. I. Potapenko Institute for Viticulture and Winemaking (branch of the Federal State Budget Scientific Institution “Federal Rostov Agricultural Research Center,” Novocherkassk, Rostov Oblast, Russia) in 2021–2023 using the methods generally accepted in viticulture and winemaking. The vineyards were uncovered, non-irrigated, with plants grafted onto Kober 5BB rootstock. The planting pattern was 3.0x1.5 m. The vines were pruned to form two cordons (arms) and a trunk with an average height of 80 cm. The study aims to assess the prospects of using this variety for the grape industry in Rostov Oblast conditions. The Johanniter grape variety shows considerable potential in the context of sustainable viticulture. It is resistant to fungal diseases (mildew and oidium) at the level of 2.5 points, which enables a remarkable reduction in the amount of chemical plant protection products used. The data of agronomic surveys confirmed the high potential yield (10.0 t/ha) and high winter hardiness of the variety, which is sufficient for cultivating vines without covering them in zones with mild winters (the percentage of blossoming buds was 79.6, of which 85.7% were fruit-bearing shoots). The wines produced from the Johanniter variety demonstrated floral aromas and a fruity profile, with citrus and stone fruit notes similarly to Sauvignon Blanc. The tasting score of the dry wine material equaled 8.6 points. The chemical composition of the berries was characterized by an optimal ratio of sugars (21.7 g/100 cm3) and titratable acids (8.5 g/dm3), a high juice yield (66.9-68.2 %), and a rich aromatic profile. Thus, the variety is suitable for high-quality wine production. The research results confirm the promising potential of the Johanniter variety from an agronomic and winemaking standpoint, which creates new opportunities for its introduction into industrial production. The variety can enhance the development of new approaches in organic winemaking and sustainable viticulture, which is especially relevant in the context of climate change and stricter requirements for the environmental safety of food products.

This article reports a study into Amur and Euro-Amur grape varieties. The former included ‘Amurskij Triumf’, ‘Amurskij Proryv’, and ‘Proryv Belyj’, while the latter included ‘Neretinskij’, ‘Marinovskij’, and ‘Severnyj Plechistik’. The aim was to investigate changes in the uvological parameters of young Amur grape plants. The mechanical and chemical composition of bunches and berries of Amur and Euro-Amur varieties were analyzed using N. N. Prostoserdov’s approach to uvological estimation of varietal samples. The bunch weight, berry weight, seed weight, skin weight, and rachis weight, as well as the indicators of bunch structure, bunch composition, berry stacking, and berry structure were determined. In most varieties, the average weight of berries during the 2022-2023 period increased. Among the studied Amur genotypes, the largest berry was observed in ‘Amurskij Triumf’ (1.5 g) in 2022 and ‘Severnyj Plechistik’ (2.1 g) in 2023. The highest bunch weight on young plants was observed in the second year of fruiting in ‘Proryv Belyj’ (326.0 g), ‘Amurskij Proryv’ (272.6 g), and ‘Severnyj Plechistik’ (281.8 g). The indicator of seed weight per 100 berries in most varieties increased slightly in the second year of fruiting compared to the first year. In the second year of fruiting, the minimum and maximum seed weight in 100 berries was observed in ‘Amurskij Proryv’ (10.9 g) and ‘Amurskij Triumf’ (22.4 g), respectively. The quality of grape juice was evaluated. The studied grape plants belong to technical varieties and are characterized by small-size berries (1.2-2.1 g), increased levels of titratable acids (7.9-16.6 g/dm3), and an optimal sugar content in berries (up to 23.3 g/100 cm3). The varieties show different uvological parameters under the influence of external conditions. The ‘Proryv Belyj’ variety was found to be optimal for winemaking and juice production in terms of the sugar and titratable acid ratio. Further research is required for a comprehensive uvological characterization of the studied varieties.

When growing plants of the genus Rubus in protected cultivation conditions, great importance is attached to the substrate quality, especially its microbiological characteristics, since a favorable environment for pathogen development is created in such conditions. Adding a zeolite-containing mineral complex (ZMC) to the substrate reduces the risk of phytopathogenic infection due to ZMC valuable physical and chemical properties. The study aims to evaluate the effect of a zeolite-containing mineral complex on the substrate microbiota composition when growing blackberry planting material in a winter greenhouse. The biological objects in the experiments were Rubus fruticosus L. plants, as well as isolated microorganisms. The study used common microbiological analysis methods. The assessment of microbial contamination of different fractions (0.001–0.002 mm, 0.5-1.0 mm, and 2.0-4.0 mm) of the studied complex revealed a decrease in the number of colony-forming units (CFU) of bacteria from 5.3×10⁶ to 1.5×10⁶ with an increase in the granule size. In the study with the smallest particle size, Penicillium spores were detected. This is due to the fact that small granules are more susceptible to contamination with polluted air. Moreover, it was found that in the presence of ZMC, the number of CFU in aqueous suspension of the fungi Fusarium oxysorum Schltdl. and Alternaria alternatа (Fr.) Keissl. decreased by 7 and 8 times, respectively. When the complex under study was added to peat mixture at a concentration of 10, 15, and 20%, the number of fungi CFU was observed to decrease on average by more than 5 times. After cultivating blackberries during the growing season, pathogenic fungi of the genera Cladosporium, Alternaria, Fusarium were found mainly in the substrate without ZMC. Peat mixture with 10% of the investigated complex contained on average 4.5 times less Cladоsporium and Alternaria. Fusarium fungi were not detected. The results of the conducted research can serve as a scientific justification for using ZMC to reduce the infectious load on plants during the cultivation of R. fruticosus planting material in greenhouse conditions.