Among the Russian assortment of remontant (everbearing) raspberries, there are no cultivars with thornless stems. In this regard, our research aims to select parent remontant forms for breeding thornless raspberries, to study the obtained hybrid progeny and to identify promising crossing combinations, as well as to identify thornless selected forms with a complex of economic traits. An assessment of the genetic collection of remontant raspberry cultivars and forms by the degree of thorniness showed that the largest number of samples (22 specimens or 36.7 %) were highly thorny, 19 samples (31.7 %) were moderately thorny (2 points), 10 samples (16.7 %) were weakly thorny (1 point), and 6 (10.0 %) were thornless. In the hybrid progeny of controlled crosses, thornless hybrids were identifi ed in fi ve of twelve families: 1-60-1×9-155-1, 1-60-1×Komsomol’skaya Pravda, 11-165-10×1-60-1, 1-60-1×Salyut, 9-113-1×Salyut. Moreover, all seedlings (80 plants) in the 1-60-1×9-155-1 (ss×ss) combination were thornless, which was theoretically expected. Inclusion of thornless varieties No. 11-165-10, Salyut, and Komsomolskaya Pravda in hybridization with thornless selection No. 1-60-1 enabled us to identify 41.9–44.7 % of thornless seedlings. Therefore, the S gene is in the heterozygous state in these genotypes. In crosses of two thorny parents with heterozygous alleles (Ss×Ss) 9-113-1×Salyut, 17.2 % of absolutely thornless hybrids were isolated. In total, 181 thornless hybrids were obtained from the hybrid fund of controlled crosses, of which four selections were identifi ed based on a set of economic traits. In the 9-113-1×Salyut combination, two thornless selected forms were identifi ed, namely No. 5-171-1 and No. 5-171-3. These, along with being thornless, are distinguished by the upright bush habitus, early ripening, large fruit size, and fruit strength. In the 1-60-1×Salyut family, two selected forms (No. 1-127-1 and No. 1-127-2) were also identifi ed. They combine thornless stems with large fruit size, productivity, and fruit strength. In addition, among the seedlings from cross-pollination populations of certain selected forms and varieties, four thornless productive remontant (everbearing) selections were identifi ed (No. 3-98-11, 1-43-1, 2-84-2, 6-104-10).

The article describes the results of lily breeding at the I. V. Michurin Federal Scientifi c Center. New cultivars of Asiatic hybrids with diff erent fl owering periods were created, such as Lebedinoe Ozero, Valentina, Bagration, Rozovyi Zhemchug, Rubinovye Zvezdy. All of them are listed in the National Register of Cultivars and Hybrids of Agricultural Plants Approved for Use. The research aims to broaden the domestic assortment of Asiatic lily hybrids with new cultivars surpassing the best analogues across the globe in a combination of ornamental and economic traits. Lily breeding at the I. V. Michurin Federal Scientifi c Center has been conducted since 1963. More than 200 cultivars have been developed for open-fi eld cultivation in diff erent climatic zones of this country under the scientifi c supervision and with direct participation of M. F. Kireyeva, a candidate of agricultural sciences, as well as candidates of agricultural sciences N. V. Ivanova, N. G. Korshikova, V. V. Martynova, G. M. Pugacheva, and M. A. Sokolova. Of these cultivars, 88 have copyright certifi cates, 11 are protected by patent, and 53 are listed in the International Lily Register. At present, the main areas of Asiatic lily hybrid breeding at the I. V. Michurin Federal Scientifi c Center include expanding the range and duration of fl owering, creating cultivars with original fl ower colors and shapes, increasing the number of fl owers in infl orescences, and enhancing resistance to diseases and adverse environmental factors. Currently, we continue to hybridize lilies, study hybrid seedlings, and choose selected and elite forms. The most resilient and highly ornamental elite forms are transferred to the State Cultivar Commission of the Russian Federation after a multi-year thorough study. The new cultivars of Asiatic hybrid lilies are characterized by a wide fl owering range. The Lebedinoe Ozero and Rozovyi Zhemchug cultivars belong to the medium-early, Valentina to the medium, Rubinovye Zvezdy to the medium late, and Bagration to the late fl owering groups. The average duration of the fl owering period of these cultivars is 14–15 days. The perianth coloration of the presented cultivars is bicolor (40 %), yellow (20 %), dark red (20 %), and purple-red (20 %). The pattern on the tepal surface consists of spots of various sizes and quantities (40 % of the cultivars), dabs and spots (20 %), dabs, strokes, and spots (20 %), and no pattern (20 %). The star-shaped fl ower is predominant in the new cultivars (80 %). The semi-turban shape is only characteristic of plants of the Rubinovye Zvezdy cultivar. The plant height varies from 85.4 cm (Valentina) to 107.8 cm (Bagration). Plants of the Rubinovye Zvezdy cultivar are characterized by the smallest fl ower diameter (12.1 cm); Lebedinoe Ozero fl owers have the largest diameter (15.5 cm). The number of bulbs formed over two years of cultivation ranges from two (Bagration, Valentina, Rozovyi Zhemchug) to three bulbs per plant (Lebedinoe Ozero). The number of bulblets formed in the suprabulbous root zone varies from 3.5 (Valentina) to 6.5 bulbs per plant (Rozovyi Zhemchug). The new cultivars are characterized by moderate resistance to diseases and pests as well as resistance to abiotic environmental factors

Moldavian dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica f. alba) is a rare medicinal, essential oil, and aromatic annual plant of the Lamiaceae family. The paper aims to study the bioproductivity and economic traits of Dracocephalum moldavica f. alba in the Central Economic Region of the Russian Federation. The research object was plants of the white-fl owered form of Moldavian dragonhead cultivated at the All-Russian Research Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (ARIMAP). The experimental part of the work was carried out in 2023–2024 through conducting fi eld and laboratory experiments. Biometric measurements were performed during the mass fl owering phase. The content of essential oil was determined during mass fl owering by hydro-distillation in air-dried raw material. The total phenolic content calculated as rosmarinic acid was determined using methods developed at ARIMAP. The total fl avonoid content calculated as luteolin was determined after the complex formation reaction with aluminum chloride. Dracocephalum moldavica f. alba is characterized by stable raw material yield, good seed productivity, and drought resistance. The form is suitable for industrial cultivation. The white-fl owered form exceeded the Nezhnost’ cultivar (with blue fl owers) bred by the All-Russian Research Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in raw material and seed yield by 10–11 %. The comparatively high yield of seeds and raw material of the white-fl owered form is due to the size and fullness of the seeds as well as to a greater degree of leafi ness. The essential oil content in the raw material of the white-fl owered form was determined to be high on average over the years of research. This indicator exceeded the similar indicator for the cultivar Nezhnost’ adapted to Moscow Oblast environment by 70 %. The total phenolic compounds in the raw material of the white-fl owered form averages 4.0 % over two years, while the fl avonoid content is 0.878 %. The studied white-fl owered form, along with cultivars having fl owers of blue or other colors, can be used as a promising medicinal and essential oil raw material when cultivated in the Non-Black Earth Zone of Russia

In order to increase the productivity of modern intensive orchards, it is important to select scion-rootstock combinations of early-fruiting and high-yielding cultivars with a compact crown that provide a small crown size and enable dense tree planting. This increases the yield of plantations per unit area and reduces labor costs for tree maintenance and harvesting. The research aims to study the eff ect of dense planting patterns on tree growth processes and fruit-bearing wood formation in the crown as well as to determine the productivity index of the leaf surface of pears grafted onto the BA 29 quince rootstock. The research object was the cultivar Maria. The crown shape is a slender spindle; the planting density in the orchard ranges from 1428 to 2500 trees/ha. Based on the obtained results, an optimal planting pattern of 4x1 m (2500 trees/ha) in the form of a slender spindle is identifi ed and recommended for use in commercial horticulture in Crimea. With this planting pattern, the leaf area, fruit formation density per meter of fruit-bearing wood, specifi c density of crown leafi ness per 1 m2 of projection and 1 m3 of crown volume were established to be 1.5–1.6 times higher compared to other planting schemes. It has also been determined that pear trees grown with the above planting pattern are of more compact sizes. They are 6.3 and 7.4 % smaller in trunk growth vigor, 10.0 and 15.0 % smaller in crown projection, 9.6 and 7.2 % smaller in crown volume. In addition, with an increase in row spacing between trees to 4x1.75 m, these parameters increase by 10.5 %, 11.5 %, and 7.1 % compared to trees planted according to the 4x1.5 m pattern (control). However, plantation productivity and lifecycle are signifi cantly reduced by the harmful activity of phytophages (plant feeders) and pathogens, which requires their constant monitoring

Sooty blotch and fl yspeck (SBFS) is one of the most harmful diseases of fungal origin developing on the surface of apple fruits and endangering industrial plantations in Krasnodar Krai. For a long time, fl yspeck was believed to be caused by Schizothyrium pomi (Mont. & Fr.) Arx.; however, over the past 15 years, 12 pathogens from the Schizothyrium and Zygophiala genera have been identifi ed. Data on the biological characteristics of fl yspeck-causing fungi obtained in the USA, Europe, China, Turkey, and other countries indicate signifi cant diff erences in their development depending on the weather conditions of the year and the climate of the area. In connection with the increasing harmfulness of these pathogens in Russia, we set out to study the bioecological characteristics of pathogens of the Schizothyrium genus developing in fruit agrocenoses. The studies were conducted in 2021–2024 in the Black Sea horticultural zone of Krasnodar Krai. The infection was found to persist in the form of thyriothecia on 16 plant species from 11 families (Cornaceae, Rosaceae, Staphyleaceae, Salicaceae, Sapindaceae, Betulaceae, Ranunculaceae, Fagaceae, Ulmaceae, Smilacaceae, and Caprifoliaceae). Blackberry was identifi ed as the main reservoir plant due to its widespread distribution in the study area. The level of over-wintering infection during the study period varied from 5.3 to 12.3 thyriothecia per cm of blackberry shoot. It was established that from 22.3 to 44 % of the fungus fruiting bodies do not survive the winter period. The development of thyriothecia begins in March–April followed by spreading of ascospores in April–May, up to the second or third ten-day period of June. The fi rst symptoms of apple fruit damage by fl yspeck are noted from the second ten-day period of July to the fi rst ten-day period of August. The prevalence of the disease during the harvest period varied from 1 to 50 % in cultivated areas and from 10.3 to 76.3 % in uncultivated areas. The analysis of weather conditions allowed us to conclude that air humidity, precipitation amount, and hydrothermal coeffi cient (HTC) in the summer months of vegetation determine the harmfulness of Schizothyrium sp

Sustainable management of horticultural production requires an eff ective multilevel analysis of the environment, which is impossible without integrating data from various sensors, such as video cameras, laser lidars, thermal imagers, etc. Object detection is a key stage in image processing; however, conventional computer vision may fail to meet the necessary level of accuracy and performance. For example, such an analysis can be complicated by distorted or lost data due to optical barriers and diff using coatings of objects. These shortcomings can be overcome using stereoscopic vision to obtain accurate data on the scene depth and distance to objects, as well as to create a 3D model of the environment. In this article, we propose a system for 3D localization and recognition of objects that combines the capabilities of the RealSense D455 stereo camera and the YOLO v8 neural network model. The system ensures accurate and effi cient image processing in real time. The use of stereoscopic vision made it possible to achieve high accuracy in recognizing objects and constructing a 3D image of the surrounding area. A distinctive feature of the conducted study was the use of the authors’ own dataset, which was compiled by more than 4000 images collected experimentally, including those with visual noises. The dataset allowed the system to be adapted to the specifi c conditions of actual usage, increasing its accuracy and resilience to visual interference. The eff ectiveness evaluation showed the high rates of completeness (up to 95 %) of the system when processing up to 10 frames per second, which makes its suitable for real-time tasks. The stereo camera was calibrated to accurately estimate distances to objects, which further increased the model reliability. The results obtained confi rm the potential of the proposed approach for automation and analysis tasks in robotic systems

The FAOSTAT data for 2005–2023 were used to assess the share of South Africa in the global production of grapes, raisins, and wine and their global export expressed in physical and cost terms. On average, during 2005–2023, the share of South Africa in the global production of grapes and wine achieved the level of 2.61 and 3.73 %, respectively. In 2023, the gross value of grapes produced in this country amounted to USD 2.329 billion, which was equal to 8.85 % of the gross value of agricultural production. The share of South Africa in the global export expressed in physical and cost terms was, respectively, grapes – 6.56 and 5.89 %, raisins – 6.69 and 7.26 %, and wine – 3.50 and 1.59 %. According to the data for 2023, 10 countries importing South African viticulture products were identified. In 2005–2023, due to a number of negative trends, the share of viticulture in the total amount of agricultural products produced in the country decreased by 6.05% in current prices. In terms of average prices, this shared decreased by 2.32 % during the 2014–2016 period.