Russian vineyards face the problem of shortage of high-quality disease-resistant wine grape cultivars. Genotypes of domestic breeding exhibit higher adaptability to local growing conditions, which is particularly relevant in the context of climate change. The process of cultivation contributes to increased yield, reduced maintenance costs, and the promotion of environmentally sustainable viticulture development in the North Caucasus. This paper presents a study of the Vagra wine grape cultivar, a selection from the North Caucasian Federal Scientific Center of Horticulture, Viticulture, and Wine-making, presently under official state cultivar testing. The cultivar was developed using the Varuset interspecific hybrid as the maternal genotype and V. vinifera Granatovy as the paternal genotype. This hybrid was created as part of a breeding program aimed at developing cultivars resistant to downy and powdery mildew. An ampelographic description of the cultivar is provided according to UPOV standards. Vagra was identified as a mid-season cultivar with a frost resistance of up to -25 °C. Molecular genetic analysis determined the Vagra genotype to carry the downy mildew resistance locus Rpv3 (haplotype Rpv3^null-297) and the powdery mildew resistance loci Ren3 and Ren9. In field conditions, the cultivar demonstrated moderate tolerance to downy mildew and high tolerance to powdery mildew. A DNA passport for the Vagra genotype was developed based on nine standard SSR markers recommended by the OIV, confirming the declared parentage. The results of agro-biological studies conducted in the Anapa Ampelographic Collection from 2018 to 2020 are presented. The agro-climatic data for the research period indicated that the sum of active temperatures was 17–25 % higher than the climatic norm. The wine material produced from the Vagra grape harvest is characterized by a dark ruby color and a rich aroma with notes of black and red berries, paprika, and nightshade. The wine has a full-bodied taste with moderate freshness, receiving a tasting score of 8.0. The research results indicate that the Vagra cultivar is promising for the production of high-quality dry red wines and for extending the grape assortment of the North Caucasus.

Microbiological analysis on flower samples of the Debryansk black currant cultivar and its parental forms – the Lentyay maternal cultivar (♀) and the Yadrenaya paternal cultivar (♂) – was conducted. Samples were collected from plantings of the genetic collection from the Shared Facility Center Genetic Bioresource Collection of Plants of the Federal Scientific Center of Horticulture (Kokino Outpost, Bryansk Oblast). Cultivable endophytic bacteria (EB) were isolated from the flowers on both rich and nutrient-poor solid media, including MPA, TSA, CAA, Ashby, Potato Agar, and LB Agar. Based on cultural and morphological characteristics, several distinct taxa of cultivable EB were identified in the flowers. The Debryansk cultivar generally exhibited a higher abundance of EB colonies with diverse cultural and morphological features compared to its parental forms. Among the parental cultivars, Lentyay demonstrated a higher taxonomic richness of EB on both rich (up to 8,375,200 CFU/g on TSA) and poor media (up to 1,265,400 CFU/g on LB Agar). The lower ratios of EB abundance in the flowers of the Yadrenaya paternal cultivar to that in Debryansk suggest a more significant contribution of the maternal line in shaping the microbiome of black currant cultivar. Correlation analysis indicates that the breeding process facilitated the harmless transmission of the ability to accumulate specific bacterial communities in internal tissues from the parental forms to Debryansk. The Lentyay maternal cultivar and the Yadrenaya paternal cultivar contributed saprophytic forms utilizing organic nitrogen compounds and heterotrophic forms assimilating inorganic nitrogen compounds. Additionally, the Yadrenaya paternal cultivar contributed aerobic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Garden strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) is a dessert fruit renowned for its exceptional taste and aromatic qualities. The plant is extensively cultivated across diverse global agro-climatic zones. Given the ongoing diversification of the strawberry cultivars, the bioresource collection at the Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding has studied 34 new breeding lines. These samples were systematically evaluated based on fruit mass and the accumulation of nutrients responsible for organoleptic qualities, including sugars, organic acids, and their ratio—the sugar-to-acid index. For the central region of Russia, the target standards for the quality parameters of this berry are as follows: berry mass – ≥10 g, total sugar content – ≥8.0 %, organic acid content – 1.0–1.5 %, and taste score – 4.5–5.0 points. The majority of cultivars (82.4 %) were classified in the medium fruit mass category. Alba, Asia, Bereginya, Clery, and Syria cultivars were identified as large-fruited, with a mass exceeding 20 g. Genotypes exhibiting superior berry chemical profiles were selected based on the following criteria: total sugars ≥8.0 %, organic acids ≤0.90 %, and a sugar-to-acid ratio ≥8.0. Different reactions of cultivars to changes in external conditions were observed regarding the accumulation of biochemical substances in berries. The stability of high sugar accumulation in fruits was notably demonstrated by Darselect, Molling Pandora, and Honeoye, while consistently low organic acid content was characteristic of Asia, Marmolada, and Zumba. We recommended these genotypes as sources for breeding aimed at improving fruit chemical composition. The highest flavor scores (4.7-4.9 points) were obtained for cultivars including Zumba, Kokinskaya Rannaya, Marmolada, Molling Pandora, Neznakomka, Onda, Rosinka, Sara, Sonsation, Syria, Frida, Honeoye, and Elliani. In addition, these cultivars exhibited elevated sugar-to-acid index values (above 8.0). Pairwise correlation coefficients calculated between biochemical and organoleptic traits revealed a significant positive correlation between taste and the sugar-to-acid index (r=+0,41*) and a negative correlation between taste and organic acid content (r=-0‚58***). Moreover, a moderate positive correlation was found between the total sugars (r=+0,58***) and monosaccharides (r=+ 0,56***) with the sugar-to-acid index, as well as a strong positive correlation of these parameters with soluble solids (r=+0,86*** and +0.81**, respectively).

The development of genetic collections at the Federal Research Center Subtropical Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FRC SSC RAS) dates back to the late 19th century, with the establishment of the Sochi Agricultural and Horticultural Experiment Station on the Black Sea coast. At that time, the Station saw its primary mission in the introduction and study of valuable subtropical fruit, industrial, and ornamental crops. Scientific research conducted at the Center led to the widespread cultivation of various species, such as bay laurel, tea, persimmon, feijoa, citrus, kiwifruit, and hazelnut, in the Black Sea region of the Caucasus. Many of these species hold significant commercial and agricultural importance. The introduction of new species and cultivars of flower and ornamental plants at the FRC SSC RAS has substantially contributed to the development of the floriculture industry. The advancement of plant cultivation requires continuous varietal renewal, which drives the creation of new adaptive domestic cultivars. The research presented in this article is aimed at the expansion, conservation, and study of the FRC SSC RAS genetic resources through identification of donors and sources of economically valuable traits, development of new hybrids and cultivars resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses, and the design of scientifically substantiated varietal assortments for the humid subtropics of Russia. The work focuses on the Center’s extensive plant gene pool, which comprises 2800 variety samples organized into 20 collections. These collections are continuously enriched with both introduced cultivars and samples obtained by the Center’s breeding specialists. The genetic resources contribute to conserving biological diversity, including wild relatives, rare, endangered, and endemic species. The study of the unique gene pool preserved in vivo enabled the identification of sources of valuable traits among 45 fruit crops (citrus, persimmon, feijoa, pear, actinidia) and 61 ornamental plants (pelargonium, freesia, chrysanthemum, tulip, anemone, gerbera, hippeastrum), leading to the development of 266 adaptive varieties. The Center continues research into domestication of plants and improvement of propagation methods and techniques. Additionally, technological aspects of plant cultivation are addressed. Furthermore, innovative structural approaches are developed to study and evaluate the global diversity of subtropical, southern fruit, and ornamental flowering plants.

In recent decades, hardy geraniums (Geranium L.) have become widely used in landscaping. Among the diverse representatives of this genus, Geranium macrorrhizum L. – native to the Balkan Peninsula and the Southern Alps – is identified as a highly promising species. Both literature sources and our own observations indicate that this species exhibits high adaptability in cultivation, a prolonged growing season until frost, attractive appearance, drought tolerance, and low light-demand. Our studies confirm the ability of Geranium macrorrhizum L. plants to develop under full sunlight and in shade in open ground conditions without changes in developmental rhythms and habitus. During the research years in the collection of the All-Russian Research Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, the height of rosette shoots and flower stalks of plants under different light conditions varied slightly, averaging 41.62±0.69 cm and 53.33±0.76 cm, respectively. However, it was established that in the shade, the development of vegetative plant organs decreased by 1.7 times, significantly reducing the propagation coefficient during green cutting. The optimal timing for cutting propagation of Geranium macrorrhizum L. in the conditions of the Central Non-Chernozem Zone is mid-April. The propagation coefficients for this crop from cuttings taken in early spring under illuminated conditions were 4.9 and 13.3 after one and two years of cultivation, respectively. Harvesting cuttings should be done once every 2 years. In Bulgaria, Geranium macrorrhizum L. is used as a medicinal plant in traditional medicine. However, the saponin content in the herb and rhizomes remains poorly studied.  Our analysis of plant raw materials revealed no significant difference in the saponin content in the herb of Geranium macrorrhizum L. compared to Geranium palustre L., and Geranium pretense L., for samples collected both in summer at the onset of flowering and in autumn during the first half of October. During the autumn harvest period, a significant increase in saponin content was found in both aboveground and underground plant organs.

Clonal apple rootstocks play a fundamental role in the intensification of contemporary horticulture. The study examined the main biometric parameters of apple budded trees in the second nursery field and performed ranking of new rootstock forms based on their growth vigor. Records of plant biometric parameters were taken in 2024–2025 after the end of the active growth period (in the first ten days of September) at the fruit nursery of Michurinsk State Agrarian University, located in Michurinsk, Tambov oblast. In the second nursery field, for apple budded trees of the Berkutovskoe, Lobo, and Sinap Orlovskiy cultivars on 5 regionalized and 7 promising clonal rootstock forms, variation in the average values of the main morphological parameters was noted depending on the rootstock vigour. This variation was as follows: plant height by 1.2–1.4 times (C_v=6.4 to 8.2 %); trunk diameter by 1.4 times (C_v=10.2 to 11.1 %); leaf blade area by 1.5–1.7 times (C_v=12.6 to 15.6%); number of leaves by 1.2–1.4 times (C_v=7.3 to 9.4 %); and total leaf area by 1.9–2.4 times (C_v=18.4 to 23.0 %). All minimum values of these characteristics were identified in seedlings on the Malysh Budagovskogo super-dwarf rootstock, while the maximum values were on the semi-vigorous rootstock 70-20-20. High positive correlations (r=0.74 to 0.96) between the main biometric parameters of one-year-old apple seedlings were noted. For an early preliminary assessment of the growth vigour of new clonal rootstock forms, a quantitative indicator was calculated – the plant growth vigour coefficient for the studied scion-rootstock combination in the second nursery field. This coefficient is defined as the product of plant height and trunk diameter. For plants of the three apple cultivars on semi-vigorous rootstocks, its values exceeded 200–230 units; for semi-dwarfing rootstocks, values were within 170–200; and for dwarfing rootstocks, less than 180. Based on the evaluation of the budded tree development from various scion-rootstock combinations in the second nursery field, the new clonal apple rootstock forms were grouped according to their growth vigor as follows: dwarf – 9-1-1; semi-dwarfing – 5-28-11, 9-1-2, 9-1-3, 9-1-9; semi-vigorous – 9-1-4, 9-1-5.

The study investigates the impact of spatial heterogeneity of the soil cover on the condition of intensive-type apple orchard plantations. The research aimed to assess the difference in the condition of apple orchard plantations on various soil backgrounds, considering the phenological phase, season, and tree age. The analysis was performed on intensive irrigated apple orchards in sloping plain environment of northern Azerbaijan. The primary data source was a time series of Sentinel-2 satellite images in 2017–2024. The NDVI vegetation index was used as an indicator of plantation condition. A high spatial correlation was established between plantation condition and the identified zones of potential soil fertility. The study shows that plantations in the least productive condition were confined to highly calcareous soils. This pattern was evident across all analyzed growing seasons and for trees of all ages, although the specific indicators fluctuated between different years and phases of tree development. The findings demonstrate that the correlation between plantation condition and the identified zones of potential soil fertility was significantly higher than with the mapping units of traditionally compiled soil maps, which do not reflect the spatial variability of soil properties affecting site suitability for orcharding.