By optimizing the relief at the top of the sulphide-containing mine dumps, the process of forming a young soil was accelerated. We have given a characteristic and assessment of the water-physical properties and the water regime of sulfide rock and young soils of depressions at the age of 12 years in the mine dumps of Western Donbass.

The agro-ecological assessment of the territory is given and the soils of the 30 ha land plot located on the lands of the Steppe Branch of the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens near the village Novy Sad of the Simferopol district are studied in detail. Two types of southern carbonate chernozems are distinguished and their degree of suitability for fruit crops is determined. Measures of improvement the fertility of the studied soils have been developed and recommendations for undertaking reclamation measures to prepare these soils for use under fruit and nut crops have been made.

For the first time the comparative characteristic of microflora of the rhizosphere zone of wild plants (Alhagi pseudalhagi (Bieb.) Fisch., Glycyrrhisa glabra L., Lotus corniculatus subsp. Frondosus, Medicago caerulea Less. ex Ledeb., Melilotus albus Medic.), growing in the Astrakhan region, have been conducted. The results on the number of bacteria, actinomycetes, micromycetes and algae in different phases of plant vegetation were obtained. 17 genera were identified: Agrobacterium, Arthrobacter, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Clostridium, Erwinia, Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas, Rhizobacter, Rhizomonas, Streptomyces, Xanthomonas, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cephalosporidium, Fusarium, Penicillium.

Bioclimatic zoning and detailed dendrological zoning of the territory of Abkhazia were carried out for the first time. Three natural bioclimatic zones (BCZ), 11 dendrological areas (DA) and 29 dendrological districts (DD) were identified. The basis for the allocation of BCZ is the temperature criteria of the winter period. The basis for the allocation of dendrological areas and dendrological districts are: the type of climate, soil conditions, the amount of active temperatures for the period with temperatures over 10C and their duration, the duration of the frost-free period, the average annual rainfall, available geobotanical, forestry, dendrological research and analysis of the experience of cultivation of various introducents. The use of the proposed scheme of dendrological zoning will determine the possibility of successful cultivation of tree species for green building or forest crops in a particular dendrological area.

The article presents the results of the assessment of the state of succulent exposition in the open ground in the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens. The range of plants is proposed in order to increase the species diversity and extend the period of decorative exposition. Recommendations for the reconstruction of landscaping elements that can be used in thematic gardens: rock garden, alpinary, aroma-garden, Mexican garden, subtropical gardens and others.

The object of research is alien plant species on the territory of Sevastopol. The study of the processes of plants naturalization is becoming more and more current in the Sevastopol region. The reason of such attention to the problem is increasing of anthropogenic impact during the last decades leading to species diversity of native flora decreasing. Consequently, such process leads to some plant species invasion and harms human's activity. Nowadays 1859 higher plants are listed for the Sevastopol region. According to the generalized data, it has been noticed that the amount of alien species in Sevastopol is increasing. According to preliminary data, they include up to 190 species. This article presents the results of studying the distribution of four invasive plant species - Ailanthus altissima, Opuntia humifusa, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Lycium barbarum in anthropogenically disturbed and semi-natural communities.

The data on the species composition and structure of the phytobenthos of the supra- and pseudolittoral in the marine area near the estuary of the river Soter (the South-Eastern Crimea) are presented. In total, 39 species of phytobenthos were identified: Rhodophyta - 12 species, Chlorophyta - 5, Ochrophyta - 5, Cyanobacteria - 17. Of these, 15 species are in the supralittoral, 24 are in the pseudolittoral. In supralittoral the community Calothrix scopulorum + Gloeocapsopsis crepidinum + Aphanocapsa inserta develops, in pseudolittoral there is a community with the dominance of Dictyota fasciola, which form seasonal, sea oligosaprobes.

The article presents the results of the study of rootstocks for pears in combination with Crimean breeding cultivars under the condition of the Crimea. The analysis of biometric indicators of trees allowed to establish their force of growth: trees on the rootstocks of KA53, KA86, VA29(c) are medium-growth; trees on KA61, KA92 are stunted. The size of fruit plantations also depends on the growth power of the cultivars. In our research, Izuminka Kryma is a stunted cultivar. The trunk section area of the 10-year-old trees on all studied rootstocks is 56.1-71.1 cm2. Pear cultivars Bere Ardanpon, Izumrudnaya, Maria, Mriya, Otechestvennaya, and Tavricheskaya have an average growth power, their average section area of the trunk is 67.1-83.2 cm2. The height of trees in all variants does not exceed 3.2 m. In the presented paper it is noted that the photosynthetic surface of leaves depends on the development of the tree crown and its root system. It is found that 1m2 of leaf area produces 1.5- 2.5 kg/m2 of fruits. A large leaf surface is observed in the cultivar Maria on the rootstock of the KA53 and it is equal to 15.3 ths m2/ha. The biometric and physiological characteristics of the studied combinations of cultivars and rootstocks presented in the article predict the potential of a biological yield of 35-40 t / ha. In our research, the cultivar Maria on the rootstock KA53 stands out by its productivity. In this combination, we obtained 36.4 t/ha, while in the control - 23.2 t/ha. Introduction of the cultivar-rootstock combinations of pears adapted to the conditions of growth, in the industrial horticulture of the Crimea makes it possible to expand the area of distribution of the second most important culture in the region, increasing the production of pear fruits, suited for diet and baby food in the resort of the Crimea.

The results of years of research of pears in the form of "standard pyramid" with the scheme of planting of 0.5+3.5 x 1.6+0.6 m (4347 tree/ha) in the piedmont area of the Crimea are presented. The following pear cultivars - Tavricheskaya, Izumrudnaya, Desertnaya on the quince rootstock ВА29 were the objects of the research. Based on the results, it has been found that in favorable years the average harvest was: in the plantations of the Tavricheskaya cultivar - 34.5 t/ha, Izumrudnaya cultivar - 26.1, Desertnaya cultivar - 21.8 t/ha. Maximum yield was noted in 2008: Tavricheskaya (49.3 t/ha), Izumrudnaya (42.3) and Desertnaya (34.6 t/ha). All three cultivars have a high fruit quality. The economic effect from cultivation of these cultivars ranges from 547.0 to 810 thousand rubbles per 1 hectare of garden at the level of profitability of 123-158% or higher, with the condition that all technological methods of cultivation on a high agrotechnical level. A new "standard pyramid" form of the crown recommended for establishing intensive unsupported orchards on the rootstock ВА29 in the agricultural enterprises of the Crimea and southern Russia.

The results of long-term studies of the pear gene pool collection, grown by laboratory of the Steppe Horticulture of the Nikita Botanical Gardens are represented. The reaction of cultivars to the influence of abiotic and biotic stressors was analyzed, biological and economical characteristics were studied. The most valuable traits for using in selection programs are distinguished: 63 cultivars with high winter hardiness, 43 - with high spring frosts, 35 - with high drought resistance, 39 - resistant to the main fungal pathogens, 43 -with high productivity, 47 - with excellent taste quality of fruits.

The article presents the results of studies of strawberry on the complex of valuable features. The best initial forms for obtaining large-fruited strawberry plants with high taste qualities of berries are noted - «Krymchanka 87», «Sunrise», «Zarya», «Belrubi», «Hercules», recommended for further use in breeding and introduction into production. The most perspective hybrid forms 25-12, 20-09, 12-12 possessing a complex of positive qualities are allocated.

The analysis of phenotypic variability of fruits of Russian almond (Prunus tenella Batsch) of the southern part in the Zilair Plateau (South Urals) is carried out. The sampling scope necessary for a reliable estimation of average values of parameters of fruits is determined. It has been established that the level of individual variability of the linear parameters of the fruits and seeds of Prunus tenella is characterized as very low, the parameters of mass - as low. It is revealed that the ecological variability of fruits is higher than the individual one.

The data on the chemical composition of fresh fruits and experimental products from jujube, fig, hawthorn with the addition of сhаenomeles are given. The highest organoleptic scores were obtained by jujube and figs in сhаenomeles syrup (4.9 points). The addition of сhаenomeles increases the amount of ascorbic acid in the hawthorn confiture in 3 times, increases the nutritional value of the product "Jujube in сhаenomeles syrup" due to the high content of ascorbic acid in the syrup (160.16 mg / 100 g, compared to 105.16 mg / 100 g in fruits of jujube), harmonizes the taste of canned fig. This indicates the prospects of the сhаenomeles fruit as a raw material for blends.

It was found that inhalation of vapors of thyme essential oil (Thymus vulgaris L.) at a concentration of 1 mg/m³ has a positive effect on the psycho-emotional state of the elderly and on their performance of simple mental work, but does not affect the performance of complex mental work. With a 20-minute duration of aroma treatment, unlike 10 and 30-minute exposures, the effect is reduced in terms of a number of indicators: the psychological tension remains, the vivacity does not increase, the pace of work does not increase and the number of errors increases on both minutes of the correction task.

A method for preservation garden chrysanthemum plants of the studied cultivars for 12 months under in vitro conditions was developed. The deposition was carried out at a temperature of 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14°C on a nutrient medium ¼ MS supplemented with sucrose and chloramination (SSS). The illumination intensity was 1.25-3.75 µm m-2 s-1. Plant material was evaluated after 6 and 12 months of cultivation using qualitative and quantitative characteristics of explants. It was found that the preservation of viability and decrease in the kinetics of growth of garden chrysanthemum explants of the studied cultivars for 12 months of deposition contributed to a complex effect of several factors: the temperature of 4-6°C and the presence in the nutrient medium of 60 g/l sucrose and 0.2-0.4 g/l CCC. With a decrease in the kinetics of growth, the viability of explants was 95-98%.

The results of the influence of various stimulants of root formation and growth regulating substances from a number of immunomodulators on the biometric indices of rooted cuttings of some cultivars and hybrid forms of the garden large-flowered chrysanthemum are presented. The best stimulators of root formation, significantly affecting the quality of planting material have been identified.

The results of introduction studying of Allium polyphyllum Kar. et Kir.: seasonal rhythm of growth and development, seed productivity, features of reproduction are given in the article. An assessment of success and prospects of species in the culture is given. On terms of blossoming A. polyphyllum is early summer species. The phase of blossoming of an individual of A. polyphyllum by years lasts 9-14 days. A. polyphyllum is a short-blossoming species. The nature of vegetation: short-vegetative, summer-green, hemiephemeroid. The real seed productivity (RSP) of one umbrella averages 211.2 seeds, the potential seed productivity (PSP) - 673.2 seeds, number of seeds in a fruit - 2.5; a formation of fruit - from 37.5 to 52.3% (on average - 42.2%), coefficient of productivity of umbrella - from 21.5 to 43.7% (on average 31.9%). According to introduced stability under the conditions of the culture A. polyphyllum gains 17 points.

The results of studying of features of biology in the culture in the South-Ural Botanical Garden - Institute (Ufa) of three representatives of Atragene section of Clematis L. genus: C. alpina (L.) Mill., C. alpina subsp. ochotensis (Pall.) Kuntze and C. alpina subsp. sibirica (L.) Kuntze are presented. The seasonal rhythm of development, morphometric parameters are studied, the assessment of prospects and introduced stability in the culture is carried out. It has been established that the studied taxons successfully passed introduced tests, went through all stages of life cycle, including annual blossoming, formation of fruits and seeds. According to prospects and introduced stability clematises belong to the I group of prospects (95-97 points) and are high-steady plants. Because of high decorative effect, early, plentiful and long blossoming this culture is recommended for vertical gardening of gardens and parks of settlements of the South Urals.

The characteristic of the main stages of anthers’ genesis of winter flowering shrub Jasminum nudiflorum Lindl. (Oleaceae) is given. According to the results of observations carried out in 2015 - 2018, the stages of seasonal periodicity of the formation of mircosporangium and development of male gametophyte have been shown. In summer, the anthers are at the stage of differentiation and development sporogenuos tissue. Microsporogenesis takes place in III decade of September - II decade of October. The anthers pass into the post-meiotic period of development, starting from the I - III decades of October. Pollen grains ripen by the I - III decade of December. The share of morphologically normal pollen grains is about 84%. During the freezing period, most of the mature pollen grains die. When thawing, flowering of the species is resumed without changing the quality of the produced pollen grains.

The variability of the content of tannins in the leaves of the plant Betonica officinalis L. in natural habitats and in culture in the taiga and forest-steppe zones of the Southern and Middle Urals was analyzed. The factors most influencing on the content of tannins in Betonica officinalis L. were established. The conditions under which there is a high content of tannins in the leaves of the plant Betonica officinalis L. were identified.

In this paper we discuss the results of the study of the influence of modern plant growth regulators (Domostvet, Epin-Extra, Zircon, Ribav-Extra, Ecogel) on the germination of seeds and some biomorphological indicators of perennial flower-ornamental crops on the example of the genus Gentiana L. The research was carried out in 2017 - 2018 on the basis of the South-Ural Botanical Garden-Institute of Ufa Federal Research Centre of Russian Academy of Sciences. The subjects of the study were the seeds of six species of the genus Gentiana (G. fetisowii, G. kirilowii , G. dahurica , G. septemfida , G. lutea , G. triflora). It was revealed that the most effective preparations for seed germination were Zircon and Ecogel: they increased germination in all studied species by 1.5 - 11.7 times compared to the control. Growth regulators Epin-Extra, Zircon and Ribav-Extra had the maximum effect on biomorphological parameters (plant height, length of the main root, number of roots, length and width of the leaf). Thus, there was a positive effect of physiologically active substances on the growth and development of the representatives of the genus Gentiana.