The article presents the results of studies to determine the drought resistance of peach cultivars to drought by the water-holding capacity of the leaves and taking into account the chlorophyll fluorescence intensity in the wilting process. It was found that cultivars responded differently to drought. In the studied cultivars, a high correlation dependence of the chlorophyll fluorescence indices of the leaves and the moisture content (0.7-0.9) was traced. On a set of indicators Merkurij cultivar was marked out, it gave away moisture more slowly, restored the leaf surface better, was characterized by better photosynthetic indicators and is promising for cultivation in areas with insufficient water supply.

The article presents data on the study of the effect of non-root water-soluble mineral fertilizer Novatek Solub K-Max 10-5-30 on productivity, mass and size of the fruit, depending on the application rate of the preparation, as well as indicators of growth activity of apple trees of Krymskoe cultivar. Obtaining high rates of yield increase from the introduction of the preparation Novatek also indicates that it is an active stimulator of increasing the productivity of apple. The use of this mineral fertilizer is recommended for inclusion in the industry regulation of apple cultivation as one of the technology elements.

The article presents the results of the study of the influence of the timing and methods of green operations on the formation of the crown and the yield of peach cultivar Red Haven. It was found that the application of green operations significantly reduces the time of subsequent spring pruning (4 times). After carrying out green operations, the crown of the future tree is formed in a timely manner, without thickening and improving the conditions for the formation of the future quality of the crop, as well as significantly reducing the financial costs of pruning trees.

The long-term results of studies on the formation of productivity in apple trees on the medium-sized rootstock MM-106 with an intermediate insert of a low-growth rootstock EM - IX are given. The objects of research are cultivars: Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Kimmeriya, Krymskoe with a planting pattern of 3.5 x 1.25 m and 3.5 x 1.75 m. Trees are formed according to the type of free spindle. As a result of the research, a high potential application of the combined stock (with intercalary insert) in the garden, which provides early fruiting, a rapid increase in yield, high marketability and keeping quality of fruits, is revealed. Domestic intensive gardens on a combined stock can be created in the conditions of the Crimea without any support, which saves material resources for their laying. The formation of trees according to the type of free spindle in the gardens makes it possible to compact the planting of trees in a row by 20-25% and reduce the amount of labor expended on pruning trees and harvesting 1.6 times, depending on the cultivar. Realization of the productivity potential in such gardens is determined by the high level of agricultural technology with the obligatory implementation of technological methods.

The article presents the results of the study of some techniques for obtaining planting material of stone fruit crops (fruit trees). Rootstocks and scions for cherry ( Prunus subg. Cerasus) and wild cherry ( Prunus avium ) mostly of Russian selection together with cultivars zoned in the region were the objects of the research. Winter grafting, including a double one, was used as a method of propagation. Three-component grafting (using intermediate scions) was done in order to accelerate the process of growing young trees for laying gardens of moderate growth power. The analysis of the data obtained during the period of stratification and nursery fields with a planting scheme 70 x 15 cm was presented in the article. The phenological and biometric indicators of grafted plants were described. This allowed us to make a conclusion about the effect of cultivar-and-rootstock combinations on the power of plant growth. The tallest ones were saplings of cherry tree cultivar Melitopolskaya Desertnaya in the control variant of the experiment (grafted on wild cherry). The standard output was 79 thousand young trees per hectare. Weak-growing ones were cherry plants with the scions of cherry cultivar Bordovaya. The output of the standard was 23% less than in the control and amounted up to 61 thousand young trees per hectare. Speaking about wild cherry, the combination of Melitopolskaya Chernaya cultivar grafted on wild cherry with the SL 64 scion could be attributed to the tall ones. More than 75% of grafted trees were 121-143 cm high. Growing of planting material with the use of the winter grafting technique is one of the leading methods of propagation. It causes a more balanced distribution of labor forces during the year and the time of young trees growing become one year shorter.

The entomological inventory survey results of super-family Coccoidea in four Arboretum parks - Upper, Lower, Coastal and Montedor - are presented, the predominate species, the distributional pattern and food chains have been found. Four basic coccid groups have been specified according to the pattern of distribution on plants and the food chains. The coccid species composition in the Arboretum is presented by 19 phytophagan species out of 6 families. In all the parks the representatives of the family Coccidae dominate outman and injuriousness. Two coccid species Parthenolecanium corni Bouché. and Parthenolecanium pomeranicum Kaw. are the new ones for the coccid fauna of the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens. The coccid fauna and its food chains were studied present with the decorative cultivars guided by visual analysis of leaves, tree trunks and boughs. The determined coccids coupled with a part of a forage plant were looked through by means the binocular. The trivial belonging was defined according to N.S. Borhsenius method [1]. The distribution and forage plants occupancy rating was determined by 4 - scorecard scale: 0 ̶ crop pest is not detected; 1 ̶ sporadical plant invasion; 2 ̶ is present often but in small amounts; 3 ̶ mass plants occupancy [4]. The elicited coccid species were divided into polyphagans (P), monophagans (M) and oligophagans (O). As the result of entomological coccid fauna inventory survey in the Arboretum of the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens 19 species, which are of six families, were found. Families Diaspididae and Coccidae are the most numerous. The richest species diversity appears in Lower Arboretum park. According to food chains character 8 monophagans, 1 oligophagan and 10 polyphagans have been found. According to the coccid distribution on plants there are 4 groups: the first group includes coccids, which are inhabitants of evergreen shrubbery; the second one occupies leaves and young off-shoots; the third one settles by colonies on tree trunks, skeletal boughs or by rogue specimens; the fourth coccid group is confined to roots. Two new coccid species - Parthenolecanium pomeranicum Kaw. ̶ on common yew and Parthenolecanium corni Bouché. ̶ on high cranberry in the territory of the Arboretum have been found.

The results of field tests of different variants of synthetic pheromone blends and pheromone dispenser developed by the Department of synthesis and application of pheromones of the FSFI " All-Russia Plant Quarantine Center" for identification and monitoring boxwood moth is a dangerous invasive pest of boxwood in the Republic of the Crimea; the optimal material of the pheromone’s carrier is determined, the effective ratio and dosage are proposed.

The influence of microbial preparations (MP) on the growth and condition of apple ( Malus domestica Borkh.) seedlings and the nutrition elements regime of the soil in the fruit nursery in two cultivars: Golden Delicious and Rennet Simirenko on the stock EM-IX have been studied. It was established that the applied MPs had a positive effect on the growth, condition of the rootstocks, the survival rate of the graft eyes and the degree of their winter hardiness. The stimulating influence of MP on the growth and yield of grafted apple seedlings has been established. Nutritional conditions improved and the content of mobile forms of element nutrition increases in the rhizosphere of seedlings. The individual reaction of the cultivar to interaction with the introduced bacteria is shown.

For the first time, the influence of pyrogenic effects on the biological condition of the ordinary chernozem of the Rostov region. In model experiments in 2017-2019 investigated the change in the biological properties of the soil when exposed to the flame of a gas burner (duration 1, 2, 3 minutes), infrared radiation (to a temperature of 100, 200 and 400°C), as well as smoke from straw combustion at different temperatures (52 and 139°C for 3, 9 and 30 minutes). When exposed to fire, smoke and infrared radiation revealed a decrease in the values of biological indicators. Enzyme activity decreases when exposed to gas burner by 17-30%, when exposed to infrared radiation - by 55-84%, and when exposed to hot (136°C) smoke - by 16-32%. The degree of reduction depended on the duration of exposure, soil moisture and temperature. Microbial biomass is reduced - by 35-52% when exposed to the fire of a gas burner, 49-68% when exposed to infrared radiation, and 10-35% when exposed to smoke.

As part of the study, the activity of artificial and natural radionuclides (strontium-90, cesium-137, potassium-40, thorium-232, radium-226) was determined in 36 samples of medicinal plant raw materials of the core and upper soil layers on which the plants were grown. All samples meet the existing requirements of regulatory documentation on radionuclide activity. The average value of the strontium-90 accumulation coefficient was 0.39, in different samples of the region it varied from 0.31 to 0.60. Cesium-137 accumulation coefficients ranged from 0.29 to 0.65 at an average of 0.39. For thorium-232, the average accumulation coefficient in the core lip flowers is 0.15 and took values in the samples studied from 0.09 to 0.231. For potassium-40, the average accumulation ratio in the feed was 0.98 and varied from 0.71 to 1.29, and for radium-226 - 0.47, with a variation from 0.39 to 0.59.

It has been experimentally found that the mono groups of Juniperus virginiana L. have less resistance to the natural and climatic factors, this is firstly due to increase in the height of biomass of the tree and secondly to application of loads in the form of a wind force, as well as an additional mass in precipitation. According to the results of diagnostics of the state and monitoring of sustainability of Juniperus virginiana L.plantings, the accident risk is estimated at 14% of the total number (585 units).

The article presents the results of studying the anatomical and morphological features of vegetative organs of the North American species Pinus coulteri D. Don when introduced to the Southern Coast of the Crimea (SCC). The research was carried out in the park communities of the SCC using generally accepted methods. The features of the formation of annual growth of shoots, metric indicators of needles, as well as the specifics of morpho-anatomical structures of needles are determined. It was found that the average length of shoots of model trees of P. coulteri in park communities of the SCC varies from 5.1±0.2 to 5.7±0.3 cm. The length of the annual increase under the conditions of introduction is influenced by the amount of precipitation of the previous year (r = 0.91). The length of needles on the SCC is within these values in the natural area, but the average values are slightly lower. Anatomical features of P. coulteri needles are quite stable under various cultivation conditions. P. coulteri needles are stiff due to the increased number of sclerotized hypodermic cells. In P. coulteri needles, some inclusions with essential oil are noted, the maximum amount of which is in the first layer of the mesophyll.

For the first time, some taxa of the genus Vetch ( Vicia L.) belonging to subgenus Vicilla and section Cracca (according to the system of Kupicha) from the Azerbaijan were subjected to morphological and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analyses: V. tenuifolia Roth subsp. variabilis (Freyn & Sint. ex Freyn) Dinsm., V. villosa subsp. villosa Roth, V. villosa Roth subsp. varia (Host) Corb. (V. dasycarpa auct.), V. monantha Retz. (V. cinerea M. Bieb.), V. elegans Guss. Seed patterns were collected in 2015-2017 from different region of Azerbaijan (Zagatala, Ordubad and Shamakhi). In all seed samples, the seed’s surface was papillate. However, the size of the ribs in the papillas and the density of papillas were different in different taxa. The papillae with medium density were observed in V. tenuifolia subsp. variabilis. Dense papilla were observed in V. villosa subsp. villosa , V. villosa subsp. varia , V. monantha and V. elegans. V. villosa subsp. varia had conical, multirib papillas with waxy specks. However, small conical multirib were observed in V. tenuifolia subsp. variabilis and V. monantha . Conical multirib was found in V. villosa subsp. villosa and broad conical in V. elegans. Ovate hilum was observed in V. villosa subsp. varia. Oblong-elliptic hilum is peculiar to V. tenuifolia subsp. variabilis , V. villosa subsp. villosa , V. monantha , and V. elegans . The largest seeds are found in V. tenuifolia subsp. variabilis , and the smallest ones in V. villosa subsp. varia . Detected micromorphological features play an important role in the determination of different taxa of the genus Vicia L.

The results of the introduction study of the rare species Allium grande : biometric parameters, seasonal rhythm of growth and development, seed productivity and peculiarities of reproduction are given. The onion species, from family Alliaceae constitutes the taxonometric section of Megaloprason Wendenblo sub-genus Melanocrommyum (Webb & Berth.) Rouy of Allium L. genus. The species is included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. Endemic of East Caucasus, status 2. Phenorhythmotype is a short-weaving, spring-searing, spring-early-weaving ephemeroid. The vegetation begins mainly on the 2nd-3rd decade of April. The flowering phase comes in the 3rd decade of May. Duration of the interphase of the beginning of vegetation - the beginning of flowering by years is 40-45 days. Flowering is 12-16 days. Seed maturation occurs in the second half of July. Vegetation of this onion lasts for years from 72 to 80 days. Real seed productivity of one generative escape is on average 51.2 ± 7.19 pcs., potential seed productivity - 352.4 ± 29.8 pcs., seed productivity coefficient - 14.4%. Natural vegetative propagation of A. grande was not observed under the conditions of introduction. In seed reproduction, this onion enters a generative state in the sixth year of vegetation. The seeds are large, the weight of 1000 pieces is 8.2 g.

The article reveals the features of the formation of spring-flowering plant compositions. The need to introduce floral design in the urban environment and its positive impact on people is emphasized. The range of spring-flowering herbaceous perennials is given, indicating the period of their flowering and environmental characteristics.

Information on the characteristics of the growth and development of plants of large snapdragon, hybrid petunia, sparkling sage, elegant zinnia, depending on the depth of planting is provided. Characteristics of the main morphological signs are given, data on the height of plants, the number of lateral axes, buds, flowers, fruits, leaves, weight and number of roots of deeply planted and control plants are presented; provides information on vegetation periods; ways to improve the agricultural technology of transplants of indicated plants are identified. It is shown that deep planting is an economically viable rational agricultural method that helps to increase the decorativeness of plants, their earlier, long and plentiful flowering, and to improve the aesthetic expressiveness of flower beds without additional labor and material costs.

The article presents by results of ecological and biological assessment of 13 species of the genus Syringa L. of genetic collection of the arboretum of VNIISPK (Orel region) on following indicators: degree of hardiness (frost resistance), state after overwintering and summer months, resistance to pests, assessment of the decorativeness. As a result of the investigations Syringa L. species were revealed as the most promising ones: S. amurensis Rupr., S. Komarovii Schneid., S. velutina Кom., S. vulgaris L., S. josikaea Jacq, S. henryi Schneid. These of the species can be recommended for modern green building in the conditions of Central Chernozem region of the Russian Federation, including in Orel and the Orel region.

The article presents the bioecological, ornamental, and silvicultural features of the growth and development of three species and one form of the genus Liquidambar under the conditions of Abkhazia. The promise of their use for practical purposes is confirmed. Among them, Liquidambar styraciflua L. is classified as the most valuable tree species for use in landscaping and forest cultures.

For the first time the article presents data on the development of methods of vegetative reproduction of belladonna (division of rhizomes and green cuttings) to improve the efficiency of planting material. The method of optimization the breeding work will allow to receive homogeneous material of perspective samples of belladonna. Rooting of belladonna as a result of the use of growth regulators-rooters was: Zircon - 63%, Kornevin - 93%. When using a binary mixture of preparations Zircon and Kornevin rooting increased by 27% compared to the control. Survival of root cuttings of belladonna in the field in single-bud plants after treatment with Kornevin exceeded the control by 17%. The use of the root-forming agent "DvaU" is promising for vegetative reproduction of belladonna, since this drug provided almost 100% survival rate of plants and contributed to the strengthening of growth processes in the initial periods of plant growth.

For the first time the content of flavonols in the leaves of Spiraea plants introduced in the Botanical garden and in the leaves of one sample of the wild species Spiraea media in the North (Komi Republic) was determined. The total content of flavonols among the species of Spirea varies from 1.8% to 5.7%. The widespread Eurasian species of Spiraea media has high flavonols content - from 4.8 to 5.1% in the introduced sample and lower in the local sample - 3.5%. Spiraea species can be a raw source of flavonols.

The variability of complexes of related elements of morphological characteristics and the content of tannins in plants of Betonica officinalis L. on the territory of the Southern and Middle Urals was analyzed. It has been established that the variability of morphological and biochemical characteristics of Betonica officinalis L. has a coordinated zonal character in the Southern and Middle Urals. It is shown that, based on the analysis of complexes of related elements of flower characteristics in Betonica officinalis L., the content of tannins can be predicted in natural populations.