Botanical collections consist of hundreds and even tens of thousands of specimens, the quantitative composition of which constantly changes over time due to the arrival of new species and cultivars. Changes are also taking place in the classification of plants. In this regard, there is often a need to conduct an inventory of collection funds in order to clarify their taxonomic composition. The collection of tropical and subtropical plants of the protected ground of the Polar-Alpine botanical garden is represented by 815 species, subspecies, cultivars, forms and varieties, belonging to 620 species from 308 genera of 99 families. Analysis of the taxonomic composition showed that the basis of the collection consists of plants of the Magnoliophyta division: monocots (224 taxa) and dicotyledons (553 taxa). In terms of the number of taxa, the leading families are Cactaceae (179 taxa), Asparagaceae (54 taxa), Crassulaceae (46 taxa), Araceae (47 taxa) and Gesneriaceae (41 taxa). The most numerous in terms of species composition are the genera Begonia (27 taxa) and Mammillaria (22 taxa).

l floriculture for the production of cutting and potted products, and landscape design. To reduce the dependence of the domestic market on foreign breeding material, it is necessary to establish the main directions of breeding by studying the nature of inheritance of flower color through controlled hybridization and analysis of segregating populations. The research was carried out on the basis of the Educational and experimental farm “Garden of Michurintsev” (55.0312880° N, 82.9903190° E) of the Novosibirsk State Agrarian University. Hybridological analysis and backcrossing were used. Analysis of the F² progeny as a result of crosses among purple-red and purple-violet forms confirmed the monohybrid nature of the split on the basis of purple to spotted flower color, as 3:1. The combination of the F^e and G genes produces a bright crimson (purple-red) color and is dominant both in plants with red flowers and in plants with a central spot on the flower petal. F^e is dominant to the G spot gene, and the combination of these two genes with the dominant B allele produces a purple-violet color. The combination of the recessive allele f^e with the dominant allele G leads to an increase in the size of the central spot on the petal in all crossings. The C gene (pink color) in combination with the F^e gene gives a dark, rich shade of red, and with the recessive allele (allelomorph) f^e - a pink background of the petal. A scheme for the breeding process of Clarkia is proposed that can be used in the breeding process of other cross-pollinated flower and ornamental crops, as well as for obtaining elite seeds of their different-colored variety populations.

The analysis of the Dahlia collection fund in the Botanical Garden-Institute of the Volga State University of Technology (Yoshkar-Ola, Mari El Republic) was carried out. The 32 cultivars presented belong to 6 garden classes, the largest quantity of them belong to the ornamental and semi-cactus class. According to the color of the inflorescences, the largest amount of cultivars has two-color inflorescences. Based on a 2-year study of plant height and inflorescence sizes, the cultivars were divided into groups according to literary and factual data. In the collection, medium-sized dahlias predominate in height of the bush; small-flowered cultivars dominate in size of inflorescences. Most of the tall cultivars do not reach the maximum height; most cultivars with large and medium inflorescences have a decrease in their size. The flowering period of plants in 2021 was studied, and groups of cultivars were identified according to the dates and duration of flowering. Agrotechnics of plant cultivation in the exposition «Decorative herbaceous perennials» is presented. Recommendations are made to attract dahlia cultivars to the collection of the BGI of the VSUT.

For the first time, a protocol of microclonal propagation for garden strawberries of ‘Fresca’ cv. from seeds has been developed, including introduction to culture, reproduction and rooting. The object of the study is a strawberry of the garden cultivar ‘Fresca’. The objective of the study was to study the effect of growth regulators and activated carbon on microclonal propagation of the above-mentioned garden strawberry cultivar. The seeds were sterilized with a 0.1% solution of silver nitrate, then washed with a solution of sodium chloride, then washed three times with sterile distilled water. For seed germination, a nutrient medium was used according to the Murashige and Skoog recipe without growth regulators (MS⁰ ). To study the effect of growth regulators on plant development, MS nutrient media with the addition of 6-benzylaminopurine (MS+0.5 mg/l 6-BAP; MS+1.0 mg/l 6-BAP) and thidiazuron (MS+0.5 mg/l TDZ) were used. MS⁰ was used as a control. Culture vessels were placed under cool white fluorescent light, photoperiod 16/8 h light/dark, temperature 23 ± 2 °C. To germinate seeds, it is enough to use the Murashige and Skoog nutrient medium without growth regulators. The effectiveness of seed sterilization with 0.1% silver nitrate solution was quite high and amounted to 97.5%. However, the quality of commercial seeds was low and we received only 3.9% of viable seedlings. Further, the influence of the above concentrations of growth regulators on the regeneration potential of seedlings was studied, using a component composition according to Murashige and Skoog as a basal medium. The limiting factors in the microclonal reproduction of this strawberry cultivar are growth regulators and their concentrations. It is shown that the use of thidiazuron leads to tissue necrosis and complete death of microplants, both during the cultivation of seedlings and when transplanting whole plants to this medium. And 6-benzylaminopurine has a positive effect on the effectiveness of micro-propagation of strawberries of the garden cultivar ‘Fresca’. In our case, 6- benzylaminopurine led to an increase in the multiplication factor and the induction of rhizogenesis (MS+0.5 mg/l 6-BAP). It should be noted that the addition of activated carbon to the nutrient medium stimulated the growth of microplants, but at the same time the multiplication factor decreased (MS+1 mg/l 6-BAP). The formation of the root system was recorded in all clones that were placed on a Murashige and Skoog basal medium and containing 6-benzylaminopurine.

The article presents the results of studying the variability of morphological parameters (shrub height, crown diameter, leaf area) and 100 berry weight of blueberry Vaccinium myrtillus L. in the mountainous areas of the Central Caucasus. We studied 41 species cenopopulations within slope and valley pine forests (Pinus sylvestris L.) and alpine meadows of the region. High phytocenotic plasticity of vegetative organs and berry weight (I_p = 0.81 – 0.93%) was recorded, indicating a significant adaptive potential of the species. The parameters of assimilatory organs of plants were highly variable both within the cenopopulations (СV_ср = 23.7 – 42.6%) and in different growing conditions (СV_х¯ср = 63.9 – 70.2%). The interpopulation variability of 100 berry weight (СV_ср = 35.6%) also exceeded the intrapopulation variation (СV_х¯ср = 12.3%). The sizes of the studied vegetative organs and berry weight in forest cenopopulations were 4 – 5 and 1.8 times larger, respectively, than those of plants growing in alpine meadows. Accordingly, forest phytocenoses with the most favourable conditions for growth and development of V. myrtillus are the most promising for the species protection in the Central Caucasus.

Methods for obtaining an aseptic culture of common fig (Ficus carica L.) cultivars Limonno-Zheltyiy and Nairannejshiy Fioletovyiy under in vitro conditions have been developed. The optimal concentrations of sterilizing agents, exposure time and order of their application were established: 1 min in 70% ethanol, 15 min in 1% Thimerosal solution and 18 min in DezTab solution, which allowed to obtain 90.0% viable explants. The peculiarities of the studied fig cultivars development at the introduction, multiple shoot formation and preservation in vitro stages on Murashige and Skoog (1962) culture medium with different concentrations and combinations of plant growth regulators are revealed. The efficiency of the MS culture medium supplemented with growth regulators 6-BAP at a concentration of 1.5 mg/l, NAA – 0.1 mg/l and GA₃ – 0.5 mg/l using for the introduction and propagation of fig explants has been shown. At the same time, the multiplication rate reached 8.1 and 15.4 in Limonno-Zheltyiy and Nairannejshiy Fioletovyiy cultivars, respectively. The method of long-term in vitro preservation of two studied F. carica cultivars for 12 months by slow-growth storage has been optimized. The optimal temperature (8 °C) has been established, at which the growth kinetics decreases and the viability of explants is preserved.

The work presents the relationship between changes in the amount of pigments from the growing season, because their content shows how the plant reacts to environmental factors. The objective of the study is to conduct a comprehensive research of the seasonal dynamics of the content of chlorophyll a and carotenoids in the leaves of the evergreen plant Viscum album L. When identifying pigments, the best chromatographic separation is observed when using identifying pigments (chlorophyll a, pheophytin, β-carotene), the best chromatographic separation is observed when using the eluent system: hexane – ethyl acetate – propanol-2 (75:18:7) and hexane – propanol-2 – aqueous solution of sodium carbonate (50:5:0.25). The maximum accumulation of chlorophyll in the leaves of V. album is observed in the summer-autumn period, and in winter this indicator decreases. The maximum accumulation of carotenoids is observed in winter, and the minimum occurs in the summer-autumn period. The amount of chlorophyll a was found using calculation formulas and varies depending on the growing season from 0.150% to 0.431%. It should be noted that the content of chlorophyll a calculated using the calculation formulas is two times higher than the value found using the specific absorption rate (from 0.072% to 0.241%). The content of pheophytin found using calculation formulas ranges from 0.091% to 0.424%, and carotenoids in terms of βcarotene range from 0.006% to 0.0124%.

The character of diurnal course curves for net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and transpiration in ornamental evergreen leaf woody introducers was carried: Laurus nobilis L., Prunus laurocerasus L. and Viburnum tinus L. during the hottest summer period of the year under sufficient soil moisture and drought stress. It was found that under conditions of severe soil drought, preservation of water balance during daytime hours in L. nobilis is ensured by closure of stomata and minimization of transpiration intensity (isohydric strategy). In case of prolonged drought, this leads to impaired gas exchange and subsequently to early defoliation and loss of ornamentality. In P. laurocerasus, tolerance to water deficit and overheating during daylight hours is provided by maintaining a sufficiently high level of stomatal conductance and transpiration (anisohydric strategy), which increases the risk of dehydration. The observed daily dynamics of parameters gas exchange indicates the ability of V. tinus under conditions of progressive soil drought to regulate isohydricity and switch from anisohydria to isohydria, which provides plant protection from dehydration and preservation of ornamental value.

The results of studying the summer dynamics of parameters of the water regime of leaves of 4 genotypes of the genus Ficus from collection plantings of the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens are presented. The influence of hot dry-aridic conditions on the water-holding capacity and reparation capabilities of the leaf apparatus was experimentally studied. It has been established that during the mass ripening of fruits, the loss of 10-12% moisture in the leaves is a sublethal water deficit. During periods free from fruit load, this figure increases to 15-20%. Under extreme exposure to drought conditions, the leaves of the cultivar 'Sabrutsia Rosovaya' and F. palmata species demonstrate an increased ability to retain moisture during wilting, as well as to restore tissue turgor at a high level after dehydration. Weak water retaining ability and, as a consequence, unsatisfactory turgidity are exhibited by the leaves of 'Muason' cultivar and F. virgata species. As a result of a comparative assessment of a set of physiological indicators, potentially adaptive genotypes that are resistant to hydrothermal stress and have increased water retaining and reparation features after critical dehydration were identified: the cultivar F. carica 'Sabrutsia Rozovaya' and F. palmata species.

The dynamics of chlorophylls a and b accumulation in the leaves of Quercus robur L., Q. pubescens Willd., Q. petraea (Matt.) Liebl. and Q. ilex L. was studied during the summer seasons 2022-2023. It was found that low air temperatures in May 2022, as well as atmospheric drought and high temperatures in August 2023, resulted in a decrease in the ratio of photosynthetic pigments to minimum values. It has been shown that the chlorophyll a/b ratio in oak leaves can be used as a stress marker for Quercus L. species.
The characteristics of the photosynthetic apparatus state in four Quercus species under the pressure of various temperature and air humidity combinations have been presented. It has been found that when simulating a dry wind (temperature 35 °C, relative humidity 25%), there is a decrease in the efficiency of the light phase of photosynthesis and an increase in the amount of unreduced plastoquinones, in the deciduous species Q. petraea, Q. robur and Q. pubescens. The intensity of these changes is associated with the resistance to water deficiency. It has been shown that Q. petraea and Q. pubescens leaves are highly sensitive to drought. In conditions of high temperatures and low air humidity, Q. ilex maintains stable functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus.

The paper presents the data of an experiment to determine the component composition of essential oils, as well as the content of volatile, water-soluble compounds in hydrolates obtained by steam distillation during the processing of essential oil raw materials of three species of the genus Thymus L. from the collection of the Donetsk Botanical Garden. The content of volatile hydrophilic compounds in hydrolates corresponding to essential oils was revealed: monoterpene and sesquiterpene alcohols, phenols, and aldehydes. The dominant component in the hydrolate of Thymus serpyllum L. was terpene alcohol geraniol with a content of 204 mg/l. The dominant components of the essential oil and hydrolate of Thymus graniticus Klokov & Des.-Shost. were carbonyl compounds (Z)-citral (neral) and (E)-citral (geranial) with a content of 29.65% and 40.85%, respectively. Their content in the hydrolate is 60mg/l and 72mg/l, respectively. In the essential oil and in the hydrolate of Thymus marschallianus Willd. monoterpene phenol - thymol (25.12%) and its isomer carvacrol (16.40%) were identified; they were also found in the hydrolate: 296 mg/l and 16.4mg/l, respectively.

The article presents data on the effect of vapors of the essential oil of small marigolds (Tagetes minuta L.) of the breeding of the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens – National Scientific Center RAS on the psycho-emotional state and mental performance of elderly people. The study involved 509 women aged 55-89 years. It has been established that the essential oil of small marigolds at a concentration of 1 mg/m³ has an anxiolytic effect in elderly people with clinically and subclinically pronounced anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), improves mental activity when performing both simple and complex mental work (the test of missing letters and the method of proof-reading with the Ivanov-Smolensky table). At the same time, it somewhat worsens the self-esteem of the psychoemotional state of the subjects, which may be due to their negative perception of the smell of the marigold essential oil.

As a result of the analysis of the biological parameters of Crimean scavenging birds based on the theory of ecological niche, it is shown that resource factors that directly depend on anthropogenic activity - the amount of meat production waste and their availability – are limiting for the existence of populations. Interspecific competition for food and the anxiety factor also have a significant impact. The localization and number of nesting groups of scavenging birds varies dynamically depending on the location of the concentration of forage resources. It is proposed in the new edition of the Red Book of the Republic of the Crimea to determine the rare status of Aegypius monachus and Gyps fulvus as rare, vulnerable species and requiring the implementation of a set of special protection measures.

This paper presents the results of a study of the number of soil microorganisms and the activity of enzymes (invertase, protease, phosphatase) of artificial soil in Pinus sylvestris L. plantations of various degrees of crown density on rock dumps. The studies were carried out in 2020-2022 on rock dump sites with and without applying a potentially fertile layer. The artificial soil of a dump is characterized by a low content of nitrates and phosphorus, with a high supply of potassium. The number of all groups of microorganisms in the artificial soil of dumps without potentially rich soil and with potentially rich soil is lower than in the control, since the processes of soil formation in artificial soil have not yet been completed. It was found that invertase activity was higher at all observation sites compared to protease and phosphatase activity. The dependence of the accumulation of soil enzymes on the degree of crown density has been revealed. No significant differences have been established for the values of phosphatase activity depending on the phytogenic field and zone.

One of the most common invasive plants in Russia is the North American species Erigeron canadensis L. As a result of the studies of 14 cenopopulations conducted in 2020-2022, the morphometric parameters of the species were analyzed in different ecological and cenotic conditions of the Foothill Crimea. The largest number of cenopopulations has been studied in ruderal communities, the minimum – in segetal and synantropizationed ones. When comparing the obtained values with the results given in the literature, some features were revealed. The seed productivity indicators of the species in the conditions of the Foothill Crimea are similar or slightly inferior to the values obtained in some regions of Russia. Based on the coefficient of variation, it was established that the maximum levels of variability are characteristic of plants growing in multi-species ruderal communities. Minimal variability was found in species-poor ruderal communities, as well as with insignificant participation of the species in segetal habitats.

The study of the influence of environmental factors on the intensity of transpiration (E) and stomatal conductance (gs) of Arbutus andrachne L. during the active growing season made it possible to determine a number of parameters that make it possible to construct a mathematical model expressed in the form of step-bystep regression analysis. This approach makes it possible to comprehensively study the adaptability of a species to its growing area and predict the behavior of plants in various environmental conditions, as well as develop appropriate strategies for controlling the growth and development of the plant under study. To diagnose and assess the validity of the constructed models, the metrics used in regression and variance analysis of data were analyzed. The developed model showed high coefficients of determination (for E = 0.9631 and for gs = 0.9644) and explained changes in the dependent variables. It has been established that the closest correlations with E and gs exist between illumination (R = 0.8776, R = 0.7840), air temperature (R = 0.8488, R = 0.6200) and soil temperature (R = 0.4142, R = 0.1483). The proportion of variance explained by the applied model is 96%. Modeling the influence of environmental factors on transpiration and stomatal conductance of Arbutus andrachne L. has practical applications for optimizing the growing conditions of this plant, as well as for developing adaptive strategies in connection with climate change. At the same time, using the main environmental factors and their dynamics for a specific region to build a model, it is possible to predict the development of the species in the future.