The objective of the research is to analyze scientific and technical literature, to identify trends in world production and trends in apple breeding. The article uses official data from the FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (Statistics Division). In addition, the information from the websites of the Federal State Statistics Service and the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Gossortcommission" - the State Commission for Selection Achievements, Test and Protection - were used. Statistical reports for the period from 2000 to 2019 were taken for analysis. The volume of fruits produced in the world is increasing every year. Apple production is in third place in the world, second only to coffee and olives. The leading apple suppliers are China, USA, Turkey, Poland, Iran, Italy, India, France, Russia, Chile. In 2000-2019 the gross harvest of apples increased from 59 million tons. up to 87 million tons, while the number of cultivated areas decreased from 5.4 to 4.7 million hectares. The main producing regions of this crop are Asia (60.7%), Europe (22.1%), America (12.9%), Africa (3.2%) and Oceania (1.1%). At the same time, the world production of apple trees has significantly stepped towards intensification, thanks to new cultivars and new cultivation technologies. Over the past twenty years, global apple production has grown significantly due to the intensification of production and the introduction of new breeding cultivars.

Traditional morphometric methods of seed quality analysis, although they are accurate, are less informative, labor-intensive and long-term in execution. In modern conditions, in seed science and seed control, the use of more informative and high-speed instrumental methods is required. The method of microfocus X-ray of seeds is one of them, it allows you to visualize the internal structure of seeds. In the joint work of employees of the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center, Agrophysical Research Institute and St. Petersburg State Electrotechnical University, Research Institute for Storage Problems of "Rosrezerv", a method of X-ray analysis of the quality of vegetable seeds was developed and tested. Currently, programming, automation of this method is underway. The method of digital analysis of X-ray images in automatic mode comes as a replacement for the previously applied visual analysis of seed radiographs. A modernized software and hardware complex was developed and tested, a program algorithm was compiled, consisting of several stages. As a result, the quality analysis of seeds is significantly accelerated by visualizing their internal structure. The newly developed computer program "Sortsemkontrol-2" recognizes seeds according to the following qualitative indicators: full-value, underdevelopment, undevelopment, monstrous. The analysis results are automatically reported as a log. The fractional analysis of the seed batch is also carried out, the dimensional characteristic of each fraction is given, according to the two largest adjacent fractions, the equalization of the seed batch is determined. Fractional analysis of a batch of seeds is of great practical importance for pre-production of seeds. In the future, the application of the computer program "Sortsemkontrol-2" will provide an accelerated, at the same time informative analysis of the quality of seeds, which is very important in the conditions of commercialization of seed turnover.

The ecophysiological response of Quercus pubescens Willd on the impact of progressive soil drought has been studied and the optimum zones and threshold values of soil moisture, temperature, illumination, limiting photosynthesis and transpiration have been determined. The dependences of the rate of net photosynthesis (Pn) and the intensity of transpiration (E) on stomatal conductance (g_s), leaf temperature (T_l) and soil moisture (Ws) are shown. The relationship between the speed of the xylem flow in the plant shoot (Sf, rel. units), the change in the diameter of this shoot (d, mm) and soil moisture has been determined. In the process of dehydration of the plant, a synchronous decrease in these parameters is observed, which serves as a signal for watering the plant. The obtained ratios of the processes of photosynthesis and respiration under the influence of soil drought made it possible to determine their optimal and limiting conditions. The optimal values are: Ws = 19 - 22%, Pn = 12 - 13 µmol/m²s. With such soil moisture, total respiration Pt = 1.2 - 1.3 μmol/m²s. Changes in the ratio between the components of total respiration (Pt, Rd, Rph) under the influence of soil drought were studied. Watering of plants has a significant effect on the studied parameters, and after repeated watering and subsequent soil drought, their general decrease is observed. The relationship between the rate of net photosynthesis (Pn), total respiration (Pt) and leaf temperature (Tl) made it possible to determine the temperature maximum of net photosynthesis (thermal compensation point). At this point, point Pn = Pt = 2.0 μmol/m²s at Tl = 37º<C. The fraction of respiratory costs from true photosynthesis (Pt /Pg) was determined, which is an integral indicator of the energy balance of the whole plant. It was found that in the absence of soil drought, the share of respiratory expenditure from true photosynthesis is 25-35%, and at soil moisture of 3-7% it increases to 58-62%. The obtained research results made it possible to determine the optimal and limiting conditions for the growth of this species and the possibility of its introduction to other regions.

The features of the distribution, formation and the cenotic dynamics of forests of Alnus barbata C.A. Mey are described; environmental functions and the role of Alnus forests in the composition of the forest cover of the region are highlighted; bioecological and forestry features are highlighted; it is indicated that Alnus barbata is an economically valuable woody species; its useful qualities for practical purposes are emphasized; the ways to increase the productivity of Alnus forests using foresting, forest melioration and forest cultural sampling, as well as measures of using valuable fast-growing, resistant to the waterlogged conditions of growing area, local and foreign woody breeds ( Cupressus lusitanica , Metasequoia glyptostroboides , Taxodium distichum , Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, Platanus x acerifolia, Eucalyptus viminalis ).

The authors took 32 local floras (LF) to study the floristic g-diversity of the Middle Volga region. Their species composition was studied on an area not exceeding 400 km², which is the optimal value for this area. For such an area, the number of vascular plant species was 679 species (the maximum value is 835, the minimum is 586). This sample size is sufficient to illustrate the main taxonomic parameters. The considered local floras are geographically located within 3 zones and five subzones according to zones and types of vegetation zonation in Russia and are located within the territories of the Republics of Tatarstan, Mordovia, Chuvashia, as well as Samara, Ulyanovsk, and Penza regions. Based on the family and genera spectra, we identified groups of similar LFs using the k-means method in the R package. When analyzing the spectrum of families, the determining feature for this territory is the third place in the spectrum, which is occupied by the families Fabaceae or Rosaceae . All 32 LFs considered ranged from the Fabaceae type in the southeast to the Rosaceae type in the northerly direction. We have identified the following boundaries of qualitative changes in the floristic composition at the level of large taxonomic groups (genera and families): 1) extreme types of flora, in which the characteristics of "forest" and "steppe" are most pronounced: Rosaceae -type, characterized by a large number of species from the genus Alchemilla , as well as Potentilla and Fabaceae type, which is determined mainly by the numerical combination of the genera Astragalus and Vicia ; 2) transitional types of floras arise due to a decrease in the number of representatives of these genera. The reason for this may be anthropogenic impact, primarily deforestation; 3) the greatest differences in the composition of large taxonomic groups are observed in the southernmost local flora of the Trans-Volga region (south of Samara region).

During the long-term economic exploitation of the lands of the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens, the soil cover of the Arboretum underwent a significant transformation due to the regular introduction of various kinds of ameliorants, fertile soil from other regions of the Crimea, organic and mineral fertilizers, and treatment of plants with pesticides, which could contribute to the accumulation of various pollutants in soils, including heavy metals. In this regard, the content of acid-soluble forms of Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, Co, Pb, and Cd, extracted with a 1M solution of HNO₃ and mobile forms of these elements, passing into an ammonium-acetate extract with pH = 4.8was measured. According to the data obtained, the long-term use of copper-containing pesticides led to the accumulation of mobile copper in the upper soil layer under the roses, the average content of which in the soils of the rose gardens was 5.2 ± 3.1, which is higher than the MAC of 3 mg/kg. Under other flower crops and under tree plantations, the average content of mobile copper was an order of magnitude less - 0.44 ± 0.25 mg / kg, and acid-soluble - 5 times less. Under all flower crops, zinc accumulated, the average content of mobile and acid-soluble fractions of which was almost twice as high as under tree species, but significantly lower than the MAC. A slight excess of the MAC for lead was revealed only in one area under woody plants. Among other elements, no significant differences in their content under floral and woody plants were revealed, and their maximum concentrations were significantly lower than the MAC, which allows us to consider Cu (except for rose gardens), Zn, Mn, Ni, and Co not as heavy metals, but as trace elements necessary for the normal functioning of living organisms.

Entomopathogenic preparations based on the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (BT) play a key role in the biological protection of plants. The share of BT in the global market of biopesticides is about 90-95%. Specificity, environmental safety and spectrum of action are the features that allow preparations based on this bacterium to occupy an important place among plant protection products. Bacillus thuringiensis is a gram-positive soil bacterium that affects invertebrates. Due to the huge range of hosts, BT has become a leading producer of biopesticides. The entomocidal effect of the bacterium is provided either by toxins containing protein crystals (Cry and Cyt) produced in the stationary phase, or by soluble toxins of the Vip and Sip families secreted by vegetative cells. At the same time, numerous non-toxic virulence factors of BT were found: metalloproteases, chitinases, etc. Bacillus thuringiensis is characterized by poly-enzymatic properties: enzymes from the class of hydrolases have been detected, so the bacterium simultaneously shows activity against harmful insects and phytopathogenic fungi. The antibacterial properties of BT and the ability to stimulate plant growth, inducing a plant protection system against diseases, are noted. Toxicological studies conducted for 50 years around the world have shown the safety of BT and its metabolites, including insecticidal proteins and other substances, which allows them to be widely used in plant protection practice. A new direction in plant protection is the use of transgenic plants based on Bacillus thuringiensis . By introducing BT genes, or rather cry-endotoxin genes into plants, transgenic plants that are resistant to harmful insects are obtained.

The box tree moth ( Cydalima perspectalis Walker) is an invasive insect that has rapidly colonized the vast area of the European continent, damaging tonatural and ornamental box trees. In order to develop effective phytophagous control measures there are features of the local populations seasonal development that have been studied in the Crimea. It is determined that during the growing season in the green spaces of the Crimean parks there is a temporary overlapping of both development stages and generations of the C. perspectalis populations. An important seasonal adaptation of C. perspectalis to the habitat’s conditions is thermal sensitivity reduction and development acceleration of all life cycle stages in the second summer generation under the influence of photoperiod. This flexibility of ontogenetic requirements for the transition to diapause provides higher phenological variability in populations. There is identified the temperature and photoperiod impact to development rate of larvae and the influence of relative humidity to development rate of pupae. With identical thermal reaction norms for development of the overwintered larvae, for complete of life cycle of the one generation life cycle in the Southern coast of the Crimea conditions needed the sum of growing degrees-days are 80 °С higher than in the Foothill Crimea. It is identified relative constancy of growing degrees-days needed for complete of the second summer generation of C. perspectalis . It allows considering them as a tool for determining the timing of effective treatment of third-generation larvae before they cause severe damage. For the comparability of the research results with the available publications, it was proposed to use the temperature threshold of 9.5 °С when calculating the growing degrees-days.

The study of the effectiveness of the course intake of multicomponent herbal blend "Antistress" (rhizomes with roots of valerian officinalis, motherwort grass, hawthorn flowers, peppermint leaf, lemon balm leaf, herba hyperici) was conducted. The subjects were 20 students of a medical university, 45% of them worked with patients with coronavirus infection. The deadline for receiving the herbal blend is 20 days. The psychological state was assessed using the methods "Coping behavior in stressful situations", "Taylor Scale of anxiety manifestations", "Emotional burnout" by V. Boyko. After taking the herbal medicine, the overly emotional response to stress disappeared, anxiety decreased. Initially inflated indicators of emotional burnout have decreased to normal or close to normal: tension has decreased; forced resistance to adverse circumstances that have generally ceased to be perceived as such; emotional reserves that can be spent productively and with pleasure in professional activities have increased. In many respects, this result was obtained due to the combination of medicinal plants in the herbal blend: along with soothing and improving the functional state of the cardiovascular and nervous system components, herba hyperici, which is a natural antidepressant, was also included in the blend.