The Republic of Crimea has a rich cultural and natural potential required for the development of domestic tourism and recreation at the federal level. However, at present, despite the high degree of diversity of scenically attractive landscapes, the domestic tourism market, which allows organizing various types of natural and educational activities in the region, is still underdeveloped. The reasons for this should be sought in the following several critically important factors: uncompetitiveness of outdated tourism infrastructure, legislative uncertainty in the use of many tourist facilities (including within specially protected natural areas), the contradiction between the recreational exploitation of natural sites and the environmental legislation of the Republic, as well as imbalance between the quality and cost of recreational services provided. The article presents the results of methodological testing of the new ecological and educational route «Ruskofil-Kale» in the «Cape Martyan» regional natural park as a touristic attraction of the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens. This route is an exemplary one and fully complies with the environmental legislation of the Republic of Crimea. Recreational capacities have been calculated for two scenarios of using the route. The results of the work provide the basis for regulating and calculating recreational loads, taking into account the state of local phytocenoses and in accordance with the environmental legislation of the Russian Federation, as well as for designing new similar facilities in the specially protected territories of the Republic of Crimea.

   The results of the study of the genesis of anthers of Quercus ilex L. (Fagaceae) and the quality of its pollen grains, depending on the height of growth and the form of flowering, are presented. It has been established that differentiation of the cell layers of the anthers of Q. ilex begins in the 3^rd decade of July of the year preceding flowering. Sporogenic cells form in early October. Generative buds have been in that state for six months. The reactivation of growth processes and differentiation of the cell layers of microsporangium occurs in April. Transition of anthers Q. ilex of the early flowering form to microsporogenesis was observed in the 2^nd decade of April, and in the late form meiosis was noted in the 3^rd decade of April. Dusting in Q. ilex, depending on the form of flowering, was observed in the 1^st – 3^rd decades of May. The differentiation of the microsporangium wall of Q. ilex has a centrifugal type. The tapetum is secretory type. The wall of the formed anther consists of the epidermis, endothecium, middle layer and tapetum. In its mature state, it is formed from epidermal cells and endothecium with fibrous thickenings. Microsporogenesis in Q. ilex follows a simultaneous type with the formation of tetrades with tetrahedral decomposition of microspores. Mature pollen grains in Q. ilex are bicellular. In Q. ilex, with abnormal development of anthers, apoptosis of tapetal tissue cells does not occur, as a result of which the development of microspores was suspended, which led to sterility. It was revealed that the quality of pollen of Q. ilex depends on the height of the plant and the form of flowering. The largest proportion of morphologically normal pollen grains was observed in early flowering plants located at an altitude of 160 m a. s.l. (85−90 %). Abnormal and sterile pollen grains prevailed in plants growing at an altitude of 30 m a. s. l.

   One of the most effective methods of maintaining the conservation of the gene pool of rare plant species is territorial protection realized in reserves and other categories of specially protected natural areas.

   The aim of this study was to investigate the vital state of plants of the natural population of the relict Mediterranean species of Atlantic pistachio (Pistacia atlantica Desf.) in the botanical natural monument «Ushakova Balka» (Sevastopol, Republic of Crimea).

   It was established that the age of pistachio trees growing in the territory of the natural monument is from 194 to 339 years, and their vital state is characterized as weakened. The ultrasonic tomography method revealed the presence of destructive processes in the wood of only old-aged specimens (300+).

   Tetranychidae spider mites are broad polyphages that cause significant damage to agricultural production. Fruit crops are inhabited by economically significant species of spider mites – Panonychus ulmi (Koch, 1836), Tetranychus turkestani (Ugarov & Nikolskii, 1937), Tetranychus urticae (Koch, 1836) and Amphitetranychus viennensis (Zacher, 1920). From 2023 to the present, A. viennensis has occupied a dominant position in the acaraceae complex of phytophagous mites in fruit orchards and is found everywhere in various agro-climatic regions of the Republic of Crimea. Outbreaks of spider mites in garden plantings are noted annually, during the growing season, the threshold of harmfulness is exceeded from 3 to 6 times, and therefore intensive pesticide treatments are carried out. Repeated use of insecticidal drugs has a detrimental effect on the number of entomophages, which partially regulate the number of phytophages, and leads to the appearance of pesticide-resistant pest species. The acaricidal effect of drugs from various chemical classes against the abamectin-resistant A. viennensis race selected in fruit plantations was evaluated in laboratory conditions. As a result of the research, it was found that the combination of drugs fenpiroximate (50 g/l) + hexithiazox (250 g/l) in n.p. 1.0 l/ha + 0.18 l/ha, fenpiroximate (50 g/l) + clofentesine (500 g/l) in n.p. 0.6 l/ha + 0.3 l/ha, fenpiroximate (50 g/l) + clofentesine (500 g/l) in n.p. 1.0 l/ha + 0.5 l/ha and fenpiroximate (50 g/l) + tebufenpyrade (200 g/kg) in n.p. 0.6 l/ha + 0.3 l/ha shows the highest efficiency, from 93.4 to 99.6 %. The decrease in the number of A. viennensis by more than two times was established from 3 days after the treatment. Drugs used in pure form with D. V. tebufenpyrad, 200 g/kg, hexithiazox 250 g/l and fenpiroximate, 50 g/l, used in pure form had no effect on population decline.

   The content of the some low molecular weight antioxidants in the leaves of number genotypes of the genus Rosa with varying degrees of drought resistance in optimal periods of vegetation and during drought exposure has been established. The content of phenolic substances was determined by the spectrophotometric method using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, flavonoids – spectrophotometrically using the reaction of formation of their complexes with aluminum ions, proline – according to the modified Chinard method using the ninhydrin reagent, ascorbic acid – by iodometric titration, water – by the gravimetric method. Over the course of three years of research, the concentration of the phenolic compounds sum and flavonoids in the leaves of individual genotypes differed insignificantly during certain periods of vegetation, while the content of ascorbic acid was more significant. The most variable indicator was the concentration of proline, the value of which depended on the specific weather conditions of each year. In during optimal periods of vegetation, drought-resistant genotypes were distinguished by a high content of phenolic compounds in leaves, while non-resistant ones had an increased content of proline was established. Differences in the response of the studied genotypes of garden roses to stress conditions caused by drought were revealed. Drought-resistant genotypes, R. hugonis and the ‘Borisfen’ cv., were shown to have a greater ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions, increasing the synthesis of low-molecular antioxidants in response to stress. Features of adaptation to drought conditions were established: an increase in the content of flavonoids, ascorbic acid, proline and a minimal decrease in the total content of phenolic compounds. High concentrations of phenolic compounds and, in particular, flavonoids in the leaves of the studied genotypes during drought are signs of drought resistance, which allows them to be used as markers of drought resistance for genotypes of the genus Rosa.

   The article presents data of frost resistance in various genotypes of narrow-leaved lavender and its hybrids. Frost resistance was a valuated with freezing method under controlled conditions by the level the degree of damage of plant shoot tissues in temperature range from -16 °C to -25 °C. The results showed that at a temperature of -16 °C, damage to all studied species and hybrids was minimal. Minor damage of bark and wood tissues was observed at -18 °C and -20 °C. It was determined that the critical temperature leading to the freezing of the above-ground parts of the plants is -25 °C. The most frost-resistant genotype of lavandin was identified, showing only minor damage at the critical temperature. It was also established that lavandin No. 11 and the Prima cultivar of narrow-leaved lavender can serve as sources of frost resistance in targeted breeding programs.

   Tulips are the most popular bulbous plants in industrial floriculture and as a result of active breeding work their assortment is constantly updated. The most popular and numerous at present are the cultivars of the garden class Triumph. The results of the study of biological characteristics of 42 cultivars of tulips of Dutch selection from this garden class, introduced by the Nikita Botanical Gardens over the past decade and previously practically not studied in our country, in the conditions of the Southern Coast of Crimea are presented. The studied biological characteristics (timing and duration of flowering, plant height, aroma of flowers) make a significant contribution to the decorativeness of the cultivars, prospects for use in landscaping and selection work to create a domestic assortment. It was found that the conditions of the Southern Coast of Crimea are favorable for growing cultivars of the Triumph class. Flowering of tulips here is longer and begins earlier than in other regions, and the plants are taller. A reduction in the duration of flowering and a decrease in the height of plants was noted in most cultivars in 2024 due to abnormally warm, dry and windy weather during the flowering period, as well as an earlier start of flowering in 2024 due to very warm weather in February. Valuable traits were found in 35 cultivars: 13 varieties with the longest (more than 24 days) flowering period, 13 low-growing and 15 tall varieties, as well as 8 cultivars with a rare valuable feature for tulips in the conditions of the South Coast of Crimea – a pronounced flower aroma.

   The effect of essential oils of garden savory (Satureja hortensis L.) and mountain savory (Satureja montana L.) on the psychoemotional state, mental performance and parameters of the cardiovascular system of the elderly was studied. The study involved women aged 55-85 years. It has been established that garden savory EO has a wider range of effects on the psychophysiological state of a person, namely mental performance, psychoemotional state and parameters of the cardiovascular system, whereas mountain savory EO has an effect mainly on the psychoemotional sphere, which is presumably due to the peculiarities of their compositions and must be taken into account in their practical application.