The research was conducted in August 2025 in the natural plantings and park communities of the Southern Federal District. The specifics of photosynthesis were studied using a portable «Floratest» chronofluorimeter. To assess the functional state of the photosynthetic apparatus in the studied plant species, the parameters of induced photosynthetic fluorescence (IPF) were measured. Studies of the specifics of photosynthesis have revealed that under conditions of exposure to drought and elevated temperatures, significant species differences occur in the level of response of woody and shrubby plants of the SCC to the effects of negative weather events. Decreased values of variable fluorescence were found in Q. pubescens. At the same time, the values of Fv/Fst and Fv/Fm, which determine the quantum yield of photosynthesis and the potential quantum efficiency of FS 2 in Q. pubescens, were lower in comparison with Q. ilex and F. ornus. For Q. pubescens, a low indicator of the vital condition is noted. In general, according to the features of photosynthesis, the autochthonous species Q. pubescens, during the dry period of summer season, showed a decrease in the level of physiological processes of maintaining vital functions in comparison with introduced species of woody plants. Of the shrubby plants, B. аquifolium was characterized by the highest resistance to drought and elevated temperatures. In these conditions, A. japonica showed a significant decrease in indicators characterizing the efficiency of photosynthesis and the vital state of plants.

This paper examines the realized ecological niche of Myosotis discolor Pers., which was found at the bottom of a trench in an iron ore quarry that has been undergoing natural self-recovery for over 65 years (Golubev and Korzhenevsky, 1988). The analysis is based on classical geobotanical descriptions using standardized methods. The parameters of the species' ecological niche were determined using the original «Pover» program, which was developed for processing geobotanical data. The unified information on the distribution of plant species in the phytocenosis, depending on the gradients of environmental factors, was extracted from the Ecodata database, which allowed for a comparative analysis and identification of key aspects of M. discolor's adaptation to specific environmental conditions.

Based on the results of the analysis, it can be concluded that Myosotia discolor Pers. can exist in the Crimean Peninsula under real environmental conditions and resource factors. The only threat is anthropogenic impact.

The results of a detailed soil and dendrological survey of park areas with large-flowered magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora L.) on the Southern Coast of Crimea are presented. The objective of the work was to identify the main environmental factors affecting the vital condition of Magnolia grandiflora L. The main edaphic properties and characteristics of M. grandiflora, which are in various vital states, are presented. Under the plants, the soil is sufficiently provided with humus and nutrients. The results of the statistical analysis do not allow us to assert an unambiguous influence of carbonates on the growth and development of M. grandiflora (r = -0.56; n = 6). According to the content of fragments of dense soil rocks in the meter layer, they are weakly, medium, and strongly gravelly-cartilaginous.

In the surveyed areas, the soil is compacted (>1.4 g/cm³) and the compaction increases to a depth of 80-100 cm, becoming very dense with low porosity (less than 45%). The granulometric composition of fine-grained soils on brown soils is heterogeneous over the area of the site and is mainly characterized as heavy loamy with a predominance of coarse and fine dust. Such soils are considered favorable in terms of granulometric composition for most woody and shrubby plants, including large-flowered magnolia.

Optimal edaphic conditions for growing large magnolias on agro-brown soils have been identified. These conditions include soils with a density of less than 1.52 g/cm³, skeletonization below 30% and a humus reserve of at least 292 t/ha in a meter layer.

The purpose of the work was to identify the composition and structure of natural and anthropogenically transformed vegetation complexes in the coastal zone near Saki town in order to establish patterns of their distribution and to assess the significance of their conservation. The work is based on the materials of multiple field studies, which were carried out using the route-reconnaissance method, with the involvement of additional information from Internet and literary sources. The systematic structure was studied in accordance with classical approaches to comparative floristic analysis. The nomenclature of taxa corresponds to POWO. The sozological status of species is given according to current nature conservation documents. Four vegetation complexes were distinguished in the surveyed area: psammophytic, halophytic, disturbed steppe and ruderal. The flora includes 159 species from 112 genera of 32 families of higher vascular plants. The leading positions are occupied by the families Asteraceae and Poaceae. The vegetation cover is represented by communities of 15 classes (Cakiletea maritimae, Ammophiletea, Helichryso-Crucianelletea maritimae, Ruppietea maritimae, Juncetea maritimi, Festuco-Puccinellietea, Koelerio-Corynephoretea canescentis, Therosalicornietea, Kalidietea foliati, SedoScleranthetea, Artemisietea vulgaris, Epilobietea angustifolii, Sisymbrietea, Papaveretea rhoeadis, Digitario sanguinalis-Eragrostietea minoris). Ten rare species subject to conservation have been identified. It has been established that the studied territory is characterized by a high level of biological and landscape diversity. The psammophytic vegetation complex has the greatest conservation value.

The studies were conducted in 2023-2025 at the gene pool site located in the Central Department of the Federal State Funded Scientific Institution «NBG-NNC». The work used generally accepted methods. Adaptation to environmental conditions is one of the main reasons limiting the spread of apricot plants in different climatic zones. A wide variety of soil and climatic conditions of natural regions determines the breadth of requirements for cultivars. In recent years, an increase in the average monthly air temperature and a decrease in the amount of precipitation during the growing season of the crop have been recorded on the Southern Coast of Crimea. This leads to weak formation of fruit buds, a shortened dormant period, decreased frost resistance, and a decrease in the average weight and quality of fruits. All this leads to a decrease in yield. It was found that the leaves of plants more resistant to drought give off less water during the wilting process than the leaves of less resistant plants. A direct relationship was found between high turgor recovery of leaves and their increased water-holding capacity (r=0.63-0.81, with a probability of 95%). It has been established that the cultivars of the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens and domestic selection are more adapted to the arid conditions of the southern region of Russia than the introduced ones. It is recommended to use the selected genotypes in further breeding work when creating new domestic cultivars for the south of Russia with a set of valuable economic and biological traits.

Currently, the gene pool of southern fruit, nut and berry crops of the Nikita Botanical Gardens comprises 8,380 cultivars and forms and is represented by 20 crops. In addition to traditional ones, new, less common crops are of great interest: pawpaw, hawthorn, Crimean rowan, dogwood, Chinese actinidia, black chokeberry, thornless blackberry, serviceberry and Japanese medlar. which are characterized by a complex of economically valuable traits and, first of all, a high content of biologically active substances in the fruits. For example, pawpaw contains an increased amount of potassium (314-368 mg/100 g and magnesium (109-120 mg/100 g); hawthorn –ascorbic acid (up to 250 mg/100 g) and P-active substances (380-680 mg/100 g); Crimean rowan – ascorbic acid (up to 160 mg/100 g), carotenoids (11.16-26.41 mg/100 g); dogwood – polyphenols (150-400 mg/100 g); Chinese actinidia – potassium (312 mg/100 g); black chokeberry – P-active substances (2000-6500 mg/100 g), shadberry – P-active substances (up to 985 mg/100 g); thornless blackberry - P-active substances (200-300 mg/100 g; Japanese medlar – potassium (315-348 mg/100 g). For most of these crops, there is a collection and scientific reserve in the NBG-NSC. In accordance with the created primary gene pool, introduction and breeding work with pawpaw, hawthorn, crimean rowan, chinese actinidia, black chokeberry, shadberry and japanese medlar can be carried out in the laboratory of southern fruit and nut crops, and with dogwood and thornless blackberry – in the laboratory of selection and variety study of pome and berry crops.

This review article presents data on the results of a study of an existing library collection NBG-NSC, as well as through search engines «Yandex», «Google», «Google Scholar», the electronic library «Elibrary.ru» and «Cyberleninka». As a result of the study, it was found that at the moment there are electronic databases on such crops as the apple tree, namely: «The main economically valuable, morphological and molecular genetic characteristics of representatives of the genus Malus Mill. with resistance to the main fungal pathogens of the south of Russia», «Agrobiological, cytological and molecular genetic characteristics of representatives of the genus Malus Mill. for use in breeding and horticulture in the south of Russia», «Database of physiological and biochemical indicators of the effect of biologically active substances on the resistance of apple cultivars to abiotic stressors in the south of Russia», etc. Russian scientists are working to create electronic methods for recognizing apple cultivars. This topic is also being studied abroad, the following databases have been developed: «Database on apple pests in the EU to support phytosanitary risk assessment», «Database on the functions of apple genes and gene families: integrated bioinformatics database for apple research», «Molecular genetic identification of apple cultivars based on microsatellite DNA analysis. I A database of 600 verified profiles». The creation of databases is important for the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens in connection with the active conduct of the breeding process. The existing databases are impressive for their sophistication in a specific field of scientific knowledge. However, they seem somewhat inconvenient for the full-fledged work of a breeder. There are great prospects for the development of a database that includes all the necessary indicators for the development of breeding programs for the creation of new cultivars of apple trees.