Vol 16, No 3 (2021)

Seabuckthorn gene pool in collections of Lisavenko Research Institute of Horticulture for Siberia which is a division of the Federal Altai Scientific Center of Agro-BioTechnologies is represented by more than 14 thousand hybrid seedlings and over 450 varieties under selection. It allows to provide comprehensive selection on different agronomic traits and to achieve permanent assortment improvement. The main aim of the research was to select seabuckthorn varieties distinguished by characteristics that meet the requests of industrial sector with focus on various technological approaches. Seabuckthorn varieties of hybrid origin from crossbreeding of 1993-2005 were studied. The experiments were carried out in forest-steppe zone of Altai Krai in 2016-2020. According to the results of comprehensive evaluation, groups of the most promising varieties were proposed as a source of various agronomic traits. The potential of breeding activity was shown as well as possibility of seabuckthorn assortment improving was proved. In particular, within sweet-fruited varieties such samples as 57-01-1, 146-02-1 and 226-00-1 with sugar-acid index of 6.4, 5.4 and 5.3, respectively, have been selected as well as fruit of 198-99-3a and 62-01-2 varieties weighed about 1.0 g, that is almost 0.3 g higher compared to Chuiskaya variety (control) and Altaiskaya (the sweetest one). Two varieties - 149-00-3 and 664-00-2 - were included to the group with very low tear-off force of fruits - 95 and 110 g, respectively, which was significantly lower compared to the control (Chuiskaya) and the standard variety (Anastasia). That means high suitability of these varieties for harvesting by hand picking. The hybrid 185-99-5 had an average fruit weight of 1.67 g which was two times higher than fruit weight of the control variety. Highly promising red colored variety (258-03-1) had high oil content in fruits. That positions it as an extremely promising variety for seabuckthorn oil concentrate processing. Most of estimated varieties were included in various reference groups demonstrating by that the combination of agronomic traits.

Potato blackleg caused by Dickeya spp. bacteria is one of the most important bacterial diseases of potatoes. The rapid spread of this disease in the territory of Russia requires new effective diagnostic tools for the timely detection of infection. To solve this problem, antisera specific to Dickeya spp. were obtained. Polyclonal antibodies isolated from antisera have shown high affinity for the main species of Dickeya spp. ( D. solani, D. dianthicola, D. chrysanthemi, D. dadantii, D. paradisiaca ). Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) test systems have been developed based on specific and high affinity antibodies that were obtained. For ELISA, the detection limit was 0.8 × 10⁵ cells/mL for D. solani and 2 × 10⁴ cells/mL for D. dianthicola . For LFIA, suitable for use in non-laboratory conditions, the detection limit of D. solani was 2 × 10⁵ cells/mL and the analysis time was 15 minutes. When testing potato seed material, LFIA test system confirmed positive results of ELISA determination in 75 % of samples, and negative - in 100 % of samples.

In mountain areas, one of the noticeable results of modern climate change is rapid shift of treelines to subalpine and alpine meadows. Such vegetation shifts is associated with a change in quality of the plant residues entering the soils, which in turn can affect the mineralization activity (basal respiration) and functional diversity of the soil microbial community. Therefore, the study was aimed at assessing the soil microbial (basal respiration and functional diversity) and chemical (C, N, C/N, pH) properties (0-10 cm) along the reserved and grazed forest-meadow transects of the Northwestern Caucasus (Karachay-Cherkess Republic), as well as evaluating an effect of vegetation type and land use on variation of these soil properties. It was found that the C and N contents (for both land usees), pH and basal respiration (reserved slope) significantly increase from forest to meadow soils. In contrary, the microbial functional diversity decreased from forest to meadow soils, which might be due to less diverse organic compounds entering the soil only with grass residues than their combination with forest litter. Two-way ANOVA showed that soil microbial functional diversity, pH, C and N along the studied forest-meadow transects was mostly associated with vegetation type (14…39 % of the explained variation), and C/N and basal respiration - with land use (33…36 % of the explained variation). Thus, a land use change will have a more significant effect on the mineralization activity of soil microbial community than a treeline shifts.

Healthy longevity is becoming the main element in assessing the quality of the formed urban environment. The relevance of creating a comfortable urban environment is of great importance for leveling the negative processes of urbanization, burdened by globalization and COVID-19. The article presents the results of designing health-improving landscapes with their integration into the urban-ecological framework of the urban greening system of Sevastopol. The study of the design area was carried out using generally accepted methods of field research.

Forests in our natural environment play an important role. They are a necessary natural resource and perform many functions in the forest ecosystem. As in our country, as well as abroad, due to numerous studies, the enormous role of forests in preserving the ecological balance of the environment has been confirmed. To ensure the uniqueness of the Astrakhan region, it is necessary to restore Lower Volga forests, which in turn perform significant functions, namely: influence on hydrological regime, protect soil from degradation, wind and water erosion, preserve recreational potential of the territory and provide local population with stable agricultural production. In spring and fall of 2019, employees of the Precaspian Agrarian Federal Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences planted 120 seedlings of common oak (60 plants in spring and 60 plants in autumn) in the areas located in the right bank of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain to the south of Solenoye Zaimishche village. At the end of October 2020, 64 seedlings (53 %) of common oak survived. The best (100 %) survival rate was noted in annual seedlings, which were planted in spring at the site with shading. The greatest plant death (20 %) was in two-year-old seedlings planted in fall at sites with no shading.

Today, an important role in the development of pig breeding is given to feeding animals, especially piglets during the transition from milk to vegetable feeding. This crucial period is associated with physiological characteristics of piglet growth and development. Therefore, the problem of developing mixed fodder that gives rise to high weight gain in piglets is relevant for pig farming. The experiments were conducted on piglets aged 15-42 days in Nadezhda farm, Kursk region. The purpose of the research was to increase productivity and form the microbiocenosis in the intestines of piglets. During the study period, barley-wheat mixed fodder was used with additional ingredients: feed fat, alfalfa grass flour and probiotic. Feed fats provide an optimal level of energy for piglets’ growth. The active substances of alfalfa flour are involved in all metabolic processes in the body, making it effective. Probiotic increases availability and digestibility of feed nutrients. The studies proved that the new composition of SK-3 increased the average daily weight gain by 20.5 %, the gross formation per piglet increased to 21 %. At the same time, survival of animals in the period 15-42 days increased to 100 %. The greatest growth of beneficial intestinal microflora from 107 to 109 CFU/g of feces was observed after feeding experimental piglets with mixed fodder containing grass flour, feed fats and probiotic by day 42. In comparison with the control animals, experimental animals showed a decrease in E. coli - from 107 to 104. The importance of using such ingredients as alfalfa grass flour, feed fats and probiotic in mixed fodder for piglets of 15-42 days of age was revealed. The relevance of the development of new mixed fodder was justified.