The article presents the new generation prospective apple hybrids research results in terms of a complex of valuable economic and biological characteristics: resistance to diseases, fruit quality, long-term storage ability.

Sources identified: high resistance to scab and phyllostictosis – 2002-63/2 (Darunak × Redkroft), 2002-63/43 (Imant × Empire), 2002-64/70 (Pospekh × Topaz) and 2003-65/31 (Freedom × 88-28/20); large-fruitness – 2002-56/69 (Prima × 85-12/88), 2002-57/43 (87-7/30 s. p.), 2002-58/21 (Redkroft s. p.), 2002-63/2 (Darunak × Redkroft), 2002-63/18 (Liberty s. p.), 2002-64/70 (Pospekh × Topaz) and 2003-65/31 (Freedom × 88-28/20); long-term storage – 2002-56/69 (Prima × 85-12/88), 2002-58/21 (Redkroft s. p.) and 2003-65/31 (Freedom × 88-28/20).

Perspective hybrids with a complex of economic and biological characteristics (high resistance to diseases, attractive appearance, harmonious taste, keeping quality): 2002-63/43 (Imant × Empire) and 2003-65/31 (Freedom × 88-28/20) were distinguished. These selections will be used in the plant breeding process and, in the future, will be transferred for state variety testing.

The article presents the research results for 2019–2020 (on the 2-3 year after planting the garden) in studying the effect of various degrees of shortening of one-year growth during the formation of a spindle-shaped crown on the growth and fruiting of trees of the Aksamit and Palanez species on a semi-dwarf rootstock 54-118.

As a result, it was found that in the studied species the method of crown formation without shortening (cutting) the shoots contributed to the formation of a larger amount of fruit wood (laying the generative sphere).

The shortening of one-year increments by 1/2 and 1/3 of the length during crown formation stimulated branching and led to the formation of a larger number of annual increments and their greater total length accordingly.

The first fruiting of the studied species on a semi-dwarf clonal rootstock 54-118 was noted only on the third year after planting the garden with annual seedlings.

In order to accelerate the fruiting of apple trees on a semi-dwarf clonal rootstock 54-118 when forming a spindle-shaped crown in the first two years after planting the garden, it is necessary to take into account their species characteristics: in the early ripening Aksamit species shortening of the annual growth should be excluded, and in the average ripening period Palanez species shortening of the one-year growth by 1/3 of the length is permissible.

In 2018–2020 in the department of fruit-growing technology of RUE “Institute of Fruit-growing”, the effect of foliar application of preparations of different spectrum of action (growth regulator “Epinˮ, organomineral fertilizer “Megafolˮ and complex fertilizer “KompleMet COˮ) on the yield and commercial quality of apple-tree fruits of early ripening period species Mechta and Kovalenkovskoye on a semi-dwarf rootstock 54-118.

As a result of the investigations, it was found that the use of complex preparations of various effects on average over three years of research did not lead to an increase in yield in both studied apple-tree species, however their using influenced the commercial quality of the resulting crop. The output of Mechta species apple-tree fruits of the first and second commercial species with foliar application of the growth regulator “Epinˮ was 97.0 %, with the application of organic mineral fertilizer “Megafolˮ – 97.5 %, with the application of complex fertilizer “KompleMet COˮ – 95.8 %, which is 2.1–3.8 % more than in the control.

The output of Kovalenkovskoye species apple-tree fruits of the first and second commercial species with foliar application of the “KompleMet СOˮ complex fertilizer was 95.3 %, which is 1.6 % more than in the control.

The research was carried out in 2018–2020 in the nursery-garden department of RUE “Institute of Fruit-growing”.

The possibility of the rootstock component budding with two buds and getting plants of column apple species with two trunks has been studied.

A high degree of germination and development of buds of the Valuta, Hirlyanda, Sozvezdie species was established, which were occulted in different ways (with one and two buds) on the rootstock 54-118 (91.5–100.0 %).

The seedlings of the control variant “budding with one bud”, followed by “formation with one trunk” and the option “budding with two buds” were characterized by the best indicators of the height and diameter of the trunk. In addition, in these variants a more intensive dynamics of the growth of the seedlings was noted in comparison with the variant “budding with one bud, followed by shaping with two trunks.”

The research was carried out in 2019–2020 in the nursery-garden department of RUE “Institute of Fruit-growing”. The article reflects the results of studying the biological peculiar properties of growth, development and formation of vegetative and reproductive formations of various seedlings types of column apple species.

According to the research results, the type of seedling obtained by budding one rootstock with two buds (54-118), which is characterized by a high degree of germination and development of shoots (not less than 95 %) has been identified, intensive growth dynamics, high indicators of height and diameter (at least 68 and 1.6 cm, respectively), a high degree of density (at least 26 generative formations per plant) and a low shoot-forming ability (no more than two shoots per plant).

Apple-tree proliferation is a plant disease caused by phytoplasma Candidatus Phytoplasma mali which belongs to the Аpple proliferation (AP) group, subgroup 16SrX-A. The damage of plants by phytoplasm leads to changes in the nature of branching of shoots, crushing of fruits and often to the death of plants, causing damage to agricultural production.

In order to assess the frequency occurrence of phytoplasm in apple-tree plantations in Belarus, a survey was carried out of the examination of orchards of Minsk, Brest, Gomel and Mogilev regions. There were selected (from symptomatic or damaged trees) and tested 453 samples (60 genotypes). Based on the results of examination and testing by real-time PCR with Phyto-F/Phyto-R primers and Phyto-P probe, the presence of phytoplasm in apple-tree plantations in Gomel (61 infected samples out of 177 tested), Minsk (18 out of 112) and Mogilev regions was revealed (48 out of 67) and the absence of a pathogen in the plantations of the Brest region.

The article describes the creation of a repository of a health improved commercial assortment of apple, pear and clonal rootstocks in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus.

Basic super-super-elite (SSE) repositories of apple and pear species and rootstocks have been laid in the nursery-garden department of RUE “Institute of Fruit-growing” in accordance with the quarantine phytosanitary requirements of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the European-Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO).

The establishment of virus-free fruit plantations with commercial adaptive species suitable for cultivation using intensive technologies will improve the quality of the products obtained in the industrial gardens of the republic.

A comparative analysis of the ACLSV, ASPV, PNRSV, PPV frequency occurrence in the fruit crops plantations of RUE “Institute of Fruit-growing” for 2016–2020 period was carried out. ACLSV diagnostics (484 apple-tree samples, 129 pear samples) made it possible to establish that the virus is more common on the apple-tree (33.5 % of infected samples in the breeding garden, 37.9 % in the mother-cuttings garden, 1.6 % in the production garden), than on a pear (2.8 % of infected samples, only in the selection garden). ASPV was detected in 28.5 % of apple-tree samples (of 123 tested), apple and pear rootstocks, pear species are virus-free. PNRSV was not detected (368 tests) on domestic plum, cherry plum and apricot in collection and mother plantations. In the collection planting, the presence of the virus was confirmed on one cherry species and nine cherry species, in the mother planting the virus was not diagnosed. PPV (368 tests) was not diagnosed on all tested drupaceous fruit plants.

The article presents the results of a comparative analysis of growth and development of trees of the Dalikatnaya variety, propagated on clonal rootstocks VPK-1 and 18/25, by the following parameters: crown projection area, tree height, crown volume, trunk cross-sectional area and dynamics of their change on during 2017–2020. On the basis of the received data the elite form 18/25 has been carried to group of very undersized rootstocks which on 5-6th years of cultivation in a garden provided productivity of the Dalikatnaya variety 21,8–22,1 kg/dr with a layout scheme of 4×2 m.

The economic evaluation of five zoned plum varieties of different ripening terms (Venera, Kroman, Perdrigon, Stanley, Charadzeika), suggests that the clonal rootstock 18/25 provided a restrained growth force of trees of all studied varieties, with yields in 2019–2020 at the level of 14.6–20.5 kg/dr, with the average weight of the fruit 33.6–45.4 g.

Signs of the rootstock and graft physiological incompatibility during the study period were not detected, the formation of root shoots was not observed. This contributed to the good development of the trees and the realization of the genetic potential of variety productivity and crop quality.

The research was carried out in 2019–2020 in the laboratory of the fruit-growing department of RUЕ “Brest regional agricultural experimental station of the National Academy of Science of Belarus”. The objects of research were microplants of in vitro zoned rootstocks VPK-1, Saint Julien GF 655/2 and microplants of domestic plum varieties Vengerka Belorusskaya, Venera, Empress. Studies have shown that at the stage of proliferation a high propagation coefficient was achieved at the second passage of Empress variety, when illuminated by the spectrum “red, blue, infrared, ultraviolet” (4.7±1.17) and in “control” (4.3±0.32). On fourth passage of cultivation when illuminated by the spectrum “red, blue, infrared, ultraviolet” Empress’s variety propagation coefficient is 5.4±0.17.

When illuminated by the spectrum “red, blue, infrared, ultraviolet” the average shoot length was the longest for the Vengerka Belorusskaya variety (4.5±0.68 сm), by “full spectrum” was the best variant for the Venera variety (3.3±0.34 cm). When evaluating the number of leaves on the shoot, the advantage of the “full spectrum” lamp for the Vengerka Belorusskaya variety (16.4±0.68 pcs) is noted.

One of the chief limiting factors for the cultivated cherry plum in the central zone of Belarus is winter hardiness. The main components of cherry plum winter hardiness were studied by the method of artificial freezing. The main test modes were: resistance to autumn slight frosts and early frosts; the maximum value of frost resistance developed by plants after the end of organic dormancy; the ability to maintain resistance to low temperatures during the winter thaws, to restore frost resistance during re-hardening after thaws.

In the field, as well as in artificial freezing in various modes, the vascular-conducting tissue of the bourgeon node turned out to be the most sensitive to freezing. Based on the results of a comprehensive assessment of the winter hardiness of cultivated cherry plum genotypes in the field and using the method of direct freezing, we can distinguish that the sources of winter hardiness of tissues of annual shoots are hybrids 09-10/46 (Lama × Gaviota) and 09-9/72 (Comet × Mara); sources of winter hardiness of generative buds are hybrids 09-3/22 (Puteshestvennitsa × pollen mixture), 09-9/61, 09-9/66, 09-9/72 (Comet × Mara).

The article presents research data on evaluating the impact of individual methods of wild cherry cultivation technology on the growth and productivity of trees of the Gastsinets species on a clonal rootstock VSL-2, obtained in an experimental garden of the department of fruit-growing technology of RUE “Institute of Fruit-growing”.

The techniques of wild cherry cultivation technology are highlighted: the use of a new type of planting material using a prospective clonal rootstock VSL-2 with a budding height of 60 cm and the deepening with the rootstock part of the seedling when planting in the garden no more than 1/3 of the length of the conditional root collar and with a budding height of 20 cm without deepening the rootstock part of a seedling when planting in a garden when placing trees according to compacted planting schemes 4.5×2.0–1.5 m, providing controlled growth of trees (a decrease in growth rates up to 20 %) and the production of at least 18 t/hе of fruits of high commercial quality.

Two-year research data on assessing the influence of inoculation height and planting depth of trees on the productivity of wild cherry Hastsinets variety on VSL-2 clone rootstock is introduced in the article. It was defined that during the period of full fruiting of the garden (on the 11–12 year after planting) at the 18 t/hе level or more the productivity was obtained in variants with inoculation height 20 and 60 cm regardless of the depth of the seedlings rootstock when planting in the garden, with planting distance of 4.5×2.0 m – 18.0–24.8 t/hе and with planting distance of 4.5×1.5 m – 22.1–30.4 t/hе respectively. A denser trees arrangement ensured a higher productivity per unit area on 21.4 % average. Over the years of research the output of fruits of the first commercial variety was 98 %.

In the course of research work carried out by field expeditions in stationary and cameral-laboratory conditions the gene pool of the apricot cultivated in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (Nakhchivan AR) was defined, the biological features and pomological indicators were explored and comparative analysis was held.

As a result it was specified that among the varieties of apricot cultivated in Nakhchivan AR 42.9 % are local varieties, 11.9 % are introduced varieties and 45.2 % are introduced forms. Also the distribution area of varieties is determined, among which Abutalibi, Haqverdi, Ghirmiziyanaq, Aghchanabad, Agh novresti, Hosrovshakhi, Teberze, Balyarim, Shalakh varieties are the most economically important. According to ripening period 30.5 % of varieties are early ripen, 47.8 % are mid-season, 21.7 % are late ripen; and among forms 31.6 % are early ripen, 42.1 % are mid-season and 26.3 % are late ripen. By research it is detected that Nakhchivan novresti varieties, Kotam-2, Dasta-4 forms in comparison with other varieties and forms are the most early ripen. While phase tracing, the dependence of blossom period on climatic conditions and ripening period on genotypic characteristics was detected. It is noted that the fruit weight of the investigated varieties and forms is about 32.0–58.4 gm and the proportion of pulp is between 90.0–95.8 %.

The highest degustation assesment was given to Nakhchivan novresti, Shalakh, Abutalibi, Balyarim, Agh erik, Goyjenabat, Red partisan varieties and Dasta-4, Dasta-9, Jugha-5,Ordubad-12, Sharur-5 forms.

The article presents the comprehensive studies results of fresh berries of garden strawberry of the introduced species Alba, Vibrant, Cupid, Matis, Hanoi, Elsanta in comparison with the zoned species Zenga-Zengana.

In terms of hardness, all the studied species surpassed the standard Zenga-Zengana species (the average hardness was 2.6 N/cm2 ). The average content of soluble solids was 8.7 %. In terms of berry size (the average berry weight is more than 12 g), the species Alba, Vibrant, Cupid, Mathis, Hanoi, Elsanta are distinguished. The garden waste and losses in the studied strawberry species amounted to 2.3–3.5 %, which leads to small losses during processing. The studied species are heartshaped or round-shaped; the berry shape index ranged from 0.9 to 1.3. The size of berries in all studied species in terms of the largest transverse diameter was 27.4–34.4 mm. Fresh berries of all studied garden strawberry species had an attractive appearance and colour, juicy texture, pronounced aroma and good taste. The average degustation score ranged from 4.5 to 4.9.

In the process of research, it was found that the garden strawberry species of the foreign selection Alba, Vibrant, Cupid, Mathis, Hanoi, Elsanta had high commercial qualities.

The article presents the studying results by morphological and biological characteristics: bunch length, number of berries in a bunch and the weight of the berry of 32 of black currants species from breeding schools of Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Scotland, Poland, Lithuania, Romania, Sweden, Finland. Significant differences between species in all indicators were revealed. In the studied sample of species, the length of the bunch varied from 2.8 to 11.4 cm, the number of berries in the bunch – from 4 to 13 pieces, the average weight of the berry – from 0.88 to 2.59 g. The best selected species are: Cantata (by the length of the bunch and the number of berries in the bunch), Geo, Blagoslovenie, Volshebnitsa, Pamyati A. H. Voluzneva, Selechenskaya-2 (by weight of berries – more than 1.5 g), which are included in the breeding process as initial forms.

In order to obtain seeding material with a closed root system the method of propagation by root grafts of remontant raspberry has been studied. The studies were carried out in a covered soil (RUE “Institute of Fruit-growing” greenhouses of the berry crops department). To grow remontant raspberries seedlings from root grafts it is necessary to use P3 pots (size: 13×13×13 cm), which allows to get standard seedlings within 2 months (instead of 6 months with traditional propagation methods) after planting in containers of the recommended volume. The major advantage of seedlings with a closed root system is a high survival rate when planting in a permanent place, the ability to plant at a convenient time, reliability during transportation, the long time storage ability for planting.

The research was carried out in 2019–2020 in the Department of Biotechnology of RUE “Institute of Fruit-growing” in the laboratory conditions. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficiency of micro-grafting of blackberry varieties in ex vitro conditions. T

he carried out studies on the grafting of rooted ex vitro microshoots can be used to increase the commercial products output of blackberry varieties. During micro-grafting of blackberry varieties in ex vitro conditions, a 100 % output of rooted grafts was derived both on agroperlite substrate and on Sphagnum L. moss with a surface layer of peat “Dvinaˮ. With the complex of morphometric indicators, it is more expedient to use a substrate consisting of Sphagnum L. moss with a surface layer of peat “Dvinaˮ.

An authentic influence was established with a high level of significance (p < 0.001) of both varietal characteristics and substrate and two factors together on the length of shoots, the number of internodes and the length of roots of blackberry varieties. The number of roots depended only on the type of substrate (p < 0.001).

The article presents the study results of five species of honeysuckle blue self-fertilization of derivatives in 2019–2020: from Lonicera caerulea subsp. kamtschatika – Zinri, Sinyavokaya, Pavlovskaya, L. caerulea subsp. altaica – Sirius, Selena.

In the variations of free, natural and artificial pollination the fruit setting, the number of ripen fruits and the average fruit weight were evaluated.

A high indicator of fruit setting (73.7–100.0 %) was established in the variations of free and artificial self-pollination. Despite the high setting, the number of ripen fruits in the self-pollination variations was 1.3–12.8 times less than in the free-pollination variation. When self-fertilized, cultivars Pavlovskaya and Zinri got undeveloped, seedless fruits, cultivar Selena presented weak development of ovaries, shedding of fruits at the stage of colouration, predominance of puny, small, unfulfilled fruits and seeds.

The species Sirius and Sinyavokaya, which set more than 20 % of full-fledged fruits in the variations of natural and artificial self-pollination, were distinguished.

Based on the long-term stationary studies results an integral degree assessment of introduction prospects for 20 cultivars of highbush blueberry and three cultivars of half-highbush blueberry in Belarus was given according to the criteria: phenorhythmic, morphobiological, reproductive, regenerative, sustainability (winter hardiness) and fruit quality. The most prospective cultivars have been identified, which are included in the State register of plant cultivars approved for production in the Republic of Belarus: Bluecrop, Bluetta, Denise Blue, Duke, Earliblue, Elizabeth, Hardyblue, Jersey, Northblue, Northcountry, Northland, Patriot, Weymouth. The zoned cultivars have adapted to the climatic conditions of the republic and constitute the assortment basis for the creation of industrial and home plantings of highbush blueberries in Belarus.

The widespread distribution of cultivated blueberry has shown that its cultivars successfully produce harvest in conditions with a shorter vegetation period and with its lower heat availability than in the natural habitat of that culture. An analysis of data from a 9-year long observation of three cultivars of highbush blueberry has established that the chief factor influencing the durations of the generative phenophases are the air temperature indicators during daytime. A high degree of correlation between maximum daytime air temperatures and durations of generative phenophases with low correlation coefficients with average 24-hour temperatures and the sum of positive temperatures above 0 °C has been identified.

In 2018–2020 in the industry laboratory of introduction and technology of non-traditional berry plants of the Central Botanical Garden of National Academy of Science of Belarus the studies were conducted. The regenerative ability of largefruit cranberry stem cuttings was assessed. The results of the experiments showed that rooting of cuttings decreases after storing the planting material and that it is better to plant them freshly harvested. But if necessary, the planting material can be stored up to two months. Plants formed from cuttings harvested from erect shoots are characterized by a higher shoot-forming ability, while plants grown from procumbent shoots give a greater linear growth. Planting the basal part of large-fruited cranberry cuttings in the substrate contributes to the plants formation with higher biometric indicators, compared with the cuttings planted with apex in the substrate.

The study presents the Belarusian walnuts population assessment results based on the quality of the fruit. It was determined that all the studied hybrids, including the Samokhvalovichsky-2 domestic standard, belong to the group of largefruited, with a fruit weight from 12.6 to 52.2 gm. In comparison with the standard hybrids present the highest percentage of kernel output 10-5 (45.9 %), P-Kh-1 (40.1 %) and C-2y (42.8 %).

Walnut fruits tasting assessment and morphological analysis of the studied hybrids made it possible to identify two samples – 10-5 and C-2y – with economically valuable features (fruit weight, kernel output, kernel retrievability and taste), which are recommended for plant breeding new varieties.

An assessment of the efficiency of in vitro rhizogenesis of seedless varieties of grapes growing in the territory of Tajikistan has been given.

In a series of experiments it was shown that all 11 seedless varieties of grapes are characterized by a fairly high degree of rhizogenesis. Different efficiency of rhizogenesis in in vitro culture was noted, equal to 80.1 % on average for all varieties and 69.6–100.0 % depending on the variety.

Regenerant plants of all studied varieties have a well-developed root system, shoots and leaf mass.

The height of the shoots and the length of the root of the regenerated plants of the studied objects vary from 8.47 to 14.06 and from 2.38 to 5.03 cm relatively.

The number of leaves per shoot varies from 7.96 to 12.24 cm. The average value of the number of roots per plant is from 2.52 to 3.88 cm.

An assessment of the micropropagation efficiency of Tajik selection varieties of grapes growing in the territory of the country was for the first time in Tajikistan given.

During four transplantings different regenerative capacity in in vitro culture has been noted at the explants micropropagation stage of the explored varieties of grapes. The average coefficient of micropropagation of varieties is 2.5 and varies in the range from 1.2 to 3.2, which is apparently due to the varietal characteristics of grapes from the Tajik selection group. On the average for varieties of the Tajik selection group maximum propagation coefficient is noticed for the 2nd transplanting.

The average value of the propagation coefficient for all explants types of Tajik selection varieties of grapes differs a little between one another.

In 2019–2020 in the RUE “Institute of Fruit-growing” research was carried out to determine the apple-tree fruits of early ripening period suitability to storage and processing.

The objects of research were the fruits of seven apple-tree species of early ripening period (Aksamit, Kovalenkovskoe, Mechta, Palanez, Papirovka, Ranak, Slava pobeditelyam), grown in the department of selection of fruit crops of the RUE “Institute of Fruit-growing”.

The storage period for the apple-tree fruits of early ripening period ranged from 44 to 110 days, depending on the species and storage option.

The application of the “Fitomagˮ preparation before storage allowed to achieve the best indicators in terms of storage duration – from 73 to 110 days depending on the species.

The change of the gas composition in a closed package allows to reduce the natural weight loss on average for species by 2.8 % and to increase the output of healthy fruits in all the species.

The suitability of the species Ranak, Mechta and Papirovka for the frozen applesauce production has been established.

In 2019–2020 in the RUE “Institute of Fruit-growing” research was carried out to study the effect of the modified gas environment (MGE) on the preservation of quality and consumption period extension of the fresh apple-tree fruits of early ripening period.

The objects of research were the fruits of seven apple-tree species of early ripening period (Aksamit, Kovalenkovskoe, Mechta, Palanez, Papirovka, Ranak, Slava pobeditelyam), grown in the department of selection of fruit crops of the RUE “Institute of Fruit-growing”.

The change of the gas composition in a closed package makes it possible to reduce the natural weight loss for species by 2.9 % average and to increase the output of healthy fruits in all species.

The use of MGE minimizes losses from physiological disorders in the apple-tree fruits of early ripening period by 1.7–2.5 times and reduces losses from fungal diseases by 2.0–7.3 %, depending on the species.

Storage in MGE increases the safety of the fruits after removal from storage (residual effect) by 3–6 days, depending on the species.

The article presents the research results for 2014–2016 according to the assessment of the suitability of five zoned varieties of garden strawberry (Vikoda, Vima Rina, Vima Tarda, Zenga-Zengana, Kimberly) for the manufacture of a new product for the domestic market – dried garden strawberry berries.

The content of soluble solids in fresh berries of garden strawberry (9.0–11.4 %), the hardness of berries (1.6–2.2 N/cm2 ), a small proportion of solid waste (sepals and peduncles) (2.0–5.7 %) with a sufficient content of sugars and acids make them suitable for the manufacture of a new product – dried berries.

The overall degustation score of dried berries in all species was high and amounted to 4.6–4.7 points.

The organoleptic score of a by-product in the production of dried berries – garden strawberry syrup – was in the range of 4.6–5.0 points.

The article presents the study results of the first Belarusian species of remontant raspberry Verasnyovaya for suitability for the production of canned food “Raspberry mashed with sugar” and frozen puree. Indicators of organoleptic assessment of processed products are reflected. The average tasting score of the experimental samples of canned food “Raspberry mashed with sugar” from the Verasnyovaya species was 4.7 points, frozen puree – 4.6 points.

As a result of the studies carried out on the complex of organoleptic indicators, the compliance of the processed products with the current regulatory documents (standards) was revealed and the suitability of the berries of the remontant raspberry Verasnyovaya species for the frozen puree and canned food “Raspberry mashed with sugar” production was established, which determines the universal use of the variety.

The developed recommendations present the results of a chemical-technological study of apple species of different ripening periods. The species that are most suitable for the production of branded direct-extracted juices for various consumer groups are indicated (adults, preschool and school children, young children), as well as requirements for the quality and safety of products in accordance with the current TNLA. The recommendations are the basis for mainly single-varietal raw appletree plantations and will allow processing enterprises to produce high-quality branded direct-extracted juices.

The article provides an analysis of the worldwide prevalence of a harmful disease on a pear – mildew, caused by the basidiomycete fungus Gymnosporangium sabinae (Dicks.) G. Winter, the taxonomy and biology of the pathogen is given. Preliminary data on disease-resistant samples of pears from the collection of RUE “Institute of Fruit-growing” (Belarus) are presented: Allegro, Victoria, Maria, Osoblyva, Smerichka, Souvenir, Shchedra, derived from Pyrgus communis L.; Augustovskaya rosa, Vernaya, Desertnaya Rossoshanskaya, Krasnobokaya, Podgoryanka, DU 20-3, Chuspan – from Pyrgus ussuriensis Maxim.; Chukhuang – from P. ussuriensis × Pyrgus ovoidea; Feeriya species derived from pear-leaved (sandy) Pyrgus pyrifolia (Burm.) Nakai.

One of the priority tasks in raspberry breeding is to increase the ecological adaptation of varieties to negative biotic and abiotic factors of a particular cultivation region. Common task for all raspberry cultivation regions is the breeding of highly productive varieties suitable for mechanized cultivation with high commercial, taste and technological qualities of berries.

The modern breeding process is characterized by a significant increase in the intensity of selection and the acceleration of the breeding process. Biotechnological methods of clonal micropropagation of valuable genotypes, as well as the use of PCR for genetic analysis and certification of breeding material, are very encouraging. Scientific integration gives the opportunity to speed up the breeding process. This is contributed by the creation of modern breeding and nursery-garden centers, where joint research is carried out by breeders, geneticists, biotechnologists, physiologists, virologists and nursery breeders.

The advantages of dried fruits consist in the simplicity of production, storage and transportation convenience, simplicity of using and the content of a significant amount of sugars, nitrogenous substances, organic acids, pectin and mineral substances. They also preserve the organoleptic qualities of fresh fruits and berries well.

Some features of fruit drying in different ways have been revealed.

The plum varieties recommended for the prune production have been established: Venherka italianskaya, Venherka domashnyaya, Wangenheim Venherka, Venherka korneevskaya, Venherka fioletovaya, Venherka azhanskaya, Venherka obiknovennaya, Venherka krupnaya sladkaya, Venherka yubileinaya, Kirke, Lehenda, Renklod Altana, Renklod Karbisheva, Stanley, Sinyaya ptsica, Pamyati Kostsinoy, Sentyabrskaya, Sopernica, Tuleu grass, Prune Adyghe, Prune samarkandski, Prune pozdni chimkenski etc.

The dormant state is inherent to the seeds of the overwhelming majority of wild-growing plants, as well as many cultivated plants. The ability of seeds to maintain viability for a long time without proceeding to germination is one of the most important adaptive properties of plants. It allows them to outlive the unfavorable periods of the year; therefore, a stock of seeds is created in the soil, which is an important condition for the preservation of species.

The seeds differ in the depth of dormancy and in the methods of taking out from it. On the basis of this the classification system of types of dormancy developed by M. G. Nikolaeva and recently slightly modified by J. M. Baskin и C. C. Baskin has been built. Five classes of dormancy were identified: physiological (PD), morphological (MD), morphophysiological (MPD), physical (PY) and combined (PY + PD). Physiological dormancy, in its turn, is divided into deep, intermediate and shallow.

Dormancy is the state of plants in which the growth processes are stopped, the intensity of metabolism decreases. Dormancy is expressed in a delay of the seeds germination, tubers, and buds opening. It is the normal physiological state of plants, and it should be considered as a hereditary biological adaptation to the unfavorable conditions of a particular season.

Dormancy can be controlled by external conditions (exogenous or compulsory dormancy) or by the internal factors (endogenous, organic or deep dormancy). In addition, there are such types of dormancy as combined, winter, summer, extended, preliminary. In areas with harsh winters winter dormancy is a prevalent survival strategy for both herbaceous and woody plants. Winter dormancy is a certain physiological state of woody and shrub plants, in which the plant is able to withstand low negative temperatures of air and soil.

The article presents a brief history of the development and formation of the Department of Horticulture and Meadow Growing of the Grodno State Agrarian University for the 50-year period of its existence, starting from the moment of its formation (August 10, 1971). The main directions of scientific activity of the department on fruit-growing are shown, as well as its contribution to the lead-up of highly qualified personnel for modern fruit-growing.

The biographies of leading scientists-fruit-growers are given. They are: Maria Alekseevna Bleskina, Nikolai Pavlovich Soldatenko, Stepan Pavlovich Sharaev, Sergey Yuryevich Sobolev, who worked at the department at different times and their contribution to the development of fruit-growing in the Republic of Belarus.