North-Caucasian Zonal Research Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture

Abstract. The article presents the data of scientific research for the period from 2021-2023 on the study of the hybrid of grapes selected to the elite – Tana 82 (breeding number) technical directions of use, breeding of Federal state budget scientific institution «North Caucasian Federal Scientific Center of Horticulture, Viticulture, Wine-making» (FSBSI NCFSCHVW). The European grape variety Madeleine Angevine was used as the mother form in the creation of Tana 82. A variety of interspecific origin, Villard Blanc, was used as the paternal form. The research was conducted in the conditions of the Black Sea agroecological zone of viticulture of the Krasnodar Territory on the site of the Anapa ampelographic collection (AAC). A common zoned Riesling Rhenish grape variety grown on the same site and under the same agrotechnical conditions was used as a control. A comparative assessment was carried out for all measured indicators (phenology, agrobiology, chemical technology and tasting assessment). The elite hybrid of Tana 82 is characterized by an average maturation period. The grape yield of Tana 82 is used to produce high-quality white still wines. The results of the organoleptic evaluation showed that the sample of Tana 82 received a high tasting score of 8.1 points. Wine materials from grapes of the selected hybrid were characterized by straw color, bright, complex with fruity and floral shades, tones of citrus fruits, full and harmonious taste. The results of scientific research indicate the prospects of the elite hybrid of Tana 82 for the production of high-quality wine products, the expansion of the raw material base and the assortment of local varieties of domestic breeding. Keywords: grapes, breeding, elite hybrid, ampelographic description, dry white wine in bulk, wine quality indicators

Apple tree ( Malus × domestica Borkh.) is a leading agricultural pome crop, one of the main perennial fruit plants in the world, commercially in demand and widespread in the horticultural industry of Russia, including the North Caucasus region. In solving the problem of creating high-quality domestic apple varieties with a long-term type of resistance to the scab (pathogen - Venturia inaequalis (Cooke) G. Winter), the role of prebreeding, including research aimed at accelerated selection using the DNA method, is significant tagging valuable carriers of several Rvi scab resistance genes. The purpose of the study was to study the allelic polymorphism of 15 apple tree scab resistance genes ( Venturia inaequalis (Cooke) G. Winter) in 33 varietal and breeding samples of apple trees to identify sources of long-term resistance to increase efficiency of breeding process. The research was carried out in accordance with programs and methods for the study of apple varieties; Research and Selection Collection of Genetic Resources of Horticultural Crops and the Instrumentation and Analytical Center were used. DNA analysis methods were used in this work. For DNA extraction, a modification of the CTAB method was used, developed at North Caucasian Federal Scientific Center of Horticulture, Viticulture, Winemaking, allowing for better purification of DNA samples from polyphenolic compounds. The work used 22 markers to identify 15 apple scab resistance genes: Rvi1; Rvi2; Rvi3; Rvi4; Rvi5; Rvi6; Rvi8; Rvi9; Rvi11; Rvi12; Rvi13; Rvi14; Rvi15; Rvi16; Rvi17 . Marker selection of new varietal and breeding material made it possible to identify carriers of several genes for apple tree resistance to scab, having in the genome from 2 to 6 different Rvi genes in different combinations. Carriers of 6 resistance genes were identified as the most promising for selection for long-term resistance to scab: Rvi1, Rvi2, Rvi3, Rvi4, Rvi6, Rvi15-1 2/1-21-24; 5 genes: Rvi1, Rvi2, Rvi3, Rvi6, Rvi13 - Karmen; Rvi1, Rvi2, Rvi4, Rvi6, Rvi15 - Mikhsan; 4 genes: Rvi1, Rvi2, Rvi3, Rvi6 - Nadezhnoye; Rvi1, Rvi4, Rvi6, Rvi15 - Gaito Gazdanov; Rvi1, Rvi3, Rvi6, Rvi8-1 2/1-20-56, etc. Identified apple genotypes of domestic breeding, including those created in creative collaboration with colleagues from the Russian Research Institute for Breeding Fruit Crops and Stavropol Experimental Horticulture Station, promising for further breeding and accelerated creation of new high-quality, adaptive varieties with long-term high potential for resistance to the main fungal pathogen of the crop.

Crimson Seedless is a highly valued table grape cultivar, but under Egyptian climatic conditions, its berries often fail to reach full red coloration. The current investigation was carried out during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, in a commercial vineyard at Sadat City to improve the vegetative growth aspects, yield, and fruit quality attributes of Crimson Seedless. Eight treatments were performed as follows: abscisic acid at 200ppm, pectic oligosaccharides at 1500ppm, and 5-aminolevulinic acid at 200ppm were applied either individually or in combination among them; in addition control (untreated vines). Both pectic oligosaccharides and 5-aminolevulinic acid were foliar sprayed on three dates: the 1st date (after bud burst stage), the 2nd date (at fruit set stage), and the 3rd date (at véraison stage), while abscisic acid was sprayed twice on the clusters; the first spray was at the onset of the véraison stage, and the second spray was done two weeks later. All treatments significantly enhanced yield and fruit quality compared with the control. Among them, the triple combination of abscisic acid + pectic oligosaccharides + 5-aminolevulinic acid proved to be the most effective in enhancing yield, cluster weight and berry weight, higher TSS%, and lower acidity, as well as yielding the highest anthocyanin concentration, followed by the dual combination of pectic oligosaccharides + 5-aminolevulinic acid, while pectic oligosaccharides and 5-aminolevulinic acid alone produced intermediate values. Abscisic acid alone was lower, and the control recorded the minimum values.

In recent years, drought and high temperature stress have caused a decrease in the adaptive and productive potential of stone fruit crops in the south of the Russian Federation. The results of a comprehensive assessment of the drought resistance of common cherry varieties ( Cerasus Vulgaris Mill.) of different origins in the conditions of the Prikuban horticultural zone of the Krasnodar Territory are presented. The studies were conducted in 2021–2023. The objects were 10 cherry varieties: Krasnodarskaya Sladkaya, Ivanovna, Khodosa, Feya, Timati, Prizvanie, Tamaris, Assol, Svetlaya, Pamyati Evstratova. The planting pattern was 5x3 m, the rootstock – Mahaleb cherry seedlings. The control – Krasnodarskaya sladkaya, a drought-resistant cherry variety of domestic selection. The main physiological indices of cherry varieties were analyzed against the background of stress factors exposure: content of total water, dry matter and water loss in leaves. During the years of research, the cherry varieties were in conditions of insufficient moisture, confirmed by a low hydrothermal coefficient, varying from 0.4 to 1.2 over the years. The average water content of the leaves across the varieties was 60.0%, varying slightly within the range of 57.2 – 62.7%, as evidenced by the coefficient of variation (Cv = 3.5%). Water loss was high, at the level of 11.4%, and varied significantly (Cv = 26.3%) among the varieties from 8.1 (Svetlaya) to 17.0% (Krasnodarskaya sladkaya). The content of dry matter, indicating a certain degree of resistance of the plants to lack of moisture, was 39.9%, while their dynamics by variety depending on the conditions of the year was not significant (Cv = 5.3%). Based on a set of optimal physiological indicators confirming a sufficiently high drought resistance, domestic cherry varieties were identified – Ivanovna, Khodosa, Feya and Prizvanie, which are recommended for creating stable and productive cherry agrocenoses in the southern regions of the Russian Federation.

The article presents the results of studying the fatty acid composition of fruits in 23 walnut cultivars and elite forms from the gene pool at the <i>North Caucasian Federal Scientific Center of Horticulture, Viticulture, Wine-making </i>as well as their genetic relationships based on microsatellite genotyping. The total fat and the content of individual polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, and saturated fatty acids in the fruits were determined. Ten microsatellite DNA markers were used to analyze genetic diversity. The total fat content in the fruit kernel (oil content) was found to vary within the range of 67.54–77.85 %. The Rodina cultivar (>75 %) and the elite forms Slavyanin, Shchedry, Saturn, Vengersky, Izyashny, and Konkistador (about 75%) have the highest oil content. In terms of the polyunsaturated fatty acid content in the oil, the cultivar Pelan (79.72 %) and the elite forms Slavyanin (75.59 %), Saturn (75.60 %), Topaz (77.46 %) stand apart. The cultivars Zarya Vostoka (73.97 %), Urozhainy (74.44 %), and Dachny (74.78 %), as well as the elite forms Izyashny (72.29 %), Maslenichny (72.47 %), Yuzhanin (71.80 %), and Vengersky (71.79 %) are also valuable in this respect. The samples Izyashny, Konkistador, Dachny, and Slavyanin have the most optimal Omega-6 (linoleic acid) to Omega-3 ( alpha -linolenic acid) ratio (within the range of 3/1–4/1). Genetic diversity analysis determined the average number of alleles per locus to be 6.700, and the average effective number of alleles per locus to be 4.116, which indicates a relatively high level of genetic diversity. According to the results of genetic relationship analysis of the studied sample, two groups with the greatest genetic similarity were identified. These findings are consistent with the origin of the samples. In the identified groups of the strongest genetic similarity, samples possessing both individual economic traits and their complexes were selected. Pairs of samples promising for selective breeding were proposed. The most valuable samples for breeding include Saturn, Pelan, Urozhainy, Zarya Vostoka, and Shchedry (group № 1) as well as Slavyanin, Rodina, Dachny, Izyashny, and Konkistador (group № 2).

The aim of research is to identify the effect of chemical and biotechnological methods of processing pressed sugar beet pulp on the degree of pectin extraction and the efficiency of hydrolysis of substances that form its chemical composition. The studies were conducted in 2024 at the Krasnodar Research Institute for Storage and Processing of Agricultural Products. The objects of research are pressed sugar beet pulp; pectin-containing extract obtained as a result of chemical and enzymatic treatment of pressed sugar beet pulp; processed sugar beet pulp obtained after separation of the pectin-containing extract. The chemical composition of the objects of research was determined according to generally accepted methods. Tabular data on changes in the content of substances that form the chemical composition of sugar beet pulp as a result of pectin hydrolysis-extraction are provided. For ease of data interpretation, the degrees of hydrolysis of substances that form the composition of sugar beet pulp are calculated and presented in a graphic form. Based on the conducted studies, the mechanisms of pectin hydrolysis-extraction were established when using mineral acid (hydrochloric acid), organic acid (citric acid) and a complex of enzymes (cellulase, xylanase and protease) as reagents. The highest degree of pectin extraction, amounting to 35.47%, is achieved when using mineral acid, which is 15.12 and 20.94 % higher than the degree of pectin extraction when using a complex of enzymes and an organic acid, respectively. When compared with previously conducted studies in 2022 on pressed beet pulp obtained under other production conditions, it was found that the degree of pectin extraction from pressed beet pulp is significantly influenced by the vegetation conditions of sugar beets, as well as the technology and technological modes of extracting sucrose from it at the beet processing plant, as a result of which the chemical composition of the pressed beet pulp is predetermined.

The results of revealing the peculiarities of sweet cherry fruit quality formation of different varieties depending on the weather conditions of the growing year in the southern region of Russia are presented. The study was conducted in the Prikubanskaya horticultural zone of the Krasnodar Territory, characterized by hot and dry summer, abnormally high air temperatures during the period of fruit bud differentiation, mild and low-snow winter with sharp changes in positive and subzero temperatures. The objects of the study were 11 sweet cherry varieties of domestic and foreign selection: Alaya, Dar izobiliya, Sashenka, Chernye glaza, Kavkazskaya, Aelita, Yantarnaya, Krupnoprodnaya, Prestizhnaya, Sputnik, Francis. The purpose of the study was to determine the peculiarities of generation and dynamics of weight, biochemical indices of fruits depending on the genotype of the variety and conditions of the year. The obtained data confirm that a number of factors have a significant effect on the fruit size and weight, and the accumulation of biochemical substances is determined by the characteristics of the variety and differs from year to year within the limits determined by the genotype. Aclose correlation between weight, fruit size and biochemical composition with meteorological indicators: precipitation, average annual and average air temperatures during the period of fruit formation was found. It was found that fruit weight was more influenced (R2 = 0.74) by the average annual air temperature: the higher it was, the larger the fruit size, and vice versa. Significant correlation dependence (R2 = 0.95) was revealed between the amount of precipitation in May and vitamin C accumulation in fruits, i.e. the greater the amount of precipitation, the lower the vitamin C content. A close relationship (R2 = 0.91) was found between the content of anthocyanins and the average monthly air temperature in May, which indicates that the higher the temperature, the less these substances accumulate in fruits. According to the results of the study, several varieties with high fruit quality (weight over 9.0 g, tasting score 4.5–4.7 points) and the best content of various biochemical substances were selected for the creation of new varieties with high flavor and fruit quality. These varieties are Alaya, Kavkazskaya, Krupnoplodnaya, Prestizhnaya and Chernye glaza.

Machine learning (ML) algorithms can effectively analyze complex chemical-sensory relationships in wine. Five different ML methods, characterized by different functionalities, were used to predict the sensory evaluation of 150 wine samples based on the content of amino acids, volatile compounds, total content of higher alcohols, acetic acid, and furfural. The concentration of analytes in the wine was determined by gas chromatography and capillary electrophoresis. Initial values of the sensory properties were evaluated by qualified wine tasters. Based on the results of model training, automated neural networks proved to be the most effective method. Boosted trees were also used for predicting sensory evaluations in test data. The concentrations of proline, threonine, higher alcohols, and methanol made the greatest contribution to the prognostic model. An increase in the concentration of proline and furfural increased the contribution to sensory evaluation, while the concentration of threonine and arginine, as well as higher alcohols such as acetaldehyde, acetic acid, and ethyl acetate, decreased it. It has been shown that despite being oriented toward solving large-dimensional problems, ML methods can be successfully applied to smaller data sets, in particular to predicting sensory evaluation of wine based on its component composition. This ability to process data with any dimension and model complex nonlinear relationships makes them promising for use in artificial intelligence systems for assessing food quality.

Aroma compounds are important flavor components in pear fruit. Among cultivated pears, fruits from Pyrus communis (hereafter referred to as P. communis) cultivars are famous for their abundant aroma, while the fruits of most Pyrus pyrifolia (hereafter referred to as P. pyrifolia) cultivars lack aroma compounds. A comparative study on the formation of differential aroma compounds between the two species could provide a theoretical foundation for improving the aroma quality of P. pyrifolia cultivars. However, there is a lack of systematic research on this subject. An analysis of volatile and non-volatile metabolites was combined with transcriptome analysis to explore the formation mechanism of differential aroma compounds between three P. communis and three P. pyrifolia cultivars. In this study, a total of 510 volatile compounds were identified in the six cultivars. Of these, sixteen ester and alcohol compounds, including butyl acetate, hexyl acetate, ethyl-2-methylbutyrate, ethanol, butanol, propanol, and 2-methylbutanol, with higher contents in the P. communis cultivars than in the P. pyrifolia cultivars were identified as the primary differential aroma compounds. Among the possible synthesis pathways for these 16 aroma compounds, certain amino acid degradation processes, including isoleucine, valine, and alanine oxidation and threonine dehydration, were found to provide important intermediate substances for synthesis. Within the key enzyme genes in the synthesis pathway, several critical enzyme genes, including monoacylglycerol lipase (PcMAGL, pycom08g09340), threonine dehydrase (PcTD, pycom12g10020), and acyl CoA dehydrogenase (PcACD, pycom16g13880), might be important factors contributing to the disparity in aromatic compounds between P. communis and P. pyrifolia cultivars. The aforementioned results provide valuable information into the formation mechanisms of differential aroma compounds and offer novel target sites for enhancing pear aroma quality through gene editing.

The article presents the results of phenological observation of flowering onset dates for male and female inflorescences. In addition, the study provides the data obtained through assessing a complex of fruit quality characteristics of 26 promising breeding forms. The forms were previously selected for the adaptability and productivity characteristics from the gene pool of hybrid forms at the North Caucasian Federal Scientific Center of Horticulture, Viticulture, Wine-making. Phenological observations showed that the flowering time of female and male inflorescences in 2022-2024 occurred on different dates. Moreover, its duration also varied. The beginning of female inflorescence flowering (the average for a three-year period) was dated April 18; the average flowering duration equaled 11 days. The beginning of male inflorescence flowering (the average for a three-year period) was dated April 11. The average flowering duration was 8 days. When evaluating the flowering type, we found that 12 samples were protandrous, 8 samples were protogynous. 6 samples were characterized as homogamous with protogyny observed in particular years. The identified time and type of flowering enabled us to select the most promising pollenizer samples, as well as to establish forms with a late flowering date in female inflorescences, which is a valuable trait for breeding. The undertaken assessment of the qualitative fruit characteristics showed that forms 17-2-14, 17-2-16, 17-2-20, 17-3-8 had a set of valuable traits such as a high percentage of kernel yield, kernel extraction from the shell whole or in halves, light-colored kernels. Moreover, they have thin/medium-thick shells. Form 17-3-8 has late flowering dates of female inflorescences along with a complex of economically valuable characteristics of fruits, which is of great interest for its further consideration as a cultivar. In addition, the following combinations of parental forms are recommended for use in breeding: samples with homogamous flowering (17-1-14, 17-18, 17-2-25, Vodnik, Timur) and with late flowering of female inflorescences (Novinka, Kazachiy, G-1-37). They produce a low yield or have dark-colored kernels and can be crossed with forms 17-2-16, 17-2-20, 17-3-8 characterized by a large percentage of kernel yield and its extractability, light-colored kernels. This will make it possible to obtain breeding material for selecting forms with the specified characteristics.