The publication informs on the main stages of establishment and development of the scientific journal “Agricultural Science Euro-North-East” of the Federal Agricultural Research Center of the North-East named N. V. Rudnitsky over the 25-year period - from a regional edition to a highly rated open access scientific journal included in reputable Russian and international databases.

The article provides the results of research and production work of the team of scientists of Federal Agricultural Research Center of the North-East named N. V. Rudnitsky, starting from 1895, the date of establishment the Vyatka Zemsky Agricultural Experimental Station. There has been revealed the role of 18 directors in the establishment and development of the organization in different conditions of our country existence.

The article reviews the current state, problems, and main achievements of scientific agrarian institutions in the Russian Far East. The structure of the arable land area for the main agricultural crops in the Far Eastern Federal District over 1990–2024 has been described. Over this period, a rapid increase was observed in the area of the arable land sown by soybean (around 68 % of the total arable land) and by grain corn – 1251 and 165 thousand ha, respectively. Simultaneously, a decrease was observed in the area of the arable land planted by grain and forage crops, potato, and vegetables. The paper reviews the main problems of horticulture – failure to follow the crop rotation guidelines and climate change with an increased number of tropical cyclones (typhoons) in Primorsky Kray, which leads to soil saturation and waterlogging, crop lodging, and the development of fungal, viral and bacterial diseases, and pests. The article presents high-priority research dedicated to the breeding of soybean, potato, corn, rice, and buckwheat and aimed at achieving the goals of The Food Security Doctrine of the Russian Federation. Over the last years, Far Eastern breeders created fifty-two new cultivars of agricultural crops recommended to use in the regional agricultural production: soybean – 17, wheat - 3, oat – 4, barley – 3, rice – 2, potato – 3, buckwheat – 1, bean – 1, tomato – 3, cucumber – 3, perennial grasses – 2, and fruit and berry crops – 10. Special attention is given to high-priority research areas in veterinary medicine, biotechnology, zootechnics, digital technologies and technologies of precision agriculture, and land improvement in the conditions of climate change.

Experimental data of scientists of Perm Agricultural Research Institute – branch of PFRC UB RAS obtained for 2000–2024 are presented, scientific literature for 1990–2024 of Russian and foreign specialists on the study of soil organic matter (SOM) is summarized and analyzed. Multidirectional tendencies of organic carbon change in soil compared to the initial level at change of land use regime were revealed: decrease at intensive tillage and absence of fertilizers, preservation and increase – at input of large amount of organic matter with biomass of cultivated crops in crop rotation and organic fertilizers. The influence of land use practices on the content of different fractions of transformed organic matter is shown. It has been established that in soil-climatic conditions of the Middle Urals the losses of organic carbon in the process of mineralization during the vegetation period can potentially make from 2.37 to 3.21 % of its total content. High carbon sequestering potential of sod-podzolic heavy loamy soil was determined. Carbon sequestration by crops of crop rotation and perennial grasses was assessed. It was revealed that in the process of photosynthesis eastern galega converts from atmosphere to plant biomass more than 30 t/ha of CO2 or 8.4 t C/ha per year, safflower leuzea – 24.3–41.3 t/ha of CO2 (6.8–11.5 t/ha). Due to the large amount and favourable biochemical composition of crop-root residues of perennial fodder crops, accumulation and deposition of organic carbon in the soil is observed. The study of soil microbiome of sod-podzolic heavy loamy soils of the Middle Urals revealed 17 phylums consisting of Archaea (1 phylum) and Bacteria (16 phylums) domains. Differences in the composition of soil microorganisms in soils of different types of land use were found. Prospects for further study of SOM are outlined in connection with the problem of global climate change, as well as the development of instrumental high-precision methods of analysis.

The development of Siberian black-and-white Holstein cattle has been studied. The subject of the study was the history of the origin and domestication of the ancestral forms of Siberian black-and-white Holstein cattle, namely the Holstein, Soviet black-and-white breeds, indigenous cattle of Siberia and the western regions of Russia. It has been shown that cattle in western Russia most likely originated from wild auroch (Bos primigenius) that lived in North Africa or the Middle East. However, some records indicate the introduction of genes from the wild wisent (Bison bonasus). The Holstein breed originated from the European wild aurochs (Bos primigenius), but evolved without the influx of genes from Russian cattle. In turn, since the 18th century, Russian cattle have been periodically improved by producers of Frisian, Dutch, and then Holstein breeds. The origin of indigenous Siberian cattle is still a matter of debate. According to one hypothesis, the indigenous Siberian cattle are descendants of the wild aurochs (Bos primigenius), which was domesticated in North Africa and entered Siberia along with the migration of human tribes. Another theory attributes the indigenous Siberian cattle to the so-called TuranoMongolian group, the origin of which also raises questions. In the genome of modern representatives of Turano-Mongolian cattle, haplotypes peculiar to wild aurochs (Bos primigenius), zebu (Bos indicus), as well as markers not peculiar to any of these species were found. This may indicate the origin of Turano-Mongolian cattle from a separate wild ancestor, as well as the introduction of yak (Bos mutus) or another type of bull. Thus, the gene pool of Siberian black-and-white cattle is a unique genetic reserve that combines the adaptive qualities of local cattle and the high potential of dairy productivity inherited from the Holstein breed.

Fractionation of grain heap at the pre-cleaning stage reduces the total energy consumption for grain processing and its injury by reducing the number of cleaning operations required to obtain high-quality seed material. The purpose of the review is to analyze the design and technological process of grain cleaning machines operating on the pneumatic fractional technology in order to identify promising areas of research in this field. It was found that grain pneumatic separators have a simple design and high productivity, which does not depend on the contamination and humidity of the source material. However, their use in the preliminary cleaning mode is limited due to the low effect of cleaning grain from coarse and fine impurities due to the lack of appropriate sieve working bodies. Universal air-sieve grain cleaning machines are used to separate grain into fractions by air flow. These are high-performance double-aspiration machines, the first aspiration of which separates light impurities from the processed material, and the second removes the forage fraction, which includes puny, crushed and biologically defective grain. The use of these machines in the pre-cleaning mode will reduce grain injury, since after separation of the forage fraction, a cleaner material is obtained at the outlet, requiring fewer operations for further cleaning. When developing new air systems for grain pre-cleaning machines operating on the pneumatic fractional technology, it is necessary to take into account the use in their design of: cross flow fans, since they are well combined with other elements and create a uniform air flow across the entire width, which has a positive effect on the efficiency of material separation; aspiration channels with a developed lower part and optimal parameters corresponding to their specific load, contribute to achieving maximum efficiency in separating light impurities and forage grain. The separation of the forage fraction from grain before cleaning on sieves reduces the load on the sifting and grading sieves and improves the quality of the cleaned material at the outlet.

In 2022–2024, a comprehensive analysis of 10 cultivars of spring soft wheat approved for production in the Kirov region was carried out, as a result of which their features were identified, recommendations were made for efficient production, as well as use in breeding for high yields and grain quality. The ‘Iren’cultivar (Russia) with an average growing season of 77 days was classified as early–ripening, ‘Bazhenka’, ‘Nagrada’(Russia), ‘Likamero’ (France) were classified as medium-early (81 days), ‘Kamenka’ (Russia, Belorussia), ‘Margarita’, ‘Priokskaya’, ‘Yoldyz’ (Russia) ‘Triso’ (Germany) were classified as medium-ripening (83-84 days), ‘Ulianovskaya 105’ (Russia) was classified as middle-late (88 days). The maximum average yield among medium-early cultivars was shown by the ‘Nagrada’ (2.65 t/ha), among medium-ripening cultivars – the ‘Margarita’ (2.77 t/ha). In terms of yield stability, the ‘Priokskaya’ cultivar stood out (CV = 19.6 %), ‘Iren’ (CV = 42.9 %) and ‘Yoldyz’ (CV = 40.5 %) were characterized by a strong reaction to conditions. According to the intensity index, ‘Triso’ and ‘Licamero’ cultivars were distinguished (IIS = 0.32-0.33). The combination of yield, stability and intensity, according to the sum of the ranks, showed the cultivars ‘Nagrada’, ‘Ulianovskaya 105’ and ‘Priokskaya’. Grains with high technological quality (nature, protein content, gluten content and quality, number of drops) were formed by ‘Iren’ and ‘Triso’. Cultivars ‘Priokskaya’, ‘Margarita’ and ‘Likamero’ were distinguished by their propensity to germinate on the root and high amylase activity of the grain. On infectious backgrounds, the ‘Nagrada’ cultivar was characterized by resistance to dusty smut, ‘Bazhenka’ to hard smut, and ‘Trizo’ to leaf and ear septoria. Minimal damage to the ear fusarium was noted in the ‘Iren’ cultivar. On a natural background, ‘Iren’, ‘Bazhenka’ and ‘Yoldyz’ showed the best resistance to root rot.

Garden strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) is one of the most common cultivated berry crops. Fungal diseases cause enormous damage to industrial plantings. The main task of modern breeding is to create strawberry cultivars with genetic determinants of resistance to various pathogens. The aim of the research was to identify the resistance loci of Russian and foreign strawberry cultivars to anthracnose (Rca2) and powdery mildew (08 To-f) using DNA markers. The objects of the study were 32 strawberry cultivars from the Udmurt Federal Research Center of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences collection, including 21 samples of Russian strawberry cultivars and 11 of foreign breeding. The dominant diagnostic DNA markers STS-Rca2_240 and IB535110 were used to identify the resistance genes of the strawberry. PCR monitoring was performed using the EMFv020 marker. As a result of molecular genetic screening, the anthracnose resistance gene Rca2 was detected in one Russian strawberry cultivar (‘Krasnaya pchelka’, Russia) and in one foreign cultivar (‘Malling Pandora’, Great Britain). QTL 08 To-f was detected in four cultivars of the collection: one Russian strawberry cultivar (‘Duet’) and three foreign cultivars (‘Malwina’, Germany; ‘Marmion’, Scotland; ‘Malling Pandora’). In total, among the analyzed strawberry genotypes, marker STS-Rca2_240 was detected in 6.3 % of the studied forms, and the marker IB535110 in 12.5 %. The complex source of Rca2 and QTL 08 To-f resistance alleles was only the ‘Malling Pandora’ cultivar. The identified promising genetic sources will be used in the breeding program for producing of fungal pathogens resistant garden strawberry cultivars.

The aim of the research was to study the main phenological phases passing by bird cherry tree samples, to evaluate them according to the complex of economically valuable traits and distinguish the best ones for non-professional horticulture in Kirov region. The objects for the study were 10 cultivars bred by the Central Siberian Botanical Garden of the Siberian Brunch of the Russian Academy of the RAS and 1 chokecherry form planted in 2016. On average during the years of the research, the vegetation period was 158 days that almost the same as the duration of vegetation period in Kirov (173 days). This indicated the maximum use of thermal resources of the region by the crop. On average for the years of evaluation, the sum of positive temperatures necessary for the beginning of vegetation was 84.2 ºС; for the beginning of phenological phase “floral initiation” – 232.2 ºС; for the beginning of phase “beginning of ripening” – 1170.0 ºС. On average for the period of study, the ‘Samoplodnaya’ cultivar was distinguished for productivity (4.70 kg/tree), that certainly exceeded an average result in collection. By the stability of fruiting there have been distinguished the ‘Sakhalinskaya Ustoychivaya’ (fruiting stability = 0.46) and ‘Avgustina’ (fruiting stability = 0.58) with average fruiting stability (0.40–0.75 according to Kashin). The analysis of large-fruitiness showed that 9 cultivar samples were referred to the group with an average size of a fruit (0.6–0.8 g) over the period of study. The studied forms showed stone content in a fruit on average from 13.7 % (‘Samoplodnaya’) to 28.4 % (‘Plotnokistnaya’) over the years of the research. By a combination of raceme length and amount of fruits in it (on average over the years of study) the ‘Samoplodnaya’ (13.4cm and 9.6 pieces) and ‘Mavra’ (13.7cm and 10.2 pieces) cultivars were distinguished. Among the studied samples 4 cultivars (36.4 %) with high fruit palatability (4.5–5,0 points) were distinguished: ‘Plotnokistnaya’ (4.7 points), ‘Mavra’ (4.7 points), ‘Pamyati Salamatova’ (4.7 points) and ‘Avgustina’ (4.5 points). The cultivars ‘Samoplodnaya’, ‘Plotnokistnaya’, ‘Pamyati Salamatova’, ‘Avgustina’ and ‘Mavra’ were distinguished by the complex of economically valuable traits and recommended for non-professional horticulture in Kirov region.

Snow mold is an economically important and progressive disease of winter rye caused by several species of low temperature fungi (ascomycetes and basidiomycetes) and fungal-like organisms (oomycetes), with yield losses of up to 30–50 %. The aim of this work is to improve methods for field evaluation of winter rye resistance to snow mold, both under artificial infestation and natural conditions. The research was carried out in 2019–2024 in the Republic of Tatarstan. Since 2021, the most aggressive strains of pink (Microdochium nivale), grey (Typhula incarnata) and speckled (T. ishikariensis) snow mold pathogens collected in the Volga Federal District have been used for artificial infection. The experiment involved 60 winter rye samples, including cultivars bred by Tatar Research Institute of Agriculture, FRC Kazan Scientific Center of RAS. For a more accurate assessment of the degree of damage and identification of resistant genotypes, a detailed 9-point scale was developed, with 1 − no damage and 9 − complete damage. Under natural conditions, the average damage point ranged from 2.41 to 5.15, while under artificial infestation it was significantly higher, from 4.48 to 8.40. Most winter rye cultivars showed a moderate to moderately susceptible type of reaction on a natural background in four out of 5 years of observation. The frequency of susceptible samples on the artificial infection background reached 96 % in 2024. The use of artificial infection backgrounds allows snow mold damage to be assessed independently of weather conditions and speeds up the breeding process, providing an objective assessment of genotype resistance. As a result of research, the methodology for establishing autonomous infection backgrounds has been optimized. It involves the selection of a site with a long snowmelt period and flat relief, the use of inoculum containing virulent strains of pathogens characteristic of the region and a special method of introducing the pathogen.

Based on the results obtained in this study, the taxonomic status of 11 fungal strains belonging to the Fusarium oxysporum species complex isolated from potato tubers with symptoms of Fusarium dry rot collected in three federal districts of the Russian Federation was clarified. The pathogenicity of strains to tubers of three potato cultivars and their sensitivity to fungicides recommended for the protection of this crop were characterized. The phylogenetic analysis of fragments of translation elongation factor (tef) and large subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2) genes allowed to identify the analyzed Fusarium strains as representatives of two species – F. oxysporum s. str. (4) and F. nirenbergiae (7). The F. nirenbergiae strains turned out more aggressive to tubers of potato cultivars ‘Gala’, ‘Impala’ and ‘Red Scarlett’ and caused on average 1.3–1.9 times more extensive damage of plant tissue (19.0–41.6 mm) compared to F. oxysporum strains (3.2–34.6 mm), which demonstrated high intraspecific variability in pathogenicity. Characterization of strain’ sensitivity to four fungicides containing active substances from different chemical classes revealed both interspecific and intraspecific differences of fungi. The strains of both species were the most sensitive to the benomyl-containing fungicide, which effectively inhibited fungal growth (EC₅₀ = 0.0003 % on average for each species). The lowest sensitivity of the strains, especially F. oxysporum, was found in relation to the fludioxonil-containing fungicide (EC₅₀ > 1 %).

The purpose of the research was to analyze the biotic resistance and stability of immunological parameters of 18 new cultivars and lines of filmy and naked oats created from 2005 to the present bred by the Federal Agricultural Research Center of the Nort-East named N.V. Rudnitsky. Field studies were carried out in 2020–2024 at the phytopathological site under artificial inoculation with pathogens of dusty smut, root rot and red-brown leaf spot and against the natural background of the development of crown rust. Тhe repetition in the experiments was two-fold. The area of plots was 1 m² . The modeling of infectious backgrounds and the accounting of diseases were carried out according to well-known methods. The hydrothermal conditions of oat vegetation in the most important periods of plant ontogenesis ranged from acutely arid (НTC = 0.64–1.00) to excessively moist (1.50–7.36). In comparison with the ‘Krechet’ cultivar (2005 year of zoning), the degree of root rot damage in individual lines decreased from 14.7 to 7.0 %, red-brown leaf spot – from 14.5 to 11.0 %, crown rust – from 24.5 to 6.5 %, dusty smut – from 19.8 % to immunity. In conditions of extreme instability of climatic factors during the growing season, five lines (91h18, 41h18, 50h18, 3h19, 42h12o) undergoing competitive testing and two cultivars (‘Percheron’ and ‘Nizhegorodets’) were characterized by a high enough resistance to 3-4 fungal diseases. Comprehensively and steadily resistant lines (b_i<1-2) were identified among them: 91h18, 41h18, 50h18, 3h19, 42h12o, of which 91h18, 3h19, and 42h12o were also characterized by a weak response to extreme vegetation conditions (at S_i²= 0.0–4.7). The identified genotypes can be used in oat breeding as sources of long-term nonspecific resistance to specific fungal diseases.

Interest in chitinolytically active microorganisms is related to the possibility of their participation in protecting plants from fungal infections, since chitin is a structural component of fungal cell walls. Among the bacteria, the most active chitinolytics include representatives of the genus Streptomyces. The use of streptomyces in the fight against harmful phytopathogens of agricultural crops is due to the ability to synthesize a wide range of biologically active compounds, as well as environmental safety, since streptomyces are a natural component of any agrocenosis. The paper studied the distribution of streptomyces chitinolytics among natural isolates from the soils of the Vyatka-Kama Urals. Chitinolytically active cultures were screened using functional (phenotypic) and genetic predictors. The assessment of functional activity showed that the proportion of chitin-actively decomposing strains with an enzymatic index of EI≥2 was about 40 % in the studied soils. Strains of S. griseoaurantiacus and S. thermocarboxydus species decomposed chitin most actively. The genetic determinants of chitinolysis – the genes of chitinase A, chitinase C, and chitin-binding proteins – were determined in the genomes of natural isolates using PCR using specially developed specific primers. It has been established that individual genetic determinants of chitinolysis (chiA, chiC, chb) are much more widespread in streptomyces than chitinolysis detected in functional tests. This is due to the inducible nature of the chitinase enzyme and the dependence of its activity on exogenous factors. Chitinolysis of local isolates was compared with the activity of strains isolated from the soil of the arid zone. On the 7th day of growth of local isolates in the immersed culture, chitinase activity varied from 15.83±12.01 to 50.63±38.81 U/ml, whereas in the strain isolated from arid soil, the enzyme activity in the same period was 76.46±42.12 U/ml. Evaluation of the antifungal effect of streptomyces chitinolytics against pathogens of alternariasis, helminthosporiosis and fusarium root rot of grain crops revealed local strains promising for use in agrobiotechnology.

The State Register of Breeding Achievements of Russia has added dozens of new potato cultivars over the period of 2015-2025. However, there is little information in the literature about their comparable quantitative and qualitative suitability for processing into chips. Especially when grown in the similar conditions. The aim of the study was to identify new domestic potato cultivars that are distinguished by high yield, marketability, yield of healthy tubers and suitability for processing into chips; identify factors influencing the quantitative and qualitative indicators of raw materials. The research was carried out in the Moscow Region in 2022–2024. Potatoes were grown on sod-podzolic sandy loam soil that was moderately rich in nutrients. In a two-factor experiment, the commercial yield of potatoes was studied taking into account the output of healthy tubers and the quality of chips. Factors: A – potato cultivar (58 pcs.); B – amount of precipitation in the 2nd half of the growing season (3 gradations – 57.5 mm in 2022, 83.4 mm in 2024, 135.2 mm in 2023). Potatoes were planted in the first decade of May, harvested in the first decade of September, planting density was 45 thousand tubers/ha, row spacing – 75 cm. Frying of potato slices 1.2 mm thick was carried out at a temperature of 170–180 ºС. It was found that the quantitative yield of raw material suitable for processing into chips was determined mainly by the amount of precipitation in the 2nd half of the growing season (the influence of the factor according to the results of the dispersion analysis was 56.3 %), and the quality of raw material was determined by the cultivar (59.1 %). From the 58 studied, 13 potato cultivars were chosen and recommended for production, because they combined high yields (28.8–37.7 t/ha), marketability (52.0–79.7 %), yield of healthy tubers (95.5–99.6 %), starch content (14.3–19.3 %), index of reducing sugars (2.0–3.2) and thus characterized by high suitability for processing into chips (6.0–8.3 points): ‘Aleksandrit’, ‘Arijel', ‘Shakh’, ‘Orlan’, ‘Rozovyj Charodej’, ‘Nika’, ‘Evpatij’, ‘Cavaler’, ‘Kashtak’, ‘Pechorskij’, ‘Princessa Natavan’, ‘Spyridon’, ‘Chajka’.