Modern poultry breeding in Russia is one of the fastest growing sectors of agriculture, but the prosperity of the industry is almost entirely dependent on supplies of breeding material from abroad. Russia practically has no its own breeding base in both egg- and meat-type commercial crosses of chickens. Most of the domestic commercial crosses that had occupied leading positions in Russian poultry breeding have been lost now. More than 90 % of commercial lines of breeding stocks in Russia are imported. Foreign poultry breeding companies merge into transnational holdings engaged in multi-species breeding of farm animals, which allows them not to depend on market conditions in the industry. The reverse side of such a consolidation on a global scale is a decrease in the genetic diversity of poultry and a high level of inbreeding in commercial chicken lines. In these circumstances, there is a real biological danger for the preservation of these lines due to the potential susceptibility of “monocultures” to new diseases, which can eliminate the genetically homogeneous population. Any selection system is based on an assessment of the breeding value of potential parents. Its purpose is to obtain, as far as possible, the most accurate forecast of the genetic value of an individual and the productive qualities of its progeny. These requirements are optimally met by the BLUP methodology, in which molecular genetics (SNP) data can be successfully integrated, which allows supplementing the statistical analysis with genomic selection technologies. This is especially true for traits that cannot be measured, or can only be measured in one sex, or only at the end of the productive period. The inclusion of genomic selection methods in breeding programs makes it possible significantly increase the selection efficiency for the main economical traits of chickens. The main task in the Russian breeding poultry industry is the creation of its own competitive breeding base, not inferior to Western commercial crosses in terms of productivity. To create poultry breeding centers and grandparents/parents-breeding farms the state support is needed. It is also necessary to develop and implement innovative methods in the field of genomic selection, as well as software and information systems and specialized selection computer programs for processing and analyzing meta-data.

The review deals with the problems of extrusion of feed and food including biomass of insects. Inclusion of insects into the composition of feed and food increases their nutritional value through enrichment with protein and fat. Extrusion of the flour from ground and dried insects blended with vegetable raw material, generally presented by grinded grain, is most commonly used. However, the blend of crude larvae of insects and grinded vegetable raw materials can be also successfully extruded. Specific regularities of processes of insect biomass and vegetable raw material extrusion have been developed. It has been established, that with increase in insect content in the extrudate, its color becomes darker, the surface less smooth, the structure more layered. The hardness declines, the value of water absorption index decreases, the value of water solubility index and its moisture content increase. Variation in the rate of raw material feed into the extruder allows to change the properties of a finished extrudate. As the value of raw materials feed increases, the water absorption index of the extrudate and its moisture content decrease, but the water solubility index increases. Rational parameters of the extrusion process general for all blends of vegetable raw materials and insect biomass as well as the nature of their influence on properties of finished extrudate have not been determined yet. The problem of extrusion raw materials for the production of feed and food containing biomass of insects is promising but requires carrying out supplementary studies.

A well-studied source material is required for breeding problems to be successfully solved. Evaluation of samples in varying climatic conditions enables to identify highly productive sources. The results of assessment of 56 naked oat varieties of different ecological-geographical origin by duration of the growing season are presented. The studies were carried out in 2017 - 2019 on the sod-podzolic middle-clay soils of the Kirov region. Considerable differences between variety samples according to periods of ripening have been revealed. Classification of naked oat samples by duration of growing season for Volga-Vyatka region is proposed. The most numerous were the groups of middle season and middle-late samples – 41.1 and 35.7 %, respectively, late samples – 17.8 %. The set of early variety samples was very limited (5.4 %). The productivity of naked oat samples varied by years, variation level changed from insignificant to very high (V = 7.91...91.76 %). In the group of early varieties, coefficients of variation were 21.47...34.58 % with productivity of 165...330 g/m2. The evaluation of middle season samples showed mainly high and very high levels of variation in productivity. The exception was made by samples of Belarus k-3899 BYAS-154 (7.91 %) and 15094 MF9521-247 (16.83 %) from the USA with productivity of 139...161 and 182...244 g/m2, respectively. In middle-late and late variety samples, the coefficients of variation within the group were 21.44...68.36 %, and 26.25...68.75 %, respectively. Middle season samples with sustainable productivity are recommended for use in breeding practice, they are k-3897 BYAS-156, k-3898 BYAS-155 (Belarus), 15155 MF9016-31 (USA).

Eight original forms and 16 hybrid populations of F2 spring wheat of the 2019 yield were studied to determine the level of drought resistance by sprouting seeds in a sucrose solution during 5 days. The effect of artificially created drought on seedlings was very significant: the overall decrease in seed germination in parents and hybrids was 16.0 and 16.7 %, respectively, the number of seminal roots – 19.3 and 17.4 %, the weight of the seedling – 67.1 and 70.2 %. Under stressful conditions, the root-shoot ratio (RSR index) increased on average from 0.92 to 1.42 in varieties and from 0.86 to 1.68 in hybrids. High varietal specificity of both absolute values of traits in the control and the experiment, as well as the response to stress, was noted. By the number of seminal roots in the control, the NOS Norko variety (Germany) had the advantage, and by the weight of the seedling – Karabalykskaya 91 (Kazakhstan). Significantly high values of the RSR index in the control and the experiment were observed in the Jahuara F-77 variety (Mexico). The Kitt variety (USA) was characterized by lack of response to drought of seed germination. The Jahuara F-77 (Mexico) and Klein Vencedor (Argentina) varieties were characterized by lack of response to drought by the number of seminal roots. Based on the analysis of the general and specific combinational ability of parent varieties, 8 promising hybrid combinations were identified. A high heterosis effect, expressed by an increase in the average value of the trait in hybrids relative to parents, was observed in most hybrid combinations by the parameter "seedling mass", in the combination of Erythrospermum 2945 x NOS Norko - by the number of seminal roots. The influence of maternal and paternal components as well, as their interaction, on the germination of F2 hybrids seeds was insignificant (the inheritance coefficient h02 = 0.04...0.22). The contribution of parent varieties to other parameters in the control was significantly high (Ffact > F05), except for the influence of paternal forms on the weight of the seedling. The values of the general heritability coefficients of the number of roots and RSR under normal conditions (h02 = 0.80...0.82) indicate that selection by these parameters can be highly effective. In artificially created drought, the most efficient will be the selection by the "dry weight of seedling" parameter, since the contribution of maternal components in the number of seminal roots and paternal components to the RSR index is insignificant.

In the period from 2012 to 2015 on Kalym winter wheat variety plants there were carried out field tests of the liquid culture of B. subtilis BZR 336g and BZR 517 strains isolated from natural sources that exhibit antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi Fusarium graminearum, F. culmorum, Microdochium nivale and Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, and are also able to have a positive effect on the growth and development of plants. Pre-sowing seed treatment and two preventive treatments during the growing season of the plants were carried out with the liquid culture of the strains. Comparison variants - treatment with water (control), with chemical (Raxil, KS; Alto Super, KS) and with biological (Fitosporin-M, L) standards. Biological efficacy against the complex of fusarium root rots was noted in the shooting stage of winter wheat and during ripening, and in some years reached 22.8 % for B. subtilis BZR 336g strain and 17.2 % for B. subtilis BZR 517 strain. In variants with presowing seed treatment and treatment of vegetative winter wheat plants with B. subtilis BZR 336g strain for three years of field trials the yield was from 5.0 to 7.4 t / ha, and when treated with B. subtilis BZR 517 strain - from 4.2 to 7.6 t / ha. The maximum additional yield was obtained in 2013 - a reliable yield increase was 1.6 t / ha for B. subtilis BZR 336g strain and 0.8 t / ha for B. subtilis BZR 517 strain. The ability of liquid cultures of the studied strains to protect winter wheat against harmful diseases at the same level and above the biological and chemical standards will help to expand the range of microbial biological products in the segment of the Russian market of environmentally friendly plant protection products.

Sorghum is one of the most important grain crops in the world. Sorghum grain is characterized by a low percentage of essential amino acids in protein, primarily lysine, which significantly reduces its feed value. There are two known mutant genes with a large lysine percentage, namely the spontaneous mutant hl gene, which was originally identified in Ethiopian lines, and the P721 gene, which is induced by ethylmethanesulfonate. The purpose of the current study was to identify the patterns of inheritance of the lysine percentage in grain sorghum hybrids of the second generation which were obtained by hybridization according to two 4x4 diallelic schemes (I - SPZS-11, Sb-126/4, 144 f/8, Zernogradskoe 204; II - ZSK-4, Belozernoe 100, Otbor 100, 34045). The hybridological analysis has established that in lysine percentage in sorghum protein there are genetic differences of 1-3 genes between the parental samples included in the hybridization. The greatest differences (3 genes) were identified between sorghum grain samples 34045 and 144 f/8. In most hybrid combinations there have been identified monogenic and digenic differences between the samples involved in hybridization. The estimation of dominance degree has identified the value of the gene manifestation, that controls lysine percentage in sorghum protein. There has been determined the dominance of both large and small values of the trait. The frequency distribution curves of the studied hybrids were within the variability of the parental forms, however, there were positive transgressions in some combinations. In the combinations Sb-126/4 × SPZS-11, Zernogradskoe 204 × SPZS-11 there have been identified the forms with a large lysine percentage in grain (more than 3.5%) for further breeding process.

In the conditions of the Komi Republic in 2017-2019 a comprehensive assessment of the new medium early table variety of potato Vychegodsky was carried out. Two zoned and one recommended for the I Northern region of the Russian Federation potato varieties were used as standard. They had different periods of ripening and various parameters of responsiveness to environmental conditions (linear regression coefficient of the yield of varieties bi). The varieties were Udacha (recommended) - early, poorly responsive (bi = 0.5), Nevsky (zoned) – medium early, with close to linear dependence (bi = 1.0) and the variety of local selection Zyryanets (zoned) - medium early, with the highest response coefficient (bi = 1.7). In 2017, the significant excess by 7.0 t/ha of the yield of tubers of the Vychegodsky variety over the Nevsky standard was determined. On average for three years of research the productivity of the new variety was 27.2 t/ha (1.7-2.0 t/ha higher than the controls). The yield of Vychegodsky variety was formed mainly during the last 20 days of vegetation, and the average weight of a tuber had increased by 134% during that period. On the whole, Vychegodsky variety formed 10-12 tubers weighing 40-60 g. The plasticity of the variety is moderate (bi = 1.2), which is optimal for a risk farming zone. The dry matter content is 24.1%, starch is 15.7%, and vitamin C is 11.2 mg%. Vychegodsky variety has demonstrated high resistance to major diseases affecting the tops and tubers during the summer vegetation period (late blight, altarnariosis, rhizoctoniosis, common scab). A molecular genetic expert study of DNA for the presence of 10 major resistance marker genes has been conducted. Genes responsible for the resistance of the Vychegodsky variety to potato cancer and golden potato nematode have been revealed.

In order to expand the range of bakery products for healthy nutrition, documentation on mixed rye-wheat bread «Znatny» with increased biological and nutritional value was developed in 2019. The content of nutrients, the degree of satisfying human need in deficient substances, and product energy value were calculated on the basis of information provided by reference books. Adding the extract of flax and other oil-bearing seeds into the dough while mixing resulted in improvement of rheological properties of the dough and organoleptic parame ters of the bread. Functional characteristics of mixed ryewheat bread “ Znatny” are evaluated according to the content of medium rye flour, light wheat flour, sunflower oil, flax seeds, sesame seeds, and sunseed kernels that enrich the product with a lot of macro- and micronutrients necessary for human body, such as food fibers, mineral substances, vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Due to oil-bearing seeds and sunflower oil on the list of the ingredients mixed rye-wheat bread “Znatny” is characterized by a higher content of PUFA (2.6g), which are necessary, first of all, for proper functioning of the human body. Mixed rye-wheat bread “ Znatny” exceeds the production analog mixed rye-wheat bread “ Zdorovje” in the content of vitamins E, B1 and B2 by 31.8, 13.8 и 11.1 %, respectively; in the content of food fibers (7,0 г/100 г) by 4.5%. The content of mineral substances (К, Са, Мg, Fе) in mixed rye-wheat bread “ Znatny” compared to the production analog is higher by 3.9, 63.4, 22.6, 4.0 %, respectively. In 100 g of mixed rye-wheat bread "Znatny" there are 23.6 % of average daily physiological human need in polyunsaturated fatty acids, 23.3% of food fibers, 16.2% of magnesium, 18.9% of Iron, 29% of Vitamin E, 22% of Vitamin B1

The research was carried out in 1991-1994 and in 2012-2019 in the conditions of the Tver region. The effectiveness of two variants of ridge band-broadcast method of sowing grain crops was studied. The soils of the experimental plot were soddy-podzolic, well cultivated, light loamy and loamy sand gleyic drained by closed drainage. It has been established, that in the conditions of the northwestern part of the Non-chernozem zone on drained lands, grain crops (winter rye, winter triticale, barley, oats, spelt) should be grown on ridges 40-80 mm high using an improved ridge band-broadcast method of sowing that ensures smoothing of the soil surface, creation of a compacted bed and good contact of seeds with the soil by pressing them. By ridge band-broadcast method of grain crop sowing, an average 10.3 % increase in field germination of seeds was noted for all crops, plant survival – by 5.8 %, viability of winter rye plants during wintering – by 12.5-19.0 %, enhancing photosynthetic activity of plants, improving the structure and increasing the yield – by 0.21-1.19 t / ha. The yield increase was obtained both due to an increase in the number of productive stems by 17.8 % (on average in crops), and due to a higher grain mass in the ear (panicle) – by 10.0 %. The most significant increase in the number of productive stems during ridge sowing was observed in spelt and winter triticale (by 26.0-83.1 %), in the number of grains – in oats and winter rye (by 4.7-17.9 %), in the weight of 1000 grains – in barley, in grain mass in an ear (panicle) – in oats (17.0-24.0 %) and winter rye (8.0-10.1 %). The advantage of the ridge band-broadcast method of sowing is due to optimizing the area of plant nutrition and improving the agrophysical conditions in the seed layer of the soil.

The article presents the results of study to determine the component composition of rape-based biodiesel. Modeling of the optimal component composition taking into account low-temperature properties and cetane number was carried out. According to the studies, mathematical models of changes in the low-temperature properties of biodiesel fuel depending on the percentage of rapeseed oil were obtained, the optimal ratio of its components was determined and justified. The tests were conducted in 2012-2019. The studied temperature limits correspond to the extreme temperature values of the central and southern regions of the Russian Federation. The second important task was to determine the optimal ratio of diesel fuel and rapeseed oil while meeting the requirements of GOST R52368-05 for the cetane number of biodiesel fuel. Studies of the optimal percentage ratio of rapeseed oil and diesel fuel per cetane number showed that biodiesel, which contains rapeseed oil in a concentration of up to 30 %, meets the requirements of GOST R52368-05 (EN 590:2009). Certified equipment was used in the studies, and the methodology met the requirements of the state standard for their implementation. To solve the problem of determining the optimal ratio of biodiesel components, a methodology for assessing temperature and cetane number properties, as well as foreign scientific literature was analyzed in the field of research data. According to the results of the research, hypotheses were put forward that the lowtemperature properties and cetane number of biodiesel fuel change with an increase in the proportion of rapeseed oil in it, as well as the possibility of mathematical modeling of its optimal component composition corresponding to environmental temperature conditions during operation of the equipment. The reliability of the approximation of the obtained dependences was 0.83...0.91 when studying the low-temperature properties of biodiesel samples within the specified temperatures from -40 to 0 °C.

Increasing the efficiency of direct strip sowing of grass seeds by means of seeders with active furrow openers is possible when seed and fertilizer working bodies are removed from the zone of operation of disk milling cutters. A structural and technological scheme of the coulter group of the sod seeder for strip sowing is proposed, which consists of a milling furrow opener, fertilizer and seed coulters mounted on leashes in the form of torsion spring trailers, and a rolling roller. To ensure high quality multilevel sowing of grass seeds and granules of mineral fertilizers, it is necessary at the design stage to determine the length of the fertilizer coulter sides, which prevent premature shedding of soil from the furrow walls until the mineral fertilizer granules reach the bottom of the furrow, and the minimum allowable distance between the fertilizer and seed coulters, which allows to cover the granules of mineral fertilizers with soil completely while maintaining the compact design of the coulter group. In the course of theoretical research, mathematical dependences were obtained to determine the rational parameters and operating modes of the coulter group of the proposed design, which will ensure a minimum spread of mineral fertilizer granules over the depth of incorporation and a high stability of the soil layer thickness between mineral fertilizer granules and grass seeds. Rational parameters of the coulter group of the proposed design are determined for the range of operating speeds of the sod seeder for strip sowing: angle at the apex of the shank fertilizer coulter in the horizontal plane is 15-20º, the length of the fertilizer coulter sides is 0.040-0.045 m, the width of the fertilizer coulter bell is 0.02 m, minimum permissible distance between the fertilizer and seed coulters is 0.14-0.16 м.