Wild Solanum species have often been used as sources of important agricultural traits, including resistance to various diseases, pests, and abiotic factors. However, their large-scale use in potato breeding is limited by complex barriers of sexual incompatibility with Solanum tuberosum. Fusion of protoplasts enzymatically isolated from somatic cells is one of the approaches to overcoming sexual incompatibility. The diverse nuclear and cytoplasmic traits exhibited by potato somatic hybrids provide new genetic material for breeding programs, which is confirmed by the creation of a large number of somatic hybrids of cultivated potatoes with wild Solanum species. The research in development of somatic potato hybrids by means of protoplast fusion has been carried out for more than 40 years already. In this review, the prospects for the use of this technology in modern potato breeding are considered. Genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic studies provide further insight into the fundamental processes underlying the somatic hybrids formation, such as cell wall formation, chromosomal rearrangements in fusion products, regeneration, and also make a significant contribution to understanding the processes of genome stabilization. Improvement in the methods of molecular screening of both genome and cytoplasm also contributes to the expansion of the field of application of somatic hybrids in breeding. Finally, it has been shown that somatic hybridization promotes the introgression of important agricultural traits, primarily resistance to pathogens.

The World Health Organization (WHO) considers brucellosis to be one of the most dangerous and spread zoonosis in the world. The aim of the review is to summarize the current scientific data on the brucellosis in animals, to analyze the epizootic situation in the Russian Federation, Arctic Zone included, and to define the key factors of animal protection against the infection. The epizootic situation for brucellosis in farm animals, which are carriers of the three main pathogens of  brucellosis, is an urgent epidemiological problem. Their widespread occurrence is the factor determining the world-wide distribution of pathogens in most countries that indicates for the importance of control the brucellosis on an international scale. In Russia, a high epizootic risk of the spread of the disease is observed in the regions of the Volga, Southern and North Caucasian Federal Districts, in southern Siberia and Far East as well as in the Arctic. Brucellosis has the same epizootic and epidemiological significance in the Arctic regions considering the national food preferences of the peoples of the Far North. In the Russian Arctic, epizootic foci of brucellosis in cattle and reindeer have been identified and evidence of the epidemiological significance and ecological association of B. suis with the reindeer population has been presented. Specific prophylaxis of brucellosis is based on the use of vaccines. However, the problem of reindeer vaccination has not been finally resolved.

Determining the regularities of the process of pelleting vegetable raw materials is relevant for the improvement of technologies and technical equipment in order to reduce energy intensity and improve the quality of pellets. The generalization of the results of the research aimed at studying the influence of various parameters on the process of pelleting vegetable raw materials and the quality of feed and biofuel pellets is the purpose of the research. A selection and systematic review of the scientific literature on the subject of the study for the period of 2007-2022 has been carried out. The analysis has proved that heat pre-treatment and moistening of vegetable raw materials, as well as their composition and particle size are the factors that have the greatest impact on the quality of feed and biofuel pellets. Increasing the pressure in the range of 20...200 MPa results in increasing the pellets durability. A die temperature of around 100°C is optimum for obtaining dense pellets of highquality from vegetable raw materials. The design parameters of the pelletizer play an important role in obtaining high-quality pellets when processing vegetable raw materials. The design of the inlet in the form of a tapering cone helps to reduce energy consumption and pelleting pressure. An increase in the ratio of the die channel length to its diameter exponentially increases the pelleting pressure and its energy intensity. The interplay between the physical processes occurring in the pelletizer makes it difficult to interpret the impact of each parameter on the pelleting process, so different authors have different assessments of the contribution of individual factors in producing high-quality pellets. Therefore, the interaction between the individual pelleting parameters and their influence on the results of the process should be examined more precisely. 

The research is aimed at studying economically valuable traits and genetic control of resistance to leaf-stem diseases, photoperiodic reaction and short stemming of soft spring wheat variety Semenovna, created by scientists of the Omsk Agrarian Scientific Center (Russia) and the North Kazakhstan Agricultural Experimental Station (Kazakhstan). Using methods of state variety testing, molecular genetics and in vitro methods, morphological features of a new variety, features of its development have been described, the yield level at different ecological test points for three years (2015-2017) has been analyzed. The studies conducted at two ecological points made it possible to select a medium-sized promising line of soft spring wheat (Lutescens 354/04-6), which was transferred to the State Registration Service of the Republic of Kazakhstan and after two years of testing was included into the State Register of the Republic of Kazakhstan under the name Semenovna (patent No. 1023). In terms of grain quality, it was at the level of valuable wheat, exceeded the standard in protein content by 1-2 % and raw gluten by 3-4 %. The new medium-ripe Semenovna variety combines increased yield (2.73-4.40 t/ha) with resistance to drought (resistance index I_r = 0.57), brown and stem rust (IU = 0.00-0.23). The genotype of the variety contains wheat-rye translocation 1RS.1BL (with a cluster of Lr26/Sr31/Pm8/Yr9 genes). The medium-stem variety carries the Rht8b allele in its genotype (174 bp)  and is photosensitive to the length of the day (allele 414 bp). The parameters of ecological plasticity of the new variety are determined: linear regression coefficient (b_i = 1.08), stability index (σ_d² = 0.27).

The article gives a comprehensive assessment of 5 varieties (Lada, Agata, RIMA, Arcea, Maestro) and 5 breeding lines of spring soft wheat according to the yield and adaptive properties. The studies were carried out in 2018-2022 in the conditions of the Ryazan region on dark gray forest soil. The potential for productivity and adaptability was determined according to the method of L. A. Zhivotkov et al., the degree of yield variation (СV, %) – according to B. A. Dospekhov,  the yield range (d, %) – according to V. A. Zykin, index of stability (L') – according to A. A. Gryaznov, the indicator of the level of stability of the yield of a variety (PUSS) – according to E. D. Nettevich et al., ecological plasticity (b_i), stability of yield (σ²_d) and index of environment conditions (I_j) – according to S. A. Eberhart and W. A. Russell. It has been established that on average for 2018-2022 the highest yield potential was noted in the varieties Arcea (5.19 t/ha), Maestro (5.69 t/ha) and line  268 (5.33 t/ha). It was revealed that the productivity of the Maestro variety and line 268 was higher than the average varietal both under favorable conditions of 2022 (I_j = +6.2) – by 16.3 and 9.7 %, and under unfavorable dry conditions of 2019  (I_j = -5.4) – by 22.0 and 24.5 %, respectively. The productivity of the Arcea variety under conditions of severe drought was 99.1 % of the average varietal, which indicates good adaptive properties. As the result of the assessment by the linear regression coefficient (b_i), it has been established that the varieties RIMA, Agata, Lada, Arcea actively respond to the improvement of external environmental factors (b_i = 1.23; 1.35; 1.43; 1.52, respectively). According to the results of a comprehensive assessment of adaptive properties, the Maestro variety and line 898 were distinguished, which were characterized by a relatively stable yield (СV – 9.3 and 5.2%; σ²_d  – 7.71 and 9.09; L' – 6.12 and 9.44; PUSS – 209.6 and 176.5 %, respectively) and high adaptability to environmental conditions (CA – 1.17 and 1.01, respectively). 

The influence of manganese ions (30, 60 and 90 mg/l) on the functioning of the photosystem II (PSII) in leaves was assessed on plants of six spring barley cultivars (Belgorodsky 100, st.). The plants were grown on a complete Knop medium without (control) and with the addition of manganese ions (experiment) under natural light conditions. On 14-day-old leaves, parameters of chlorophyll's rapid fluorescence were recorded using a Fluor Pen FP 110/S fluorometer. The sensitivity of the different structural parts of PSII was found to vary depending on the concentration of Mn ions and the genotype used. Thus, absorbed energy flows increased in the cv. Boyarin at 30 and 60 mg/l Mn (by 7.9 and 14.1 %), in cv. Farmer at 60 and 90 mg/l  (by 15.8 and 16.1 %), but decreased in cv. Dobryak at 30 and 90 mg/l (by 9.7 and 9.0 %), Farmer at 30 mg/l (by 15.8 %) and Bionic at 60 and 90 mg/l (by 8.0 and 6.8 %). The flow of energy stored in primary photochemical reactions in the cv. Bionic increased at 30 mg/l of manganese (by 6.3 %), but decreased at 60 (by 6.8 %) and 90 mg/l (by 5.3 %); increased in the cv. Boyarin at 30 mg/l of Mn (by 6.4 %), but decreased in the cv. Forward (by 11.7 %). Electronic transport leading to CO₂ fixation increased in cv. Farmer at all Mn concentrations (by 8.1...12.6 %), and in cv. Bionic it increased at 30 mg/l (by 7.2 %), but decreased at  90 mg/l (by 7.4 %). The electron flux leading to the oxidation of the finile acceptor of PSI in the studied cultivars did not change under the influence of the stressor. However, the integral parameters of PSII activity (PI_ABS and PI_{ABS_total} indices) under stressful conditions were determined by the plant genotype. This indicates, firstly, the need for targeted selection (to a specific level of the stress factor); secondly, on the possibility of pyramidation of the integral level of resistance to the stressor by selecting parents who differ in the level of change in individual functional reactions of photosynthesis.

Study of the effectiveness of the use of increasing doses of mineral fertilizers (N₁₆P₁₆K₁₆...N₁₂₀P₁₂₀K₁₂₀) was carried out in 2020-2022 in the conditions of the Ryazan region on dark gray forest heavy loamy soil of average fertility. The object of the research was a new variety of spring barley Raphael, included into the State Register of the Russian Federation for the Central (3) and Volga–Vyatka (4) Regions in 2022 (patent No. 12254). As the result of the research, there was revealed a positive trend for raising the yield of the Raphael variety resulted from the use of increasing doses of NPK (y = 0.1829x + 6.36,  R² = 0.8866). On average, over the years of the research, the minimum yield productivity (6.50 t/ha) was shown by the control variant (N₁₆P₁₆K₁₆), the variant with application of high doses (N₁₂₀P₁₂₀K₁₂₀) had the maximum productivity (7.40 t/ha).  The yield increase by 0.6...0.9 t/ha was provided by mineral fertilizers in doses of N₄₅P₄₅K₄₅...N₁₂₀P₁₂₀K₁₂₀. The yield of barley per year with sufficient moisture supply during the growing season (HTC = 1.39) was 4.6-5.1 % higher than in dry years (HTC = 0.63-0.53). Structural analysis of yield indicates that during the experiment, the yield of this variety has been influenced by the length of the ear (r = 0.689), the number of grains in the ear (r = 0.467), the weight of grain per the ear  (r = 0.715). Increasing doses of applied fertilizers led to an increase in the leaf surface area of plants and the height of the productive stems. The highest protein content in barley grain was observed in the variant with the use of N₁₂₀P₁₂₀K₁₂₀ (on average 14.1 %), the minimum – with the application of N₁₆P₁₆K₁₆ (on average 13.2 %). The calculation of economic efficiency showed that the highest conditional net income (69413 rubles/ha) and the level of profitability (187.1 %) with the yield of the new Raphael variety of 7.1 t/ha can be achieved by applying medium doses of fertilizers N₄₅P₄₅K₄₅.

The unique scientific installation of the collection of live plants in the open ground "Gene pool of fruit, berry and ornamental crops in the Middle Urals" at the Sverdlovsk Breeding Station of Horticulture has about 2 thousand varieties and 80 thousand hybrids of fruit and berry crops, of which 45 varieties are red currant. The article presents the results of study of 10 red currant varieties of the South-Ural Scientific Research Institute of Horticulture and Potatoes in the conditions of the Sverdlovsk Region (Middle Urals). The prevailing weather conditions during the research period (2019-2022) affected the timing of the passage of the phenological phases of red currant varieties. In 2019 the beginning of bud break was noted from the 20^th of April to the 25th of April, the beginning of flowering ‒ from the 5^th of May to the 20^th of May. In 2020-2021, the beginning of bud break was observed from April, 18th to April, 25^th; the beginning of flowering ‒ from May, 8^th to May, 13th. The beginning of ripening of berries in 2020 fell on the period from July, 14^th to July, 16^th; in 2021 ‒ from July, 6^th to July, 8^th. In 2022, the beginning of bud break was recorded from April, 26th to May, 1st, the beginning of flowering ‒ from May, 16th to May, 18th, the beginning of ripening ‒ from July, 16^th to July, 18th. The shift in the dates of the onset of the main phases of vegetation can reach 10 days from the average long-term values. Preliminary results of a collection study of varieties of Chelyabinsk breeding have been obtained. On average, over 3 years of fruiting, the highest productivity was noted on the varieties Jota and Ogni Urala ‒ 1.07 kg/bush. The highest mass of berries was noted in the varieties Kapitalina, Jota, Il'inka, Beta: average ‒ 0.6...0.7 g, maximum ‒ 1.0...2.0 g. The varieties Jota, Al'fa, Alaya zor'ka, Kapitalina, Luchezarnaya, Beta, Epsilon differed in dessert taste. The highest content of antioxidants in red currant berries was found in varieties Luchezarnaya, Il'inka, Epsilon ‒ 10.99…12.65 mmol/dm3 eq. 

In the conditions of the Udmurt Republic, field experiments (2017-2021) were carried out on the remediation of  agro-podzolic loamy soil (albeluvisoils) with a high level of chromium contamination (application of 500 mg a.i./kg of soil). Both chemical and physicochemical mechanisms have been used to reduce the degree of mobility of this heavy metal in soil. Ameliorants and fertilizers (limestone and phosphate rock, superphosphate, potassium humate, peat, zeolite) in various doses were studied as ameliorative additives. Various doses of ameliorants and fertilizers were studied as ameliorative additives: limestone and phospharite meal, superphosphate, potassium humate, peat and zeolite. As a result of the research, it was found that all ameliorative additives not only caused a sharp decrease in the mobility of chromium by 40-65 %, but also had a positive effect on the agrochemical parameters of the contaminated soil. The nature and parameters of this influence were determined by their chemical composition, the rate of application, and the period that passed after the application. Limestone flour statistically significantly reduced soil acidity in contaminated soil (by 1.21-3.03 pH_KCl units) and increased the total of absorbed bases by 1.7-6.5 times. Phospharite meal (by 2.1-9.1 times) and superphosphate (by 13-43 %) increased the mobile phosphorus content in the soil; peat increased the organic matter content (by 0.28-1.47 abs.%); zeolite increased the total exchangeable bases by 1.4-9.8 mmol/100g or by 12-239 %. The positive effect of these ameliorative additives, especially their increased doses, was traced during all five years of observation, what allows them to be recommended as promising ameliorants for restoring the fertility of soddy-podzolic soils contaminated with chromium.

In spite of well-known mechanisms of iron consumption by plants from the soil and action patterns of iron ions in the soils, the work to eliminate the deficiency of this trace element in plants is still relevant. The article presents an assessment of the effect of iron (III) chelate complexes with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPА Fe) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA Fe) on the mobility and availability of iron for plants in soil with a pH close to neutral.  In a model experiment with using of drainage columns, there were established the patterns of iron distribution in the soil and its removal with irrigation water from the root zone of plants (10 cm). Against the background of similar distribution of iron in the soil, a higher content of its mobile forms in the lower layers was noted when using EDTA Fe. The leaching of iron from the soil was confirmed using both DTPA Fe and EDTA Fe. The vegetation experiment revealed the effect of chelate forms on the accumulation of iron in barley plants (Hordeum vulgare L.) during their early growth period (11 days). The iron content in the shoots varied from 120 to 140 µg/g, in the roots – from 233 to 244 µg/g, with a content of 200 µg/g in the control sample. A significant  contribution to the accumulation of iron in barley seedlings was observed at the level of the root system in the experiment with EDTA Fe. Data on the accumulation of iron in barley roots were correlated (r = 0.99) with data on their ash content.

The paper presents the results of study of the toxicity of a feed additive, which includes Leuzea safflower (Rhaponticum carthamoides) and protein obtained from vermiculture. The acute toxicity of the feed additive was studied in 31 SD white rats. It has been established that the acute oral toxicity of the feed additive is above 2500 mg/kg, which makes it possible to classify the feed additive as hazard class 3 and classify it as “moderately hazardous” according to GOST 12.1.007-76. The chronic toxicity of the feed additive was studied in 22 SD white rats. The feed additive was administered orally at a dose of 120 and 1200 mg/kg for 30 days. Long-term effects were assessed 14 days after the last introduction of the feed additive. To assess the toxic effects, the effect of the additive on the general condition of the animals, food and water intake was evaluated, blood and urine were analyzed. Complete blood count was carried out by standard methods with the determination of the following parameters: hematocrit, hemoglobin level, the number of erythrocytes, platelets, leukocytes, eosinophils, segmented neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes. The study of biochemical parameters of blood was carried out using standard kits for biochemical analysis. The following indicators were determined: ALT, total bilirubin, glucose, creatinine and urea. The urinalysis included the determination of the following indicators: density, leukocytes, nitrites, pH, erythrocytes, protein,  glucose, ascorbic acid, ketones, urobilinogen, bilirubin. There was no statistically significant difference in blood and urine parameters between the animals of the control and experimental groups. A pathohistological examination of the stomach, liver, kidneys and heart was carried out, which showed the absence of a toxic effect of the feed additive. Local irritant action was studied in pathomorphological studies. It has been established that the feed additive does not have an irritating effect at the injection site. Thus, the feed additive can be used in feeding farm animals and birds at the recommended dose.

The expediency of including succinic acid (succinate) in wound healing gels has been studied and scientifically substantiated by infrared spectrometry. For this purpose, the interaction of antiseptic components of wound healing gels – metronidazole and iodinol with succinic acid in an aqueous medium was studied. In aqueous solutions of the studied substances, insignificant fluctuations of the wave numbers of the peak of 1642.27-1643.12 cm^-1 were revealed, characterizing fluctuations in the C‒C valence bonds. Specific absorption peaks were also established: iodine compound with polyvinyl alcohol – 1555.22; 1232.06; 1066.00; metronidazole ‒ 2115.81, 1555.22, 1394.59, 1187.66 and 1088.40 and succinate – 2925.22, 2854.56, 2105.31, 1456.15, 1177.12, 1086.77. As the result of the conducted studies, it was found that succinic acid makes complex compounds with iodinol and metronidazole. The study of the IR spectra of the obtained compounds allows to suggest that they are formed by interaction of carboxyl group of succinic acid with C‒O groups of polyvinyl alcohol in iodinol and R₂C=NH⁺ groups in metronidazole.

The research provides the substantiation of the main parameters of an unmanned automated herd monitoring system on a pasture by automating the measurement of current physiological indicators of animals to improve the efficiency and rate of supervision over them in free grazing conditions. The studies were based on the theory of radio communication about the propagation of radio waves, and also there was used a graphoanalytic method for calculating the parameters of component elements as parts of an unmanned system for automated monitoring of animals on pasture. The DJI Phantom 4 Advanced quadcopter was used to measure the flight time of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over the real pasture. As a payload, the weight of 350 g was taken. As a pasture, the experimental field at the farm “Kutuzovka”, Kharkiv district, Kharkiv region with an area of 200 ha was used. The research was carried out in summer 2021. According to the results of well-known studies of the processes, methods and technical means of monitoring the physiological state of animals on pasture, it has been established that the advanced technological means including air-based devices should be used for remote monitoring. Among them are helicopter-type unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as elements of the radio telemetry system (RTM), individual tags and sensors of the physiological parameters of the animal. At the same time, an unmanned automated monitoring system in combination with RTM elements is able to provide the transmission of physiological data from any sensors located on the animal's body or inside it. The data are transmitted to the main point of receiving information for processing it on a PC and giving recommendations to specialists (veterinarians, zootechnicians, etc.). The power of the relay equipment on board the UAV is calculated to be at least 60 mW and the communication range with the animal transponder not more than 800 m. The main parameters of the UAV flight over a pasture of 200 hectares have been experimentally established – the height is 20 m, the speed is 8.7 km/h, the time is 27.5 min, the payload is 350 g.

Known technologies and methods for obtaining virus-free potato mini-tubers of a required size fraction do not fully provide the highest multiplication factor, which occurs due to the insufficient productivity of an individual potato plant. On the basis of long-term experimental data (2012…2022), an assessment of the effectiveness of methods for growing potato mini-tubers in open and protected ground conditions is given. According to the number of tubers harvested from one plant, all growing methods can be divided into two large groups:  traditional (3-12 potatoes per plant) and modified (more than 40 potatoes per plant). A highly efficient method has been developed for obtaining mini-tubers of potatoes harvested as they grow on soil substrates with an average annual productivity of at least 50 mini-tubers from one micro-tuber and 40 mini-tubers from one virus-free plant (with traditional substrate methods – from 3 to 10 mini-tubers). Based on this method, there has been created a substrate technological module of a new generation harvesting tubers as they grow which makes it possible to obtain an average of 40 to 55 mini-tubers from one virus-free plant over the years, that is almost 10 times more in comparison with traditional methods of growing with a single harvest at the end of vegetation. Harvesting mini-tubers as they grow up to a required size creates the possibility of obtaining tubers of one size fraction (10-25 g), which allows later, when laying the nursery of the first field reproduction, to apply mechanized planting in the field and obtain uniform seedlings.

The problem of limited budget funds for subsidizing agriculture is acute in Kazakhstan. Under these conditions, it is important to ensure targeting of subsidies, when they are delivered to those producers who are able to use them effectively for the production needs. The aim of the research is to highlight the main trends in the distribution of subsidies in the agro-industrial complex of Kazakhstan and their impact on the results of the industry. The efficiency of subsidies is influenced not only by their structure by type, but also by their distribution among commodity producers. On average in 2018-2021, thirty largest subjects of the agro-industrial complex, receiving 4-10 % of the total amount of subsidies, give 4-15 % of tax revenues, have 3-7 % of the gross profit in agriculture in Kazakhstan. The concentration ratios for 2018-2021 do not exceed 0.10, and for 150 largest farms they do not exceed 0.21, showing no significant changes in 2020-2021. This indicator allows to estimate the degree of uneven distribution of subsidies among recipient farms: the higher it is, the more unevenly the support is distributed. The indices of even distribution of subsidies based on profits are characterized by a downward trend in 2018-2021, regarding that the contribution of the largest subsidy recipients to the total gross profit has decreased. The same suspicious trend is inherent in the Equal Distribution of Subsidies Indices based on taxes paid. Based on the author’s method, the paper reveals the connection between production efficiency, provided at the expense of innovations, and the increase in the contribution of innovatively active producers to the industry's gross profit. By subsidizing advanced and innovatively active producers, the state will contribute to the increase of return on subsidies (expressed as an increase in the recipients' contribution to the industry’s gross profit). Based on these principles, the author recommends to prioritize subsidizing among subjects of the agro-industrial complex.