The data on the effectiveness of using chemical, fungal and bacterial fungicides to treat seeds and crops of spring soft wheat in order to limit harmfulness of major diseases are presented. The research was conducted in 2020–2022 on chernozem leached forest-steppe of the Novosibirsk region Priobye. Chemical seed protectant Scarlet and its mixture with Vitaplan were the most effective dressers in the fight against root rots. It has been demonstrated that although biopreparations are inferior in efficiency to chemical ones, they act for a longer period of time and protect the plant from the disease for a longer period of time. Seed dressing with chemical preparation reduced the development of leaf diseases by 53–58%, and with biopreparations – by 34–41%. Titul 390 was the most effective of the vegetation treatments – 60–98%. The efficiency of the biopreparations was 42–64% in the years of moderate disease development. In the years of strong development of septoriosis or powdery mildew, the efficiency of biopreparations did not exceed 22–30%. The biological preparations had a growth-stimulating effect on the plants: they increased the flag leaf area by 22–39%. The seed treatment showed an increasing trend in the number of spikelets, grains per ear and grain weight per ear. Application of the preparations during the vegetation period increased reliably the ear length by 16–28%, the number of spikelets – by 15–20, grains – by 24–31, grain weight per ear – by 33–51%. At seed dressing the greatest increase in the yield (0.15 t/ha) was provided by Scarlet, when using a mixture of biological and chemical preparations it amounted to 0.11 t/ha. When treated during the growing season, chemical fungicide increased the yield by 0.33 t/ha, while biopreparations increased the yield by 0.11–0.14 t/ha. Complex use of chemical preparations (Scarlet + Titul 390) provided the maximum yield increase – 0.62 t/ha, from the joint use of chemical and biological preparation the yield increased by 0.15–0.33 t/ha. The biological preparations increased this indicator by 0.13–0.23 t/ha. It has been concluded that it is possible to select combinations of chemical and biological preparations that can control phytosanitary situation and provide acceptable yield.

The effect of three concentrations (30, 40 and 50%) of the culture filtrate (CF) of the genus Fusarium fungi (F. sporotrichioides, F. poae, F. equiseti, F. oxysporum) on the growth and development parameters of oat callus culture was evaluated. CF at the callus proliferation stage was used to select somaclonal cell lines with mycotoxin tolerance traits. Prior to this, callusogenesis induction was carried out on the Murashige-Skoog (MS) medium with 3 mg/l 2,4-D and 2 mg/l UIC in the culture of immature embryos of the Tyumensky Golozerny, Tubinsky, Zolotoy Pochatok and Talisman varieties. The material for the experiment was selected from the ears of the plants grown in the summer period of 2016–2018 on the experimental fields in the Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe. Callus size was recorded when transplanted onto the proliferation media (MS + 1.5 mg/l 2,4-D), control and CF-containing media. After 30 days of cultivation, callus growth, signs of necrosis and organogenesis were noted. At the end of the experiment, the number of the regenerants formed was counted. The presence of CF in the proliferation medium already at a concentration of 40% provided a decrease in the proliferative activity and increased the frequency of necrosis by at least 50%. Similar results were obtained at the CF level of 50%. On the media with F. poae CF, the reduction of callus viability reached 60–70%. The calluses that remained viable under these conditions had a frequency of regenerant formation and organogenesis 2–3 times higher than the samples that were not influenced by the selective factor. This is particularly pronounced when F. sporotrichioides CF is added. However, this effect was not observed when F. oxysporum CF was applied. This may be due to the differences in the composition of the mycotoxin complex of this mushroom species from the others used in the study. For further work on the technology of creating oat forms with resistance to mycotoxins of the Fusarium genus fungi, it is assumed to use a level of selective pressure not lower than 40%.

The present study is aimed at developing a micropropagation system for five intervarietal hybrids of Oxycoccus macrocarpus promising for cultivation in Western Siberia. All studies on the development of in vitro propagation techniques were carried out on the example of the intervarietal hybrid О. macrocarpus Bergman × Pilgrim. Ben Lear × Bergman, Ben Lear × Pilgrim, Pilgrim × Bergman, and Pilgrim × Ben Lear hybrids were propagated in vitro using the technology developed for Bergman × Pilgrim. Seed germination of the hybrids in in vitro culture ranged from 35.29 to 80.00%. At the mass reproduction stage, it was found that concentrations of 2-isopentyl adenine 0–10 μM did not affect the reproduction rate. The tested pH values (4.5–7.5) did not cause the death of Bergman × Pilgrim hybrid, indicating its stability in this pH range. Active root formation on the media with cytokinin (100.0%) was observed, and therefore a separate stage of rooting of microshoots was not required. During the ex vitro adaptation phase, it was found that the use of sphagnum moss as a substrate served as an effective technique. The plant viability was 86.0–93.0%. Significant differences after the adaptation stage were shown: in shoot number between Bergman × Pilgrim (1.21 pcs./shoot) and Ben Lear × Bergman (7.00 pcs./shoot) hybrids, in root length between Bergman × Pilgrim (19.7 mm), Ben Lear × Bergman (39.4 mm) and Pilgrim × Bergman (53.4 mm). The use of in vitro methods for propagation and selection of genotypes is an effective approach and can be applied in programs to obtain intervarietal hybrids of O. macrocarpus.

In conditions of increasing continentality of climate in recent decades, spring barley breeding should be aimed at creating drought-resistant, early-ripening, high-yielding varieties with sufficiently high technological qualities of grain. In addition to the economic and biological properties of the variety established by the breeders, external conditions in the region of cultivation also have a significant impact on the stabilization of the yields. The variability of productivity of spring barley varieties was assessed in terms of such traits as stability, ecological plasticity and adaptability in different ecological and geographical conditions. The research was conducted in 2020–2022 on 17 varieties of spring barley in ecological trial in Samara and Rostov regions. The experiment was laid in fourfold repetition with a plot area of 10 m². In the years of research, the "growing region" factor (98.7%) had the greatest influence. Evaluation of the index of environmental conditions (Ij) revealed that the best conditions for the vegetation of spring barley plants were formed in the experiment in the Rostov region (Zernogradsky district) (Ij = +0.99). The yield of the varieties depended not only on the location of the seed-trial ground but also on the year of cultivation. The linear regression coefficient ranged from 0.67 to 1.36, dividing the varieties into responsive, weakly responsive and adaptive to changes in the cultivation conditions. The varieties Zernogradsky 1717 and Zernogradsky 1724 formed the highest yield in the experimental plots and were classified as stable under cultivation under different soil and climatic conditions, with high breeding value, stress tolerance and level of variety stability.

The results of studying the productivity of sorghum crops under different conditions of mineral nutrition on meadow-chernozem soil of the southern forest-steppe of Western Siberia are presented. The study was conducted in 2019–2022 in the Omsk region as part of a long-term stationary field experiment. The soil of the experimental plot is meadow-chernozem moderately deep heavy loamy soil. The arable horizon is characterized by neutral reaction of the soil solution (pH 7.0–7.2). The scheme of the experiment is two-factor, includes application of nitrogen (N0, 30, 60) and phosphorus (P0, 60) mineral fertilizers before sowing sorghum crops. The dynamics of moisture content in the meter soil profile is closely related to the hydrothermal conditions of vegetation periods. In the most wetted year of 2019, the soil profile had a more stable and uniform moisture content, especially in the second half meter. In subsequent years, the atmospheric moisture deficit was clearly manifested in the content of total moisture both along the soil profile and in time. Drying out of the meter profile even in the initial growing season was observed in 2022, which can be considered as a result of low residual moisture in the preceding, also dry, season. In the control, mineral nutrition was limited by the low content of mobile phosphorus. The studies have shown that in conditions of insufficient and unstable moisture, typical for the south of Western Siberia, it is advisable to cultivate sorghum crops with high responsiveness to the use of mineral fertilizers in field fodder production. In the average of two years, the maximum yield of green mass of sugar sorghum on intensive background was 21.07 t/ha, sorghum-sudangrass hybrid – 16.62 t/ha, which is higher than the control by 47.2 and 62.7%, respectively. The most effective was the complex application of mineral fertilizers, which provided an increase in dry matter content of sugar sorghum from 3.97 to 6.08 t/ha (53.0%), sorghum-sudangrasas hybrid – from 2.81 to 4.73 t/ha (68.3%).

The results of the studies on the influence of various protection systems on the phytosanitary situation in planting colored potato varieties in the conditions of the Novosibirsk region are presented. 

It has been established that the chemical protectant Celest Top more effectively reduces the development of rhizoctoniosis (black scab) in comparison with the biological preparation Bactofort. On average, this indicator when using the chemical system was significantly lower by 4.8 times in the germination phase, and 2.0 times lower in the period of budding-beginning of flowering of the culture. A significant influence of the optimization of mineral nutrition for the biological preparation Bactofort was established, in this case, against the background of mineral fertilizers, the development of rhizoctoniosis is 1.2 times lower. In the phase of budding – the beginning of flowering the disease development on the fertilized background with the use of chemical system of protection is marked significantly higher by 1.4 times in comparison with the background of natural fertility, with the biological system in this period this indicator has no differences. The number of the Colorado potato beetle when using the chemical system was significantly lower by 3.6 times in comparison with the biologized one. Optimization of mineral nutrition with the use of a chemical protection system significantly increased the number of the pest by 5.0 times in comparison with the background of natural fertility, while with a biological system this indicator does not have significant differences. The productivity of the culture is significantly higher when using a chemical protection system in comparison with a biologized one by 1.5 times. On a fertilized background, when using a chemical protection system, the productivity of potatoes is significantly higher by 1.2 times in comparison with the background of natural fertiity. At the same time, with a biologized system, this indicator does not have significant differences. Individual reaction of the varieties to the studied protective techniques has been noted. Among the four varieties studied, All Red should be singled out, in which the development of rhizoctoniosis on the stems on both protection systems at both levels of mineral nutrition was generally the smallest among all variety samples. The varieties All Red and Violet were the least populated by the Colorado potato beetle – an average of 0.50–0.55 ind./plant. The highest yield was obtained when growing the Rosemaria variety (average factor 22.3 t/ha). To control rhizoctoniosis and Colorado potato beetle on potatoes, it is possible to use biological protection systems, but taking into account the biological characteristics of the varieties.

Sixty-five samples of ecological corn nursery were studied to determine their resistance to the Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis Guenee) on the natural background of pest infestation for selection for entoimmunity and production purposes. The experiment was conducted in 2019–2021 in the conditions of the Primorsky Territory. Three components of pest resistance of corn samples were studied. As a result of the research, 30 corn hybrids were singled out as less damaged (marked by stalk resistance). Characterization of the most resistant of them (by total damage score) is given. According to the attractiveness of the corn plants for egg-laying female moths, there were 2 hybrids with the lowest pest colonization (10%). Hybrids Newton and P 9300 were noted as less attractive. Twelve corn accessions were characterized by tolerance to pest damage (with insignificant stem and cob stem breakage). Of these, hybrids LK-0.5 and P 9300 were the most tolerant. As a result of research, promising varieties and hybrids of domestic selection NUR, Ladozhsky 301 AMV, Ladozhsky 410 MV, Newton, Baikal were identified. These hybrids of ecological corn nursery are characterized not only by resistance to pest damage, but also to other biotic and abiotic stresses in the conditions of Primorsky Territory. Yields of the selected hybrids varied from 4.2 to 7.4 t/ha, the released variety Slavyanka – on average 5.5 t/ha. The standard corn variety Slavyanka was noted as tolerant. According to the degree of damage, it belongs to the group of medium resistant samples. Resistant corn hybrids made up the group of early-ripening and middle-early specimens.

The results of the study of specific features of distribution and clinical manifestation of bovine cryptosporidiosis in association with pathogens of viral and bacterial nature are presented. From 2014 to 2023, 666 samples of biomaterial (tracheal mucosa, lungs, mediastinal and mesenteric lymph nodes, contents of rennet and intestine) collected from fallen and forcefully killed calves under 6 months of age with signs of enteritis and respiratory diseases were examined. 94 farms of six regions, two territories of the Siberian region and the Republic of Kazakhstan were surveyed. The findings confirm the widespread prevalence of Cryptosporidium in calves. Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts were most frequently detected and were present in 34 (5.1%) samples of biological material from calves in 22 (23.4%) of the surveyed farms. It was found that oocysts were rarely (22.7%) present in monovariant in animals, more often (77.3%) they were found in associations with viruses and bacteria during outbreaks of viral-bacterial infections. Young animals under 30 days of age are most susceptible to infection. Newborn calves are most susceptible to infection with oocysts, and those animals that have had the disease become lifelong sources of the pathogen for susceptible animals. Cryptosporidiosis is an independent disease and runs independently of the presence of the viruses and bacteria in the body and has no synergistic interaction with them, but the presence and multiplication in the body of animals of this pathogen contributes to the severity of the course of enteritis in calves and leads to difficulties in the treatment and preventive measures. The presence of Cryptosporidium in animals should be taken into account when carrying out complex anti-epizootic measures.

The use of antibiotics in agriculture to treat and prevent infectious diseases and to stimulate growth results in antibiotics accumulating in animal tissues and wastes. Further utilization of such animal waste causes an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. One of the promising ways of manure processing leading to reduction of antibiotic concentrations and obtaining useful biomass from organic waste may be bioconversion with the help of insects, particularly black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens) ( Diptera: Stratiomyldae). It is important to know how the presence of antibiotics in the feeding substrate affects the insects and their characteristics for further utilization. The effect of adding the antibiotics ceftriaxone, coliflox, levofloxacin and their mixtures to feed substrates on the growth of black soldier fly larvae was studied. When ceftriaxone, coliflox and levofloxacin were given at a concentration of 1–100 mg/kg feed, an increase in mean larval weight was observed compared to the control group after 5 days of culturing. At antibiotic concentrations of 500–1000 mg/kg, this effect was compensated, presumably by the negative effect of the antibiotic on the microbiota of the insect digestive system. At antibiotic concentrations of 2000 mg/kg feed, growth of Hermetia illucens larvae was retarded. No effect of antibiotics on fatty acid composition, moisture and ash content of insects was found. The results indicate that the use of black soldier fly for the treatment of animal waste is feasible, but the likely negative effect on insect growth at high antibiotic concentrations should be considered.

Optimization of mineral nutrition is a necessary measure to maintain high productivity of beef cattle which often lack minerals in their feed. The innovative base in this case can be ultrafine particles of essential elements characterized by high bioavailability in a small dose. The effect of ultrafine Co₃O₄ particles on the digestibility of dry matter of feed in the in vitro system (artificial rumen), the amount of volatile fatty acids, nitrogen forms (total, non-protein, ammonia, urea, protein) and on the amino acid composition (arginine, lysine, methionine, alanine, glycine) of animal rumen fluid was studied. The research was conducted in 2023. Cattle of the Kazakh white-headed breed aged 11-12 months with an average weight of 265-275 kg were used as an object of research. It was found that in in vitro studies, dry matter digestibility of feed was 9.0% higher at a concentration of 0.36 g/mL of Co₃O₄ ultrafine particles. Analysis of volatile fatty acid concentration showed that this dosage increases acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valerianic acid, and caproic acid. The introduction of ultrafine Co₃O₄ particles increased the content of protein nitrogen and total nitrogen in the experimental animals, indicating the intensification of rumen microbiocenosis. At introduction of ultrafine Co₃O₄ particles, shifts in the amino acid composition of the rumen contents were observed, which may be caused by the changes in the nature of nitrogenous substances transformation in the digestive tract. It is concluded that the use of ultrafine Co₃O₄ particles has a positive effect on the digestive processes in the rumen.

The purpose of the research was to study the effect of different doses of winter rye grain extrudate on nitrogen metabolism in the body and growth intensity of replacement heifers at the age of 12–15 months of the Holsteinized black-and-white breed in the conditions of the dairy complex. Heifers of the control group received a diet, the concentrate part of which consisted of 50.0% (1.0 kg) of standard mixed fodder КR-3 (GOST 9268–2015), 50.0% (1.0 kg) – of rolled barley. Animals of the 1st3rd experimental groups received the same set of voluminous feeds as in the control group, but the extrudate of winter rye grain was additionally introduced in the content of the concentrate part (12.5; 25.0 and 50.0%, respectively). The duration of the registration period in the experiment amounted to 92 days. It was found that heifers of experimental groups used nitrogen supplied with feed more rationally. They deposited in the body: incoming nitrogen by 0.82; 1.16 and 3.52% more and digested nitrogen by 0.19; 0.94 and 4.31% more. At the end of the experiment there was an increase of total protein in plasma by 6,51%, γ-globulins – by 8,54% (р < 0,5).

In the course of natural and artificial selection in different ecological zones of the Far North of the Far East, sharply different indigenous types of reindeer – Chukchi and Even – were formed. In 1970–1972, at the initial stage of the breeding work, the economically useful traits of reindeer of different populations of tundra, forest-tundra and taiga zones were studied. During the autumn inventory and sanitation events in the tundra zone, the improving part of the herd included: calves 6.5 months old with a live weight of 50.2 kg, bull calves – 88.5 kg, two-year olds – 99.2 kg, bulls – 120.3 kg, and reindeer does – 95.6 kg. Reindeer of taiga and forest-tundra zones reached their maximum meat productivity in October, and those of tundra zone – by the beginning of September. In 1971–1973 in the state farm "Markovsky" a comparative assessment of meat productivity of reindeer of two exterior-constitutional types: high-growing large and low-growing compact was carried out. At the beginning of the 1980s the basis of the breeding base was formed by two breeding farms: state farm "Rassokhinsky" and "Vozrozhdenie", as well as breeding herds in the state farms "Rastsvet Severa", "Markovsky", "Enmitagino", "Way to Communism", "Druzhba". Interbreed and interpopulation crossing was carried out in the farms: Tofalar reindeer with local Even reindeer; Even reindeer does with the bulls of the Ayano-Mai population imported from the state farm "Nelkansky" in the Khabarovsk Territory; local Even-type reindeer does with the Tomponsky-type producers imported from the state farm "Tomponsky" in Yakutia. By crossing unrelated groups of the Chukchi reindeer breed, selecting and breeding individuals of desirable type for a number of generations, a highly productive type of reindeer "Vozrozhdenie" was bred. Live weight of this type of heifers at the age of 5-6 months exceeds the standard of the Chukchi breed by 6.9%, bull calves – by 12.6%, reindeer does – by 14.2%, two-year olds – by 22.2%. The genetic potential of reindeer of the inbreed type "Vozrozhdenie" by the live weight of full-aged reindeer does amounted to 120 kg, bulls – 150 kg. Also deer of this type differ from other breeds by early dates of estrus and fawning. In order to improve breeding and pedigree work in the Magadan region and the Chukotka Autonomous District, effective methods based on the achievements of molecular genetics have been used since 2017 to date. According to the results of the study, a high degree of heterozygosity was observed in the Priokhotsk population of the Even breed (0.882) and in the Chukchi population (0.865), which indicates the advantage of these individuals in adaptive traits and population stability.

The results of studying the effect of growth regulator Novosil and microfertilizer Mag-Bor on growth parameters, photosynthetic activity of plants and yield of potato variety Yakutyanka in conditions of Central Yakutia are presented. The soil of the experimental plot is permafrost floodplain loamy with insufficient content of humus (1.8–2.2%), mobile compounds of magnesium (1.25 mg/100 g), molybdenum microelements (0.03 mg/kg), manganese (29.0 mg/kg), and boron (0.30 mg/kg) in the arable layer. It was found that treatment of potato plantings with Novosil increased plant mass by 19–24%, leaf area and photosynthetic potential by 5–7%, with magnesium-boron fertilizer (at a dose of 5 g/l) by 9 and 2%, respectively. Significant direct relationship of plant weight with its height and number in a bush (r = 0.71. 0.81), leaf area and photosynthetic potential values – with height, number and weight of plants (r = 0.56. 0.82) was revealed. The contribution of the preparations to the variability of indicators was 37–68%, weather conditions and factor interactions – 3–33%. It was demonstrated that treatment of plants with Novosil and together with Mag-Bor 5 g/l increases tuber yield in comparison with the control by 6.4–6.6 t/ha (34–35%), and with magnesium-boron fertilizer at a dose of 5 g/l – by 2.5 t/ha (14%). In the variants Mag-Bor 10 g/l and Novosil + Mag-Bor 10 g/l the yield was at the level of control or increased by 1.6 t/ha (8.5%), and under drought conditions it decreased by 0.5–0.9 t/ha. The share of the preparations' influence on the yield variability amounted to 68%, weather conditions – 26%, and factor interactions – 4%. Regression equations were calculated, allowing to forecast leaf area and tuber yield by plant weight in the flowering phase promptly and with high accuracy. The difference between the actual and the calculated values was 4.4–5.4%.