The results of research for 2021, 2022 on the impact of the after-effect of different doses of mineral fertilizers applied to sunflower on productivity and quality of spring barley of the Kamashevsky variety are presented. Field experiments were laid in the conditions of the Ulyanovsk region on chernozem leached heavy loamy soil. Four backgrounds of mineral fertilizers were studied: N₀, N₃₀, N₃₀P₃₀K₃₀, N₆₀P₃₀K₃₀ kg a.i./ha Meteorological conditions were contrasting in the years of research, which allowed a more complete assessment of the effectiveness of fertilizer after-effect. Barley cultivation technology included spring cutting of sunflower crop residues with a discator and a modular harrow, sowing with a grain drill and rolling. Barley showed the greatest responsiveness to the after-effect of mineral fertilizers at a dose of N₆₀P₃₀K₃₀ kg a.i./ha. Grain yield in this variant was 2.11 t/ha, which is 1.05 t/ha higher compared to the unfertilized variant. On this agricultural background, a larger grain was obtained (the weight of 100 grains was 48.4 g, on the control - 44.4 g) with a high protein content of 12.7% (on the control – 11.5%). Correlation and regression analysis revealed a direct positive relationship between dry matter accumulation and barley productivity (R² = 0,96). It was found that with an increase in the dose of nitrogen fertilizers for every 10 kg a.i./ha, an increase in the crude protein content of grain by 0.2% was observed. Protein content in grain depended on the moisture conditions of the year. Cultivation of barley after sunflower is agronomically expedient on the background of mineral fertilizers aftereffect. In the absence of fertilizers, the productivity of barley after sunflower sharply decreases. In addition, it is necessary to carefully control the weediness of barley crops (including the emergence of large amounts of sunflower fallen seed) and timely chemical weeding.

The issues of expanding the assortment of tree and shrub forest plantations in afforestation of arid regions are studied. Forestiera neo-mexicana A. Gray is an introduced and under-recognized exotic tropical plant in the agroforestry of the Volgograd region. The study site was the collection plots of the Volgograd breeding and seed production complex in the Kirovsky district forestry of Volgograd where Forestiera neo-mexicana grows. Bioecological assessment of the use of Forestiera neo-mexicana A. Gray shrub in landscaping and protective afforestation of the Lower Volga region was carried out. Using the methodology of phenological observations developed by the staff of the Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences (MBG RAS), the total seed weight, morphometric indices of fruits and the dynamics of the physiological state of the shrub were determined. The bio-ecological properties were evaluated according to five traits: drought resistance (six-point scale of Pyatnitsky S.S.), winter hardiness (seven-point scale of the MBG RAS), evaluation of flowering and fruiting intensity by the method of V.G. Kapper (five-point scale), vitality (three-point scale). According to phenological observations, Forestiera neo-mexicana A. Gray passes all phenological phases in climatic conditions of the Volgograd region. In bioecological evaluation of the Forrestiera properties for five traits, the plant has a high score for flowering and fruiting intensity (5 points), vitality (5 points). The plant is winter hardy (1 point) and drought tolerant (1 point). Forestiera neo-mexicana A. Gray can be cultivated on the areas unsuitable for general land use, on pasture lands and can be used in protective forestry.

The results of field and laboratory studies for 2020, 2022 on the creation of agrophytocenosis of valuable and promising medicinal plants: milk thistle (Silybum marianum), common fennel (Foeni culum vulgare) and scorzonera (Scorzonera hispanica L.) are presented. The studies were carried out on meadow-chernozem mealy carbonate soil (light loam by granulometric composition) in the experimental field at different sowing dates in the conditions of the forest-steppe zone of Transbaikalia. The work is devoted to the study of the sowing dates influence (II ten-day period of May, II ten-day period of June, II ten-day period of July) on the duration of the interphase periods of plant development, linear growth, foliage, field germination, plant safety and yield of medicinal raw materials. The possibility of formation of different yields of medicinal crops due to different sowing dates has been established. The highest yield of medicinal raw material was formed in the crops of May 15 and June 15. Milk thistle had the yield of the herbage of 15.4–16.0 t/ha, dry mass – 2.46–2.56 t/ha, seeds – 1.69–1.71 t/ha; common fennel herbage – 43.0–43.2 t/ha, dry mass – 6.66–6.71 t/ha; scorzonera – with wet weight of root crops – 32.1 t/ha, leaves – 10.7 t/ha. Plant height by the time of harvesting of milk thistle was 163–166 cm and 54–57%; common fennel – 144–147 cm and 50–54%; scorzonera – 39 cm and 98%, respectively. There was no infestation of medicinal plants by diseases and pests. All crops were resistant to lodging and drought (5 points) in the conditions of Transbaikalia.

The results of studying the character of inheritance of valuable traits of the first-generation hybrids obtained from crossing foreign and domestic varieties of oats in the conditions of the Northern Trans-Urals are presented. The experiment was conducted on the experimental field of the Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture for Northern Trans-Ural Region in 2019 and 2020. The object of the study were 18 F1 hybrid populations and 6 parent varieties: Talisman, Otrada, Foma, Sang, Solidor and Ensiler. Productivity elements were evaluated according to the methodology of the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources. B.A. Dospekhov's methodology was used for statistical data processing. Inheritance of phenotypic traits was determined according to G.M. Beil and R.E. Atkins. Analysis of the yield structure elements demonstrated the lack of advantage of foreign selection varieties over the genotypes obtained in the Northern Trans-Urals. It has been established that the Otrada variety is not inferior to Sang, Solidor and Ensiler varieties in terms of panicle ear grain content and the thousand-kernel weight, and Foma is superior to them. It has been determined that crosses between the varieties of local and foreign selection have a high percentage of success (42–68%), which makes them promising in the breeding process. It has been revealed that 50% of hybrid combinations are characterized by depression in the trait "plant height" – the degree of phenotypic dominance in this case varies from –22.2 to –3.1 units. Crossing of Foma with foreign varieties ensured overdominance in the panicle height, its grain content and the thousand-kernel weight. According to the degree of phenotypic dominance of the productivity elements, the following promising hybrid combinations have been identified: Ensiler × Otrada, Sang × Otrada, Foma × Sang. In the above combinations, selection of high-yielding genotypes can be carried out from the second generation onwards. It is recommended to select promising lines among hybrid combinations, where one of the parental forms is the Foma variety, in the later generations. Hybrids of the first generation obtained from crossing the Talisman variety with Ensiler, Sang and Solidor varieties have no advantages over the parental forms and are unpromising for the breeding process.

The effectiveness of pre-sowing treatment of soybean seeds and application of biorational insecticides in reducing the number of major pests of soybean in the conditions of the Primorsky Territory have been studied. The results of using insecticides and biopreparations to regulate the number of dominant pests of soybean have been presented. The studies were conducted in 2020 and 2021. The efficiency of insecticidal protectants Imidor Pro, SC (2 l/t) and Tabu, WSC (1.0 l/t), bioinsecticides Fitoverm, EC (0, 16 l/ha), Proclaim, WSG (0.3 kg/ha), Batsikol, L (15 l/ha), Biosleep BW, L (2 l/ha), Biosleep BT, P (2 kg/ha) against two-striped leaf beetle (Medythia nigrobilineatus Motsch.) and soybean pod borer (Leguminivora glycinivorella Mats.) were studied. Pre-sowing seed treatment with insecticides Imidor Pro and Tabu reduced damage of soybean plants in the sprouting phase by Medythia nigrobilineatus beetles compared to the control by 94.0–98.2%. Seed dressing with imidacloprid-based preparations provided effective protection of crops against the pest in the sprouting – branching phase. Biorational insecticides based on avermectin C and Bacillus thuringiensis showed high biological efficacy (71.1–98.8%) on the 5–10th day after treatment against the two-striped leaf beetle. Soybean seed damage when bioinsecticides were used against Leguminivora glycinivorella was 1.9–3.0% compared to 5.6% in the control. The conducted studies testify to the prospect of using the preparations of biological origin to control the number of dominant pests in soybean crops.

Enzyme immunoassay, being a more sensitive method, makes it possible to identify specific antibodies in samples of combined milk. The ELISA study of harvested milk in farms can become an important element in the system of anti-brucellosis measures regarding the control of the epizootic state in farms taking into account the availability and ease of implementation of this method. For screening express-diagnostics of bovine brucellosis the method of enzyme immunoassay with milk of cows has been developed. ELISA with milk serum is specific, sensitive, easy to formulate, account for and interpret the results. It has been found that the conditions of storage and transportation of milk samples corresponding to room temperature values and leading to fermentation do not affect the level of specific anti-viral immunoglobulins for eight days, and the question of the use of a cold chain during transportation of milk samples to be examined to the place of analysis can be withdrawn from the agenda. When working out the optimal sample preparation, the difference in the specific signal when setting the ELISA between the milk serum obtained by high-speed centrifugation and the milk serum obtained by fermentation for 24 hours was less than 10%. Therefore, high-speed centrifugation was chosen for the preparation of milk serum samples during the ELISA study. The possibilities of using ELISA with milk serum on vaccinated and non-vaccinated cattle against brucellosis have been studied. Milk and blood for testing in the ELISA should be taken 6 months or more after vaccination (within the instructional time frame). A high level of correlation was established between ELISA data with milk and ELISA data with blood serum, regardless of epizootic or immune status (satisfactory and unfavorable herds, vaccinated and unvaccinated animals), which amounted to 86.8–92.0%.

The materials of research on the effectiveness of tissue biostimulant application in the technology of breeding replacement heifers are presented. The experiment was conducted in the conditions of the Altai Territory on four groups of heifers of the Priobsky type of the Black-and-White breed with a live weight of 51.3 ± 1.48 kg at the age of 1 month. Each group had ten heads. The experiment lasted for 18 months. Animals of the control group were injected subcutaneously with physiological solution every month: from the 1st to the 5th month – at a dose of 3.0 ml/head, from the 6th to the 11th month – 6 ml/head, from the 12th to the 15th month – 12.0 ml/head and from the 16th to the 18th month – 15.0 ml/head. Injections of tissue biostimulant were given to the heifers of the experimental groups according to the following schemes: in the 1st experimental group – from the 1st to the 5th month – at a dose of 2.0 ml/head, from the 6th to the 11th month – 4 ml/head, from the 12th to the 15th month – 8.0 ml/head and from the 16th to the 18th month – 10.0 ml/head; in the 2nd experimental group – from the 1st to the 5th month – at a dose of 3.0 ml/head, from the 6th to the 11th month – 6 ml/head, from the 12th to the 15th month – 12.0 ml/head and from the 16th to the 18th month – 15.0 ml/head; in the 3rd experimental group – from 1st to 5th month – at a dose of 4.0 ml/head, from the 6th to the 11th month – 8.0 ml/head, from the 12th to the 15th month – 16.0 ml/head, from the 16th to the 18th month – 20.0 ml/head. Biostimulant is made of slaughter house tankage and by-products of the antler deer. The scheme of its application, used in the 2nd experimental group of animals, was the most effective and contributed to the increase in body weight in repair heifers up to 14% (p ˂ 0.001), average daily gain – up to 33% (p < 0.001), absolute gain – up to 23% (p ˂ 0.001) and relative gain – up to 2% (p < 0.05).

Molecular engineering is an upstream engineering method for creating functional materials and devices using molecules, and atoms as building blocks. In 2000, Japan became the first country to genetically modify silkworms (Bombyx mori, hereinafter referred to as B. mori). The subsequent research in the development of new materials expanded the possibilities of using sericulture products, characterizing this situation as a "sericulture revolution". In the Russian Federation, molecular engineering in life sciences is aimed at solving the tasks of developing world-class technological platforms to create tools to produce new molecules (biopolymers, proteins, enzymes), bioproducts, cells and organisms. The main "bottom-up" approaches applied in the upstream process (USP) stage of silk production to improve the production and economic performance and quality characteristics of raw materials have been studied. The variety of improvement methods includes: the possibility of using artificial nutrient medium, molecular engineering based on transient expression techniques or stable germline transformation, genetic selection methods, breeding management, etc. The advantages of the mulberry silkworm (B. mori) such as low breeding costs, significantly higher production yield compared to other protein expression systems, favor its use as an effective producer of recombinant proteins, antimicrobial peptides and biologically active substances. USP stage biotechnologies enable the production of new raw materials for downstream processing (DSP) to produce a wide range of products that contribute to improving the quality of human life. A set of biotechnological solutions forms the modern basis of the mulberry silkworm bioindustrial platform.

A comparative analysis of eight breeds of sheep (medium-wool, coarse-wooled, semifine-wool and fine-wool) bred in the Siberian-Far Eastern region was carried out. The research used the data on immunogenetic testing of sheep in breeding farms for a number of years. The testing was performed using 14 specific sera – reagents. The allelic profile of sheep, their similarities and differences related to phylogeny and previous selection were studied. All breeds studied had a distinctive allelic profile. Both frequent and infrequent antigens were identified in each breed. Based on antigen frequencies, an index of genetic similarity (r) was calculated, which was higher in the breeds of the same productivity direction, e.g. between Buubei and Edilbaevskaya breeds (r = 0.912), and lower between the breeds that were selected in isolation from each other. The lowest index of genetic similarity was found between the Buryat and West Siberian meat breeds (r = 0.707). Breeds of the same productivity direction from different regions also have distinctive features. The index of genetic similarity between coarse-wooled breeds (Buubei and Edilbaevskaya) is 0.912; between medium-wool breeds (Buryat and Aginskaya) it is at the level of 0.739; between semifine-wool breeds (Gorno Altai and West Siberian meat breeds) – 0.845; between fine-wool breeds (Kulunda and Zabaikalskaya) – 0.902. Using the cluster analysis of genetic distances, the relationships of breeds, their origin, and phylogeny were determined. West Siberian Meat and Kulunda breeds formed one cluster, Buubei and Buryat breeds were also included in one cluster. More distant breeds were Aginskaya (Zugalai type) and Edilbaevskaya.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the infestation and structural features of the helminth complexes of horses in the provinces of the Altai Mountains which differ significantly in natural, climatic and orographic conditions of the area. Fecal samples from spontaneously helminth-infested animals of the Central, Northern, Western and South-Eastern Altai Mountains were examined by ovolarvoscopic methods with the following calculation of occurrence indices (invasion intensity – II, level of invasion intensity – II_level), infestation intensity (abundance index – AI, level of abundance index – AI_level) and parasitocomplex index (PI). The results of long-term studies (2019–2023) indicate that parasites of two classes are involved in the formation of the helminth complex of the digestive system of horses in the Altai Mountains: Nematoda (suborders Strongylata, Ascaridata, Rhabditata, and Ochycrata) and Cestoda (suborder Anoplocephalata). Strongylates dominate in the nosological profile of helminthoses in all provinces: the degree of their infestation among animals and their proportion in the helminth complexes (II = 68.6–93.1%, PI = 86.0–90.5) are significantly higher than the same indicators for the suborder Ascaridata (II = 6.2–16.5%, PI = 4.6–8.1) and for the cestodes of the suborder Anoplocephalata (II = 2.5–11.8%, PI = 2.1–5.8). Against the background of ubiquitous distribution of the main helminths of the gastrointestinal tract of horses in the conditions of physiographic provinces, differences in the structure of helminth complexes and intensity of helminth infestation of animals are observed. The level of infestation of horses in the Central Altai with strongyles is significantly higher relative to the infestation of the animals in the Northern and Western Altai. The infestation of ungulates of South-Eastern Altai with strongylates (II = 68.6%) and anoplocephalates (II = 2.5%, PI = 2.1) is minimal and, respectively, 1.5 and 2.8–4.7 times lower than in other provinces. However, there are significant intrazonal differences in the nematode infestation of horses – their infestation in the mountain-forest zone of the South-Eastern Altai is comparable to that in the Central Altai and is significantly higher than in the high-mountain steppe zone. At the same time, the II_level and AI_level indices for horses of the high-mountain steppe zone of the South-Eastern Altai are statistically lower than in the animals of the Northern and Central Altai. It was found that the level of infection and the structure of helminth complexes of horses are mainly determined by the diversity of natural-climatic and orographic characteristics of mountainous territories.

The requirements to the methods of embryo sex determination in an egg have been formulated and substantiated in accordance with the tightening of the previously accepted norms of cockerel culling during incubation. New methods under development for identifying and culling of egg embryos within 7 days of incubation have been analyzed, and their advantages and disadvantages have been described. Two non-invasive techniques have been identified that have some potential for commercialization in the poultry industry (infrared spectroscopy and computer vision). The purpose of the study is to determine the possibilities of a non-invasive method for determining the sex of an embryo in an egg prior to incubation based on intelligent analysis of the proposed morphometric features of poultry eggs. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that for the first time a method of determining sexual dimorphism based on the analysis of egg asymmetry parameters by three spatial coordinates determined by computer vision methods with the use of machine learning has been developed. An experimental unit for viability assessment and establishment of the necessary conditions for incubation and hatching of chicks has been developed to validate the implementation of the proposed method. It includes a smart incubator "Smart Nest", a brooder, a thermal imaging micro-camera TE-Q1, an oil-filled radiator POLARIS model PRE T 0915, an air humidifier Ergopower ER 604, a bactericidal air irradiator-recirculator DEFENDER 2-15C, a thermohygrometer RGK TH-30 and a laptop. For image acquisition, the setup utilized a Canon EOS 2000D EF-S 18-55 III Kit digital camera with a state-of-the-art CMOS sensor (22.3 × 14.9 mm) and a powerful processor. The geometric spatial digital model of each egg was artificially divided into a set of elements by software, by which the asymmetry of the egg shape was determined. In doing so, their shape indices, area, volume and perimeter were determined from the measured linear dimensions of each element. Incubation of 72 fertilized eggs of Dekalb White cross hen was carried out. Following the incubation, it was possible to reliably determine the sex of 38 chicks. Applying machine learning methods in solving binary classification problems for a small sample (38) with high dimensionality of the initial feature set yielded three final models with accuracy metrics AUC = 73–72% and F1 = 69–72%: Random Forest classifier with 4 evaluators and maximum depth of 3; Random Forest classifier with 10 evaluators and maximum depth of 5 and AdaBoost classifier with 4 decision tree evaluators and maximum depth of 3. Experimental confirmation of the relationship between the egg shape asymmetry and its sexual dimorphism will make it possible to approach the solution of the world scientific problem of reliable determination of the egg sex before incubation.

The results of research on inactivation of microorganisms on open surfaces of poultry houses using low-temperature non-equilibrium plasma are presented. AC electrospark discharge at atmospheric pressure was used as its source. Discharge types are streamer, flare. The simultaneous effect of electromagnetic fields, charged particles and chemically active compounds formed by electrospark discharge on the efficiency of pathogenic microflora inactivation for various surfaces (acrylic primer, epoxy resin, yacht varnish, concrete-graphite mixture) is considered. The material to be treated (a biological model of the bedding surface of the floor in the poultry house with the applied protective layer) is installed after the electrospark discharge chamber blown with plasmaforming gas (atmospheric air). The main affecting factors are active chemical compounds: ozone; free radicals (OH, O, O₂), ultraviolet radiation in the range of 750–1600 THz, electromagnetic radiation from 50 Hz to 980 MHz, charged particles and vibrationally excited nitrogen and oxygen molecules. Characterizations of electromagnetic radiation flux density at electrospark discharge are obtained. According to the research results, the maximum effect of treatment of exposed surfaces with low-temperature non-equilibrium plasma is achieved when epoxy resin is used as a surface protection material. The number of inactivated microorganisms at exposure of 10-20 s reaches 100%. When inactivating microorganisms on exposed surfaces, it is not economically feasible to take exposure time longer than 20 s. The studies found no significant difference when using streamer or flare discharges to treat outdoor facility surfaces.

Based on historical facts and past achievements, the work is designed to update the importance and prove the possibility of successful breeding work at the regional level in order to increase the production of high-quality, socially significant food products to ensure food security. At the beginning of the formation of agricultural science in the Magadan region, scientists were faced with the task of selecting the optimal breeds for the region. More than 4000 cows were examined during 1964–1967. It was found that in extreme natural and climatic conditions of the Magadan region the Kholmogory breed proved to be the best one. In 1967, in order to further improve the Kholmogory breed, the first attempt was made to study the genealogical structure of the herd, to identify and evaluate highly productive lines. In 1974, in order to increase the milk fat content of crossbred cows of the Kholmogory breed, introductory crossing with the bulls of the Ayrshire breed, tested for the quality of the offspring, was used. In order to improve dairy herds, the selection of cows for hereditary traits is combined with checking them for the first lactation. Since 1976, state farms began to study the breeding and productive qualities of the Ayrshire cattle, which were distinguished by high milk production and high fat content in milk. Since 1982, the Ayrshire breed has been approved as a planned breed for breeding in the farms of the Okhotsk zone. In the same year, absorptive crossbreeding of the animals of the Kholmogory breed with the sires of the Ayrshire breed began. In order to increase the efficiency of breeding for abundant milk production, work began on the farms to increase the hereditary variability of this trait through breeding along lines and families. At the same time, the work on improving the Kholmogory cattle by introductory crossbreeding with the purebred bulls of the Holstein-Friesian breed continued. By the 1990s, the main vector of development was the creation of highly productive herds of dairy cattle, but the difficult financial situation at farms in the 1990s led to a sharp decrease in the number of cattle and the productivity of the remaining animals.

Increased production of sunflower oilseeds requires the use of yielding, adapted to the conditions of cultivation varieties and hybrids resistant to harmful pathogens of the growing area. A number of reasons contribute to the decline in crop resistance. One of them is the emergence of conditions for the development of not only new diseases, but also more aggressive races of already well-known pathogens. The most effective and environmentally friendly way to control crop diseases is to create sustainable breeding material. In this regard, in the conditions of the East Kazakhstan region studies were conducted to assess the resistance to false powdery mildew of the promising breeding material of sunflower created by the specialists of the East Kazakhstan Agricultural Experimental Station. Quantitative indices of affected plants and the intensity of sporoniferous lesions on seedlings were determined. Characterization of the degree of susceptibility of the tested samples on a 5-point scale was given. The results of the experiments confirmed the possibility of selection at different stages of the breeding work. The selected source material can be used as parental forms in the creation of new sunflower varieties and hybrids.