Replenishment and rationalization of seed collections of pumpkin, vegetable marrow and summer squash for ex situ conservation and use for breeding in Armenia

The conservation and sustainable use of crop genetic resources are crucial for food security and economic development, and diverse genetic resources are a critical input in the agricultural production process. To conserve the gene pool of vegetable crops of Armenia, the Scientific Centre of Vegetable and Industrial Crops of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia carried out activities to upgrade storage facilities and optimize the existing seed collections. Newly created long-term and medium-term seed collections of pumpkin, vegetable marrow and summer squash reliably conserve genetic resources of these crops and create a base for undertaking genetic enhancement and base-broadening efforts. A database and application of barcodes and QR-code labels facilitate the search of required accessions, making the stored genetic materials more accessible for users and promoting their wider use in breeding.

Гидротермальный нанокремнезем в сельскохозяйственном растениеводстве и биотехнологии

Experiments on application of hydrothermal nanosilica to increase productivity agricultural plants were carried out. Nanosilica sol was produced by ultrafiltration membrane concentration of orthosilicic acid polymers of hydrothermal solution to SiO2 content 10–20 mas. %. Plants treatment was done by diluted sol with SiO2 content in the range 0.0001–0.2 mas. %. Treatment of seeds ore upground parts of plants once ore twice was applied. SiO2 consumption was about 10–20 g per hectare. Experiments with wide range of plants was done, including potatoes, cabbage, vegetable marrow, onion, mustard, amaranth, tomato, sugar, wheat, beet and radish. Besides productivity biochemical and biometric parameters were changed: plants height, quantity, length, wide of leafs and others. For example, in upground mass of amaranth was detected decreasing of cellular tissue content and increasing grease, total saccharin content with constant content of carotene and protein. In amaranth seeds increasing of oil, squalene, starch, protein, vitamin C content was detected.

Гетерозисные F1 гибриды кабачка

Проведено изучение линий и гибридных комбинаций кабачка селекции Крымской ОСС – филиала ВИР. Выявлены линии с высокой общей комбинационной способностью по общей урожайности – Ар3 и Бл12 и по ранней урожайности – К5 и Бл12. В результате сортоиспытания новых гетерозисных F1 гибридов кабачка выделены образцы с высокой урожайностью, выше 50 т/га (F1 Ар3 × Д1, F1 Бл12 × Д1, F1 Бл12 × Ар3), устойчивостью к мучнистой росе и ВОМ-1 (F1 Ар3 × Д1) и другими хозяйственно ценными свойствами.The study of the lines and hybrid combinations of the vegetable marrow breeding branch of the Krymsk EBS – ARRIP Branch is conducted. Lines with a high overall combining ability were revealed for the total yield – the line Аr3 and Bl12 and for the early yield – К5 and Bl12 are ascertained. As a result of varietal testing new F1 hybrids of the vegetable marrow, samples with high yields, above 50 t/ha (F1 Ar3 × D1, F1 Bl12 × D1, F1 Bl12 × Ap3), powdery mildew resistance and CMV-1 (F1 Ar3 × D1), other economically valuable properties were allocated.

Experimental studies on vegetable marrow seeds ozonation using laboratory equipment

A set of measures is taken to protect plants against various diseases and to prevent yield losses. One of the components of such actions is a pre-sowing seed treatment. One of the effective ways of pre-sowing treatment is seeds ozonization, which stimulates their germination and provides the prevention of plant diseases, hence this process increases the germination and the yield of agricultural crops. Our laboratory equipment was made to substantiate the ozonation regimes. Experimental studies on seeds ozonation were carried out for agricultural crop (the zucchini variety Zebra), which is widely used in Russia, particularly in the natural-climatic areas of the Urals. Taking into account that high ozone concentrations are dangerous to human health and life (to service personnel), pre-sowing seeds treatment was carried out at relatively safe concentrations (up to 10 mg/m3), paying attention to the tightness of the equipment. Ozone concentrations of 3 mg/m3, 6 mg/m3 and 9 mg/m3 and seed treatment time of 120 min, 240 min, 360 min and 480 min were chosen. The experimental studies have shown, that a rational regime of seeds treatment for obtaining the maximum germination (79.1%), is observed when ozone concentration is 9 mg/m3 and treatment time is 247.7 min. Thus, the developed laboratory equipment helps to determine the rational ozonation regimes for zucchini seeds. It can also be used to determine the rational ozonation regimes for seeds of other crops.

Determination of product density for calculating the safety pressure on the walls of sieve drum in pulping machine

Pulping machines are an integral part of production lines for the processing fruits and vegetables. To meet the ever-growing demand for these agricultural products, it is necessary to introduce innovative solutions to modernize equipment not only for increasing its productivity but also for ensuring its safety. The article proposes a pulping machine that helps to increase the productivity by using the entire area of the sieve drum. The productivity also depends on reliable and safe equipment operation, elimination of downtime during product pulping. One of the main factors affecting the reliable and safe operation is the pressure of pulped product on the walls of the sieve drum, and this pressure depends on the product density. It has been experimentally shown that the density of pulped product can vary significantly even for different varieties of vegetable marrow. As the calculations show, in this case the pressure inside the sieve drum of the pulping machine changes considerably (more than 10%). Therefore, the density of the product should be taken into account when calculating the design parameters of the pulping machine; it helps to ensure its reliable and safe operation and hence to reduce the probability of downtime and to improve the productivity.