Gooseberry is one of the most promising and underrated small fruit crops. There is a need to improve and genotype the existing cultivars, and this work requires the use of new efficient DNA marking techniques. Marker-assisted selection (MAS) is a modern approach for work with genetic resources. However, the genetic determinants of key qualitative traits are poorly studied. Therefore, we developed SSR markers located in flavonoid biosynthesis genes that can affect the resistance of plants to biotic and abiotic stresses to study the genetic diversity of gooseberry cultivars grown in the Russian Federation and varying in genetic and geographical origin. We have genotyped 22 gooseberry cultivars using a set of 19 of our original microsatellite markers and two neutral previously published ones. A total of 53 alleles were found. Nine of the 21 analyzed loci were polymorphic. The most polymorphic loci of flavonoid biosynthesis were found in the DFR gene (RucDFR1-2, RucDFR1-3, RucDFR2-1), their mean PIC (polymorphism information content) being 0.65, comparable to the PIC values of neutral markers. Our set of gene-targeted SSR markers showed that most of all the studied gooseberry cultivars differed in origin, based on which they were divided into three groups: European cultivars, Russian cultivars, and interspecies hybrids. Thus, the polymorphic markers can be used for cultivar identification and certification as well as for the marker-assisted selection of gooseberry plants having different origins and phenotypic traits.

The studied plantation is a post-mining sites of Kursk magnetic anomaly located in the northeastern part of Belgorod region in a iron-mining district of European part of Russia. The objects of this study are afforested external slope heaps produced by iron open-pit mine in Gubkin. Research work focused on 13-years old pure stands of birch (Betula pendula), sea buckthorn (Hippóphae rhamnoídes), locust tree (Robinia pseudoacacia), oleaster (Elaeágnus angustifólia) and grey alder (Alnus incana) growing on the different substrates. Soil physical and chemicals properties of substrates were analyzed and forest litter stocks were calculated in different slope parts. Substrate quality varied considerably. Forest litter stock depends on site characteristics, tree species and substrate. Study results show that vegetation is the important factor facilitating soil development, the impact of forest litter stock that the surface structure determined is higher with such N-fixing tree species as alder, locust tree and oleaster.

Various types of vegetation were tested on the dumps of the Kursk magnetic anomaly (KMA), composed of various rocks and their mixtures, with the improvement of forest growing conditions by land use and without this technique, including five types of shrubby species: sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), siberian peashrub (Caragana arborescens Lam.), golden currant (Ribes aureum Pursh.), tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica L.) and red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa L.). Growth indicators, safety and productivity of breeds were studied. Golden currant was one of the first to be tested, which turned out to be an unsuitable breed for creating protective plantings on dumps without measures to improve their forest growing conditions. On chalk-marl mixtures and quaternary loams, it completely fell out by the age of 12-15 years. Shrubs used in forest reclamation on two-component post-technogenic areas are characterized by different preservation. By the age of 43, the greatest preservation, equal to 50.5%, was noted in the sea buckthorn. It also has the highest growth rates. When choosing shrub species for forest reclamation, it is necessary to take into account their biological productivity, which increases the concentration of nutrients in the substrates and improves their physical properties. The sea buckthorn at the age of 9 has a large phytomass (2368 g), the heaviest leaf mass (396 g) and a total supply of phytomass (143.9 kg /ha) in the stand. The authors recommend using shrub species for laying preliminary crops at the initial stage of reclamation or introducing them into complex plantings in an amount of no more than 50%. Taking into account the soil-improving role of shrub species, it would be advisable to further introduce more durable tree species.

The study sites is located in an iron-mining district of European part of Russia, called The Kursk Magnetic Anomaly. Birch tree (Betula pendula Roth) plantation was created in 1972 in two different types of heap dumps (hydraulic-mine dumps and mining dumps). Afforested dumps are mainly consisted of cenomanian and aptian sands with the admixture of mesozoic carbonate rocks. In particular hydraulic-mine dumps are formed with sand material and mining dumps are formed with sandy-lime material. For improving poor properties of sand substrate before the planting birch trees on hydraulic-mine dumps were used the technique of soil transfer. The re-spreading fertile layer of soil varies from 30 to 80 cm. Substrate quality varied considerably. Long-term growth and survival of birch tree were analyzed and volume per ha were calculated in different slope parts. Study results show that double-layer substrate with fertile layer (30-40 cm) on the top would not appear to be the best way to rehabilitate mine ecosystems and it has significant disadvantages. At the age of 38 years, common birch is characterized by sufficiently high growth parameters, but low survival.

To improve the conditions for the growth of forest stands on the Berezovy Log Kursk Magnetic Anomaly (KMA) has been conducted applying fertile topsoils, filmed during the development of the deposit. The analysis of the natural growth of the hydro dump is necessary for an integrated assessment of the growing conditions. We carried out it before and after planting on a dump of forest stands. Prior to the applying fertile topsoils, the herbaceous vegetation had not settled on the sand. Natural overgrowth began after the applying fertile topsoils on the surface of the hydro dumps. The northern part of the dump became more active in natural overgrowth. Twenty species of herbs belonging to 10 families were found here, numbering 153 pcs/m 2. Four years later, in six-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands, a richer floristic composition was noted. Thirty species of herbaceous plants have been recorded, of which 54% are with short life-span. Herbaceous vegetation during this period is represented mainly by heterogeneous grass, almost total absence of legumes and small participation of Gramineae. In 40-year-old Scots pine stands, 32 species of grass on the edge and 11 species under the canopy of the plantation were considered, belonging to 13 families. The participation of members of the families of Gramineae and Compositae has increased. Herbs compete with forest stands for moisture and nutrients up to the age of clamping. It is concluded that forest reclamation should be started immediately after fertile application.

The creation of artificial forest belts is an effective method of land reclamation. Forest belts have a positive impact on prevention of erosion processes, formation of heat and moisture regimes, reduction of turbulent exchange in the surface air layer and reduction of carbon dioxide share in the atmosphere. An important feature of forest plantations is the prevention of soil contamination with heavy metals (HM). It occurs due to profile redistribution of HM and partial remediation of soils. The obtained data confirm this position. Reliable transformation of leached chernozems under the influence of different-age forest belts in comparison with arable soils on the territory of All-Russian Research Institute of Sugar Beet and Sugar named after A.L. Mazlumov was revealed. Forest vegetation type contributes to more sustainable ecosystems due to stabilization of humus content and its uniform distribution throughout the soil profile. Correlation analysis revealed a close relationship between content of humus, soil solution pH and the gross content, as well as the exchangeable compounds of HM. An increase in the concentration of HM in the upper layer of arable chernozem was revealed; it was caused by active emissions of exhaust gases from agricultural machinery and the application of mineral fertilizers. The design of forest belts in order to restore contaminated soils is planned in the territory of Sichuan Province (southwest China). This project needs additional research, which is planned to be carried out in the future.