Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.), originally a forest plant, is currently in need of improvement of clonal micropropagation technologies. It is known that the large percentage of propagated plants can be lost or damaged, not only at the stage of acclimatization to non-sterile conditions, but also during the growing completion stage. In fact, successful ex vitro regeneration of such plants is determined by their ability to produce new shoots that can adapt to new cultivation conditions. The lighting and ratio of nutrients under ex vitro conditions play an important role in the development of the plants’ photosynthetic capacity. The research revealed that LED grow lighting has a positive effect on the development of ex vitro plants of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) cv. Brigitta Blue, only at the initial stages of growing in 0.5-L containers. The results obtained have improved our understanding of lighting and mineral fertilizer’s impact on the development of ex vitro plants of the highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) cv. Brigitta Blue in greenhouse conditions. This can be useful for providing blueberry planting stock and commercial use for large scale production.

The use of tank mixtures of pesticides makes it possible to increase the efficiency of chemical treatment. The aim of the study was to establish the relationship between the joint use of pesticides and the rate of decomposition of active substances. The study was carried out on the crops of spring wheat, spring barley, peas, spring rapeseed, seed potato. Chemical treatments were carried out with insecticides and fungicides – the insecticide (imidacloprid and λ-cyhalothrin), suspension concentrate; the fungicide (propiconazole), emulsifiable concentrate; the insecticide (imidacloprid), soluble concentrate; the fungicide (copper sulfate tribasic), suspension concentrate. Determination of residual amounts of active substances of pesticides was carried out using methods of gas-liquid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. The acceleration of decomposition of the active substance - imidacloprid on pea crops and spring rapeseed was caused by the combined use of the insecticide (imidacloprid) and the fungicide (propiconazole). The use of the fungicide (copper sulfate tribasic) in a tank mixture with the insecticide (imidacloprid and λ-cyhalothrin) on potatoes caused a slowdown in the decomposition of the active substances imidacloprid and λ-cyhalothrin. Also, there was a change in the level of intake by plant of active substances in the first three hours after spraying, when using tank mixtures, in comparison with the separate use of compounds. The data obtained on the change in the rate of decomposition of active substances of pesticides, when they are used together in mixtures, indicate the need to continue research in this area. In this regard, it is important to study the dynamics of the decomposition of individual active substances of pesticides in plant tissues when they are used in tank mixtures, it is also necessary to conduct research using compounds most commonly used in agricultural production.

Blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea var. kamtschatica Sevast.) is a valuable berry crop with a unique biochemical composition. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, and biologically active substances. Different species and cultivars of honeysuckle require different cultivation conditions in the field of accelerated reproduction in vitro. Taking into account the high clonal replication potential of the plant, we conducted research on the chelated-iron form’s influence on the micropropagation productivity of the blue honeysuckle “Lulia” cultivar at the multiplication, rooting, and subsequent acclimatization stages of microplants. In a preliminary study, five types of iron chelates were tested with carboxyl- and phosphorus-containing ligands: Fe(III)-EDTA, Fe(III)-DTPA, Fe(III)-EDDHA, Fe(III)-HEDP, and Fe(II)-HEDP. Each type of iron chelate was applied at four concentrations: standard, decreased by 2 times, and increased by 1.5 times and 2 times in the basic Murashige and Skoog (MS) nutrient medium. It was found that the blue honeysuckle “Lulia” had a selectivity to the type of iron chelate that was used. The nutrient-medium modifications with iron chelates, which caused the plant response, contributed to a significant improvement in the plant’s physiological status and increased its survival rate during the microplant’s acclimation to the nonsterile conditions stage. At the rooting stage, an increase in the rooting rate of up to 100% (Fe (III)-EDDHA), an increase in the number of shoots by 1.5–2 times, and an increase in the number of roots by 1.4–1.9 times were observed. The positive effect of the iron’s chelated forms was also observed at the acclimation stage. According to the results of the research, the most suitable iron forms for clonal micropropagation of blue honeysuckle were carboxyl-containing Fe(III)-EDDHA and phosphonate-containing Fe(II)-HEDP. Moreover, the effectiveness of both complexonates was confirmed in a wide concentration range: Fe(III)-EDDHA from (×1.0) to (×2.0), and Fe(II)-HEDP from (×0.5) up to (×1.5).

The study considered the use of soil herbicides: Begin Turbo, KS; Dual Gold, KE; Euro-Lighting, VRK; Command, KE; Pivot, VK; Proponite, KE; Zenkor Ultra, KS and partially soil action: Demetra, KE, and Dialen Super, KS. We conducted a comparative assessment of the biological effectiveness of the studied herbicides against the main species of weeds present in the experimental plots, annual and perennial dicotyledonous, annual cereal weeds. The effect of soil herbicide treatments on the physiological state of plants of apple, pear, walnut, and black currant was studied. The effect of the use of the studied drugs on the yield of protected crops for three years was evaluated. The tests proved the applicability of soil herbicides in nursery, production gardens, as well as on seedlings with a closed root system. The tested products, despite the principle of their action - penetration into weeds through the soil, did not harm the protected crops, no negative effect on the growth of trees and shrubs was recorded. The study revealed no evidence that drugs had a negative impact on fruit and berry crop productivity. There are suggestions for improving the efficacy of using soil herbicides when planting fruit and berry crops.

Timeliness. Currently, the Russian Federation has a high demand in healthy planting material of garden strawberries. The benefits of using fertilizers when growing strawberry seedlings have been proven by numerous studies. However, a comparative study of the effect of new fertilizers and methods of their application is very limited. In this regard, studies aimed at identifying the effectiveness of the use of prolonged-acting fertilizers in the production of garden strawberry planting material in protected soil conditions are relevant.Methods. Adapted to non-sterile conditions, ex vitro healthy garden strawberry plants were planted in a peat substrate of Veltorf LLC (recipe No. 5c/2) with the addition of Pg mix starter fertilizer with the structure NPK 14-16-18 + microelements (1.5 g/l of substrate). At the same time, prolonged-acting fertilizers were introduced into the substrate in the recommended concentrations: FertiPro Gran 1M (1.25 g/l of substrate), Ruscote 5-6M (3.0 g/l of substrate), Basacote Plus 6M (4.0 g/l of substrate), control peat substrate without fertilizers, PG mix standard.Results. It has been established that for the Karmen crop with an average runner-forming ability, the effectiveness of applying FertiPro Gran 1M fertilizer to the substrate was revealed, with the use of which, on the 180th day of cultivation, the number of runners and rosettes increases by 3.5–3.8 times compared to the control. At the same time, the yield of marketable seedlings is 95% compared to 70% in the control. For the Jūnija smaids crop with a high vine-forming ability, the effectiveness of all experimental variants with the application of FertiPro Gran 1M, Ruscote and Basacote Plus fertilizers to the substrate was revealed, with the use of which, on the 180th day of cultivation, the number of runners and rosettes increases by 1,9-2,5 times compared to the control. At the same time, the yield of marketable seedlings is 94-96% compared to 65% in the control.Conclusion. The introduction of long–acting fertilizers FertiPro Gran, Ruscote and Basacote Plus into the peat substrate with the addition of Pg mix starter fertilizer allowed a 2.3 – 3.8-fold increase in the number of runners obtained and 1.9-3.5-fold increase in the number of sockets obtained compared to the control without fertilizers.

Relevance. The increase in global production of garden strawberry fruit is due to the high demand for the products for fresh consumption and as raw material for processing. The leading countries are: PRC, USA, Turkey, Egypt, Mexico, Spain, Russia, Poland, South Korea, Brazil. Increase in production volumes is provided due to high productivity of new varieties and intensification of strawberry cultivation technologies and, in particular, plant nutrition. The possibility of managing the nutrition of garden strawberry plants is one of the priority tasks from the solution of which depends on the realization of the potential of plant productivity, as well as the quality of the resulting products The role of many macroand microelements in plant nutrition is not fully understood. Numerous studies are conducted to identify the mechanisms of their absorption and movement in strawberry plants. New forms of fertilizers are being studied, allowing to effectively influence the processes of growth and development of plants, minimize the impact on the environment.Results. The article is devoted to the review of the role of the main mineral macroand microelements in plant nutrition, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, silicon, molybdenum. Based on the analysis of literary sources, the influence of certain mineral elements on physiological processes associated with the growth and development of garden strawberries is considered. The data on reaction of plants to the optimal content, excess and deficiency of certain elements, possibilities of their receipt and assimilation by plants of garden strawberries are given. Application in practice of the world experience on management of mineral nutrition can significantly improve the existing technologies of strawberry cultivation in open and protected ground.