The identification of plants of the genus Mentha is often difficult due to significant intraspecific polymorphism, intense interspecific hybridization, and ploidy changes. An attempt was made to apply an integrated approach to the study of different parameters of two species: Mentha arvensis L. and M. canadensis L. Eight geographically dispersed populations of Mentha in different regions (European Russia, Khakassia and Far East, Western Ukraine, and Indochina) were studied. Diagnostic morphological characters and compositions of essential oil components were examined, and DNA was analyzed with ISSR markers. The data obtained were statistically processed by cluster, principal component, and principal coordinate analyses. The European and Asian groups of samples were clearly distinguished by the analysis of quantitative parameters of the calyx and leaves, but different methods of data processing produced different results in determining the belonging of the Far Eastern plants to a particular group. Therefore, their taxonomic positions can hardly be determined on morphological grounds. According to the composition of essential oil and ISSR fragments, a group of the genetically, morphologically, and phytochemically closest plants was identified, which included representatives of the populations of the Moscow oblast, Vladimir oblast, Kaluga oblast, the Komi Republic, and Khakassia. All these plants belonged to M. arvensis. Plants collected in the natural flora of the Russian Far East showed a greater resemblance in essential oil composition and ISSR markers to the European group of M. arvensis than to plants from Indochina, which, according to the data obtained, belonged to M. сanadensis. It was shown that a comprehensive study of plant morphological characters, the compositions of essential oil, and ISSR fragments allows one to clarify the species identity and to assess their polymorphism and the degree of kinship between populations. A certain correlation between the data of molecular analysis and the composition of essential oil and, to a lesser extent, their correlation with morphological characters of plants was revealed.

In the middle of the 20th century, specialists of the Tsitsin Main Moscow Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences collected a valuable apricot gene pool characterized by high diversity and winter hardiness. From this gene pool, L.A. Kramarenko carried out selection work to develop winter-hardy apricot varieties, such as Aisberg, Vodoley, Guiani, Lel’, Tsarsky and others, which were included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation. The use of these varieties in further selective breeding requires information on their carotenoid content. In this work, we determine carotenoids in apricot (Prunus armeniaca L., Rosaceae) fruits of Moscow breeding varieties Aisberg, Vodoley, Guiani, Lel’, Tsarsky and Zachat’ievsky. We employed different extraction methods of plant raw materials, contributing to the optimal extraction of carotenoids from apricot fruits. Extraction was performed with hexane, 96% ethanol at room temperature, and EtOH heated to 60°C (water bath) for 40 min. The highest carotenoid content was observed in Lel’ (31.73 mg%) and Vodoley (31.77 mg%) varieties, while the lowest content was observed in the Zachat’ievsky sample (11.93 mg%). The application of multiple solvents increases the reliability of determining carotenoids in plants for computational and experimental studies. The discovered range of their content can be used for description of promising forms during breeding works. In this way, new and beneficial for health varieties may emerge.

Background. Apricot is one of the most popular fruit crops in the world. Central Russia belongs to the moderately cold climatic subzone of climatic zone II with the sum of effective temperatures of 1000-2200ºС. Therefore, the biological characteristics of apricot varieties for this zone must correspond to the environmental conditions of the region. Studying the process of fruit ripening of winter-hardy apricot varieties can be useful when carrying out breeding work. Purpose. To study the dynamics of the main physiological and biochemical parameters of leaves and fruits of apricot varieties of Moscow selection. Material and methods. The object of the study was the fruits and leaves of apricot varieties selected by GBS RAS (Moscow) during the formation and ripening of fruits. During the period of fruit formation (June-August), the content of mono- and polysaccharides, photosynthetic pigments - chlorophylls and carotenoids, flavonoids, as well as the HPLC method of some phenolcarboxylic acids was determined in the samples using the spectrophotometric method according to generally accepted methods. Morphometric indicators were also recorded: weight and diameter of the fruit, leaf area. Results. Varietal specificity has been established based on the studied biochemical and morphometric parameters of leaves and fruits. The largest fruits were in the Tsarsky variety, the minimum size in the selected Zachatievsky variety. A similar picture was observed for fruit diameter and leaf area. The level of chlorophylls and carotenoids in the leaves remained stable throughout the entire study period in the Tsarsky variety, the best in terms of fruit ripening and taste. In the leaves of the Tsarsky variety in June and July, the level of carotenoids was ~35% higher than in other samples. No significant varietal differences were found in the content and ratio of mono- and polysaccharides. A decrease in the level of phenols and an increase in the content of polysaccharides and carotenoids contributed to the formation of the sweet-sour taste and color of the fruit. The presence of phenols involved in the activation of protective mechanisms at all stages of fruit formation and development apparently makes it possible to overcome the negative effects of weather conditions. According to biochemical and organoleptic indicators, early ripening varieties Tsarsky and Lel are distinguished. Conclusion. The dynamics of the biochemical composition of leaves and fruits of winter-hardy apricot varieties of Moscow selection during the process of fruit formation was studied for the first time. Such data may help identify markers for selecting breeding material with adaptive capabilities to biotic and abiotic stresses in central Russia.

Morphological features and composition of ISSR DNA fragments were studied in species of the genus Tulipa L. A comparative analysis of the data obtained was carried out and an attempt was made to clarify the species belonging of plants. Plants obtained from various sources were studied. It was found that representatives of the genus Tulipa L. from the two subgenera Tulipa and Eriostemones are well separated not only morphologically, but also by the composition of ISSR fragments. At the intra- and interspecific level, the results for morphological traits and molecular data differed. Interspecific and intraspecific differences were more clearly traced in the complex analysis of morphological features and ISSR PCR data. All samples obtained in the form of bulbs and renewed vegetatively had an identical set of ISSR fragments. Plants grown from seeds were characterized by a significant variety of molecular markers and had both species-specific and in-dividual genetic variability. It was found that the samples obtained and registered as the Tulipa urumiensis Stapf are the yellow-flowered form of the Tulipa tarda Stapf, and a sample received as the Tulipa turkestanika Regel is the Tulipa bifloriformis Vved. Thus, a comprehensive study of both the data of fragmentary DNA analysis and morphological features, provided a sufficient number of DNA samples, makes it possible to clarify the species of tulip plants, and also allows us to assess the genetic diversity of the genus Tulipa.