Introduction and selection studies at the Federal Research Centre the Subtropical Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences

The paper deals with topical issues of biologization of introduced and selective studies, which represent new approaches to conservation and rational use of plant resources. An extensive gene pool of subtropical, flower and southern fruit crops has been mobilized at FRC SSC of RAS (Sochi). Bioresource collections include 2,650 cultivar samples, of which 20% are perennial herbaceous plants, 12% are bulbous and bulbotuberiferous, 11% are tree and shrub crops, 10 % are irises, 8 % are pelargoniums, 5 % are citrus crops and others. Based on the collections studies, adaptive assortments have been developed for the humid subtropics of the Russian Federation, research is continuing for a number of cultures. A special place in the Centre's research is occupied by the study of the collected species of natural flora, most of which have unique, including decorative, medicinal and other properties. The collections are the basis for conducting breeding research in various areas. Over the past 10 years, 85 cultivars of flower crops have been created (including 36 pelargoniums, 13 fruit crops, 4 hazels and 1 tea plant). Recently, much attention has been paid to the ecologization and biologization of many processes, including crop production field [1-7]. Often, these terms are understood as effective ways of using natural resources, increasing yields and sustainability mechanisms, as well as improving and restoring soil fertility, and using biological protection means. The use of biological preparations, biostimulants, low-toxic fungicides and insecticides allows us to significantly reduce the volume of chemical treatments when obtaining high yields and creating stable urban landscapes [8-13]. At first glance, biologization is mainly associated with agricultural production, but the issues of conservation and study of biodiversity are key in solving the problems of both food security and the creation of sustainable agroand urban landscapes [12, 13]. The introduction and involvement of new sustainable facilities in green construction increases not only the efficiency of using natural plant resources, but also their * Corresponding author: slepchenko@vniisubtrop.ru © The Authors, published by EDP Sciences. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). BIO Web of Conferences 34, 02009 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/20213402009 BIOLOGIZATION 2021

Recently, much attention has been paid to the ecologization and biologization of many processes, including crop production field [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Often, these terms are understood as effective ways of using natural resources, increasing yields and sustainability mechanisms, as well as improving and restoring soil fertility, and using biological protection means. The use of biological preparations, biostimulants, low-toxic fungicides and insecticides allows us to significantly reduce the volume of chemical treatments when obtaining high yields and creating stable urban landscapes [8][9][10][11][12][13].
At first glance, biologization is mainly associated with agricultural production, but the issues of conservation and study of biodiversity are key in solving the problems of both food security and the creation of sustainable agro-and urban landscapes [12,13].
The introduction and involvement of new sustainable facilities in green construction increases not only the efficiency of using natural plant resources, but also their environmental-improving, phytomeliorative and phytosanitary properties. At the present stage, a symbiosis of environmentally friendly elements of cultivation, biological means of plant protection and soil fertility improvement is used in agricultural technologies that are applied for many crops. However, special attention should be paid to the selection and allocation of a stable assortment developed and created as a result of introduction and breeding studies [14,15].
Federal Research Centre the Subtropical Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FRC SSC of RAS) preserves and maintains an extensive gene pool of bioresource collections, which includes 2,650 cultivar samples (Fig. 1). The issues of studying collections and identifying adaptive assortments are an important area of research [14][15][16][17].
Over the past 10 years, assortments have been developed for many crops, including cultivar samples adapted to the conditions of humid subtropics. Among subtropical crops, cultivars of oriental kaki persimmon, feijoa and kiwifruit have been studied and proposed for cultivation. Research is being conducted on the selection of peach and pear cultivars. An assortment of citrus crops for amateur citrus farming has been offered. flower crops is carried out in order to create productive, original, highly decorative and environmentally sustainable cultivars that bloom at different times. Over the past 10 years, the Centre has created more than 100 cultivars of the studied crops (Fig. 2). Feijoa cultivars 'Dachnaya', 'Dagomysskaya', 'Sentyabrskaya, which have high yields, resistance to diseases and pests, and different maturation periods, as well as kaki persimmon cultivar 'MVG Omarova' with high winter hardiness have been created for further expansion to more northern regions. Cultivars of the rare fruit crop called papaw, which have no analogues of cultivation, have been bred. The cultivars of thermophilic freesia created in the Centre are adapted to the extreme (for this crop) conditions in the humid subtropics of Russia, they are cultivated in indoor structures without additional heating. Resistant, highly decorative cultivars of crown anemone have been obtained for various uses, both for cutting and for use in landscaping. Pelargonium selection is carried out in the Centre with different sections of this genus and in different directions. Highly ornamental cultivars of large flower pelargonium bred by the Centre differ in various colours, in terms and duration of flowering, as well as in size of plants (from short to tall). Cultivars of crisped-leaf pelargonium are diverse in terms of growth strength, abundance and duration of flowering and aroma.
A special place in the Centre's research is occupied by the study of the collected species of natural flora, most of which have unique, including decorative, medicinal and other properties. More than 35 % of the species have various rare statuses, 10 species are endemic, 15 are relict, 5 are both endemic and relict.
Thus, the genetic diversity of fruit, ornamental and wild-growing species concentrated in the FRC SSC of RAS is focused on the conservation and maintenance of biodiversity and creation of new resistant cultivars, as well as on the introduction and development of strategies for the conservation of unique, rare and endemic plant species.