T. N. Grunina

Manifestation of economically valuable characteristics of crop varieties is significantly influenced by the weather and climatic conditions of the cultivation region. The purpose of this study is to analyze variability of productivity and biochemical characteristics of Salvia sclarea cultivars selected by the Research Institute of Agriculture of Crimea in the Foothills of Crimea conditions. The study was conducted over a period of eight years (2018-2025) in the scientific crop rotation of the essential-oil crops breeding and seed production center at the Research Institute of Agriculture in Crimea located in the Foothills of Crimea in accordance with the developed methodological recommendations. The study used C785, Krymskiy Pozdniy, Taygan and Orfey cultivars. It was shown that the highest productivity can be expected under conditions of moderately high temperatures and sufficient rainfall during the growing season of two-year-old plants. Thus, in the most favorable conditions during the study period in 2022, the yield of inflorescences ranged from 227,5±14,2 to 292,9±11,3 c/ha and the potential yield of essential oil ranged from 59,5±0,9 to 77,3±13,9 kg/ha. The minimum and maximum values are provided for Orfei and Taigan cultivars respectively. The content of the essential oil main component (linalyl acetate) was also recorded for most cultivars in 2022-year conditions, reaching up to 66,3±0,4 % for the Orfei variety. As for sklareol, its maximum content in raw materials and potential yield were recorded in the extremely hot and dry conditions of 2025 year: 3,27±0,3 (Taigan) - 4,08±1,0 % (C 785) and 13,1±2,4 (Krymsky Pozdny) – 18,5±3,8 kg/ha (C 785) respectively. The main factor affecting formation of productivity and biochemical indicators in Salvia sclarea is weather conditions during active vegetation period of the plants in the second year of vegetation. The conditions of plant development in the first year of vegetation are also important for the formation of the main indicators. The information obtained will allow for the prediction of the main economically valuable indicators in specific conditions of Salvia sclarea growing.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), a valuable essential oil plant, is cultivated mainly in the south of Russia. A comparative analysis of productivity parameters and biochemical indicators of 'Mertsishor' and 'Oksamit Cryma' fennel cultivars bred by the Research Institute of Agriculture of Crimea was conducted in the conditions of the Crimean piedmont and Belgorod region from 2022 to 2024. The aim of the research was to investigate prospects of fennel cultivation in Belgorod region. Analysis of main indicators was carried out according to the developed methodologies in a small-plot experiment (plots were three-row, row length – 5 m, row spacing width – 0.7 m, plot area – 9 m², with three replications). On average over the years of the research the yield of the 'Mertsishor' and 'Oksamit Cryma' cultivars in the first year of vegetation was significantly lower under conditions of Belgorod region (0.22–0.28 t/ha) than in the piedmont zone of Crimea (0.55–0.42 t/ha, respectively). Average essential oil content in fruits of both cultivars in most cases did not differ significantly between regions, nor did content of the main essential oil components – anethole (68.1–71.5 %) and fenchone (11.7–15.6 %) which meets requirements of GOST 3902-82. However essential oil yield of the 'Oksamit Cryma' and 'Mertsishor' cultivars was significantly lower (1.6 and 2.9 times, respectively, P ≤ 0.05) in Belgorod region (12.8–15.2 kg/ha). Comparative data on productivity of the second-year plants across two ecological locations could only be obtained for a single test year as plants in the Belgorod region perished during winter of 2022-2023. Fruit yield of the studied cultivars in 2024 (0.51–0.72 t/ha in the Crimean piedmont and 0.90–0.92 t/ha in Belgorod region) as well as essential oil yield (31.6–38.5 and 44.4–51.6 kg/ha, respectively) were higher in two-year-old plants. Results of the ecological trials for these fennel cultivars do not support their recommendation for cultivation in Belgorod region due to a high probability of plant loss during winter and low first-year productivity