High Frost Research Articles

Biological features of common persimmon (Diospyros virginiana L.)

The article presents the results of long-term observations on the biology of common persimmon. Both positive and negative properties of this specie are given. Phenological indicators are provided: bud swelling, appearance of the first leaves, budding, flowering, fruit ripening. Diospyros virginiana L. is a hexaploid (2n = 90), however, it should be noted that along with the hexaploid race there is also a tetraploid one (2n = 60). Plants of this species are mainly dioecious, the flowers are bisexual. The flowering phase takes place in the first decade of June, which is one to two weeks later than that of the Eastern and Caucasian persimmons. The percentage of useful ovary is quite high and makes 27-29%. The fruit is smaller in size than the eastern persimmon, but three to four times larger than the Caucasian one. They have a spherical or conical shape, ranging in size from two to five cm in diameter. In a solid state, the fruits are very tart, but ripe fruits are very sweet, the sugar content reaches 20%. The ripening period is one and a half months. The number of seeds in the fruits is three to five pieces, they are larger in comparison with the seeds of the Caucasian persimmon. Diospyros virginiana L. is mainly found in the wild in the USA, where it is used as a rootstock on heavy, swampy soils for cultivated varieties of eastern persimmon, as it easily tolerates the proximity of groundwater, temporary flooding and river floods. In the Russian Federation, it is practically not used, since it is inferior in yield to plants grafted on Caucasian persimmon and forms a lot of growth. A great advantage of the common persimmon is its winter hardiness, it is much higher than that of cultivated varieties. It tolerates a drop in temperature to minus 25–280 С without any damage. In breeding, it is used to obtain varieties with high frost resistance to expand the cultivation area and move to more northern regions.

The results of breeding work with the winter bread wheat for non-fallow forecrops in the Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”

The breeding work with the winter bread wheat in the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” is being carried out taking into account the increasing aridity of the local climate, the availability of different soil and climatic zones, various forecrops. Every year in the Rostov region there is an increase in the sown area under winter wheat. So, in 2020 the grain crop was sown on more than 2.6 million hectares. Most of it is sown after such non-fallow forecrops as peas, maize, sunflower and other crops. In this regard, it is important to develop and introduce into production winter bread wheat varieties based according to these forecrops. The laboratory for breeding and seed production of winter bread wheat of half-intensive type was established in 1978. For the period from 1978 to 2019, 36 varieties were developed in the laboratory and sent to the State Variety Testing. The main task of the crop breeding for non-fallow forecrops was and still remains to develop highly productive varieties with high frost resistance, drought resistance, heat resistance, resistance to major diseases and grain quality of strong and valuable wheat. In 2020 22 winter bread wheat varieties, developed in the laboratory, have been included into the State List of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation. Currently five winter bread wheat varieties ‘Polina’, ‘Ambar’, ‘Niva Dona’, ‘Podarok Krymu’ and ‘Premiera’ are undergoing the State Variety Testing. There is still going on the work on the development of new winter bread wheat varieties that meet modern production requirements, with a wide ecological adaptability and stability of productivity and quality of grain and flour.

Freezing tolerance of bread winter wheat and its relation with morphological features

In recent years there have been significant changes in weather conditions during wheat growth and development. The aim of the study was to establish the relationship between the level of freezing tolerance of bread winter wheat varieties and their morphological features. The study was conducted during 2016–2019 at the V.M. Remeslo Myronivka Institute of Wheat. 19 bread winter wheat varieties bred at Myronivka were studied. Freezing tolerance of plants was determined according to DSTU 4749:2007 which based on freezing wheat plants in chambers at -18 ºC and -20 ºC with pre-hardening in the open field. The high-frost-tolerant wheat variety Myronivska 808 was used as standard of freezing tolerance. Statistical data processing was performed according to Fisher’s test. Morphological condition of plants was estimated in autumn after vegetation dormancy onset and in spring after its restoration according to the F.M. Kuperman method. The research years were characterized by contrasting weather conditions. It was found that the most bread winter wheat varieties bred at Myronivka have high and medium level of freezing tolerance. Over the years of the research, the elongation of apical cone in the standard variety Myronivska 808 varied from 0.01 to 0.42 mm. In the varieties studied, the elongation of apical cone ranged within 0–0.10 mm (2016– 17), 0.35–0.68 (2017–18) and 0.03–0.32 mm (2018–19). According to the assessment of freezing tolerance, there have been identified valuable bread winter wheat varieties with percent of viable plants over the years of the research exceeding standard variety Myronivska 808 or being at the same level. The varieties MIP Kniazhna, Trudivnytsia myronivska, Lehenda Myronivska, Estafeta myronivska, Vezha myronivska, MIP Dniprianka, MIP Assol were high frost tolerant ones. On average, over the years of the research the varieties MIP Kniazhna, Trudivnytsia myronivska, Lehenda Myronivska, Estafeta myronivska, Vezha myronivska, MIP Dniprianka, and MIP Assol had elongation of apical cone at the level of the Myronivska 808 variety. The variation of the strength and direction of connections between the level of frost resistance and morphological indicators (plant height, length of the growth cone) determined at the time of termination and restoration of winter wheat vegetation was established. Key words: winter wheat, varieties, freezing tolerance, growth, development, apical cone.

Оценка уровня адаптации лиан к воздействию неблагоприятных факторов среды в условиях г. Саратова

The article is devoted to the actual topic of expansion of assortment of lianas in vertical gardening in Saratov by the use of introduced species of tree lianas from the Far East. Currently, the studied species: Actinidia arguta; Actinidia kolomikta; Ampelopsis aconitifolia; Schisandra chinensis; Menispermum dauricum — have been distributed in individual land use areas mainly as food crops. It is noted that the far Eastern species of lianas differ in a significant amplitude of biological tolerance of adaptation, have high frost resistance and immunity against diseases. The reason for including these species in the prospective assortment for use in urban plantations is given taking into account a comprehensive assessment of their drought resistance, heat resistance, and resistance to anthropogenic impact. All species are resistant to high summer air temperatures and insufficient humidity, which is typical for the climate of Saratov. The assessment of gas resistance of lianas is given in comparison with the results of studies previously conducted with respect to other species, which allows us to determine possible combinations of plants on landscaping sites. Ranking of species showed that the studied Far Eastern species of lianas have high and medium gas resistance. The obtained data give reason to recommend the studied lianas for use in plantings of various categories in Saratov, depending on the availability of care and air quality. To prevent damage to leaves and shoots by drought, as well as to improve the gas resistance of plants, it is recommended to conduct agro-measures that improve the water-air and food regime of soils in the growing areas.

Changes in the polyphenoloxidase activity in the leaves of Olea europaea during the cold period on the Southern Coast of the Crimea

Changes in the polyphenoloxidase activity in the leaves of four cultivars and one subspecies of Olea europaea L. were studied during the cold periods of 2016-2019 years on the Southern Coast of the Crimea. Nikitskaya cultivar was used as a model of high frost resistance, while Correggiolo cultivar and the subspecies O. europaea subsp. cuspidata were models of low frost resistance. It was found out that the polyphenoloxidase activity depends on weather conditions during a particular cold period and it almost independent of the degree of frost resistance of the studied genotypes.

Evaluation of protective and adaptive responses of fruit crops to temperature stress during winter-spring period (on the example of the varieties peach in the Krasnodar Territory)

Work was carried out to evaluate the protective and adaptive reactions of fruit crops to the temperature stresses of the winter-spring period (using peach varieties as an example in the Krasnodar Territory). Peach is one of the most demanding crops for temperature stresses of the winter-spring period. The levels of destructive air temperatures (ºС) for fl owering buds of 3 peach varieties were elaborated: Collins, a medium frost resistance; Favourite Morretini, an Italian variety of low frost resistance; Sochny, a variety of breeding Nikita Botanical Gardens with high frost resistance in phases of winter-spring development. The study covers two long periods (1985-2000 and 2001-2019) in three horticultural zones of the Krasnodar Territory – the Kuban horticultural zone (Krasnodar weather station), Piedmont zone (Goryachy Klyuch weather station), Steppe zone (Tikhoretsk weather station). The manifestations of destructive low temperatures were revealed for each analyzed variety for each period in each studied horticultural zone. The reactions of varieties to destructive temperature stresses of the winterspring period in time and space of the Krasnodar Territory are shown. It has been established that against the background of exposure to environmental limiting factors (low temperatures in the winter-spring period) in the development of fl ower buds of peach varieties under conditions of climate fl uctuations, there’s a change going on in the spectra (sets) of gene products that determine the one and the same quantitative trait – frost resistance, which leads to change the ranks of varieties on this basis. It was determined that in the present time, Sochny variety should be placed in the Kuban, Piedmont and Steppe zones. Favourite Morretini and Collins can be successfully grown in Kuban zone. The results of the research allowed us to make recommendations on the rational placement of peach varieties, taking into account their protective and adaptive reactions to the stresses of the winter-spring period.

Disturbances in the Biosynthesis or Signalling of Brassinosteroids That Are Caused by Mutations in the HvDWARF, HvCPD and HvBRI1 Genes Increase the Tolerance of Barley to the Deacclimation Process

Tolerance to deacclimation is an important physiological feature in plants in the face of global warming, which is resulting in incidents of increases in winter temperatures. The aim of the work was to explore how disturbances in the signalling and synthesis of brassinosteroids (BR) influence the deacclimation tolerance of barley. One group of mutants and their reference cultivars (Bowman and Delisa) was cold-acclimated, deacclimated and then tested for frost tolerance at − 12 °C. After cold acclimation, the second group of plants was additionally exposed to frost (− 6 °C) and then, deacclimated and tested for frost tolerance at − 12 °C. The deacclimated brassinosteroid mutants were characterised by an increased tolerance to frost, and consequently, had a higher tolerance to deacclimation than their wild-type cultivars. The mechanism of this phenomenon may be partly explained by analysing the hormonal homeostasis in the crowns. For all of the tested plants, a characteristic feature of the response to the deacclimation phase was an increase in the growth-promoting hormones and abscisic acid compared to the cold acclimation phase. The increase was greater in the BR-deficient (BW084) and BR-insensitive (BW312) mutants compared to the Bowman reference cultivar. Mutant 522DK was characterised by a lower accumulation of total cytokinins and gibberellins as well as an enhanced auxin deactivation compared to the Delisa. In the second group, when the plants were exposed to a temperature of − 6 °C before deacclimation, the hormonal homeostasis was further altered in both the mutants and reference cultivars, but all of the mutants had a higher frost tolerance than the wild types.

Physiological and Biochemical Aspects of Frost Resistance in Оlea europaea L.

The results of studies on the frost resistance of Olea europaea L. varieties and its subspecies O. europaea subsp. cuspidata (Wall. and G. Don) Cif. under the conditions of the Southern Coast of Crimea (SCC), as well as the influence of temperature close to the absolute minimum value (–15°С) on the state of the photosynthetic apparatus, catalase activity, polyphenol oxidase, and the content of proline and phenolic compounds, are shown. It was established that a relatively high frost resistance is characteristic of the Nikitskaya variety under the conditions of the SCC. Varieties Ascoliano, Coregiolo, and Razzo turned out to be slightly frost-resistant. Minimum resistance was detected in the subspecies O. europaea subsp. cuspidata. The temperature of –15°C led to irreversible disruptions in the photosynthetic apparatus of weak varieties Razzo, Coregiolo and O. europaea subsp. cuspidata, which manifested in a significant decrease in photosynthetic activity immediately after the end of low-temperature exposure (by 80.19, 50.0, and 89.78%, respectively) as well as a fluorescence decay coefficient below the vital norm. After 24 h, a slowdown in the decrease in the parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence induction (CFI) was noted in the Ascoliano and Nikitskaya varieties. It was revealed that negative temperatures contribute to a decrease in the activity of catalase in weakly resistant O. europaea genotypes (by 40–60% on average) in contrast to the frost-resistant variety Nikitskaya, in which the activity of this enzyme remained almost unchanged. The change in polyphenol oxidase activity was multidirectional. In the Razzo and Coregiolo varieties, an increase in polyphenol oxidase activity was noted (19 and 24%, respectively). A decrease (by 8 and 37%, respectively) was noted in the subspecies O. europaea subsp. cuspidata and Nikitskaya variety. It was shown that, under the influence of negative temperatures, representatives of O. europaea decrease proline concentration in leaf tissues (by 17–55%). The most significant changes were detected in the variety Coregiolo (by 45.09%). The total content of phenolic compounds decreased in all weakly frost-resistant varieties and O. europaea subsp. cuspidata by 7–42% and remained unchanged in the frost-resistant variety Nikitskaya. It has been established that negative temperatures cause irreversible changes in the photosynthetic apparatus in weakly resistant representatives of O. europaea. The correlation of the degree of frost resistance of the studied genotypes with the activity of catalase and with the content of proline and phenolic compounds in leaf tissues was revealed.

Optimizing genotype-environment-management interactions to ensure silage maize production in the Chinese Maize Belt

Grain maize production exceeds the demand for grain maize in China. Methods for harvesting good-quality silage maize urgently need a theoretical basis and reference data in order to ensure its benefits to farmers. However, research on silage maize is limited, and very few studies have focused on its energetic value and quality. Here, we calibrated the CERES-Maize model for 24 cultivars with 93 field experiments and then performed a long-term (1980-2017) simulation to optimize genotype-environment-management (G-E-M) interactions in the 4 main agroecological zones across China. We found that CERES-Maize could reproduce the growth and development of maize well under various management and weather conditions with a phenology bias of <5 d and biomass relative root mean square error values of <5%. The simulated results showed that sowing long-growth-cycle cultivars approximately 10 d in advance could yield good-quality silage. The optimal sowing dates (from late May to July) and harvest dates (from early October to mid-November) gradually became later from north to south. A high-energy yield was expected when sowing at an early date and/or with late-maturing cultivars. We found that Northeast China and the North China Plain were potential silage maize growing areas, although these areas experienced a medium or even high frost risk. Southwestern maize experienced a low risk level, but the low soil fertility limited the attainable yield. The results of this paper provide information for designing an optimal G×E×M strategy to ensure silage maize production in the Chinese Maize Belt.

ПОВЫШЕНИЕ ПРОЧНОСТИ И МОРОЗОСТОЙКОСТИ КЕРАМИЧЕСКИХ ИЗДЕЛИЙ ПРИ ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИИ МЕЛАССНОЙ БАРДЫ В КАЧЕСТВЕ ПЛАСТИФИЦИРУЮЩЕЙ ДОБАВКИ

ways of production of ceramic materials with use as the plasticizing additive of the sulphitic and alcohol bards (SAB), the calcium citrate filtrate (CCF) which is liquid withdrawal of production of citric acid in the microbiological way are known. However introduction to raw mix of CoB reduces forming humidity and fall of the formed products insufficiently, and an essential lack of FTsK is the low durability of products on compression with a big volume mass of samples.
 In work the possibility of use as the plasticizing additive to a clay lot of withdrawal of the spirit industry – melasses bards is investigated. As a part of molasses the remains of amino acids and other organic substances which have the plasticizing effect on clay materials contain. On the example of natural clays of three various fields the plasticizing action melasses bards is proved, and the number of plasticity of the studied clays increases in direct ratio to increase in additive melassny bards in clay raw mix. It is shown that introduction to raw mix melasses bards leads to improvement of appearance of pottery, decrease in jointing, increase in durability for Veselovsky clay for 7%, for the Oryol clay for 67%, for Bessonovskaya – for 23%.
 Research of the received ceramic samples on frost resistance according to requirements of GOST bards unlike the products which aren’t containing additive bards showed high frost resistance of products with additive melass. Also lowered decrease in durability and loss of mass of the samples containing additive melassny bards is noted

Perspective apple clonal rootstocks for intensive orchards

Breeding work in the Michurinsk State Agrarian University (MSAU) is based on one of the eff ective strategies for producing high-quality planting material for establishment of intensive perennial fruit plantations – the use of apple varieties and clone stocks that are highly resistant to extreme factors and immune to diseases. As a result of many years of breeding work, the MSAU is the originator of 24 forms of clonal stocks (out of 46 forms allowed for cultivation in the Russian Federation) and the patent holder of 8 stocks. In 2018, 4 apple clonal rootstocks (70-20-20, 70-20-21, 71-7-22, 75- 1-62) were included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements admitted to cultivation on the territory of the Russian Federation. The main requirements for apple stocks for intensive orchards are high resistance to major environmental factors; suitability for intensive types of orchards; increased resistance to pathogens; good ability to vegetative propagation; lack of root shoots in the orchard; increase of productivity, early fruited varieties, quality of fruits. The advantages of planting material of apple trees on weak clonal rootstocks of the MSAU breeding are established: high compatibility of rootstocks with the best zoned and promising apple varieties; high frost resistance and winter hardiness of the root system, withstanding up to -16 °С – there are no foreign analogues on this basis; high resistance of stocks to the bacterial burn (unlike most foreign stocks); accelerated entry into fruiting, the onset of the period of commodity bearing fruit in the orchard on the 3rd ... 5th year; high productivity of commercial apple plantings in the conditions of Central Russia – an average of 25 to 40-50 tons / ha. For widespread introduction into production, the most studied clonal stocks of the MSAU breeding are recommended in Russia and in many countries of the world: the Paradizka Budagovsky (dwarf), 62-396 (half-dwarf), 54-118 (medium-sized). To increase the productivity and the resistance of plants and the eff ectiveness of Russian horticulture as a whole, it is necessary to create mother nurseries of apple rootstocks, free from harmful viral infections (repositories).

Применение золополимерных смесей в строительстве лесовозных дорог

The construction of forest roads is one of the priority issues of the forest industry. The underdeveloped forest road network does not allow the use of forest resources, which are situated too far from the civil roads because of lower profitability. Expanding the forest road infrastructure will allow to increase mobility as well as profitability of resource extraction. Forest roads are expensive. This is due to the high cost of road construction materials and long distance of their delivery. One of the latest ways of cost reduction of road construction materials is the use of industrial wastes. A study was carried out in order to obtain a pavement layer with high physical and mechanical properties and a relatively low cost from industrial wastes for the problem solving. Household high-pressure polyethylene is used as a binder in the mixture, and ash from incineration of sewage sludge is used as filler. A coagulation-condensation structure is formed due to the use of plastic in the mixture; herewith the material is characterized by high strength and frost resistance. The study has a scientific novelty as the issues of polyethylene adhesion with various fillers are poorly known. Recycled polymers (crushed polyethylene, fraction 1.5–2.5 mm) were used as a structure-forming component. Ash from the sewage sludge incineration obtained at the SUE «Vodokanal of St. Petersburg» was used as the filler material. According to the test results, a material with the following parameters was obtained: the compression resistance of 170.63–552.08 MPa, the elastic modulus of 322–1022 MPa, water absorption within 1 %; that allows using the material in the forest road construction. This material can be used as an application for reinforcing the pavement layer in the forest road construction on weak soils. The use of the obtained material in forest road construction will expand the forest road infrastructure by cost reduction. The studies of the Department of Industrial Transport of the Saint-Petersburg State Forest Technical University show that the high physical and mechanical parameters will increase the service life of forest roads and hence the time between overhauls. These aspects have a positive effect on the profitability of the forest road construction.For citation: Minaev А.N., Zubova О.V., Kulik D.М., Siletskiy V.V., Lugovov V.I. Application of Ash-Polymer Mixtures in the Construction of Forest Roads. Lesnoy Zhurnal [Russian Forestry Journal], 2020, no. 3, pp. 106–116. DOI: 10.37482/0536-1036-2020-3-106-116

Nanotehnologija the use of Aluminium-containing Raw Materials in the Petrochemical Industry to Produce High -performance Brick

The reduction in the reserves of traditional natural raw materials makes us look for new ways to replace it with different types of waste. At the same time, the costs of exploration, construction and operation of quarries are excluded, and significant land plots are exempt from the impact of negative anthropogenic factors. The experience of advanced foreign countries has shown the technical feasibility of this direction and its application as a tool for protecting the natural environment from pollution. On the basis of inter-shale clay and high-alumina nanotehnologija raw materials petrochemical spent catalyst IM-2201 NovoKuibyshev petrochemical plant derived ceramic brick with high physical-mechanical properties without the use of traditional natural materials. Using nanotechnogenic petrochemicals - spent catalyst IM-2201, containing more than 70% A12O3, a ceramic brick was obtained that corresponds to the M200 brand. It is possible to build load-bearing walls of the lower floors of high-rise buildings (15 floors or more) from M200 ceramic bricks. Innovative proposals for the use of industrial waste: interslant clay and spent catalyst in the production of high-strength ceramic earthquake-resistant bricks with high strength and frost resistance have been developed. The absolute advantage of using multi-tonnage waste of the spent IM-2201 catalyst and inter-shale clay for the waste of oil shale is the unloading of the environmental situation.

Stable microstructure of hardened cement paste – A guarantee of the durability of concrete

One of the main problems in modern concrete science is the low durability of reinforced concrete structures and constructions, especially those located in harsh climatic conditions and saturated with marine or mineralized water. Existing standards guide designers and builders to increase the density of concrete with increasing degree of aggressive impact, as well as through cyclical freezing of concrete structures, which taken as the main indicator of durability, air entrainment is mandatory. The problem is not only the provision of high frost resistance of concrete, but also finding a method of controlling it, which, as a rule, takes quite a long time. The destruction of concrete during cyclical freezing occurs not only due to the formation of ice in the pores of concrete, but also as a result of temperature stresses in concrete with ice, as well as the washing out of portlandite and aging of the cement gel – the main structural element of hardened cement paste. This means that the durability of the concrete can be ensured by maintaining the finely dispersed structure of the hardened cement paste, preventing crystallization of the gel from external influences or increasing its basicity. It is shown that only water reduction and pozzolanization, which provides residual portlandite content in Portland cement concrete stone 2–5 % by weight ensure the achievement of increased durability of concrete, reinforced concrete structures and constructions. A method is proposed to assess the stability of hydrate phases as well as the relationship between the durability and frost resistance of concrete.

Potential of resistance of ornamental apple varieties and forms to low temperatures

Using the method of artificial freezing, the analysis of frost resistance of annual shoots of varieties, forms and species of ornamental apple trees in the middle of winter was carried out. The purpose of work was to evaluate the genotypes of apple trees in the ornamental genetic collection of the Michurin Federal Scientific Center on maximum frost resistance. Freezing was carried out at a temperature of –40°C after standard hardening –5°C and –10°C (each stage for five days). The rate of temperature decrease was 5°C per hour. After reaching the required temperature, the shoots were frozen for 18 hours. Genotypes with maximum resistance to temperature drop to -40 °C were identified. This is the variety of Jay Darling, who is not marked by defeats of the wood. The Royalty variety is characterized by resistance to low temperatures at the control level Antonovka Оbyknovennaya. The academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences N. I. Savelev obtained promising genotypes of ornamental apple trees using the frost-resistant Yakutskaya I form and columnar seedlings with high aesthetic value. A high degree of resistance was found in columnar ornamental forms 7 II-69 and 7 II-67 — wood damage did not exceed 0.4 points. Relatively high frost resistance with a degree of wood damage from 1.1 to 2.0 points was recorded in the species M. transitoria , selected seedlings 7 I-103, 7 II-68, 7 II-72, 7 II-58, 7 I-31 and in variety Professor Sprenger. The degree of freezing of the buds in all studied genotypes did not exceed 1.0 points, which indicates that the temperature -40 о С in the middle of winter was not critical for them. The selected genotypes can be successfully used in gardening and used in further breeding.

Frost Risk Management in Chickpea Using a Modelling Approach

Post-flowering frosts cause appreciable losses to the Australian chickpea industry. The Northern Grains Region (NGR) of Australia, which accounts for nearly 95% of chickpea production in Australia, is frequently subjected to such events. The objective of this study was to map frost risk in chickpea in the NGR and develop strategies to minimise the impacts of such risk. The Agricultural Production System Simulator (APSIM) modelling framework was used to determine spatial and temporal trends in post-flowering frost risk. The NGR could be divided into six broad sub-regions, each delineating locations with similar frost risk. The risk was nearly two to three times greater in the Southern Downs and Darling Downs sub-regions as compared to the Central Queensland Highlands, Dawson Callide, New South Wales, and Northern New South Wales–Western Downs sub-regions. There was an increasing trend in the frequency of frost events in the Southern Downs and New South Wales sub-regions, and a decreasing trend in the Central Queensland Highlands and Dawson Callide sub-regions, consistent with the changing climate of the NGR. In each sub-region, frost risk declined with delayed sowings, but such sowings resulted in simulation of reduced water limited yield potential (unfrosted) as well. The model output was also used to compute 10, 30, 50, and 70% probabilities of the last day of experiencing −3 to 2 °C minimum temperatures and identify the earliest possible sowings that would avoid such temperatures after flowering. Choosing the earliest sowing times with a 30% frost risk could help increase overall yields in environments with high frost risk. Simulations involving genotype x environment x management interactions suggested additional opportunities to minimise frost losses through the adoption of particular cultivars of differing phenology and the use of different agronomy in various environments of the NGR. The study indicates that there is considerable variation in frost risk across the NGR and that manipulating flowering times either through time of sowing or cultivar choice could assist in minimising yield losses in chickpea due to frost.

The integration of selected technology to energy activated ETICS - theoretical approach

The main goal of this study is to develop the new external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) by integration of flexible photovoltaic (FPV) and encapsulated phase change materials (PCM). This work is the first step of the international project En-ActivETICS and concerns mainly material selection and systems integration issues. The paper presents a complete solution of façade component which integrates thermal insulation, heat storage and electricity generation - En-ActivETICS that combines ETICS technology with a self-supporting flexible photovoltaic elements. This system will be applicable for both masonry or concrete constructions and it is a new step in the development of building facade technology allowing to achieve a component classified to the group of functional material. In the paper, the formulation of basic principles of En-ActivETICS as well as an overview of existing materials and technologies is presented. Finally, the initial concept of the system is described. The main features of that system is using an elastic, high heat capacity and frost resistant adhesive joining flexible PV with thermal insulation.

Improving the adaptability of apricot to abiotic environmental factors

As a result of many years of breeding work on interspecific and intersortial hybridization in the Samara region, 9 apricot varieties were created and submitted for state testing, of which 4 varieties were entered into the state register of the Russian Federation. In the organic dormancy phase, apricot trees of these hybrids have high frost resistance of wood and flowering buds. Favorable microzones for apricot cultivation were determined, the productivity of varieties was studied, and the fruit quality was assessed. Of the 8 years of observing apricot, six years were fruitful. Two years of harvest was absent due to freezing of flower buds from the onset of frost after prolonged thaws. Samarskij (32.2 kg from a tree), Vnuchok (43.4 kg) and Elita No. 1 (24.9 kg) sorts have high productivity. Ripening dates, weight and taste of apricot fruits depend on the variety, air temperature and the amount of precipitation. Large fruits are possessed by new varieties Avdeevskij, Andryushka, Andryushka, Bojcovyj, Seyanec Voenkomovskij. The best tastes were of the varieties Andryushka, Bojcovyj, Seyanec Voenkomovskij, Trofej (tasting score 4.5 points).

Physical and Mechanical Performance of Frozen Rocks and Soil in Different Regions

The artificial freezing method is extensively used in the reinforcement of engineering strata in various regions for shaft excavation and subway connection channels. In this study, representative rock and soil strata from different regions were subjected to low‐temperature physical and mechanical performance tests. The results show that, compared with Cretaceous and Jurassic rock and soil strata, deep topsoil and shallow coastal topsoil have high water content, low thermal conductivities, high frost heave rates, and high freezing temperatures. In addition, the results show that, as the curing temperature decreases, the uniaxial compressive strengths and elastic moduli of deep topsoil and shallow coastal topsoil increase almost linearly. The strength of the sandy soil strata is the highest, followed by the cohesive soil strata, and the strength of the mucky soil and the calcareous clay is the lowest. The strength of the frozen wall and the waterproof requirements must both be taken into account in the freezing design. Deep Cretaceous and Jurassic rocks can have high strength of more than 5 MPa under normal temperature conditions. An increase in the uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus with decreasing curing temperature is mainly manifested within the range from the normal temperature to −10°C. The strength can reach more than 10 MPa at −10°C, and only the strength requirements of the frozen wall need to be considered in the freezing design. At low temperatures, deep topsoil and shallow coastal topsoil are dominated by the form of compression failure. The average failure strain at −10°C is typically greater than 5%. When excavating the strata, it is essential to pay attention to the effect of creep. The failure strain of deep Cretaceous and Jurassic rocks is between 1% and 2%, and the breaking and sudden collapse of surrounding rocks should be prevented.

ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC ESTIMATION OF THE ARTIFICIAL CLIMATE OBJECTS FOR WINTER GRAINS FROST HARDNESS

To have the selective practice under the conditions of different climatic changes and economic crisis it has appeared possible to use the estimation methods which correspond in particular to the before winter conditions. The selection of winter grains with the highest frost and winter hardness should be estimated under these conditions. Based on the long-term work on studying the problem of winter grains frost and winter hardness especially during the last 10 years it has been stated that the results determination of selection material frost hardness in the seeding boxes which are harden in natural conditions is doubtful due to daytime and nighttime temperature changes as well as to thaw and frost, that is why the given method of plant estimation on its frost hardness should be considered as supplementary.Sudden climatic changes contributes to it. Plant hardening under the nature extreme conditions ( soil bathes ones ) hard are more essential as compared to the fields ones. We managed to connect this year agrometeorological factors as well as to estimate and select frost-winter hardness plants as compared to the increased spike yielding. The study aimed at ecologic progeny testing under the natural provocative conditions (soil bathes) based on the studying of 111 strains of frost-winter hardness plants have been carried on. The purpose of the research was to get the plant off-springs which survived in the winter. To make winter wheat wintering more complicated we used special plastic cylinders which were placed on the soil bathes. The temperature changes are essential in such cylinders as in daytime the soil warming is better as compared to the one in the nighttime. The organic combination of the artificial climate conditions, the extreme nature temperature backgrounds with the fields ones,contribute to the ecological and economic efficient estimation as well as to plant selection, the off-springs of which can be the final selective material in new frost and winter hardness sort selecting. It makes it possible for the selectionist to estimate a great number of selective material due to its frost hardness level in the selection process primary portions as well as to differentiate the sorts according their characteristics. Also, it allows to fulfil the plant selection process with its further off-springs effectiveness.