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Introduction and purpose: Apples are a widely consumed fruit globally and are known to be a great source of nutrition. Studies have shown that apples contain high levels of antioxidants, dietary fiber, and vitamins that contribute to numerous health benefits. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the impact of apples on human health. State of knowledge: The paper reviews the current literature on the health benefits of apples, focusing on their impact on various health conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and obesity. Additionally, it examines the role of apples in improving intestinal, immune, and cognitive function. The paper also discusses the potential mechanisms by which apples exert their health benefits, such as high levels of flavonoids, polyphenols, and dietary fiber. Summary: In conclusion, the vast body of evidence reviewed in this paper supports the notion that consuming apples regularly can contribute to better health outcomes. They may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, as well as promote healthy gut microbiota and immune function. Despite the controversy surrounding the use of pesticides in apple cultivation, the benefits of consuming apples outweigh the risks. Therefore, it is highly recommended to include apples as part of a balanced and nutritious diet to promote optimal health and wellbeing. As the saying goes, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away".

All world and domestic experience shows that in modern conditions it is impossible to provide the human body with the optimal amount of biologically valuable substances at the expense of ordinary food. The solution to this problem requires the creation and use of specialized food products enriched with valuable physiologically functional ingredients with a protective effect. Juices are the most technologically advanced product for creating new types of functional nutrition. Fruit and vegetable juices are the main component of a variety of drinks. In addition, they contain a complex of vitamins and minerals. The introduction of new physiologically functional ingredients into them is not difficult. In connection with the foregoing, the development of technology and the organization of the production of functional juices are a solution to nutrition-related problems. In this paper, the possibilities of using pumpkin as the main raw material for the development of juices with the addition of rosehip tincture, apples containing a significant amount of vitamins and minerals that play an important role in improving immunity will be investigated and substantiated. Directly squeezed juices are made only from local fruits and vegetables during the harvest period, and this, naturally, limits the possibilities of juice producers and consumers' expectations regarding the variety of juice products. The aim of the work is to develop a recipe and technology for the production of blended juice from gourds. Objectives: To develop a recipe and technology for the production of juices from gourds. A study was conducted on the preparation of blended vegetable juices biologically complete from melons. For the preparation of mixed juice, four recipes were used with different percentages of juices from each raw material. Then the products were subjected to physico-chemical analysis and organoleptic evaluation. The prepared blended juices were evaluated by tasters in terms of color, taste and aroma, and it was noted that there was no significant difference between the juice samples in terms of color and overall acceptability. However, in terms of taste and texture, significant differences were observed between the samples, and sample 3 received the highest score and was the most acceptable in taste and texture compared to the other samples and was rated as «good».

Background. Clonal apple rootstocks are one of the main components of intensive gardening. The degree of rootstock damage by fire blight affects the resistance of the variety–rootstock combination. The paper presents a study on marking quantitative trait loci (QTL) of resistance to fire blight Erwinia amylovora in clonal apple rootstock.Materials and methods. A collection of 20 rootstock forms was analyzed. For the study, SCAR markers GE-8019, AE10-375 and microsatellite marker CH-F7-FB1 were used.Results. Polymorphism was observed for all three markers, and their various combinations in one genotype were revealed. It was previously noted that genotypes that carry all three markers were more resistant than those that lack them. The presence of all three markers was observed only in forms 62-396 (В10), 16-1 and 2-9-102. The other genotypes did not have the GE8019 marker. The AE10-375 marker was identified in eight clonal rootstocks. Microsatellite marker CH-F7-FB1 was present in all tested rootstocks. However, polymorphism was detected there. Most genotypes had a 174 bp fragment, but a 210 bp fragment was identified in two of the 20 forms. Clonal rootstock 70-20-21 proved heterozygous for this marker. The analyzed collection also included samples that had only the microsatellite marker: G16, Malysh Budagovskogo, Paradizka Budagovskogo (B9), 54-118 (В118), 57-491, 70-20-20 (В119), 70-20-21, 71-7-22, 76-3-6, 83-1-15, 87-7-12, and 2-12-10. The study of rootstock forms on the basis of resistance to metabolites of the fire blight pathogen was carried out under laboratory conditions using the E. amylovora culture filtrate in vitro on leaf explants. Most of the studied genotypes had different combinations of markers. However, the experiments showed that forms 62-396 and 14-1 with two out of three markers (AE10-375 and CH-F7-FB1) phenotypically manifested the trait of resistance to metabolites of E. amylovora.

The results of apple breeding in the south of West Siberia according to the main economically useful features are presented in the paper. On the basis of hybridological analysis, 30 donors and sources of high winter hardiness, 16 sources of polygenic scab resistance and 13 heterozygous sources of monogenic resistance as well as productive varietal samples for breeding for yield and high fruit quality have been selected. Brief characteristics of 34 apple varieties of Gorno-Altaisk breeding are given.

Great attention is paid to preliminary breeding (prebreeding) when developing triploid apple cultivars. Brief characteristics of diploid gamete donors are given. It should be noted that sometimes donors of diploid gametes with necessary important traits not only have to be selected from among existing tetraploid cultivars, but also developed by a breeding way, especially in the case when in nature there are no cultivars and genotypes (donors of diploid gametes) with given traits. The authors of the paper developed form 30-47-88 (Liberty×13-6-106) by a breeding way. 30-47-88 is a complex donor of diploid gametes and scab immunity (Vf ) at once. During 1970–2015, the following work was done in apple breeding using polyploidy: 455 crossing combinations were performed; 660000 flowers were artificially pollinated; 124700 hybrid seeds were obtained and 47900 one-year-old seedlings were grown, from which after multiple rejections 13200 seedlings were planted in breeding orchards. For the first time in Russia ten apple cultivars (Avgusta, Aleksandr Boiko, Bezhin Lug, Vavilovskoye, Dariona, Maslovskoye, Orlovsky Partizan, Osipovskoye, Patriot and Yablochny Spas) have been developed from intervalence crossings and regionalized. It has been stated that apple cultivars developed at the VNIISPK are characterized, as a rule, by high productivity, better fruit marketability, greater resistance to scab and higher autogamy. Apple cultivars combining triploidy and scab immunity have been developed. Promising breeding is being performed for apple cultivars combining triploidy, scab immunity and columnar habit (Co). Brief characteristics of triploid and scab immune cultivars Vavilovskoye and Yablochny Spas developed from the intervalence crossings as well as three triploid cultivars obtained from crossings of diploid cultivars are given. It is noted that triploid apple cultivars developed at the VNIISPK are inferior to none of foreign cultivars in a complex of commercial traits and they significantly excel foreign cultivars in adaptability. Our apple cultivars may contribute to import substitution of fruit production in the country.

The Michurinsk Department of the Vavilov Society of Geneticists and Breeding Scientists (VOGiS) was formed in 1966 after the constituent congress of VOGiS and nowadays includes 54 members. The scientists are engaged in 4 scientific institutions affiliated with FASO of Russia. The paper presents investigations of the individual genetics of leading fruit crops (pear, cherry, apple), identified genes, regularities of inheriting resistance to low temperatures, the most harmful diseases and several characters responsible for fruit quality. Some genes were identified for the first time. These are genes regulating Coccomyces hiemalis Higg. resistance (A), retarded growth habit in cherry (O2), astringency (Ta) and juiciness (Su) of fruit in pear. On the base of hybridological analysis and DNA marking, genotypes were identified. These genotypes carry target alleles of the following genes: columnar growth habit (Co) in apple, dwarf trait (PcDw) in pear, retardant growth (O2) in cherry. It was found that the markers C18470-25831, Mdo.chr 10.12, Co04R12 do not always show robust results for screening of young apple seedlings with columnar growth habit (Co) because they are identified as non-columnar forms. The primer pairs of 29f1 и jwi1r are the most robust ones for identification of columnar genotypes. These primers amplify specific PCR product of 586 bp (5’CR). On the basis of molecular-genetic analysis of apple initial forms and hybrid seedlings, there were identified targeted alleles of monogenic scab resistance genes including dominant homozygous genotype (Rvi6Rvi6) and also alleles of genes involved in the control of the biosynthesis of ethylene (Md-ACS1 and Md-ACO1) and expansin (Md-Exp7) controlling fruit long shelf life and pulp firmness.

Monogenic scab resistance and columnar growth habit are important breeding traits of apple. The use of molecular markers very accurately determines the presence of necessary genes in the genome early during ontogenesis and reduces the time of selection. The purpose of this study was molecular genetic testing of initial forms of apple and hybrid seedlings of apple to identify carriers of the target alleles of genes for monogenic scab resistance (Rvi6) and columnar growth habit (Co) and the clarification of the pattern of inheritance of the Co and Rvi6 genes in hybrid progeny populations. This paper presents the results of molecular genetic analysis of varieties Valuta, Uspenskoe, Belarusskoe sladkoe and seedlings of the Valuta×Uspenskoe and Valuta×Belarusskoe sladkoe hybrid families for genes controlling columnar growth habit (Co) and scab resistance (Rvi6). The presence of the dominant allele of the Co gene was diagnosed with primers 29f1 and JWI1r flanking the 5’-end of the insert at the Co locus controlling columnar genotypes. Allelic status of the Rvi6 gene was determined with the AL07-SCAR marker mapping at about 0.2 cM from the Rvi6 locus. The correlation frequency of inheritance of the allelic states of these genes has been determined. Valuta×Uspenskoe crosse yielded 48.1 % columnar genotypes and 77.8 % scab-immune genotypes; Valuta×Belarusskoe sladkoe crosses, 46.8 % and 68.0 %, respectively. The observed segregation conforms to the expected Mendelian ratios: 1:1 for columnar habit and 3:1 for scab resistance. The joint inheritance of columnar growth habit and monogenic resistance to scab has been analyzed. The hybrid seedlings that had the dominant Co allele together with the Rvi6 gene in the homozygous dominant state (Rvi6 Rvi6) in their genome have been identified, which can significantly intensify the selection process and run it into 100 % of hybrid seedlings with monogenic scab resistance and up to 50 % of genotypes with columnar growth habit.

To analyse the modern classification and nomenclature of species of pome fruit crops which varieties are listed in the State Register of Plants Varieties Suitable for Dissemination in Ukraine, and improve terminological system of the Ukrainian names of both species and garden crops. Results. Fruit cultivars and most apple clonal rootstocks belong to Malus pumila, and ornamental cultivars belong to Malus gloriosa. The most common scientific name of the cultivated apple, especially among horticulturists, is Malus domestica, although according to the principle of priority the name Malus pumila should have the advantage. As far as Nomenclature Committee for Vascular Plants has rejected the proposal to conserve the name Malus domestica, Malus pumila is correct name for the cultivated apple. The use of synonymic name Malus domestica should be avoided in both scientific and scientific-popular papers for stability of nomenclature. Pear cultivars listed in the State Register of Plants Varieties Suitable for Dissemination in Ukraine are presented by Pyrus communis, and pear rootstocks – by Cydonia oblonga. Fruit cultivars of the latter belong to separate fruit crop named quince. An apple-quince hybrid was registered as universal clonal rootstock for pome fruit crops. The State Register of Plants Varieties Suitable for Dissemination in Ukraine also contains nonconventional fruit crops such as Chaenomeles and hawthorn that consist of some species and nothospecies. Conclusions. In scientific publications one should stop the use of synonymic name Malus domestica in favour of the correct name for cultivated apple Malus pumila. Apple, pears and Chaenomeles cultivars listed in the State Register of Plants Varieties Suitable for Dissemination in Ukraine have a complex multispecies origin whereas quince, hawthorn and pear roostock cultivars systematically are monospecies. A universal roootstock of pome fruit crops is Cydolus, or apple-quince, that resulted from interspecies hybridization between quince and apple. Refusal Refuse to use obsolete names of fruit plants species will promote harmonization of professional language.

A 40-year work on apple breeding on a polyploidy level has shown that the most promising crosses for reliable regular development of triploid varieties are 2x × 4x and 4x × 2x.Cytological control shows that reciprocal combinations are unequal in the output of seedlings with different ploidy. In crosses 2x × 4x the output of triploid seedlings is higher than in crosses 4x × 2x. The cause is the different degrees of autogamy in parental tetraploid forms: when nonemasculated flowers are pollinated, highly autogamous forms are preferably pollinated with their own pollen. When larger number of triploid plants is required in crosses 4x × 2x flowers of these forms should be emasculated.The production and biological characteristics of eight apple varieties with stable fruit-bearing and highly marketable fruit, are given in this paper.