Abstract: Hazelnuts have an important nutritional value. Breeders have bred a number of varieties capable of forming high yields in the conditions of the Central part of Russia. The purpose of this study was to analyze the fruit indicators and the reproduction potential of hazelnut variety 'Academic Yablokov' in the Mari El Republic. The advantage of this variety is large fruits and purple leaf color. The studies were conducted in 2020 and 2021 in the Botanical Garden-Institute of Volga State University of Technology (Yoshkar-Ola). The study showed that nuts have the mass of 2.0-2.4 g, the length and diameter of 2.4-2.6 and 1.4–1.6 cm, respectively. In the abnormally hot and dry conditions of 2021, the variety fruits were lighter and smaller compared to the excessively humid conditions of 2020. But the seed quality remained relatively high in both years of the study (82-84%). Sowing nuts using peat and sand as substrates revealed different soil germination of seeds in the experimental variants. The smallest number of seedlings was obtained in the peat variant (26%). The highest germination rate was established in the control variant (43%), but in the future the seedlings turned out to be in less favorable conditions for growth – by autumn they had the smallest height, diameter of the root neck, and number of lateral shoots. The seedlings in the variant with sand had the greatest height and length of the root system.

Abstract: As part of the Botanical Garden-Institute of the Volga State University of Technology, a collection of ornamental shrubs is presented in the exposition "Fruticetum". As of 2020, plants from 86 genera of 30 families grow here. The largest number of taxa in the collection includes the following genera: Syringa – 97, Spiraea – 61, Philadelphia – 48, Berberis – 30, Lonicera – 24, Rosa – 22. The largest families are Rosaceae (167 taxa), Oleaceae (97), Hydrangeaceae (77), Caprifoliaceae (35), Berberidaceae (31). The most genera contain the families Rosaceae (28 names), Fabaceae (10), Oleaceae (5), Caprifoliaceae (5), Cupressaceae (4). Angiosperms include 505 taxa, gymnosperms – 26 taxa. The main share in the composition of the collection of Fruticetum are varieties and hybrids – 305 names, there are 226 species of plants, which is associated with the main purpose of the exposition – to present a variety of assortment of ornamental shrubs. Mandatory scientific research includes an annual assessment of winter hardiness, a note on the presence of flowering and fruiting in all plants in the exposition, conducting phenological observations of a number of plants. The features of agrotechnical measures carried out in the exposition (pruning, fertilizing, watering, weeding, pest and disease control, shelter for the winter, mowing grass) are indicated.