Priority directions of the work of Donetsk Botanical Garden include research, education activities and raising environmental awareness. The research results are significant contribution to the development of botanical science and environment conservation of our region. The results of scientific research significantly contribute to the development of botanical science and environmental protection in the region. Work on four basic fundamental research project topics were completed in 2025, the youth laboratory staff continued to work on a fundamental topic under the state assignment. Positive conclusions have been received from the Russian Academy of Sciences for research project topics to be implemented covering the years 2026–2028. Based on the research results, scientists of the Donetsk Botanical Garden issued 154 publications, including two monographs, 4 recommendations, 78 articles were contributed to scientific journals, among them 58 ones of the level of «White List», 8 ones are issued under the Higher Attestation Commission, 12 ones are indexed in Russian Science Citation Index and 70 works are included in the proceedings of scientific conferences.

The territory of «Naryksky» State Nature Reserve is home to 345 plant species from 204 genera and 67 families. An average synanthropization rate is rather low (3.9 %). The area is almost unaffected by anthropogenic and technological influences: only 12 synanthropic and adventive species have been identified, with four species listed in the Black Book of Siberian flora (2016), namely Amoria hybrida (L.) C. Presl, Pastinaca sylvestris Mill., Conium maculatum L., Plantago lanceolata L. Three species listed in the 3rd edition of the Red Book of Kuzbass (2021) grow in the territory of the reserve: Asarum europaeum L., Erythronium sibiricum (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) Krylov, Drosera rotundifolia L.

This article presents data on the current composition and structure of the dendroflora of Luhansk, including 244 species, forms, and hybrids of trees and shrubs which belong to 98 genera, 39 families, 21 orders, and 3 classes. The most fully represented species are from the families Rosaceae (67), Salicaceae (19), Fabaceae (17), Oleaceae (14), Cupressaceae, and Sapindaceae (10 ones each). Introduced plants account for 75 %, and native plants – 25 %. The age structure is dominated by 50–70-year-old plants (42 %), while those aged 20–50 years and under the age of 20 years accounted for 27 % and 23 %, respectively, and those aged 70–100 years and older accounted for up to 9 %.

In 2025, as a result of studying the flora and vegetation of the central part of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain between the Volga and Akhtuba rivers within the subzone of the northern deserts of the Astrakhan region (northwest of Kharabalinsky district) and the Republic of Kalmykia (northeast of Yustinsky district), we identified 206 species of vascular plants, including rare ones – Euphorbia humifusa Willd. (Republic of Kalmykia) and Poacynum sareptanum Mavrodiev, Laktionov et Yu.E. Alexeev (Astrakhan region). Orobanche amoena C.A. Mey. was found for the first time for the flora of the Astrakhan region. Two rare species, endemic to Mid- and Lower Volga regions, namely Rorippa wolgensis Fursajev ex Laktionov et Mavrodiev and Salix fursaevii Mavrodiev are included in the Red Data Book of the Astrakhan region.

This paper presents a pomological description of a new promising apple tree selection form – a candidate cultivar ‘Krasavitsa Donbassa’ for ornamental and fruit use. The periods of ornamentality are identified and chemical composition of the fruit is determined. Indicator traits include: height up to 3 m, spreading, spherical crown, purple foliage at emergence, dark green in summer, pink flowers, purple buds, and round-flattened, red fruits weighing up to 67.5 g with reddish pulp and dessert flavor. This selection is characterized by high winter hardiness and drought tolerance, abundant annual flowering and fruiting, and combines high ornamental qualities with excellent fruit taste. The presence of anthocyanins allows it to be classified as a functional food. The candidate cultivar ‘Krasavitsa Donbassa’ shows promise in landscaping and ornamental gardening. A patent application has been submitted in 2025.

The combinational ability was assessed, and promising donors of valuable traits (including those for subsequent obtaining of pink color) were searched for in combination with early flowering and high productivity among a number of diploid varieties of representatives of the genus Hemerocallis L. The study was conducted over a period of two years. Reciprocal crosses were made between Hemerocallis esculenta Koidz. and six diploid varieties of H. × hybrida hort.: ‘Cosmopolitan’, ‘Schnickel Fritz’, ‘Little Wine Cup’, ‘Hercules’, ‘Morocco Beauty’, ‘Mini Pearl’. The percentage of successful crossings and the productivity of the variety were calculated. Two varieties were identified as the most promising in terms of hybridization efficiency: ‘Cosmopolitan’ and ‘Little Wine Cup’

The Holy Protection Monastery, located in the central part of Russia, is not only an important religious center, but also a valuable cultural and historical landscape. Founded in the 17th century, the monastery has gradually moved to the heart of the city, making its territory an important green area in a densely built-up urban environment. The study of the monastery’s floral composition has allowed us to assess its role in urban ecosystems. A comprehensive inventory of trees and shrubs was conducted, including their location, origin, life form, and ornamental qualities. The result was the drawing up of a territory plan with a description of landscaping and illustrative material. The territory of the monastery is divided into 7 functional zones: entrance, cell, hotel, administrative and economic, park, memorial and children. Landscaping is represented by 9 forms, including mix borders, rock gardens, rose gardens, topiary forms, etc. The total number of tree specimens is 1473, and there are 25 species of flower crops.

The diversity of conifers growing in natural stands and forest plantings in central Russia is very limited. Based on many years of cultivation experience in Moscow’s botanical gardens, a list of species and forms has been proposed that are habitually similar to subtropical introduced species used in landscaping parks along the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus and Crimea: long-needle pines, some araucarias, true cedars, cypresses, cryptomeria, and sequoia.

The bioecological characteristics of tree plantations of some reclaimed coal dumps in Donbass are given. 26 species of woody plants have been recorded in the four studied coal mine dumps. The planting of forest crops made it possible to accelerate succession in landfill sites remote from the sources of seed deposition of woody and shrubby plants. With increasing age of plant communities, there is a deepening of the process of sylvatization, which is characterized by a complication of the structure of phytocenoses. In relation to the humidification regime, the plants are distributed in a heterogeneous way. Under the forest canopy and in the shrub thickets on the edges, mesophytes (fresh type of regime) predominate – 60–80 %. In relation to sunlight, when moving from tree-lined slopes to open plateaus, the leading role from sciophytes passes to heliophytes. In relation to the fertility of embryozems of all edges, mesotrophs predominate (60–80 %).

From 1973 to 2026, a total of 66 species of harmful arthropods and 21 species of predatory and parasitic arthropods have been recorded in the greenhouses of Donetsk Botanical Garden. This communication provides detailed data on four species of phytophagous mites from the families Tarsonemidae (1), Tenuipalpidae (1) and Tetranychidae (2), as well as 21 species of hemipteroid insects from the families Cicadellidae (1), Aphididae (17), Aleyrodidae (1), Homotomidae (1) and Psyllidae (1). For the first time for the fauna of Russia, Myzus (Sciamyzus) cymbalariae Stroyan, 1954 and Cinara (Schizolachnus) obscura (Börner, 1940) are recorded. Of the recorded species, 16 are considered alien invasive. Noteworthy dangerous pests, whose populations require monitoring and control, include Panonychus citri (McGregor, 1916), Tetranychus urticae Koch, 1835, Aphis (s. str.) gossypii Glover, 1877, Aulacorthum (s. str.) solani (Kaltenbach, 1843), Macrosiphoniella sanborni (Gillette, 1908), Myzus (Nectarosiphon) persicae (Sulzer, 1776) and Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood, 1856).