Olga Yurchenko, Head of the Rosselkhoznadzor Department, and Elena Gurova, Acting Head of the Southern Customs Administration Department, spoke about phytosanitary control, statistics on the import of flowers and rules for the movement of plants across the border.

Microclonal reproduction and import substitution of planting materials, the quality and durability of local flowers against imported ones, plant breeding for the climate of the Rostov region, personnel training for greenhouses, the fight against illegal trade in red book primroses and expertise for law enforcement officers were commented by Tatiana Varduni, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Genetics of the SFedU Academy of Biotechnologies and Medicine, Director of the SFedU Botanical Garden.

Biotechnologies: from a test tube to an urban flower bed

The journalists were interested in whether the developments of the Botanical Garden, in particular in vitro microclonal propagation methods, could save Russia from purchasing imported bulbs and cuttings and thereby reduce retail prices for bouquets.

"Every time we introduce a new plant species into the crop, a new technology is created, which is essentially "manual assembly" because the processes vary greatly from species to species. Biotechnologies at the entrance are quite expensive, so the Botanical Garden is primarily engaged in woody, shrubby and economically valuable crops. However, we also have good practices in terms of flowers, and the industrial department of the garden grows plants from its own planting material, not imported ones. We are ready to work out pre—order issues with the city in order to understand the needs and know exactly what to grow," said Tatiana Varduni.

SFedU scientists are already actively cooperating with the city authorities on landscaping issues. Now this work is being built in terms of woody plants: municipalities are forming long-term orders for seedlings adapted to the local climate, and the SFedU Botanical Garden, in turn, guarantees the quality and varietal purity of the planting material. According to the director, the next stage will be flower crops, but for a massive transition to local planting material, it is necessary that the city form a similar long—term order - then the Botanical Garden will be able to plan the volume of cultivation for years to come.

Flower production in Russia is really growing. According to the National Association of Flower Growers, currently the share of domestic products in the domestic market is about 20%, and by 2030 growers expect to increase it to 35-40%. The area of operating greenhouse complexes in the country has reached 189 hectares. For comparison: Five years ago, this figure was 30% lower. At the same time, the Southern Federal District, according to various estimates, accounts for about 10% of the total Russian volume — the potential for growth here is huge, given the climatic advantages of the region.

"If we compare the scale of production, then in Russia today there are about 140 greenhouse complexes occupied by flowers. For understanding: in the Netherlands, the greenhouse area reaches several thousand hectares, which is comparable to the size of Paris. And in Ecuador, more than one hundred thousand hectares are occupied by flower plantations in the open ground, and 74% of them are devoted to roses. Therefore, we need to think not only about breeding biotechnologies, but also about how to combine them with modern technologies of indoor and outdoor cultivation. This is a prerequisite for the development of the industry," explained the director of the SFedU Botanical Garden.

Flowers without "chemistry": a bet on local breeding

One of the most pressing issues concerned quality: to what extent flowers grown in SFedU laboratories are more stable and durable than imported ones, which are treated with strong chemicals for transportation. The problem is acute: according to the Rosselkhoznadzor, only last year several large shipments of imported flowers infected with Western flower thrips were detected in the Rostov region. The import of such products was either prohibited, or the senders were forced to carry out disinfection.

According to Tatiana Varduni, the import of imported flowers creates not only phytosanitary risks, but also economic ones: dependence on foreign supplies makes the market vulnerable to currency fluctuations and logistical disruptions. However, it is impossible to simply ban imports — we need a strategy that will allow us to replace them gradually, without shortages and a sharp jump in prices.

"The importation of pests is a serious problem, and we are well aware of the consequences it can have. Of course, we need to get away from this, but there is also an economic feasibility here. We must strategically plan which flowers are more profitable to grow inside the country, including in the south, and which ones should be left for import. For roses, for example, there is a very positive trend: the proportion of roses per cut of domestic production is increasing. Government support for the greenhouse industry continues, with grants and subsidies being allocated. Naturally, adapted local material is more reliable: we monitor its condition and control the appearance of pests," said Tatiana Varduni.

During a recent visit to a greenhouse complex in the Moscow region, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin confirmed that support for floriculture will continue. We are talking about preferential loans for the construction of greenhouses and subsidizing production — these measures have already shown effectiveness in other sectors of the agro-industrial complex. For the south of Russia, where the climate allows growing many crops with lower energy consumption, this is especially important: the cost of local flowers may be lower than the national average.

Red Book: how scientists help catch poachers

Spring holidays are not only a time of legal trade, but also a period of mass gathering of snowdrops and other plants listed in the Red Book. Every year, dozens of cases of illegal sale of primroses are recorded in the Rostov region, and sellers often do not realize that they are selling endangered species, and buyers do not think about the consequences.

 The SFedU Botanical Garden provides expert support to law enforcement officers: the garden staff conducts botanical examinations, helping the police and customs to classify offenses. Without such a conclusion, it is almost impossible to bring a poacher to justice, since it is required to prove that the seized plant really belongs to a protected species.

"We always respond to any requests from colleagues from the Rosselkhoznadzor or law enforcement agencies. The Botanical Garden performs dozens of such examinations per year: our specialists in flower growers carry out species identification of plants. For them, people who have been working with living collections all their lives, it is not difficult," Tatiana Viktorovna said.

However, identification is only part of the job. Systematic educational activities are needed to stop the destruction of wild flora. Environmentalists are sounding the alarm: populations of many primroses are declining at a catastrophic rate, and if the behavior of buyers is not changed, then in 10-15 years snowdrops in our forests will be seen only in the Red Book.

"People should understand that by buying a bunch of primroses, they are making a direct contribution to their destruction. If you collect these plants several times in the same place, then they will no longer be there. Most primroses are propagated by seeds, and if they do not have time to ripen due to early harvesting, then no reproduction occurs. Therefore, it is important not only to punish poachers, but also to explain the consequences to each buyer," said the director of the Botanical Garden.

A unique nursery of rare and endangered plants has been created in the garden itself. According to the Great Russian Encyclopedia, 222 rare species are preserved in the collection funds of the SFedU Botanical Garden, 58 of which are included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. It is a kind of living genetic bank that allows not only to preserve species, but also to return them to nature in the future.

"We have about 80 percent of all rare plants in the Rostov region. If necessary, we will be able to repatriate them, that is, return them to the natural environment. In addition, we participate in monitoring programs for specially protected natural areas and help identify the plants that grow there," added Tatiana Varduni.

Breeding for the steppe zone: What will survive in the south

The Rostov region is a zone of risky farming with an arid climate, hot summers and unpredictable winters. The absolute minimum here can reach -33 °C, and the maximum can exceed +40 °C. Not all ornamental crops survive in such conditions, and attempts to copy European solutions in urban landscaping often end in failure: plants die in the first drought or frosty winter.

The journalists asked if the SFedU Botanical Garden was working to create crops adapted to such extreme conditions. It turned out that this area is one of the key areas in the scientific activity of the garden, and the results are already being applied in practice.

"This is our original occupation — the introduction, that is, the adaptation of plants originating from other geographical regions to the conditions of the Rostov region. We not only monitor how certain crops feel in our climate, but also develop technologies for their cultivation. If necessary, we can provide data on perennial and annual plants so that producers understand which categories are best used in the conditions of southern Russia and for urban landscaping," the expert said.

The scientific work of the garden is already yielding practical results. Based on many years of testing, a regional range of woody plants has been developed for landscaping cities in southern Russia, which includes 617 species. A comprehensive assessment of the decorative value of 435 species, forms and varieties of flower and ornamental plants of the open ground was carried out. This data is transmitted to landscape architects and urban landscaping services.

According to Tatiana Varduni, approaches to landscaping in the region should be special — it is pointless to copy European solutions, because they are designed for a different climate. Instead, scientists suggest using local developments that take into account droughts, frosts, and soil features.

"Our landscape architects, for example, offer a large range of cereals: they are perfect for the climate of the Rostov region and at the same time look very beautiful in bloom. Now new landscape gardens are being laid on the territory of the Botanical Garden, and after a while everyone will be able to see the results and use this experience in their practice," explained Tatiana Varduni.

She added that any landscaping requires maintenance, and this must be taken into account when planning. A common mistake of the city authorities is saving money on agronomists and workers, which causes even the most resistant plants to die.

"There are no plants that don't need to be tended. Tulips, for example, require an annual bulb transplant. This is a lot of scientific and practical work. There are low-cost options that are more economically feasible, but they also need attention. In general, the trend in greening Russian cities today is shifting towards perennials: about 70% falls on them. This should be taken into account," summed up the director of the SFedU Botanical Garden.

Personnel for greenhouses: what they teach in SFedU

The flower business in the Southern Federal District is actively developing: new greenhouse complexes are opening, and demand for local products is growing. But does the market have enough qualified agronomists and breeders? The problem of personnel shortage is acute: even at the government level, the need to strengthen the training of specialists for the flower industry is being discussed.

SFedU solves this problem through additional professional education programs. The Botanical Garden has become a platform where theory is closely intertwined with practice: students work with living collections, participate in experiments on introduction and microclonal reproduction.

"There really aren't enough specialists. The Botanical Garden proceeds from the needs that the producers demonstrate, from the requests that we receive. In our classic programs on landscape architecture and phytodesign, we have always addressed the issues of floriculture and nursery management. More than 200 people have already graduated, and a whole club of competent, trained specialists has formed around the garden," said Tatiana Varduni.

New plant protection programs have now been added to the existing ones. This is a response to a business request: greenhouse farms are faced with pests and diseases, and a competent agronomist should be able not only to recognize the problem, but also to choose the right methods of control — from chemical to biological.

"People should be literate, understand what pests they may encounter in greenhouses and what control measures need to be applied. Indoor floriculture is also important: This is a significant market segment, 30 percent, and it also needs to be developed. In addition, we are working closely with soil scientists from the Academy of Biology and Medicine in the field of agro-climatology within the framework of the Priority 2030 program. Without understanding modern agricultural technologies and soil conditions, it is impossible to achieve a good result. We focus our research projects on the product result: to give the manufacturer either a finished product, or specific advice or technology," emphasized Tatiana Varduni.