Carl Linnaeus believed, even in his time, that names of eminent scientists may serve as a good source to generate plant names. In 2017, the 130th birthday anniversary of Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov, an outstanding biologist of the twentieth century, was celebrated. The magnitude of his personality and his tremendous contribution to the knowledge of the world’s diversity of cultivated plants and their wild relatives compelled many taxonomists to use Vavilov’s name while naming new plant taxa. All in all, 28 botanical taxa with Vavilov’s name have been made public: one genus and 27 species, including intraspecific taxa. One third of them are taxa within the genus Triticum L. (one species, one subspecies, and seven varieties). Nomenclatural types of seven taxa are preserved in VIR’s herbarium (WIR). These are represented by holotypes and mesotypes: Aegilops crassa subsp. vavilovii Zhuk. (≡ A. vavilovii (Zhuk.) Chennav.) and Triticum spelta subsp. kuckuckianum var. vavilovii Dorof.; lectotypes and isolectotypes: Avena strigosa subsp. vaviloviana Malz. (≡ A. vaviloviana (Malz.) Mordv.) and Solanum vavilovii Juz. et Buk.; and neotypes: Triticum aestivum var. vavilovianum Jakubz., T. dicoccoides var. vavilovii Jakubz., and T. vulgare var. vavilovii Thum. (≡ T. vavilovii (Thum.) Jakubz.).

Background. Preservation of crop wild relatives (CWR) as natural suppliers of genetic source material (GSM) is the foundation of food security. In situ conservation is considered the highest priority method. By preserving species in their natural communities, we safeguard all the genetic diversity that can be used as sources of valuable economic traits. The criteria developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) are unable to assess the significance of crop wild relatives at the regional level. With this in view, we have used the vulnerability status categories developed at VIR. Materials and methods. Crop wild relatives of Vologda Province were the target of the study. Research material was selected in VIR’s herbarium collection (WIR, LE), along with literary data and the results of the plant exploration surveys by VIR’s scientists. The species listed in the Red Books of Leningrad, Pskov and Novgorod Provinces, the Red Book of Karelia, and the list of rare and endangered plants (2015) of Vologda Province were analyzed. For the first time, plants were tested specifically to determine the species’ vulnerability degree. On the basis of such testing, CWR requiring special conservation measures were identified. Results and conclusions. Sixty-six CWR species that require in situ conservation occur in Vologda Province. The collected materials helped to develop databases of locations for the taxa studied. In total, we identified nine species with the vulnerability status of Category I (Corylus avellana L., Onobrychis arenaria (Kit.) Ser., Phleum phleoides (L.) Karst., Thymus talijevii Klok. Et Shost., Bistorta vivipara (L.) S.F. Gray, Gypsophila fastigiata L., Koeleria glauca (Spreng.) DC., Leymus arenarius (L.) Hochst., and Scorzonera glabra Rupr.). Maps of the species with the first vulnerability status category were made. Category II was assigned to 19 species; Category III, to 38 species. The species requiring special conservation efforts were identified: relicts (11 spp.) and endemics (1 sp.). Twenty-eight species are in the list of rare and endangered plants (2015) of Vologda Province. Nizhnesukhonsky floristic area stands out for its rich CWR diversity. In addition to in situ conservation within protected areas of various ranks, the species included into Categories I and II should be conserved ex situ in botanical gardens and genetic collections held by research institutes in the northwest of Russia.

Following the targeted expansion of the area of distribution for the muskox (Ovibos moschantus Zimm.) in Russia, expert assessment of animal feed resources was carried out on Zavyalov Island, located in the Sea of Okhotsk. The island’s area is 116.7 sq. km, with 45.5% (53.1 sq. km.) unsuitable for grazing by muskoxen. The rest of the island is potentially pasture-friendly. A synopsis of the vegetation on Zavyalov Island (Zavyalov Island, 2012) had previously been made by the researchers from the Institute for Biological Problems of the North (IBPN FEB RAS), which was adopted by us as a basis for the reconnaissance survey of the area. Guided by the published data and our own observations on the grazing habits of ungulates, we compiled a list of vascular plant species from the basic potential forage ration of the muskox and a list of possible substitutive forage species on Zavyalov Island. Out of the Island’s total vegetation, 154 species can be regarded as edible or potentially suitable forage plants for the muskox, including 45 species known from published sources as already present in this animal’s feeding ration. Of these, only 26 species are abundant and frequent enough to be considered as having significant feeding potential for the muskox, while the rest are rare or produce too little biomass. Having been placed in the new environment, muskoxen are expected to safely switch to substitute forage plants, represented here by 109 species. In total, 44 species can be recognized as the most promising, considering their abundance and frequency of occurrence. Such set of vascular plants is likely to be sufficient for the adaptation of a limited number of muskoxen in the area. According to prior estimates based on the area of suitable pastures, Zavyalov Island will be able to provide up to 25 individual animals with enough forage. It is recommended to supply additional feed, such as hay and branches, during the initial phase of their adaptation, and later launch scientific monitoring over the animals as they get used to the forage potential of Zavyalov Island.

Different species of the Cactaceae family have always been popular as collectible plants. Peter the Great Botanical Garden of the Komarov Botanical Institute holds a representative collection of species from this genus. Of the 185 names adopted according to The Plant List (http://www.theplantlist.org), there are currently about 160 species in the collection of the Garden, plus almost 30 intraspecific taxa. For species that reproduce only by seeds, it is important to study the features of their latent period and evaluate their quality (35 species, 87 accessions). The collection of cacti and succulents of the Peter the Great Botanical garden contains a large number of genera and species as well as forms and varieties from this family. Despite the fact that at present some taxa are united, however, specific grown plants produce seeds of different quality. The results of studying fruits and seeds in a number of species of the genus Mammillaria maintained at Peter the Great Botanical Garden of the Komarov Botanical Institute are presented. The number of seeds in the fruit, the weight of 1000 seeds, and laboratory germination of seeds with different shelf life under laboratory conditions were measured. Seeds were germinated using a standard technique — in Petri dishes on filter paper, without the use of stimulants. It is shown that germination of freshly harvested seeds is slow and stretched in time. Their germination rate does not reach significant performance. The highest germination rate is observed in many species of the genus Mammillaria after 2–3 years of storage. After 5–7 years of storage, the seeds should not be used for exchange between botanical gardens. But anyway, some species (M. flavescens (DC.) DC., M. prolifera subsp. haitiensis (K. Schum.) D. R. Hunt, M. rhodantha Link et Otto) of this genus remain viable for a long time (up to 10 years, as for example, M. mammillaris (L.) Hikers. [=M. simplex Haw.]). At the seed laboratory of the Peter the Great Botanical Garden, the seed storage period for species of the genus Mammillaria suitable for interbotanical exchange is set at a maximum of 7 years, for them to be listed in Index Seminum (or Delectus). Older seeds are used to replenish the carpological collection of the Garden.

The article discusses the prospects of building up a collection of ornamental plants belonging to the rose family (Rosaceae Juss.) from local cultivated and wild plant forms in order to expand the zonal assortment of ornamentals for urban landscape gardening in Murmansk Province. Since 2017, the Polar Experiment Station of the Vavilov Institute (VIR) has been engaged in systematic research activities aimed at introduction of ornamental perennial ornamental herbs and shrubs. A promising collection stock has been formed of ornamental plants, currently totaling 198 accessions (160 species) from 40 plant families, including 132 accessions of perennial herbaceous plants (77 genera), 58 of ornamental shrubs (10 genera), and 8 of woody plants (4 genera). Representatives of the family Rosaceae make up 25% of the total number of accessions. The Polar Experiment Station maintains wild and cultivated perennial plants of the genera Geum L., Filipendula L., Potentilla L., Sanguisorba L., Alchimilla L., Dryas L., Spiraea L., Rosa L., Sorbus L., Dasifora Rafin., etc., having ornamental qualities, characterized by high winter hardiness, and not requiring high expenditures for their maintenance. Further expansion of the Rosaceae collection is going to be based on the introduction of ornamentals from the rose family identified in the local vegetation of the Kola Peninsula as well as through the acquisition of accessions from botanical gardens and nurseries located in the areas with climate conditions close to those of the Polar Experiment Station of VIR.

Inna N. Golubovskaya: Life ‘in the world’ and in science (celebrating the 80th birthday).