Introduction of Milk Thistle into the Zone of Soddy-Podzolic Soils of Moscow Oblast

The article considers the elements of introduction of milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.) in the zone of soddy-podzolic soils of Moscow oblast. The article presents the results of studies of the efficiency of using the complex organomineral fertilizer Ideal and foliar feeding with Epin-Extra when growing milk thistle. Foliar feeding with Epin-Extra (24-epibrassinolide) resulted in the highest yield of milk thistle seeds (1.18 t/ha) due to improved yield-structure indicators with their excellent biochemical indicators. It is shown that the studied Ideal and Epin-Extra preparations improved the yield structure: it increased the number of heads per plant, the number of seeds, the weight of seeds per head, and the weight of seeds per plant. They had a positive effect on the formation of the yield of milk thistle seeds. Foliar feeding with the Epin-Extra (24-epibrassinolide) preparation resulted in the highest yield of milk thistle seeds (1.18 t/ha) due to the improvement of the yield-structure indicators with the best biochemical indicators. It was noted that double application of the Ideal organomineral preparation and the steroid phytohormone (Epin-Extra) leads to stabilization of cell membranes and, as a result, to the optimal physiological state of the whole plant. Double application of the Epin-Extra (24-epibrassinolide) preparation for foliar treatment can be considered the most optimal, since it, to a greater extent than the Ideal organomineral preparation, promotes stabilization of cell membranes, reduces the loss of electrolytes and potassium and sodium ions, and, ultimately, increases the yield of seeds of this crop. When studying the dynamics of the taxonomic structure of bacterial complexes, it was found that 60% of epiphytic bacteria are represented by pigment forms. It has been established that significant changes in the ecological-trophic structure of the bacterial complex are observed in the phyllosphere and rhizosphere of milk thistle. They are associated with the replacement of eccrisotrophic proteobacteria during the flowering period of plants by bacteria of the hydrolytic complex during the ripening of seeds. It has been revealed that proteobacteria were dominant on the flowers and seeds of milk thistle, with their share being 50–70%. It has been established that the share of Rhodococcus is significantly higher on the leaves and roots of milk thistle.