СЕЛЕКЦИОННАЯ ОЦЕНКА КАЧЕСТВА ПЛОДОВ ПЕРСПЕКТИВНЫХ СОРТОВ ОРЕХА ГРЕЦКОГО НА ЮГЕ РОССИИ

Abstract

Walnut (Juglans regia L.) is one of the ten most valuable plants on the planet. All its parts are economically valuable. Most often, the species is grown for food purposes. Walnut fruits are of great economic interest for the food industry, directly its edible part (kernel). Fresh, natural kernels are eaten mostly as whole nuts or used in various confectionery products. The nut is a nutrient-rich product, mainly due to the content of: fats (from 60-77 %), protein (16.5-34 %) and carbohydrates (2-10 %). The purpose of the study is to evaluate promising varieties of walnuts in terms of fruit quality and to identify varieties with a complex of economically valuable traits. Modern programs and methods of breeding and variety study are used. The paper presents the results of a long-term study (2018-2022) of 16 varieties of walnut growing in the conditions of the North Caucasus region. In the course of the study, large-fruited varieties were established (with a fruit weight 12.1-14.0 g) MP-118, Rus’, Slavyanin, Vodnik, Olympiets, LP-40; high kernel content (from 53.1 to 56.1%): Timur, Rus’, Novinka, Terkin, Sokol, Yakhont, Nakhodka, Stimul, Vodnik, LP-40; high fat content (from 65 to 71 %): Terkin, Novinka, Slavyanin, Vodnik, Stimul, Shchedryi, Zemlyak, Sokol, Rus’, LP-40; fruits with thin-crust shells (0.8-1.2 mm): Shchedryi, Slavyanin, Timur, Novinka, Terkin, Sokol, Yakhont, Nakhodka, Stimul, Vodnik, LP-40, Rus’. All varieties have a high tasting score. The results of the study allowed us to identify three promising varieties: Vodnik, Rus’ and LP-40 with a complex of economically valuable traits (fruit weight, kernel yield, kernel extractability, taste and high fat content). All studied variety forms are of interest for breeding and production, and they can also be recommended as sources for obtaining new varieties.