Formation and composition of trait melon (Сucumis melo L.) collection

Abstract

The aim of the article was to present the results on the formation of a trait collection of melons at the Southern State Agricultural Experimental Station of the Institute of Water Problems and Land Reclamation of NAAS of Ukraine, which contains 57 specimens (one botanical species, one subspecies and three varieties) from 11 countries. Results and Discussion. The collection includes specimens with 35 economically valuable traits, which can be useful for the lecture course Plant Breeding and as starting material for breeding research institutions. Each specimen was comprehensively studied and evaluated for performance and resistance to biotic and abiotic factors and described in terms of morphological features for three years. In addition to the species diversity, the trait collections included specimens with different levels of expression of valuable economic and biological traits. The collection also included specimens selected by phenotypic variability of individual traits or their combinations. The results of multi-year work with the melon collection specimens allowed us to identify sources of valuable economic traits with high levels of their expression, which are of interest for the lecture course Plant Breeding. Conclusion. The history of the melon breeding in Ukraine is shown; breeding varieties, which are most widespread or were a significant breeding achievement in solving certain problems, are presented. The collection can be used in plant breeding and as starting material in research and educational institutions.