Formation and study of the cherry (Cerasus vulgaris Mill.) Collection at melitopol research fruit growing station to identify valuable-for-breeding accessions

Abstract

Aim. To form and study the gene pool cherry collection and to select varieties -sources with highly expressed valuable economic and biological characteristics for breeding. Result and Discussion. Having studied varieties, we identified sources of valuable economic and biological characteristics: winter hardiness of generative buds, resistance of flower buds to freezing during late spring, field resistance to monilial burn and coccomycosis, crown compactness, self-fertility, early maturity, large fruits, high fruit palatability, early ripening of fruits, and high productivity. Among the identified 60 varieties-sources of individual valuable characteristics, valuable for breeding varieties were picked out (Amulet, Vstrecha, Hriot Melitopilskyi, Ighrushka, Melitopilskaya Radist, Melitopilska Purpurna, Prizvaniye, Siianets Turovtsevoi, Solidarnist, Shalunia, Chudo Vyschnia), which are sources of several economically valuable characteristics. Over the period of 2004 2018, 31 domestic and foreign varieties, which are donors and sources of these valuable economic and biological characteristics, were involved in breeding to create new varieties of cherries and cherry-sweet cherry hybrids. Registration Certificates of a Plant Gene Pool Accession in Ukraine were received for Shalunia, Vstrecha, Vidrodzhennia, Rannii Desert, Solidarnist, Melitopilska Purpurna, and Melitopilska Radist varieties. Three more varieties were submitted for certificates. Having studied the collection, distinguished reference varieties and sources of biological and economically valuable characteristics, a trait collection of cherries was formed and registered with the National Center for Plant Genetic Resources of Ukraine. Conclusions. The gene pool collection of cherries is investigated continuously for effective breeding. Varieties-sources of valuable characteristics were identified, the involvement of which in breeding will allow generating forms that combine maximal number of economically valuable characteristics in the same genotype.