PROSPECTS OF INTRODUCTION OF THE PUNICA GRANATUM (PUNICA GRANATUM L.) IN THE FOREST STEPPE OF UKRAINE

Abstract

On the basis of modern publications the morphological and bioecological features of punica granatum regarding the introduction into the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine are generalized. It is shown that P. granatum can withstand a short-term decrease in air temperature to minus 15 ° C without damage, and in the case of winter shelter with insulation material can withstand a decrease in temperature to minus 25 ° C.The requirements of the pomegranate for heat are highlighted - for fruit ripening it needs a growing season of 180-200 days and the sum of active temperatures during the growing season over 3000 ° C. According to the Poltava Regional Center for Hydrometeorology, the period of active vegetation of agricultural crops lasts 169-173 days, varying in some years from 148 to 190 days. The growing season begins on April 16-18 and ends on October 4-6. The sum of active air temperatures during this period varies from 2795 ° С in the north of the region to 3045 ° С in the south. In some years, this amount ranges from 2390 ° C to 3435 ° C.It is emphasized that the plants have many dormant buds, they are durable, age slowly but easily become active, forming numerous shoots, which indicates a high regenerative capacity of the species. Due to this feature, the pomegranate enters the period of fruiting early - propagated by cuttings fruiting from the third to fourth year. It is noted that the common pomegranate is well propagated by sowing seeds, which is important for practical selection. It is undemanding to soil conditions, grows on a variety of gravelly to heavy clay soils, except for wetlands. Salt resistance is also relatively high, as plants can develop normally with salinity of up to 0.5 g / kg of soil.The results of the work on the mobilization of the vegetative material of the common pomegranate in the Khorol Botanical Garden as the beginning of the creation of the gene pool of the species and its storage are presented. Ways to increase the adaptive potential of the species in the climatic conditions of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine are shown.