VALUABLE DONORS OF DIPLOID GAMETES FOR TRIPLOID APPLE TREE VARIETIES CREATION

Abstract

As a result of the long-term research, several of the most promising donors of diploid gametes were selected among apple cultivars and elite seedlings. Among the cultivars, these are Antonovka Ploskaya (2-4-4-4x), Melba tetraploid (4x), Papirovka tetraploid (2-4-4-4x) and Wealthy tetraploid (2-4-4-4x), while among the seedlings these are 13-6-106 (Suvorovetz seedling) (4x) and 30-47-88 (Liberty × 13-6-106) (4x + Vf). New apple cultivars of summer maturation Avgusta, Dariona, Maslovskoye and Osipovskoye have already been released with the participation of Papirovka tetraploid (2-4-4-4x) and included in the State register of breeding achievements admitted for use. New zoned cultivars Alerksandr Boyko, Bezhin Lug, Vavilovskoye and Ministr Kisilev have been released with the participation of Wealthy tetraploid (2-4-4-4x). Triploid apple cultivars Orlovsky Partizan, Patriot and Mars have been released with the participation of 13-6-106 (Suvorovetz seedling) as a donor of diploid gametes. Orlovsky Partizan and Patriot are zoned, while Mars is passing the state testing. 30-47-88 (Liberty × 13-6-106) (4x + Vf) is of particular value as both a donor of diploid gametes and a donor of scab immunity (Vf). Priorities in apple breeding at VNIISPK are the development of the immune to scab (24 scab immune cultivars are zoned) and columnar cultivars (5 cultivars are zoned: Vostorg, Girlianda, Poezia, Priokskoye and Orlovskaya Yesenia). We have already developed triploid apple cultivars that have immunity to scab. It is tempting to create triploid cultivars that are immune to scab and columnar ("three in one"). The creation of such cultivars will allow to provide more regular fruiting in the orchard and fruits of high commodity and consumer qualities (due to triploidy), improve the environmental situation in the orchard and its surroundings (due to immunity to scab), and significantly increase the yield (due to column-shaped varieties). We hope that in the coming years such cultivars will be created, since there are already selected apple seedlings with such a combination of valuable features.