Biological features and elements of the technology of seed production of marigolds (Tagetes patula L.) in the conditions of the Southern Urals

Relevance. One of the priority areas of research at Heterosis Selection LLC is the creation of varieties and the development of regional agricultural technology for growing seed material of flower crops. The article represents the results of the study of intravarietal variability according to 7 structural features of marigolds (Tagetes patula L.) cv. Elena Prekrasnaya under the conditions of the Southern Urals. To develop a methodology of seed production of marigolds in the conditions of the Southern Urals, it is necessary to study a complex of morphological features and identify those that more fully contribute to the preservation and maintenance of the variety. Results. As a result of the study of intravarietal variability, it was found that the most stable traits of the variety of marigolds cv. Elena Prekrasnaya are the height of the plant, the diameter of the inflorescence, and the number of seeds in the inflorescence. Efficient selection when obtaining original seeds of marigolds cv. Elena Prekrasnaya will be when focusing on the signs of plant height and inflorescence diameter. In order to obtain high-quality seeds in the industrial seed production of marigold in the conditions of the Southern Urals, it should be kept in mind that in the period from August 20 to September 1, half of the potential seed yield ripens - 49.4%. The greatest uniformity of seed ripening (37.3% of the total yield) was noted on September 1. The harvesting of inflorescences during this period provided the production of seeds with high sowing qualities.