History and prospects of breeding work on an apple tree in research institute "Zhiguli gardens"

The issues of the history of the development of breeding work on the breeding of high-yielding, well-adapted to local conditions apple varieties in the Middle Volga region are considered. An overview of the source material for apple tree breeding is given. The methods and results of the breeding work carried out by its founder S.P. Kedrin at the Kuibyshev Experimental Horticulture station, which began from the moment of its foundation in 1931, are described in detail. Combinations of crosses of the main varieties Kutuzovets, Spartak, Zhigulevskoe with domestic and foreign varieties are described, which allowed to breed a number of new varieties of apple tree, differing in a complex of economically valuable traits. The main prospects of further breeding work on the apple tree are indicated: winter ripening period, yield, early fruitfulness, compact tree habitus, scab resistance, winter hardiness, high commodity and consumer qualities of fruits.