Ecological testing of melon varieties bred at the Bykovskaya Experimental Station

Relevance and methodology. Currently, due to changing weather conditions, the cultivation of melons and gourds is shifting to areas that were not previously engaged in melon growing. Therefore, the testing of available varieties in various environmental conditions is relevant. The purpose of this work is to evaluate melon varieties bred at the Bykovskaya melon breeding experimental station in various soil and climatic conditions. Three varieties of melon were used as the object of research. The tests were carried out in the conditions of the Volgograd region, the Krasnodar region and the Republic of Kazakhstan. During the research, the melon varieties were evaluated according to the following indicators: yield, duration of the growing season, dry matter content. Results. As a result of the research, it was revealed that the variety Harmonia was the most stable in terms of the duration of the growing season (75-79 days). A consistently high content of dry matter in all areas of the study was in the varieties Comet and Idyll from 12.0 to 15.0%. All varieties had a good tasting score. The average fruit weight of all melon varieties grown in Krasnodar and the Volgograd region was at the same level. The high average weight in the conditions of Kazakhstan was distinguished by the Idyll variety - 4.3 kg. The melon varieties Harmoniya and Idyllia have a consistently high yield in all three zones. The variety Kometa had the highest yield in the conditions of Kazakhstan - 16.3 t/ha. Thus, melon varieties that have been tested in different regions of cultivation have high quality indicators and yields and are suitable for growing marketable products in the regions of the study.