Assessment of Adaptability and Quality Indicators of a New Butternut Squash Variety Omsk Bulava (Cucurbita moschata Duch.) in the Southern Forest-Steppe of Western Siberia

According to a number of valuable indicators, squash is one of the most important melon crops for consumption by the population, as well as food, processing, pharmaceutical and other industries. A special feature of the type of butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata Duch.) is a longer growing season and increased demands on the temperature regime of the environment. In this regard, the study of the adaptive potential and qualitative indicators of a new variety of butternut squash “Omsk bulava” is very relevant when cultivated in the southern forest-steppe of Western Siberia. This zone is considered risky in relation to the cultivation of a number of vegetable crops and some plant species, and the climate of the region is characterized as sharply continental and often, in these conditions, it is impossible to obtain a high-quality and high yield of this type of squash. The pilot part of the work covers the period 2021-2024. The research was conducted in the Omsk region, which belongs to the southern forest-steppe of Western Siberia. The experimental part of the work and statistical processing of the results correspond to generally accepted methods. The object of the study is a new variety of butternut squash “Omsk bulava”. The standard is “Guitar” variety of butternut squash included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements. The main criteria for assessing adaptive potential are productivity, environmental stability, and plasticity. The new Omsk mace variety is characterized as plastic (bi = 2.43), while significantly differing from the standard (bi = -0.43). The ecological stability of both the new butternut squash variety Omsk Bulava and the standard shows the same values (Q2d = 6.9), which indicates the stability of fruiting in changing environmental conditions. A qualitative assessment of pumpkin cultivars was carried out according to a number of indicators of the appearance of fruits, as well as their biochemical composition.