Evaluation of onion samples (Allium cepa L.) of various origins in the foothill zone of the North Caucasus and creation of source material for breeding

Relevance. The success of breeding work is largely determined by the source material, the search and creation of which for target breeding begins with the collection and study of collectible samples for the alignment of morphologicar features; for the precocity and amity of maturation; for the keeping quality and transportability of bulbs; for the quality of vegetable products (high content of biologically active substances and antioxidants); for resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors of a specific growing zone. Materials and methods. On the basis of the North Caucasus branch FSBSI FSVC, 90 samples of spring onions from 26 countries of the world were evaluated in the number nursery for the period from 2017 to 2019, 71 of them were varieties and 19 were Fi hybrids. In a hybrid nursery, 25 hybrid combinations obtained from FSBSI FSVC (VNIISSOK) were evaluated. The laying and placement of experiments, agricultural techniques of cultivation, accounting and evaluation of economically valuable traits, biochemical analyses were carried out according to generally accepted methods. The standards are the new Primo and Ampex varieties of the selection of the FSBSI FSVC and the Italian F1 hybrid Ranko, which were placed every 10 collection samples. Results.According to the results of the assessment, among the studied F1 varieties and hybrids, sources of economically valuable traits such as yiem (20-27 t/ha), precocity (80-90 days), preservation (more than 85%) when laid for long-term storage up to 7 months, purple, white and pink color of bulbs, as well as sources of long-shaped bulbs were identified. The greatest interest for breeding for yield is represented “by 9 promising varieties and 9 Fi hybrids of onions of various origins, as well as 4 hybrid combinations that were distinguished by high yields, the yield of marketable products and the mass of marketable bulbs. These samples are recommended for use in the breeding process as sources for the creation of new varieties and hybrids with high yields for the agro-climatic conditions of the foothill zone of the North Caucasus.