Peculiarities of genus Muscari representatives development in the Western Siberia forest-steppe

The purpose of the study is to analyze the morphobiological features of 9 species, 2 varieties and 3 forms of representatives of the genus Muscari cultivated in the forest-steppe zone of the Novosibirsk Region. It was established that the sum of positive temperatures from the beginning of flowering to the flowering of introduced species was > 152.5-646.5 °C. Morphometric parameters were carried out in triplicate. Statistical processing was done using the program Statistica 6.0. The duration of flowering lasted 14-25 days (the end of the third decade of April to the third decade of May). The studied species and varieties had an ephemeroid type of above-ground development (1.5-2 months), summer semi-dormant (July-August) and pre-winter formation of a generative shoot. Muscari, introduced in the conditions of the forest-steppe, have two phenorhythmotypes: long-term vegetative, winter-green, with autumn-spring leaf generation(M. armeniacum, M. racemosum, M. coeruleum, M. pallens, M. botryoides, M. tenuifolium, cultivar Early Giant and Blue Spike, M. racemosum f. alba) and short vegetative with early spring generation of leaves (M. auchei, M neglectum, M. tubergenianum, forms 8931/1 and 8931/2). They were distinguished by short stature (10-20 cm), an abundance of flowers in the inflorescence (25-71 pcs.), and aroma. The description of species, varieties, forms is presented. The effectiveness of the practical use of muscari as borders and rabatok in the flower beds of Siberia is based on the assessment of the prospects for six features with a comprehensive assessment of 24-30 points, a high coefficient of vegetative reproduction (10-80 pcs. baby bulbs and 7-17 adult bulbs in a three-year-old clone), abundance of flowering in the early spring, long-term cultivation (5-10 years).