Assessment and selection of source material for creating melon hybrids with integrated resistance to anthracnose and powdery mildew
Relevance. Melon as melon culture is cultivated in many countries of the world and is highly valued for its nutritional and dietary qualities. However, exposure to fungal diseases dramatically reduces the yield and taste of melons. Melon is affected mainly by powdery mildew and Anthracnose. In the conditions of the Bykovskaya melon breeding experimental station, the predominant type of powdery mildew is Sphaerotheca fuliginea. Evaluation and selection of the starting material with the identification of samples with complex resistance to these diseases is an important direction in the selection process, allowing to solve the problem of improving production efficiency and product quality. Methods. The aim of this work is to obtain melon varieties and hybrids with complex resistance to powdery mildew and Anthracnose. Complex stability was determined by artificial infection of melon plants in the phase of 2-3 real leaves by conventional methods. Results. 8 varieties and 10 F<sub>1</sub> hybrids of melon were studied for complex resistance to artificial Anthracnose and powdery mildew infection. Standard grade melon autumn was amazed powdery mildew of 81.2% with score lesion of 1.8 by Anthracnose, respectively, 93.8 per cent if the score is 2.3. The resulting hybrids were superior in stability to the standard. Hybrid x Ethiopian Farmer was amazed powdery mildew on 44% with score of 1.4. The prevalence of hybrid Original x Autumn was 54.4% powdery mildew with a score of 1.4, Anthracnose - 75% with a score of 1.8 (average for three years). The hybrid is fulfilled on economically valuable signs, has stable productivity of 17.5 t/ha, the content of dry substances in fruit juice to 17.2%. The samples and promising hybrids obtained with complex stability will be used in further breeding work.