Seed productivity of large-fruited pumpkin in the conditions of the Volgograd region
Pumpkin fruits and seeds are of great national economic importance as food products that provide dietary and therapeutic and preventive nutrition, supply the population with vitamins in winter, and are also raw materials for the canning industry, cooking and pharmacology. The purpose of these studies was to study the yield of fruits and seeds of large-fruited pumpkin in the conditions of the Volgograd region. The objectives of the research were to study the peculiarities of the phenological phases of plant growth and development; to carry out biometric measurements of plants, fruits and seeds; to assess the yield of fruits. The research was carried out in 2017-2021 at the Bykovskaya melon breeding experimental station. The object of research was the varieties of large-fruited pumpkin bred at the station. The Volga gray pumpkin variety - 92, zoned in the Volgograd region, was used as a standard. During the research, it was found that the seed productivity of plants depends on a number of factors: weather and climatic conditions during the period of plant cultivation, insect pollination, etc. Varietal differences in the yield of fruits and seeds of large-fruited pumpkin (for 2017-2021) are presented. The article presents the results of long-term studies of the evaluation of large-fruited pumpkin when it is grown in the conditions of the Volgograd region. The differences between the samples in the yield of fruits, seeds, as well as the number and weight of fruits on the plant were established. Varieties with high yields of fruits and seeds have been identified. The highest fruit yield was distinguished by the Volga gray standard - 92 (21.0 t/ha). The Zorka variety had the lowest yield - 14.0 t/ha. According to the seed yield, the Romance variety stood out - 219 kg / ha. The Zorka variety turned out to have the lowest seed productivity. When comparing quantitative data on the yield structure of large-fruited pumpkin, it was revealed that the largest number of fruits on one pumpkin plant turned out to be the same in two varieties of Elia and Elegant 4-5 pcs. per plant. Studies have shown that the 6 studied varieties of large-fruited pumpkin differed significantly in fruit yield, seeds, the number of fruits per plant and the weight of one fruit.