THE INTRODUCED STRAWBERRY (FRAGARIA×ANANASSA DUCH.) VARIETIES AS A PROMISING BREEDING MATERIAL

The integrated assessment of introduced strawberry varieties was held in order to identify the gene sources with high level economically important characters for their use in breeding. The biological objects of research were 69 strawberry accessions. As a result of a long-term comprehensive assessment of the genetic collection of introduced strawberry varieties according to the main economically valuable traits in various weather conditions, a source with the highest and stable level of a complex of priority traits was identified. This is the variety Maya with a large-fruited (>25 g) and high productivity (>500 g/plant). Sources of very early (+5 days, Flair variety) and late (-16 days, Malwina variety) ripening periods introduced from the Netherlands have been revealed. The study of everbearing varieties made it possible to identify the variety San Andreas (USA) as source with the most stable level of the multiple fruiting trait regardless of the duration of the photoperiod. All of the above sources are characterized by a number of valuable features that meet the requirements of the consumer market: pulp density, gloss on the surface, high marketability during transportation and dessert taste. The response of identified varieties to low temperature stressors in prewinter and winter periods showed a wide reaction rate and a high regeneration ability to plant biomass.