THE STUDY OF THE CRESTED WHEAT GRASS COLLECTION (Agropyron рectiniforme) ON WINTER HARDNESS AND ENERGY OF SPRING AFTERGROWING OF GRASS IN THE STAVROPOL TERRITORY

Abstract

Among perennial grasses, crested wheat grass is one of the most popular species with a
complex of economically valuable traits, high fodder benefits and tolerance to cultivation conditions. The creation of new highly competitive varieties which are adapted to the growing conditions is really relevant. The purpose of the research is to study the peculiarities of overwintering,
regrowth of the grass collection samples of the crested wheat grass and to identify promising
genotypes for further selection. The research was carried out in the unstable moisture zone in the
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Stavropol Territory on the experimental field of FSBSI "North Caucasus FARC". The generally
accepted methods of field experiment and methodology guidelines for the selection and seed
breeding of perennial grasses were used in the research. The experiment was carried out in fallow
land, in one replication, the standard variety of crested wheat grass Vikrav, which was approved
for use in the North Caucasus region since 1994. The world collection of crested wheat grass was
studied for the first time in the Stavropol Territory. It included 19 wild and 24 selected varieties
of various eco-geographical origins. New knowledge about the gene pool of the crop was obtained. The morpho-biological specificities of wild and selected samples, depending on the current weather conditions, were studied. According to the grass regrowth indices after overwintering and the intensity of spring aftergrowth, the studied collection samples were formed into
groups with the potential of their use in the further breeding. In general, 10 genetic sources were
identified for the use in further breeding. Based on the complex of the studied traits, 2 samples
from Ukraine and 3 samples from Kazakhstan were selected.