VARIETY STUDY OF PERSPECTIVE INTRODUCED GRAPE MEGRABUJR UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF THE LOWER DON REGION

The purpose of research is to study the agrobiological and uvological indicators of the introduced grape variety Megrabujr in the conditions of the Lower Don Region. In 2011–2021 a comprehensive study of the Armenian grape variety Megrabujr was carried out to determine its adaptive, economic and technological potential. The variety was studied in covering and non-covering crops (grafted on the rootstock Kober 5 BB). The weather conditions during the research period were quite contrasting, which made it possible to obtain objective information about the biology of the variety, which has high winter hardiness. In February 2012, the average daily air temperature was minus 9.8 °C (average long-term minus 4.3 °C), against this background, the safety of buds in uncovered culture was 93.5 %, and in 2014 (with an absolute minimum air temperature of minus 24.6 °C) the safety of the eyes was 96.7 %. in covering culture – from 0.6 to 1.3. The variety has high rates of average bunch weight, is distinguished by stable yield and crop quality. In the uncovered crop, the average weight of a bunch was from 233 to 542 g, in the covered crop, from 230 g to 523 g. A higher yield (222 centners per hectare) was noted in non-covering crops, while in covering crops it was 168 centners per hectare.Three types of wines were made from the 2020 vintage – dry rosé, liqueur rosé and liqueur red, in other years – dry red wines. Tasting scores for dry wines were at the level of 8.6 points, for liqueurs – 8.7 points. The wines were distinguished by harmonious taste with floral and berry-fruit aromas. The organoleptic characteristics and tasting assessments confirmed the feasibility of using this variety for making high-quality dry and liqueur wines, and high biological and production indica-tors make it possible to obtain stable high yields of good quality grapes in the conditions of the Lower Don Region.