Priority areas of breeding work on melons

Relevance. Melons are an important component in the nutrition of the population of the Russian Federation, therefore, the urgent task of selection in our country is to update the existing range and achieve independence from foreign varieties and hybrids. At the Bykovskaya melon breeding experimental station, long-term work has been carried out in several areas of watermelon, melon and pumpkin breeding. Material and Methodology. The materials for the research were varieties, heterotic hybrids and variety samples of watermelon, melon and pumpkin large-fruited and nutmeg. The research was carried out in dry conditions of the Volgograd Trans-Volga region, the characteristic features of which are dry hot summers, which allows to fully provide melons with thermal resources (the average sum of active temperatures during the vegetation period is more than 32000C). The soils of the Volga sandy ridge, where the Bykovskaya experimental station is located, are light chestnut with a low humus content of up to 1%. Results. The station has created a number of varieties and hybrids of melons and gourds that can add variety to the existing range. All newly created selection achievements have high quality characteristics, the dry matter content of watermelon varieties is from 12.0 to 16.0%, melon varieties – 12.0-19.0%, table pumpkin varieties – 16-18%. Along with good quality of fruits, the range of shape and color of the fruit of watermelon and melon is diverse. A variety of watermelon of cylindrical shape with dark green fruit coloring has been created – Malakhit, a rounded shape with green coloring – Timosha. Breeding work has begun on watermelon for different colors of pulp, a sample G-632f with white pulp has been created. Among the melon varieties being created, there are also forms with a cylindrical fruit shape – variety sample 600f and an elongated-oval shape – variety sample 595. The promising Ballada variety is distinguished by its spherical fruit shape. Heterotic selection of watermelon is being developed based on a sterile maternal line. The prospective plans include obtaining initial forms for the selection of watermelon triploids. Selection work is being carried out on all three crops to ensure resistance to diseases: anthracnose and fusarium in watermelon, powdery mildew and fusarium in melon, and powdery mildew in pumpkin.