Biriukova O. Breeding Value and Biological Features of Millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) Starting Material in the Eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

Object: Expression regularities of morphological, biological and economic features in collection accessions of grain and fodder millet; evaluation, on their basis, of the breeding value and biological characteristics of millet accessions. Objective: To establish the regularities of formation of valuable economic features and their variability in millet accessions used for different purposes, to structure collection accessions in collections of different types and to identify sources to create grain and fodder millet cultivars for the eastern forest-steppe of Ukraine. Methods: General scientific, field, laboratory and mathematical-statistical. Novelty: An important scientific problem of evaluation of the breeding value and biological features of collection accessions of millet used for different purposes in the eastern forest-steppe of Ukraine was resolved. The solution differs from the previously known works by comprehensiveness of the research methods used and by structuredness of the collection material in collections of different types. For the first time in the eastern forest-steppe of Ukraine, the green mass yield of the collection accessions of fodder millet was investigated under unstable weather conditions. Results: Valuable sources with stable high yields and quality of green mass were identified. Correlations of valuable economic features of fodder accessions were established: there were sign8ificant positive correlations between the green mass yield and the growing season length (r = 0.23* to r = 0.68*), the plant height (r = 0.06 to r = 0.40*) and the internode number (r = 0.26* to r = 0.60*); and a significant negative correlation between the green mass yield and the grain yield (r = -0.06 to r = -0.50*). A working collection of millet was compiled according to areas of use. It was registered with the NCPGRU (Certificate No. 247 dated October 27, 2017). A working collection of millet by protein content in grain was compiled and registered with the NCPGRU (Certificate No. 144 dated January 15, 2013). Degree of Implementation consists in identification of valuable sources involved in the breeding process at the leading research institutions: NSC "Institute of Agriculture of NAAS", Department of Groat Crop Breeding and Seed Production and the Plant Production Institute named after VYa Yuriev of NAAS, Laboratory of Millet Breeding. The accessions selected by contrasting morphological and biological characteristics were transferred to the Chair of Breeding and Seed Production of Dnipro State Agrarian and Economic University, where they are used in the discipline curriculums "Breeding and Seed Production of Crops", "Specific Seed Production of Agricultural Crops" and "Plant Genetic Resources." The applicant is a co-author of two millet cultivars, Sonechko Slobidske (grain) and Bohatyrske (fodder), which were included in the State Register of Plant Varieties of Ukraine in 2016-2017 and are characterized by increased grain and green mass yields, lodging and grain shedding resistance. Scope of Implementation: Research institutions of NAAS, NAS and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, educational establishments, agrarian enterprises of Ukraine.