Povydalo M. Creation of source material of hybrid lucerne with increased seed productivity by means of wide-crossing

The dissertation provides a theoretical generalization and practical solution to the problems of creating interspecific genotypes of alfalfa with increased seed productivity and high adaptability to adverse environmental factors. The ability of yellow-flowering forms as the maternal crossing component is estimated to form interspecific hybrids Medicago falcata L. / Medicago sativa L. with a complex of valuable economic traits has been evaluated. There have been established the features of inheritance in the interspecific hybrids of autogamy, the main components of seed productivity (2.2–2.8 seeds per pod; 3.7–5.0 g of seeds per plant and the maximum number of spiral revolutions per pod up to six), as well as an extended longevity period (6–8 years). There have been created interspecific hybrid populations and varieties with their participation with increased adaptive potential to growing conditions due to germplasm of sickle lucerne on the basis of which the variety of hybrid lucerne Anatoliivna had been included into the State Register of Plant Varieties Suitable for Dissemination in Ukraine. New varieties of hybrid lucerne Kyivska zhovtohibrydna and Kyivska synohibrydna were submitted to the State Qualification Examination at the Ukrainian Institute for Plant Variety Examination. As a result of the research, the methodology for selection of promising source material has been improved to create varieties with increased seed productivity, which is based on the preliminary assessment and selection of the source material for increased level of autogamy and high values of the maximum speed of the spiral in pod and the number of conditioned seeds per pod. To accelerate breeding process, when selecting crossing components, it is recommended to estimate the source material in terms of expression of autogamy and elements of seed productivity.