Shymanska O. Species of the genus Galega L.: biological and ecological characteristics and introduction in the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

The dissertation presents the results of complex scientific research on ontomorphogenesis, seasonal rhythms of development, biological and ecological characteristics of plants of the genus Galega in culture. The characteristics of the main periods (4) and age states of plants (10) are presented. The morphological features of vegetative and generative organs have been established during the growing season of the first, second, and subsequent years of life. It was found that plants of species of the genus Galega belong to herbaceous taproot (G. officinalis) and rhizome-taproot (G. orientalis) polycarpics with a short (3-4 years – G. officinalis) and long (more than 15 years – G. orientalis) life cycle. The features of the development of rhizomes, vegetative, and seed reproduction of plants in culture are revealed. The reaction of introduced species to vegetation conditions (timing, sowing methods, feeding area, raw material collection period) was determined. The features of growth and development of G. orientalis plants in joint growth with representatives of the Poaceae and Fabaceae families have been established, and promising components (Festuca pratensis and Trifolium pratense) have been identified. The features of the production process and the biochemical composition of plants under culture conditions were revealed depending on the phase of development, year of life, species, and genotypic characteristics of introduced species. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of plants of the genus Galega were determined. The features of seed and vegetative reproduction of plants are revealed. The productive potential of plants at the species and genotypes level has been established. The promising genotypes were determined depending on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of phyto-raw materials. The scientific foundations of the introduction into culture have been developed and promising directions for the use of plants have been outlined. A valuable gene pool (32 samples) of species, forms, and varieties of plants of the genus Galega was collected. Created (in co-authorship) two cultivars: Flamingo (G. officinalis) and Riabchyk (G. orientalis). It was revealed that due to the success, perspective of introduction, and resistance, the plants of the genus Galega are characterized by a high degree of acclimatization (14 points in G. orientalis and 10 points in G. officinalis) in the Forest-Steppe conditions of Ukraine.