The object of the research: methodology for creating a gene pool of vegetable and melon plants and its practical use. The objectives: the main aim of the research was substantiation of the methodology of forming the genebank of vegetable and melon plant species in Ukraine, its systematization on the base of studying regularities of variability of the adaptive capacity of the gene pool collection samples; selecting sources of valuable economic characteristics, development of rapid methods for evaluation of the starting material, formation of base, trait, special and other collections for use in breeding programs, creation of modern competitive varieties and hybrids of vegetable crops based on the allocated sources. The methods: field, laboratory, measuring and weighing; biochemical; organoleptic; settlement; mathematical and statistical. The novelty. First in the Ukraine, a system of approaches, methods, techniques for research on the formation and implementation into breeding practices of the vegetable and melon plant species gene pool based on the studied regularities of the gene pool potential variability. Taking into account biomorphological features of each crop and the experimental data, the methodological approaches to carrying out introduction on valuable traits is theoretically grounded. A level of phenotypic variability, correlations between quantitative characteristics of vegetable plants and their adaptive capacity are determined. Complex evaluation of gene pool collections samples traits is carried out, based on which the new sources of breeding valuable traits for breeding are highlighted: precocity, productivity, product quality, resistance to biotic and abiotic factors. Theoretical approaches to formation of different types of collections, databases, replenishment of the gene pool diversity, its conservation and practical use are improved. New rapid-assessment methods of starting material evaluation are developed and existing ones are improved, that can significantly speed up the breeding process. According to the research results, there is identified, evaluated and formed a bank of genetic resources, which consists of 4731 samples of 83 vegetable and melon plants belonging to 73 plant species from 70 world countries. There are created and registered in the NCPGRU 10 different collections (basic, core, genetic, trait, working-trait). " The methodology for conducting experiments with genetic resources of vegetable and melon plants", "The technique of examination of fragrant onion (Allium odorum L) varieties for distinctness, uniformity and stability" are worked out. Two patents for utility model on rapid assessment methods of raw material to cold and salt resistance are obtained. Based on the developed methodological approaches using gene pool, new highly adaptive to the conditions of the Forest-Steppe of the Ukraine varieties and hybrids are created: 2 heterotic hybrids of eggplant, 4 varieties of eggplant, 2 varieties of onion, by one variety of tomato, onion, welsh onion, fragrant onion, salad mustard, watercress. A catalogues of gene pool samples are compiled for the crops: eggplant, carrots, radishes, parsley, curly, parsnip, celery, beetroot. The passport data of the gene pool of vegetable and melon plants are compiled and handed to the NCPGRU for incorporation into the National and European (EURISCO) catalogues of plant genetic resources.
