Object: emmer breeding via hybridization to increase the fulfillment of its genetic potential and the efficiency of creating starting material for different purposes. Objective: to expand the genetic diversity of emmer starting material through hybridization with tetraploid wheat species. Methods: general scientific; special; laboratory and statistical. Novelty: consists in solving an important scientific problem to establish peculiarities of the expansion of the genetic diversity of emmer starting material via hybridization. The breeding value of wheat species dicoccum, durum, persicum, timopheevii, polonicum, turanicum, aethiopicum as sources of valuable economic and biological characteristics was determined: they are sources of high content of protein, trace elements, antioxidant activity, pasta and groats qualities, performance constituents, resistance to diseases and lodging, and winter hardiness. Valuable breeding material was obtained. The morphogenesis peculiarities for the grain quality and performance traits upon hybridization between emmer varieties and lines and tetraploid wheat species to breed emmer lines with high carotenoid content, performance and organoleptic qualities of grain were established There was a positive correlation between the grain size and Zn and Fe levels in T. turanicum var. notabile, T. polonicum var pseudocompactum, T. aetiopicum var. densimenelikii, T. persicum var. rubiginosum and T. timopheevii. Scientific provisions on the effectiveness of involving related wheat species in emmer breeding were further developed. A method for evaluating the pasta scores of wheat was improved. Results: due to this study, spring emmer lines combining high 1000-kernel weight, increased content of carotenoids and resistance to leaf blotch, powdery mildew and brown rust were selected and registered with the National Center of Genetic Plants of Ukraine. Winter and spring emmer lines, which are recommended for further testing in breeding, were distinguished. Seeds of the best lines were propagated and put tor medium-term storage in the National Depository. Two spring emmer varieties have been bred (Yunika was included in the State Register of Plant Varieties Suitable for Dissemination in Ukraine; Antares was submitted for qualification examination). Degree of Implementation: the best lines and the express - method for assessing the color of flour and dough are implemented in the breeding programs of the Plant Production Institute named after VYa Yuriev of NAAS and in the educational programs of Uman National University of Horticulture and Sumy National Agrarian University. Two varieties have been bred, one of which is included in the State Register of Plant Varieties Suitable for Dissemination in Ukraine. Scope of implementation: scientific institutions of NAAS, NAS and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, educational establishments, agrarian enterprises of Ukraine.
