Comprehensive Assessment of the Quality of Varieties and Elite Forms of Apple Tree

The need to increase the volume of domestic production of fruits and berries and bring it to the level of 60 % or more in accordance with the «Doctrine of Food Security of the Russian Federation» approved in 2020 determines the relevance of the development of breeding research to create high-quality and commercially valuable domestic varieties of apple trees. The quality of the fruits of the leading fruit crop is the most important general indicator that unites a large group of characteristics that are significant for apple breeding and its industrial cultivation. One of the most significant features for both consumers and producers of fruit products, along with taste benefits, includes the following features: such as large fruit size, fruit shape, character and intensity of outer color. The objects of study were 30 varieties and forms of apple trees (Malus × domestica Borkh.) of various genetic origins. The purpose of the study is to identify the sources of large-fruited, candile-shaped and elongated round-conical shape, brightly colored fruits among the varieties a nd hybrids of the NCFSCHVW apple tree for use in breeding and production. Research work was carried out at the NCFSCHVW, at the Center or Collective Use «Research and selection collection of genetic resources of horticultural crops». Breeding plantings of apple trees on M9 rootstock without irrigation were planted at the Joint-Stock Company Experimental Production Farm «Tsentralnoye» (Krasnodar) in 2004 according to a 5 × 1,5 scheme. Control varieties by ripening time: Soyuz, Persikovoye, Orfey. To carry out the Scientific Research Work, generally accepted programs and methods for variety study for fruit crops (apple trees) were used. Based on the results of a long-term assessment, triploid varieties and forms were identified: Dzhin (265,9 g), Ekzotika (246,5 g), 12/2-24-4 (230,4 g), as sources of large fruit, promising for breeding, especially during hybridization with valuable interspecific small-fruited forms of apple trees. Most of the studied samples of domestic breeding have fruits above average size (67 %) and round fruit shape (60 %). New varieties have been identified: Lyubimoye Dutovoy, Pamyati Yevdokimova, Elf with a spectacular elongated round-conical and candile-shaped fruit (fruit index 0,96–1,01); Azimut, Dzhin, Vesta, Granatovoye, Lyubimoye Dutovoy, etc. – with bright red and crimson coloring of fruits of varying intensity throughout most of the fruit. New varieties of regional breeding are promising in the future for optimizing the assortment for southern fruit growing and for use in apple breeding to improve the commercial characteristics of fruits. Key words: APPLE-TREE, VARIETY, HYBRID, WEIGHT, SHAPE, COLOR OF FRUIT