MOBILIZATION OF THORN (PRUNUS SPINOSA L.) BOTANICAL VARIETY FOR REPLENISHING THE NATIONAL GENE BANK AND USING ITS GENETIC POTENTIAL IN BREEDING

Branch Krymsk Experiment Breeding Station of the Russian Institute of Plant Growing, using expedition fees, has collected the genetic diversity of thorn – Prunus spinosa l., numbering more than 500 genotypes. the study of the botanical and genetic diversity of preserved forms from various areas made it possible to identify the sources of signifiant breeding features such as weak growth and weak spiny shoots, adaptability, late flwering and others. The best of them are recommended for use in breeding of stone fruit crops cultivars and clonal rootstocks. Using remote hybridization, complex donors were synthesized based on thorn genotypes. There also were recorded some promising elites of clonal rootstocks successfully passed the initial test and were used in various breeding programs for stone fruits