PROMISING ELITE FORMS OF ASIATIC LILY HYBRIDS BRED BY I.V. MICHURIN FEDERAL SCIENTIFIC CENTRE

The paper presents a long-term study of the hybrid fund of Asian lilies bred by I.V. Michurin Federal Scientific Centre, in the conditions of the Central Chernozem region. The aim of the research was to study the hybrid fund of Asian lilies and identify promising elite forms as future candidates for cultivars. The objects of research were 365 selected seedlings of Asian lily hybrids. The study of the hybrid fund was carried out in accordance with the "Methodology for primary cultivar study of lilies" in the period from 2017 to 2021. Phenological observations of the growth and development of plants were carried out, the terms of regrowth, budding and flowering of lilies were determined. The sums of effective temperatures for each phenological phase were determined. Ornamental (colour, size, shape of the flower; resistance to fading, number of flowers in the inflorescence; quality of the peduncle; originality; general condition of plants) and economically valuable (resistance to diseases, productivity of vegetative reproduction, duration of flowering, resistance to adverse environmental factors) indicators of Asian lily hybrids were studied. As a result of the conducted research, highly ornamental and resistant elite forms have been identified that meet the requirements of the breeding task: 140-54-1, 151-63- 6, 165-84-3, 166-65-2, 167-77-5, 167-117-9. A brief description of the selected elite forms is given. Elite forms are characterized by an original pattern on the surface of the perianth leaves, colour, shape of the flower and its orientation, winter hardiness, drought resistance, resistance to diseases, and high adaptive potential. The selected promising forms are characterized by different flowering periods from early, starting blooming at the end of mid-June (165-84-3 and 167-117-9), to late, blooming from the middle of mid-July (140-54-1 and 167-77-5), which significantly expands the flowering range of Asian lily hybrids.