ADAPTIVE POTENTIAL OF THE CARROT GENETIC RESOURCES

Investigations were performed at Pushkin experimental station (Pushkin, Leningrad region), in 2010-2015. Genetic material was represented by 300 samples from Vavilov collection, coming from 18 countries. Results of samples evaluation (productivity, quality, resistance to pests and diseases, suitability for mechanized harvesting) are represented. Widely grown Russian and foreign varieties, interesting for practical usage, are described. As the result of carrot samples investigation, different level of productivity, strongly related with type of variety, was revealed. Samples of carrot, obtained stable level of productivity and quality are described. Best varieties with high level of carotene (13-17 mg/100 g) were NIIOH-336 (Russia), Amro (Denmark), Asmer Early Market (UK), Amsterdam Foram (Netherlands). At the same time, it is very impotent to combine components, which are responsible for the certain type of taste and quality too. Several varieties, bearing high level of resistance to carrot fly (Chamaepsila rosae) and storage diseases, were found. Perspective breeding material for the major directions of carrot breeding programs was chosen. It is highly recommended to use the set of varieties, bearing complex of valuable (early maturation, productivity, marketability, resistance to pests and diseases) traits: Feonia Banta and Nantes Scarletta (Denmark), Formula, Marko, Camillo и Flaxton (Netherlands), Asmer Super Strite and Suko (UK), Lossa Lunga (Italy), Nantsky (Bulgaria), Chantenay Supreme Long (USA), Selbstung (germany), Shantene 2461, Losinoostrovskaya 13, Vitaminnaya 6 (Russia). Prospects of heterosis breeding are adduced.