Productivity assessment and long-term storage ability of Chinese cabbage CR-hybrids

Background. Chinese cabbage production has several benefits, including excellent nutritional content and flavor, the potential for two harvests per year, and the long-term storage capacity. There are less than 70 varieties and hybrids of the crop in the State Register, more than 70% of them are susceptible to clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae), which destroys up to 60% of the crop. It is necessary to develop productive hybrids of Chinese cabbage with resistance to stressors such as clubroot and suitable for long-term storage. Purpose. To evaluate the economically valuable characteristics of Chinese cabbage hybrid combinations resistant to clubroot, to select highly productive samples and to estimate the loss cabbage weight after storage. Materials and methods. Field tests were carried out in the summer-autumn period of 2023. 33 hybrid combinations of Chinese cabbage were used as plant material. The parental DH-lines were selected on infection background for resistance to clubroot and internal necrosis in cabbage heads. After harvesting and evaluation of economic characteristics, the cabbage heads were kept in storage for 124 days with artificial refrigeration. Weight loss and disease damage were then evaluated. Results. 5 hybrid combinations were identified that exceed the standards in terms of ‘head weight’ by at least 30%. Two of them have shown good potential for long-term storage with minimal weight loss from disease up to 11%. The productive genotype Bi5×P2dg7 with disease resistance during storage and minimal weight loss was separately identified. Conclusion. 6 genotypes are recommended for extended testing and selection of promising hybrids with a complex of economically valuable traits, including resistance to clubroot. For additional tests on suitability for long-term storage, five hybrid combinations with small weight losses due to diseases of up to 11% are recommended. EDN: NWLBKV