COMPETITIVE VARIETY TRIAL OF PROMISING BREEDING MATERIAL OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP

A three-year scientific research was conducted in the comparative assessment of perspective hybrid populations of Central Russian ecotype monoecious industrial hemp in competitive variety trials. The results are hereby presented. The object of the research was three varieties of non-psychotropic industrial hemp, approved for use on the territory of the Russian Federation, and two promising breeding numbers, selected according to the results of preliminary trials of previous years. The goal of the research is to create new highly productive varieties of non-psychotropic monoecious industrial hemp that are adapted to the agro-ecological conditions of the Middle Volga region and possess higher levels, in comparison to the existing varieties, of economically valuable traits, as well as stability of the monoecious property during reproduction, with content of less than 0.1% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The main method of research works is multiple family-group selection according to a complex of selectively valuable features and properties. During the experiment, methods and schematic models generally accepted in breeding research institutions were used. The content of less than 0.1% THC in the upper parts of the inflorescences was taken as the main limiting feature of selection. Following the results of 2018 competitive variety trial cycle of promising breeding numbers, an application was submitted for inclusion of breeding number GP-7/012m under the name “Milena industrial hemp variety” in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation (RF). It is planned to perform the next stage of breeding improvement with a promising breeding number GP- 13/012v in order to increase the yield of common and long fiber in the plant stems. On the basis of the introduction of new breeding varieties of industrial hemp, it is planned to transfer scientific results to various regions of hemp-harvesting of the agro-industrial complex of the Russian Federation in order to increase their economic development rates, increase competitiveness of their products and ensure import substitution.