SOME ASPECTS OF BREEDING WITH POLEMONIUM CAERULEUM L.

Background. Methods of artificial polyploidization are not used enough in medicinal crop production. The use of colchicine causes obvious morphological changes in the obtained P. caeruleum polyploids and changes in the productivity of raw materials and seeds. The research was conducted at the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Medicinal Plants, Moscow region. Purpose. Based on comparative biological, morphological and economically valuable features of diploid and tetraploid forms of the medicinal plant Polemonium caeruleum L. to identify and evaluate the obtained polyploid forms as a initial material in breeding. Materials and methods. Polyploid plants of P. caeruleum were obtained for the first time in 2019 [6, 14]. In 2021-2022 (in the 2nd and 3rd year of vegetation) in generation C2, the biological, morphological and economically valuable signs of colchicine-induced tetraploid plants were studied. The control (initial form) is the cultivated variety "Lazur". Results. For the first time, an assessment of the economic, biological and morphological parameters of the initial material of the medicinal culture of P. caeruleum obtained on the basis of colchicine-induced tetraploid plants is given. The economic and biological indicators of the initial material are higher than in the control: in terms of the yield of raw materials (rhizomes with roots) - by 21-52% and in terms of seed yield - by 44-53%. In terms of the amount of triterpene saponins in terms of β-escin, tetraploid plants met the requirements of the pharmacopoeia article (at least 10 %). The highest content of biologically active substances exceeded the control by 14-15 %. Biometric and descriptive data were also obtained on the height, size and shape of inflorescences and leaves, stem thickness, color of plant parts, including the severity of anthocyanin staining. These distinctive morphological characteristics are easily identified and can be used for a preliminary assessment of the putative polyploid forms of P. caeruleum. Tetraploid plants have numerous shoots with anthocyanin-colored stems of greater thickness than those of control plants. The study of morphological features showed that colchicine-induced plants are stunted – up to 86% lower than control plants. The inflorescences are also smaller in size, but more dense and branched than in the control. The leaves of tetraploids are larger, have a dark green color of the leaf blade. The excess over the control in the length of the stem leaves was 12-32 %, in the width of the leaves – 7-25 %. Fewer seeds were formed, but they were larger. The weight of 1000 seeds increased by 5.5 % compared to the control. Conclusion. As a result of research on a complex of biomorphological and economic and biological signs, promising numbers of P. caeruleum have been identified for further breeding work. The results of the study are relevant for the creation of new highly productive varieties of the P. caeruleum medicinal culture.