Biodiversity of interspecific hybrids of the genus <i>Allium</i> L.

Relevance. Interspecific hybridization in the genus Allium L. is the best way to increase biodiversity by introgression of desired traits within the genus. This is valuable for signs such as resistance to diseases and pests, accumulation of important metabolites, obtaining new sources of cytoplasmic male sterility. The creation based on interspecific hybridization of fundamentally new plant forms with unique genetic material makes it possible to expand the selection of genotypes that are valuable in practical terms.Methods. To characterize the breeding material, the plants of interspecific allium hybrids were evaluated using morphological and phytopathological analyses. The analysis of plants of interspecific hybrids of the genus Allium L. from various inbred offspring from BC1-2 combinations of crossing species A. cepa × A. vavilovii and A. cepa × A. fistulosum by breeding characteristics was carried out. Plants were studied by weight, color, bulb shape, number, height of seed stalks, seed productivity and resistance to downy mildew.Results. The biodiversity of plants was revealed: by weight, shape, color of the bulb; by resistance to downy mildew of plants of the first year of vegetation and seed plants; by the number, height of seed stalk; by seed productivity. Plants of interspecific allium hybrids formed bulbs weighing up to 120 g, white, yellow, brown and red, elliptical, broadly elliptical, round and transversely elliptical bulb shape. Phytopathological assessment of allium plants of the first year of vegetation and seed plants revealed diversity in inbred offspring with resistance to peronosporosis. In the combination of crossing species A. cepa × A. vavilovii plants of the first year of vegetation had the largest number of resistant plants to downy mildew (up to 66.7%). According to the seed productivity of plants, depending on the combination of crossing, inbreeding generation and backcross, highly fertile plants with increased seed setability (up to 2.0 g /plant) were identified. The conducted studies have demonstrated an increase in the biodiversity of allium plants obtained based on interspecific hybridization, backcrosses and inbreeding.