The study of the collection of rose essential oil on a complex of economically valuable indicators

Abstract. The article presents the results of the study of essential oil-bearing rose samples according to the most valuable indicators. The purpose of the current research was twofold: characterize essential-oil-bearing rose collection in terms of the morphobiological parameters and economically valuable traits; identify samples promising for selection. Research methods. Analysis of essential-oil-bearing rose samples was carried out according to the methodological guidelines for essential oil crops in 2017–2020. Under field and laboratory conditions, we analyzed such indicators as flowering time, winter hardiness, budding ability, flower weight, essential oil content in inflorescences. Statistical processing of the data obtained was carried out. Results. The essential-oil-bearing rose collection nursery was laid in 2012 at the experimental site of the Department of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants located in the foothill zone of Crimea (Krymskaya Roza vill., Belogorskiy district). Significant variability of the flower weight and mass fraction of essential oil (Cv = 24.6…36.3 %) was noted. The dependence of the main indicators on meteorological conditions during the period of active vegetation of plants was analyzed. It was found that extremely high temperature regime and insufficient rainfall in April–May reduced the duration of flowering in the essential-oil-bearing rose collection, on average, by 3–5 days. It was noted that, despite the differences in the response of samples to weather conditions, the leading factor determining the level of essential oil accumulation in inflorescences is genotype. According to the complex or individual valuable indicators, we identified 14 best specimens, seven of which were with the highest content of essential oil in inflorescences (0.030–0.049 %). Scientific novelty. For the first time, a one-time detailed study of the collection was conducted according to a set of valuable traits. The collection comprises 50 specimens including five varieties of Crimean breeding (originator – Research Institute of Agriculture of Crimea) and five – from Bulgaria. The information obtained will allow selecting samples that are promising as source material for breeding, as well as predicting the expected productivity of essential-oil-bearing rose varieties under specific weather conditions of the region.