About the Journal

Authors:

G. M. ERMOLINA, candidate of agricultural sciences, senior research associate,

N. A. KOVTUNOVA, candidate of agricultural sciences, head of the laboratory,

A. E. ROMANYUKIN, candidate of agricultural sciences, senior research associate, E. A. SHISHOVA, research associate,

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER “DONSKOY” (3 Nauchny Gorodok, 347740, Zernograd)

Abstract.  Exceptional drought resistance, high productivity, good quality of green chop and hay, ability to grow after cutting make Sudanese grass indispensable and invaluable in plant-growing. During the years of 1981–2016 ARRIGC named after I. G. Kalinenko developed and approved to use 9 varieties of Sudan grass. In spite of the successful breeding of Sudan grass, it’s necessary to admit that the suggested range of the plant is not perfect enough yet. At present there are many requirements for the varieties, i. e. compliance with soil-climatic conditions, resistance to diseases and pests, suitability for mechanical cultivation, high quality and productivity. The main methods of Sudan grass breeding are the selection in natural or artificially created populations and hybridization with further selection. The varieties “Zernogradskaya 576”, “Mnogootrastayuschaya” and “Stepnyachka” were produced by the first method of breeding. The varieties “Stanichnaya 7”, “Sorokoleta” and “Mnogoukosnaya” were pro- duced by the method of interspecific hybridization; the varieties “Bystryanka”, “Aleksandrina”, “Anastasiya” and “Alisa” were produced by intraspecific hybridization. At present in ARRIGC there is a range of promising varieties of Sudan grass, meeting the requirements of agricultural production. Among them the varieties “Ksana”, “Arkadiya” and “Alisa” turned to be the best ones with productivity of green chop of 40–42 t/ha (two cuttings), absolutely dry matter of 10.0–10.8 t/ha and digestible protein of 0.44–0.47 t/ha. According to the competitive testing during the years of 2014–2016 the variety of Sudan grass. “Alisa” was sent to the State variety testing. The laboratory for breeding and seed-growing has already developed valuable initial material and now it is developing new more productive varieties of Sudan grass.