TO THE PROBLEM OF INTERSPECIFIC HYBRIDIZATION IN THE GENUS OF CUCUMIS L.

The genus Cucumis L. is polymorphic, includes annual and perennial species, distinguished by the type of flowering, ploidy, and resistance to diseases. C. sativus L. (cucumber) and C. melo L. (melon) are widely known species of the genus Cucumis L. Species of the genus Cucumis L. in their distribution are adapted to the diversity of habitats, are characterized by different level of adaptation to biotic and abiotic stress factors. Interspecific hybridization is an important method of enriching the gene pool of cultivated plants allowing to transfer of valuable characters from wild to cultural species. Clarification of the level of species crossability and the viability of the hybrids is an important factor in creating a valuable initial material for breeding. The prospects of using interspecific hybridization in breeding are shown, including the transfer of resistance to harmful diseases to cultural species. Morphological and biological characters of the species of the genus Cucumis L. and the level of their crossability are described. For practical use, the most interesting species are C. africanus L, C. aculeatus Cogn. and C. anguria L., whose compatibility level reaches 4.0%; they are characterized by heat and drought tolerance and resistance to a number of diseases. However, crossing species of the genus Cucumis L. is not always successful. The main reason is the phylogenetic distance of species, the differences in the number of chromosomes, as well as living form, etc. The use of modern breeding genetic methods of research to overcome the noncrosslinking of different species will facilitate the discovery and use of their biological potential.

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