Bioecological Characteristics Plants of Salvia verticillata L. under Condition Forest-Steppe Zone of Ukraine

Abstract

The genus Salvia L., is one of the largest in the Lamiaceae family. Salvia verticillata L. is used for various diseases in folk medicine and as honey plants. The purpose of the work is to investigate the variability of bioecological and morphological characteristics of plants and seeds of the species S. verticillata, to select high-yield forms for use in Ukraine at the level of cultivars. Conducted comparative studies of biometric and morphological features, quantitative and qualitative characteristics seeds of the plants species S. verticillata were determined. It is established that the mass of 1000 seeds of S. verticillata species is rather unstable during the years of storage. The mass of 1000 seeds S. verticillata decreases significantly after three years of storage. It is established that in the first two years storage of seeds S. verticillata its germination is maintained at a fairly high level, in the third year it decreases three times, in 4–5 years the single seeds germinate, and for the sixth year the germination is equal to zero. Depending on the row spacing and the number of cuts, yield and productivity of the plants S. verticillata were determined both for fresh green mass and seeds. Biometric studies have shown the relationship between the row spacing and the number of generative shoots and inflorescence on plants, and the productivity of plantings. At a feeding area of 35 x 15 cm, the plants had thin stems (112.5 ±3.6 pc/m2) and the lowest seed productivity (0.8 g/plant). At a feeding area of 55 x 15 cm, the plants had more thick stems (152.0 ±4.0 pc/m2) and the highest seed productivity (up to 5 g/plant). Plants grown with rows of 55 cm had the highest productivity of green mass.  It is proved that under conditions of the Forest-Steppe zone during the first flowering raw material of plants species S. verticillata for technical processing should be harvested, and during the second flowering –seeds should be collected. Seeds of S. verticillata during storage should be updated every 2–3 years. On the basis of gene pool of spicy aromatic plants and introductory populations in the NBS of NASU for the first time in Ukraine the cultivar S. verticillata – 'Musketeer' was created and was entered in the Register of Varieties of Ukraine in 2016.