BREEDING OF GREENHOUSE MELON (CUCUMIS MELO L.) HYBRIDS FOR PROTECTED CULTIVATION CONDITIONS IN UZBEKISTAN

To date, no local melon varieties adapted for protected cultivation have been officially zoned in our republic. In 2022, for the first time, a new melon variety for greenhouse conditions was developed and submitted to the State Variety Testing Agency under the name Zarkhal. Currently, several hybrid combinations of greenhouse melons have been created, including L-160 × Kichkintoy, L-9 × L-22-17, L-7 × Zarkhal, Zarkhal × L-22-17, Zarkhal × L-22-20, Ananas × L-20-22, L-9 × Galia, L-22-17 × Galia, Dove × L-9, and L-22-17 × Ananas. These hybrids are characterized not only by high yield (5.0–8.0 kg/m²), but also by excellent taste qualities, with an average fruit weight ranging from 0.9 to 1.5 kg. In addition, they show resistance to diseases such as powdery mildew and Fusarium wilt. Their tasting scores ranged from 4.0 to 4.5 points.