Introduction and variety study of muscari on the Black Sea coast of Russia (Sochi)

Abstract

Muscari are unpretentious, undemanding, at the same time highly ornamental plants that are widely spred and used in landscape design. Research on Muscari collection was conducted at the experimental base of Subtropical Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2018-2021. The objects of research were: Muscari armeniacum Leichtlin ex Baker and its varieties: ‘Early Giant’, ‘Fantasy Creation’, ‘Blue Spike’, ‘Touch of Snow’, ‘Dark Eyes’, ‘Peppermint’, Muscari neglectum Guss. ex Ten., Muscari comosum (L.) Mill (syn. Leopoldia comosa (L.) Parl.) ‘Plumosum’, Muscari racemosum Mill. and Muscari botryoides (L.) Mill. The research was carried out according to the developed methodology for studying low-growing flower crops. The characteristics of meteorological conditions were described based on the materials obtained from the weather archive of the Weather and Climate website. During the research, meteorological parameters differed both in the observation years and from the average long-term ones. Higher air temperatures with less precipitation were noted in almost all the research years during the rooting of bulbs (October-November). In the spring months, there was a significant reduction in the amount of precipitation in April and May, often at higher temperatures, which led to a reduction in the duration of the growing season. Phenological observations have shown that Muscari intensively vegetated, bloomed and bore fruit. Vegetation, depending on the variety and the condition of the year, began in late December — early January in early and medium varieties, while in early–mid February — in late varieties. Blooming of early varieties was noted in early–mid March; middle varieties bloomed in mid–late March, late varieties – in the early-mid April. As a result of the conducted research, the ornamental value of 11 Muscari species and varieties has been evaluated. The following varieties with high parameters of ornamental qualities were identified: M. neglectum (58), ‘Fantasy Creation’ (58), ‘Miss Vain’ (58), M. racemosum (58), M. botryoides (58), ‘Blue Spike’ (59). The study of the Muscari collection of Subtropical Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences has shown that all varieties have high ornamental qualities and long blooming and can be used in landscaping.