Morphological features and productivity of the atropa l. genus species, cultivated in the moscow region

Background. The application of the anatomical method of studying various forms, varieties and species will allow to determine the degree of plant adaptation to habitat conditions and to assess its ecological plasticity. Purpose. This work aim is to evaluate the species and breeding samples of the Atropa genus by a set of signs, including morphological description, shape, size and weight of leaves, the nature of the pubescence of the leaf plade epidermis, location, size and number of stomata, as well as the yield of raw materials. Results. All collection samples of the studied species of the genus Atropa in the conditions of the Non-Chernozem zone of the Russian Federation undergo a full cycle of development. The assessment of the potential resistance of 14 forms and species of belladonna to unfavorable biotic and abiotic environmental factors was carried out, their main morpho-anatomical features were studied. The adaptive potential of the leaves of the studied Atropa plants is due to the variability of the structural elements of the leaf epidermis and is one of the factors of resistance to stress. In the group of studied samples, A. acuminata (406, Lithuania) and A. belladonna (487, Poland) have the lowest stress-adaptive potential (according to the set of signs). It was noted that populations of A. belladonna from Eastern Europe and France have signs of xeromorphism against the background of a decrease in plant size compared to the control and the lowest yield. It is noted that A. belladonna samples from Europe with yellow corolla staining occupy an intermediate value in yield in the presence of xeromorphic signs, which indicates their adaptability to the conditions of agrocenosis. The presence of numerous secreting trichomes in the studied accessions of A. belladonna and A. komarovii (nos. 5 and 14) may indicate their potential resistance to diseases and pests. The A. caucasica and A. komarovii species, as well as the A. belladonna specimen from Great Britain (no. 1), can be considered well adapted. Conclusion. The highest-yielding populations are from Russia A. belladonna 15/15; A. caucasica 118 compared to the Bagira variety. These samples can be considered promising and well-adapted candidates for creating a new variety of A. belladonna.