UTILIZATION OF WILD HOPS TESTATION FOR EXTENTION OF GENETIC SOURCES FOR BREEDING

Wild hops represent an important part of generic sources. 22 female ho ps and one male hop were taken on 12 localities in Saaz hop growing re gion. Their testation was performed from the following points of view: morphological description, chemotaxonomy, molecular diagnostics, stat e of health including occurrence of virus and viroids pathogens. Morph ological description and chemical taxonomy indicate similarity to Saaz semi-early red-bine hops, but molecular biology analysis this relatio nship in some cases did not fully confirmed. The results showed that w ild hops represent relatively heterogenic plant material. The occurren ce of virus and viroid infections is substantially reduced compared to cultural hops within hop growing area. General health condition of wi ld hops without pest control proves higher resistance against pests an d diseases in comparison with Saaz semi-early red-bine hops (Osvald's clone 72).