At the Scientific Center of Vegetable, Melon and Industrial Crops (MoE RA) for 3 years (2020-2022), the use of Aquasource hydrogel (Ecotechnology LLC) in the cultivation of melon Cucumis melo L was investigated. Hydrogel in the ratio: Soil mix +Aaquasource (3:0.1), Soil mix+Aquasource (3:0.15), Soil mix +Aquasource (3:0.2) compared with the control (Soil mix without Aquasource) had a positive effect on the early appearance of female flowers, reducing the terms of technical ripening and fruit quality. The indicator of marketable yield of melon also exceeded the control (230.9±2.73 c/ha) and amounted to 287.5±2.94, 308.0±2.27 and 307.0±3.05 c/ha, respectively. A similar pattern was observed with seed yield: 360.7±2.87, 399.6±10.01, 392.1±9.20kg/ha, respectively, with control 287.2±8.05 kg/ha. An assessment of the economic efficiency of using Aquasource showed that by reducing the cost of water supply, labor force and provision of higher yield, the percentage of economic efficiency was 120.4-128.6%, and profitability - 67.6-69.0% (with control of 61.9%).

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The purpose of this work is to study and identify the optimal method of sowing and plant feeding surface in seed-production of melon crop, providing a high yield of healthy varietal seeds with a low self-cost. The experiments were carried out in 2018–2020. on the experimental fields of the Scientific Center of Vegetable and Industrial Crops of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia. The influence of the sowing scheme 200+80/2×60, 200+80/2×80 and 200+80/2×100 cm on phenological and quality indicators, fruit and seed productivity, average fruit weight, and resistance to diseases was studied. The study object was mid-early ripening melon variety Arpi, which is distinguished by high productivity and taste quality. The control was the sowing scheme 200+80/2×80 cm, which is generally accepted in the agricultural technology of melon cultivation in the Ararat valley. It was found that in case of low-density planting of plants (1.4 m2), the weight of one fruit is the heaviest (4.0 kg), but the productivity of the fruits is reduced by 11.6% in comparison with the control, and in case of high-density planting by 19.3%. Meanwhile, as the feeding area of one plant increases, in relation to the total yield the marketable yield increases, respectively 92.3%; 94.1% and 95.3%. The results of the experiments allow us to state the fact that high density of the seed producing field (feeding area 0.84 m2) contributes to an increase of seed yield by 27.3% compared to the control, to some extent reducing the self cost of seeds, however significant changes in quality indicators of the Arpi variety were not found. In its turn, early diagnosis of diseases based on the modern PCR method allows to take protective measures in time and accordingly contributes to the production of healthy seeds.

Pumpkin belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family. In Ararat valley we are cultivating mainly 3 species: Cucurbita pepo, C. maxima, and C. moschata. Its fruits have many valuable properties. Pumpkin pulp contains minerals, vitamins, starch, sugar. It was envisaged to identify the varietal characteristics of pumpkin, fruit and seed yield in the conditions of the Ararat valley. We studied 6 samples of different types of pumpkins to identify oil productivity of their seeds. Germination of the studied accessions was 91¬–96%. Some of them germinated friendly, while others gradually. Martuni population and Sem variety from the C. pepo have been marked as the earliest flowering and fruiting with vegetation period 103 and 105 days accordingly. The studied varieties differed in the shape and weight of the fruit. The largest fruits were observed in maxima pumpkins (5.5–5.2 kg). The yield of varieties varied from 29.7 to 40.1 t/ha. The purpose of our research was to study varieties of different types of pumpkins for detecting oil productivity of their seeds. Among the pumpkin varieties studied, the varieties Martuni population, Ararati Vardaguin and Sem (1.22, 0.95, 0.92%, respectively) were distinguished by a high quantity of seeds. The largest yield of seeds per hectare was obtained from the Martuni population, Berkanush, Ararati Vardaguin, which amounted to 379.4, 341.9 and 339.0 kg/ha. Among the varieties under study, the Martuni population, Ararati Vardaguin, Sem and Berkanush, which are characterized by high productivity and seed yield, are of great interest. The most promising for obtaining oil is a variety Sem.