Mellotria scaraba L. – a promising vegetable crop as a valuable source of biologically active substances

The features of growth and development of Melothria scabra Naudin - a new vegetable and medicinal crop for the Southern Coast of the Crimea (SCC), a source of biologically active substances, including citrulline and arginine, essential micro - and macronutrients. It is established that in the conditions of the SCC, the crop passes a full growing cycle and gives viable seeds; it is resistant to fungal diseases and pests; it stops growing when the average daily temperature decreases to 8-9 ° C, and gives self-seeding. The content of essential elements (potassium 12270 ±131 mg/kg, calcium 2951± 61 mg/kg, magnesium 3101 ± 53.5 mg/kg, ferrum 104.5 ± 4.5 mg/kg, zinc 39.7 ± 0.8 mg/kg, cuprum 13.2± 1.0 mg/kg and manganese – 0.8 ± 0.01 mg/kg) in Melothria scabra fruits was determined. The results obtained allow us to attribute melotria to functional vegetable crops - sources of valuable biologically active substances. and recommend the spread of the culture not only on the SCC, but also in other regions suitable for its cultivation.