Single dominant genes for fertility restoration of cytoplasmic male-sterile cmsANN2 have been identified in PI 413178, P21, and RCMG3, while PI 413180, P21, RHA801, RCMG1, and RHA280 were identified as restoration sources for cmsANN3. However, some cms plants were observed in progenies of homozygous restoration lines crossed with HA89, RHA266, and RHA274. It is believed that HA89, RHA266, and RHA274 possess gene(s) which suppress, or silence the expression of some Rf genes. HA821 does not have silencing gene(s), thus producing all male-fertile progenies after crossing with the resto ration lines. F2 progenies of the half-diallel crosses among the three restoration lines for cmsANN2 and among the five restoration lines for cmsANN3 were nearly all male-fertile, suggesting a single Rf gene for each of the cms sources. However, testcross progeny families from crosses of half-diallel F1 with respective cmsANN2 and cmsANN3 were not all male-fertile, with most families hav ing all male-sterile plants or segregating for both male-sterile and male-fertile plants. This could happen if cmsANN2(HA89) and cmsANN3(HA89) contain silencing gene(s) obtained from backcrossing with HA89. Restoration lines containing silencing genes can be identified and the silencing genes eliminated. Hidden silencing gene(s) in cms lines is a problem, and lines without these genes, such as HA821, should be used to develop maintainer lines. Gene silencing appears to be simply inherited. Molecular marker development would assist in identifying lines without silencing genes.

In this study, development of anther wall of Helianthus annuus L. male fertile HA 89 "B" line and cytoplasmic male sterile HA 89 "A" line were compared by light and electron microscopy. It was observed that there was no difference between male fertile HA 89 "B" line and male sterile HA 89 "A" line development of anther wall until tetrads were formed. After tetrad stage it was observed in male fertile HA 89 "B" line that the middle layer was lost, tapetum was parted from anther wall and it surrounded the microspores. In cytoplasmic male sterile HA 89 "A" line, middle layer was vacuolated and widened, tapetum also enlarged and it filled anther sac. It was determined that middle layer and tapetum were permanent with epidermis and endothecial cell during the further development of anther wall, and also there was no secondary thickening in endothecial cells. In conclusion it was found that the plasmodial tapetum which developed in fertile HA 89 "B" line transferred nutrients to microspores and helped them develop normally, but in cytoplasmic male sterile HA 89 "A" line the plasmodial structure did not develop. The inner tangential wall of the tapetum which was related with tetrads was not degenerated, sufficient nutrient were not transferred to microspores and thus they degenerated into the callose wall.

Downy mildew resistance in the USDA inbred sunflower line RHA 419 was studied in F2 and test cross progenies from crosses with a susceptible line and with lines carrying known resistance genes. RHA 419 gives resistance to all races known at present, of type II, with frequent sporulation on cotyledons in seedling tests. The cross with a susceptible line indicated that one dominant gene imparted resistance to races 304 and 710. The progenies from crosses with lines carrying Pl5, Pl6 and Pl8 all showed segregation when tested with races 304, 710 and 730,generally agreeing with the hypothesis of two independent genes. It was concluded that RHA 419 provides a diversification of resistance and its use in breeding is discussed.

Thirty wild Helianthus species, several interspecific hybrids and 380 recombinant interspecific inbred lines (RIILs) derived from interspecific crosses between the cultivated sunflower and four diploid annuals (wild H. annuus, H. argophyllus, H. petiolaris and H. debilis) and three diploid perennials (H. occidentalis, H. maximiliani and H. divaricatus) were studied for reaction to rust caused by Puccinia helianthi under severe natural epiphytotic condition. The disease incidence ranged from 0 to 100% in the stable interspecific derivatives while none of the wild sunflowers and their F1 hybrids revealed susceptibility to rust. The disease severity in the RIILs varied between 0 and 40%. The mean disease severity was low in lines derived from diploid annuals (6.0-10.4%) as compared with those derived from diploid perennials (23.1 31.1%). One line (PS 1089) derived from H. argophyllus ×cultivated sunflower and two lines (PS 2011 and PS 2032) derived from H. petiolaris × cultivar crosses were found to be immune. Disease severity and disease incidence were correlated with various physiological traits.

A comparison of heritability estimates from regression and intra-class correlation analyses in full-sib and half-sib families showed that heritability estimates from regression analysis are lower than intra-class correlation estimates in both types of families. The heritability estimates from half-sib families are higher than from full-sibs for all the traits, except number of leaves per plant and 100-seed weight. A comparison of heritability estimates from off spring-parents, bOP1, bOP2 and bOMP showed that heritability estimates from regression of offspring-mid parent are higher than offspring-one parents. Further, leaf length showed the lowest heritability in regression analysis. The overall results showed that plant height, 100-seed weight and number of leaves per plant showed higher heritability.

By using the direct organogenesis method, applied for the first time at the Biotechnology Laboratory of DAI, General Toshevo, new sunflower forms were obtained through distant hybridization from the cross H. annuus L. (cv. Albena) × Helianthus tuberosus (Encheva et al., 1992). Three to eight hybrid plants were produced from a single embryo through the direct organogenesis method. This is a valuable method because it allows to obtain more than one plant from a hybrid embryo, something which is impossible with the com monly used “embryo rescue” technique. A considerable number of new sunflower lines were produced after self-pollination and individual selection. After characterization of the hybrid progenies according to seventeen morphological and biochemical indices, the conclusion can be drawn that lines R101 and R104 show 58.8% and 70.6%, respectively, intermediate phenotype in compar ison with the two parental forms. The positive transgressive forms were 29.4% and 23.5%, respectively, and the negative transgressive forms were 5.9% for both lines. Some of the R lines were directly included in heterosis breeding of sunflower.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) being a cross pollinated crop, genetic adulteration is a vested problem and varietal descriptions are cumbersome. In order to identify genotypes and to establish phylogenetic relationships an investigation was carried on sunflower hybrids/parental lines/varieties using isoenzyme variation. The data on six isoenzymes were analyzed using Popgene software (Yeh, 1997). Genotypes which were morphologically closely related were found to be unrelated at the biochemical level. Hybrid KBSH-42 could be distinguished from the rest of the hybrids for the absence of pgi-2 and pgi-3. Alleles g6pdh-l, me-1 and skdh-3 served as markers in distinguishing the genotypes. Thus the results obtained could be used in fingerprinting the genotypes.

RAPD marker was used to evaluate genetic relationships in a set of 16 inbred lines of sunflower representing the genetic stock, including restorers and maintainer lines, of the classical cytoplasmic male sterility. The genotypes were grouped into eight cluster at 0.83 coefficient level. A total of 164 bands were detected, of which 69.51% were polymorphic among the genotypes tested. The similarity coefficient was maximum between TNAU7 6/8 and EC 68414/1 (0.90) indicating less divergence between them. Lower similarity indices were observed between 62B and GP324 (0.67) and between 852B and GP 324 (0.68), indicating more divergence. Crossing between the genotypes with low similarity coefficient will manifest high heterosis.

Fertility restoration ability of the restorer was controlled by a single dominant gene. Bulked segregant analysis (BSA) was applied to identify molecular markers linked to a major restorer gene (Rf) using the F2 population of cms 234 A ×RHA 272. A total of 144 random oligo nucleotide primers were surveyed. The primer OPAM 061800 was found to produce putative markers, which differentiate parent and bulk from sterile parent and sterile bulk. The co-segregation analysis of the putative marker on the F2 population confirmed the association of OPAM 061800 produced by the primer OPAM 06 with the fertility restoration gene. This will help in transfering the fertility restorer gene to the inbreds lacking restoration genes.

The paper describes a study of the effect of salts of natural naphthenic acids on the rooting of young sunflower cuttings and latteral branching of interspecies sunflower hybrids. Naphthenic acids were obtained by alkaline extraction from atmospheric gas oil fraction of Vojvodina crude oil “Velebit” and purified by column chromatography on alumina. Their sodium salts in concen trations of 1×10-7 mol/dm3 stimulated the formation of adventitious roots in sunflower cuttings even by a factor of 40 compared with control, the effect being also observed in lateral branches of interspecies sunflower hybrids. The obtained results suggest the possibility of using naphthenic acids as a means for rooting of plant cuttings.

The tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), feeding on developing sunflower seed causes kernel brown spot, a serious problem in confection sunflower. The purpose of this research was to determine the economic injury level and plant stage susceptibility for confection sunflower in greenhouse and field studies using sunflower heads artificially infested with L. lineolaris adults. Greenhouse experiments showed each adult damaged 38 seeds per head. Field studies showed a lower average damage in heads infested with seven adults compared with heads with five adults, possibly due to inter ference among the adults and nymphs. The regression equation used to predict the number of kernel brown spot damaged seeds per head based on adults per head was Y=-0.86+33.54X. Thus, feeding resulted in 32.7 damaged seeds per head per adult. Approximately 5% of seeds in a head were damaged per adult. Damage to sunflower heads was approximately twice as severe when L. lineolaris infestation occurred at growth stages R4 and R5 compared with stages R6 and R7. Thus, protection of sunflower plants from infestation by tarnished plant bug, until they have completed blooming, may prevent economic loss. The economic injury level for tarnished plant bug was one adult per 10 to 15 plants, each head averaging 500 to 600 seeds, for a damage level of 0.5%. Thus, tarnished plant bug management should be initiated between the R4 to R5.1 stage if adult densities approach the economic injury level. Also, fields need to be monitored until bloom is completed to reduce incidence of kernel brown spot damage to confection sunflower

The occurrence and subsequent damage caused by Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte in the corn belt of Northern Bácska have been monitored since 1995. Pheromone traps first indicated the presence of imagoes in 1997. In 1999, imagoes appeared in great numbers in cornfields. In 2000, their swarming was massive again, but not as massive as in 1999. Assessments were performed in 2001, too. In 1999, surprisingly, the imagoes attacked both commercial cornfields and hybrid seed plots, both with very high intensity. Commercial sunflowers adjacent to the cornfields, even sunflower hybrid seed plots, were attacked by the pest. In 2000, again, it attacked sunflower field with in significant numbers. Investigations conducted so far have made it unambiguous that sunflower fields are primarily visited by female imagoes. The extent of damage and population density showed decreasing intensities going from the edge of a field towards its center. In 1999 (12 July), for instance, even 10 to 12 imagoes could be seen feeding on sunflower at the edge of a field, while he count was only 4 imagoes per plant 50 m inside the field. Female imagoes peel or sometimes punch the petals of the sunflower. While pollen is their favorite feed, they also consume nectar (this form of damage becomes clear on sterile female plants). In fertile flowers of the male rows, the imagoes reduce the fertilizing potential by consuming pollen. Thus they probably cause quantifiable economic loss as well. With regard to the high proportion of female imagoes (80% to 85%) we should assume that the sunflower as nourishing plant has favorable physiological effects on egg count, intensity of egg laying and the fecundity of the clear that the story may be about a kind of “finishing’ step of the ovulation nourishment. However, no egg laying was observed in the sunflower field. Further studies are necessary to better understand how this species causes damage in sunflower crops.

Maturation feeding habits of tiny beetles (4-6 mm) on sunflower heads have been observed in comparative studies involving different sunflower varieties in industrial scale sunflower fields in 1994. When determining these beetles, it has been established that they belong to the species of the group (Coleoptera, Heteromera) to the family of Coleoptera, Anthicidae, and to the two genera Notoxus and Formicomus. Formicomus pedestris ROSSI., Notoxus brachycerus FALD., Notoxus appendicinus DESBR. were the most frequent species, as contrary to the beetle population observed in maize fields where the dominant species were Notoxus brachycerus FALD. and Notoxus appendicinus DESBR. Formicomus pedestris ROSSI. had “only” the third place in terms of population density. Each of the three species starts its maturation feeding on sunflower heads at the end of July or at the beginning of August. At first, the beetles consume pollen and later on they hollow out the seeds. It happens that as many as 15-20 beetles are seen feeding on a single flower head. Based on literature data, mass appearance of the beetles of the Coleoptera, (Anthiciadae) species is expected on cadavers of Meloe species (Meloe proscarabeus L., Meloe violaceus MRSH, Meloe variegatus DON.) and of Meloidae species (Coleoptera, Meloiade), for example Cerocoma schaefferi L., Lytta vesicatoria L. and Epicauta rufidorsum GOEZE, that contain chantarid ine, i.e., they are considered as necrophagous species. Damages on plants caused by these species were reported in the works of Horváth (1995a, 1995b, 2000, 2002). It needs further research to establish if feeding of these Anthicidae species, which were considered as necrophagous species, on maize and sunflower really reflects a new form of damage or it should be considered as feeding on substitute aliments forced by the drought period. Nevertheless, the damage caused by these insects in the year 2000 was most significant ever.

A new sunflower necrosis disease (SND) caused by a strain of Tobacco Streak Virus (TSV) creates epiphytotics in many sunflower-growing states in India since 1996-97. A survey has revealed that its incidence ranged from 30 to 100% in production fields. The disease being new, sources of resistance are still under investigation. Presently, use of imedacloprid insecticide has been advocated to combat the disease. Effect of different sowing dates on incidence of necrosis disease was studied at ORS, Latur, during 1999-2001. The data revealed that the sunflower sown in July and August had high necrosis incidence. Changes in sowing period may help in combating disease incidence.

A field experiment was conducted at Hyderabad, India, for six years (1992 to 1997) to study the performance of rainy season sunflower at 50% (37.5:45:15kg N:P205:K20/ha), 100% (75:90:30kg N:P205:K20/ha) and 150% (112.5:135:45kg N:P205:K20/ha) recommended NPK in annual rotation with rainy season crops viz. sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench), pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea. L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and castor (Ricinus cummunis L.). The study also dealt with the productivity, economic returns and sustainability of the crop rotations. The fertilizer levels did not vary the seed yield of KBSH-1 sunflower over the years. Application of recommended dose of fertilizer to base crop resulted in higher yield of succeeding sorghum, pigeonpea, sunflower and castor, while 50% reduction in recommended dose of NPK to base crop recorded higher yields of groundnut compared with the others. The higher sunflower seed equivalent yield was obtained with groundnut and sorghum as sequence crops. Sunflower-groundnut rotation gave the highest net returns (Rs.17,987/ ha) followed by sunflower-sorghum system (Rs.15,457/ha). The study revealed that the sunflower-groundnut cropping system was more sustainable (44.24% SYI) followed by sunflower-sorghum system (37.52%) under rainfed alfisols.

Based on the data of weather variables and plant traits collected from field experiments with 7 genotypes of sunflower conducted in 6 kharif seasons during 1994 to 1999 in a rainfed alfisol, an attempt has been made in this paper to predict plant growth and identify weather variables which significantly influence the plant growth as measured by different plant traits. Regression diagnostics like predictability (R2) and prediction error (σ) have been derived to assess the influences of rainfall, sunshine hours, maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity and vapor pressure deficit at 7 AM and 2 PM on leaf nitrogen, leaf area, leaf weight, leaf number, stomatal conductance, photosynthesis, stem weight and stem nitrogen 30, 45 and 60 days after sowing. Positive and significant influence of (i) sunshine hours, minimum temperature, relative humidity and vapor pressure deficit at 7 AM on stomatal conductance, (ii) vapor pressure deficit at 2 PM on photosynthesis, and negative and signifi cant influence of (i) relative humidity and vapor pressure deficit at 7 AM and 2 PM on leaf N, (ii) minimum temperature and vapor pressure deficit at 7 AM on leaf number, and (iii) minimum temperature, relative humidity and vapor pres sure deficit at 7 AM on stem N were observed. Based on a graphical plot of 64 combinations of predictability (R2) and error in prediction (σ) of plant traits through weather variables, the influences have been categorized into 4 groups viz., high R2 and low σ (Group I), high R2 and high σ (Group II), low R2 and high σ (Group III) and low R2 and low σ (Group IV). Based on the regression diagnostics of 64 pairs of weather and plant variables, 30 were in Group III, 27 in Group I, 5 in Group II and 2 in Group IV. All plant traits were significantly predictable with minimal error through relative humidity at 7 AM (except leaf area) followed by sunshine hours (except leaf N and photosynthesis), relative humidity and vapor pressure deficit at 2 PM (except leaf number, stem N and stomatal conductance) in Group I. Significant influence of rainfall on leaf and stem weight and vapor pressure deficit at 7 AM on stem N and stomatal con ductance were also observed in the study. The influences of weather variables on the remaining plant traits were found to be either non-significant or they occurred with a higher prediction error in the 6 years of study.

In a pot culture study, using phosphorus deficient black soil, four promising sunflower genotypes (KBSH-1, DSH-1, Sungene-85 and PAC-36) were tested for their differential susceptibility to the deficiency of this nutrient. Phosphorus deficiency symptoms were noticed in the hybrids KBSH-1 and DSH-1 while PAC-36 was almost free from these. The maximum grain yield response to phosphorus was recorded in KBSH-1 and the minimum in PAC-36. Dry matter yield followed a similar trend. On the basis of yield response and P uptake, the susceptibility of the genotypes was rated in the following order: PAC-36

Field experiments in vertisols of low, medium and high available soil phosphorus status were conducted to study the response of graded levels of P application to sunflower hybrid (KBSH-1). Effect of P to sunflower in increasing yield and yield attributes was more pronounced in low P status soil. Response equations for seed yield of sunflower at an applied P level have been worked out. Nutrient use efficiency and productive efficiency were also com puted. Soil available P status was found to vary significantly only in low P status. Critical P level in soil was found to be 20 kg P ha-1, below which sunflower may respond to phosphorus application.

Sunflower is an important oilseed crop grown under rain-fed situation during winter/summer seasons in Northern Karnataka, India. Most of rain-fed areas have salinity problem resulting in poor yields of sunflower crop. An effort was made to screen available sunflower germplasm against graded salinity levels and relate their yield performance to various physiological parameters. Among the genotypes tested, PAC-36 recorded the highest seed yield (20.9 q/ ha) followed by KBSH-1 (19.65 q/ha), MSFH-17 (17.5 q/ha) and Morden (9.95 q/ha). Among the physiological parameters, leaf temperature increased with increasing salinity while osmotic potential, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate decreased with increase in soil salinity in all the sunflower genotypes tested. Dominance of one or more of the physiological attributes in promising germplasm indicated genetic variability in mechanisms of salt-tolerance in sunflower.

The objective of this paper was to estimate the agronomical efficiency of application of antierosive tillage to the black steppe soil as a basis for ecological growing of sunflower. In the conditions of the Ukrainian steppe, water is the major limiting factor of sunflower productivity. Experiments have shown that after antierosive tillage, the black steppe soil accumulates less water reserve than after conventional plowing. However, the difference, which amounted to 25-30 mm, did not decrease the yield of the sunflower hybrid Zaporozhskiy 9. Cultivation of Zaporozhskiy 9 at the row distance of 15 cm in the variant of antierosive tillage increased the yield of sunflower by 0.2-0.3 t/ha as compared with the cultivation at the row distance of 70 cm in the variant of conventional tillage.