In this paper we present the results of the study of new sunflower forms obtained through hybridization between cultivated sunflower ( Helianthus annuus ) and two wild Helianthus species. Wild species H. argophyllus and H. maximiliani were used in order to improve drought and broomrape resistance of some Romanian sunflower inbreed lines. The investigation encompassed the period 2008-2009. Interspecific F 1 plants were obtained by embryo rescue techniques and BC 2 F 3 were obtained as a result of self-pollination and backcrossing with cultivated sunflower. The heritability in the first generation was intermediate but the plants strongly resembled the wild species in most biomorphological traits. The plant with pubescent leaves was selected for drought resistance. The F 2 plants were also investigated for broomrape resistance using tests performed under artificial inoculation with broomrape seeds from two infested areas in Romania. Concerning drought and broomrape resistance the results indicated good resistance suggesting successful gene introgression. Resistant lines will be self-pollinated and retested in the next year and some of the obtained hybrid forms will be included in the sunflower breeding program as genetic sources for drought and broomrape resistance.

Results of long term research (1925-2009) on sunflower breeding in resistance to broomrape in Don Region are hereby presented. The most virulent population of Orobanche cummana Wallr. has been found in north-western part of Rostov region. Recommendations for reducing loss in sunflower yield caused by broomrape are given.

Sclerotinia spp. a very destructive fungus causing “white mould” became one of the biggest problems in sunflower breeding in the Republic of Macedonia in 2010. Field monitoring in the region of Bitola show very high infection of around 20-30%. Two types of symptoms where observed during the field monitoring. First symptoms were observed on the leaves of the infected plants in the form of wilting prior to flowering stage. The most characteristic symptoms were observed at the lower part of the stem in the form of a stem cancer. Big variable sclerotia in size and shape were observed inside the stem. The appearance of white mycelium on the infected lower parts of the plant was often observed during the wet weather. Other infected plants showed different symptoms. The stem was longer and thinner than in uninfected plants and the pit was very small around 9 cm. Sclerotia observed inside the stem were not bigger than 2.5 mm. In vitro investigations confirmed the presence of ascomycetes Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary and Sclerotinia minor Jagger for the first time in the Republic of Macedonia. In vitro investigation of antifungal ability of Pseudomonas mediterranea Cattara et al. 2002 against S. sclerotiorum and S. minor showed that it can be a possible antifungal agent against these ascomycetes.

The level of weed infestation directly affects the intensity of competitive relationship between sunflower crops and weeds. The greatest damage is caused by annual broad-leaf and invasive weeds such as Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. Xanthium strumarium L. and Datura stramonium L. Suppression of these weeds is difficult because of deficiency of adequate herbicides and because in years with dry springs such as in 2009 the use of herbicides gives no results. This two-year study dealt with the observed effects of pre-emergence flurochloridone + s-metolachlor herbicides on the distribution of weeds in different stages of sunflower development. Weed infestation was estimated over the sunflower developmental stages i.e. in the periods when weeds were removed and when the total fresh and dry biomass of the weed species was determined. Simultaneously in order to monitor the effects of weeds in dependence on herbicides application and the duration of competition the sunflower plant height was measured. At the end of the life cycle the yield and the oil content of the sunflower seeds were established. The total fresh weed biomass changed in dependence on the sunflower developmental stages and was always lower on the herbicide-treated area. This affected the sunflower plant height yield and the oil content which were higher on the average in the variants with herbicide applications (70.4 cm 2959.7 kg ha -1 and 42.0%) than in the variants without herbicides application (57.4 cm 2711.1 kg ha -1 and 40.1%). Weed suppression in the sunflower crop has to be done with adequate herbicides and in due time in order to suppress a significant reduction in morphological and yield parameters. RESUMEN El nivel de infestación por malezas afecta directamente la intensidad de las relaciones de competencia entre los cultivos de girasol y las malas hierbas. Los mayores daños se sufren por las malas hierbas anuales de hojas anchas e invasivas tales como Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. Xanthium strumarium L. y Datura strmonium L. A eliminación de estas malezas es difícil debido a la falta de herbicidas adecuados y la ausencia de efectos cuando se aplican herbicidas en años con primaveras secas como fue en el 2009. Este estudio de dos años trata de los efectos observados de aplicar en pre-emergencia el herbicida flurochloridone+ metolachlor en malas hierbas distribuidas en cultivos de girasol a diferentes etapas de su desarrollo. La infestación de malezas se calcula sobre las etapas del desarrollo del girasol es decir en los períodos cuando las malas hierbas son eliminadas y cuando el total de biomasa fresca y seca de las especies de malas hierbas son determinadas. Al mismo tiempo con la finalidad de controlar los efectos de las malas hierbas dependiendo de la aplicación de los herbicidas y la duración de la competencia se medió la altura de las plantas de girasol. Al final de un ciclo de vida fue medido el rendimiento y el contenido de aceite de girasol. El total de biomasa fresca de las malezas cambia dependiendo de las etapas de desarrollo del girasol y fue siempre menor en las áreas donde hudo tratamiento con el herbicida. Esto afectó la altura de la planta de girasol el rendimiento y el contenido de aceite que eran más altos en media en las variedades con las aplicaciones de herbicidas (70.4 cm 2.9597 kg ha -1 y 420%) que en las variedades sin la aplicación de herbicidas (57.4cm 2.7111 kg ha -1 y 40.1%). La eliminación de las malas hierbas en el cultivo de girasol se tiene que hacer con herbicidas adecuados a su debido tiempo para conseguir una reducción significativa de los parámetros morfológicos y de rendimiento. RÉSUMÉ Le niveau d'enherbement affecte directement la récolte du tournesol. Les mauvaises herbes annuelles invasives et à larges feuilles comme Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. Xanthium strumarium L. and Datura stramonium L. sont les plus compétitives. L'élimination de ces mauvaises herbes est rendue difficile par le manque d'herbicides efficaces en particulier dans les années avec un printemps sec comme en 2009. Cette étude sur deux ans porte sur les effets observés de deux herbicides de pré-émergence flurochloridone et metolachlor sur les mauvaises herbes à différents stades de développement du tournesol. La biomasse totale des mauvaise herbes a été mesurée pendant les différents stades de développment du tournesol ainsi que la hauteur des plantes en culture. La production et le contenu en huile ont été évalués après récolte. La biomasse fraîche de mauvaises herbes fraîches a évolué avec le stade de développement de la culture mais a toujours été diminuée par les traitements. L'application d'herbicides a augmenté en moyenne la hauteur de 704 cm la récolte de 2959 kg ha -1 et le rendement en huile moyen des plantes de 42% par rapport au témoin sans herbicide. Pour le tournesol l'application d'herbicide doit donc être faite avec les molécules appropriées et au bon stade pour avoir un effet significatif non seulement sur les mauvaises herbes mais aussi sur les paramètres de croissance et de production.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the tolerance of sunflower ( Helianthus annuus ) to acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase)-inhibiting herbicides and to temporarily delay the growth of the forage grass ( Brachiaria ruziziensis ) avoiding competition and allowing the reestablishment of pasture. A randomized block design with four replicates was used in both experiments. The following treatments were applied in Experiment 1: I) 10 g ai ha -1 tepraloxydim; II) 20 g ai ha -1 tepraloxydim; III) 12.5 g ai ha -1 fluazifop-p-butyl; IV) 25 g ai ha -1 fluazifop-p-butyl; V) 12 g ai ha -1 clethodim; VI) 24 g ai ha -1 clethodim; VII) 6 g ai ha -1 haloxyfop-methyl; VIII) 12 g ai ha -1 haloxyfop- methyl; IX) unhoed check and X) hoed check. The treatments applied in Experiment 2 were: I) hoed check; II) unhoed check; III) 10 g ai ha -1 tepraloxydim; IV) 20 g ai ha -1 tepraloxydim; V) 12.5 g ai ha -1 fluazifop-p-butyl and VI) 25 g ai ha -1 fluazifop- p-butyl. All herbicide treatments were selective for the sunflower crop. The use of reduced rates of graminicides is a feasible option to delay the growth of B. ruziziensis reducing its ability to compete the sunflower. All herbicide rates applied suppressed the growth of B. ruziziensis permitting subsequent pasture reestablishment. However tepraloxydim (20 g ai ha -1 ) clethodim (24 g ai ha -1 ) and haloxyfop-methyl (12 g ai ha -1 ) promoted poorer recovery of the forage grass. RESUMEN El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la tolerancia del girasol ( Helianthus annuus ) a los herbicidas inhibidores de la acetil-coenzima A carboxilasa (ACCase) y retardar temporariamente el crecimiento de la especie forrajera ( Brachiaria ruziziensis ) evitando la competición con el girasol y permitiendo el restablecimiento posterior de las pasturas. En los dos experimentos fue utilizado el diseño de bloques al azar con cuatro repeticiones. Los tratamientos aplicados fueron Experimento 1: I) 10 g ia ha -1 tepraloxydim; II) 20 g ia ha -1 tepraloxydim; III) 125 g ia ha -1 fluazifop-p-butil IV) 25 g ia ha - 1 fluazifop-p-butil V) 12 g ia ha -1 clethodim; VI) 24 g ia ha -1 clethodim; VII) 6 g ia ha -1 haloxyfop-methyl VIII) 12 g ia ha -1 haloxyfopmethyl IX) testigo sin carpir X) testigo carpido. Los tratamientos utilizados en el Experimento 2 fueron: I) testigo carpido II) testigo sin carpir III) 10 g ia ha -1 tepraloxydim; IV) 20 g ia ha -1 tepraloxydim V) 125 g ia ha -1 fluazifop-p-butil VI) 25 g ia ha -1 fluazifop-pbutil. Todos los herbicidas fueron selectivos para el cultivo del girasol. La utilización de dosis reducidas de herbicidas graminicidas es una opción viable para retardar el crecimiento de B. ruziziensis reduciendo su capacidad competitiva con el girasol. Todas las dosis de herbicidas aplicadas suprimieron el crecimiento de Brachiaria permitiendo el restablecimiento posterior de la pastura. Sin embargo tepraloxydim (20 g ia ha -1 ) clethodim (24 g ia ha -1 ) haloxyfop-methyl (12 g ia ha -1 ) dificultaron la recuperación posterior de la forrajera. RÉSUMÉ L'objectif de cette étude était d'évaluer la tolérance du tournesol ( Helianthus annuus ) a l’interdiction des herbicides inhibiteurs de l’acetil-coenzima A carboxilase (ACCase) et retarder temporairement la croissance de l'espece fourragere ( Brachiaria ruziziensis ) en évitant la compétition avec le tournesol et permettant le rétablissement ultérieur du pâturage. La conception dans des blocs aléatoires avec quatre répétitions a été utilisée dans les deux expériences. Les traitements suivants ont été appliqués dans l'Expérience 1: I) 10 g ia ha -1 tepraloxydim; II) 20 g ia ha -1 tepraloxydim; III) 125 g ia ha -1 fluazifop-p-butil IV) 25 g ia ha - 1 fluazifop-p-butil V) 12 g ia ha -1 clethodim; VI) 24 g ia ha -1 clethodim; VII) 6 g ia ha -1 haloxyfop-methyl VIII) 12 g ia ha -1 haloxyfop- methyl IX) a preuve sans sarclage et X) a preuve sarclé. Les traitements utilisés dans l'Expérience 2 étaient I) a preuve sarclé II) a preuve sans sarclage III) 10 g ia ha -1 tepraloxydim; IV) 20 g ia ha -1 tepraloxydim V) 125 g ia ha -1 fluazifop-p-butil e VI) 25 g ia ha -1 fluazifop-p-butil. Tous les herbicides étaient sélectifs pour la culture du tournesol. L'utilisation des doses réduites d'herbicides est une option viable pour retarder la croissance de B. ruziziensis réduisant sa capacité compétitive avec le tournesol. Toutes les doses appliquées d'herbicides ont supprimé la croissance de B. ruziziensis permettant le rétablissement ultérieur du pâturage. Cependant tepraloxydim (20 g ia ha -1 ) clethodim (24 g ia ha -1 ) haloxyfop-methyl (12 g ia ha -1 ) ils ont gené le rétablissement ultérieur de la fourragere.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the tolerance of sunflower ( Helianthus annuus ) to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides and to temporarily delay the growth of Brachiaria ruziziensis avoiding competition and allowing pasture reestablishment. Experiment 1 consisted of a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Hybrid Paraiso 102 CL (Clearfield ® resistant to ALS-inhibiting herbicides) was a subject of the following treatments: I) 30 g ai ha -1 imazethapyr; II) 70 g ai ha -1 imazethapyr; III) 75 g ai ha -1 imazapyr; IV) 125 g ai ha -1 imazapyr; V) 7.5 g ai ha -1 chlorimuron-ethyl; VI) 12.5 g ai ha -1 chlorimuron-ethyl; VII) 8 g ai ha -1 nicosulfuron; VIII) 20 g ai ha -1 nicosulfuron; IX) unhoed check and X) hoed check. Experiment 2 consisted of a split-plot design with randomized complete blocks and four replicates. Two genotypes Paraiso 102 CL and Embrapa 122 (susceptible to ALS-inhibiting herbicides) were sowed on the plots and subplots were submitted to the following treatments: I) hoed check II) unhoed check III) 100 g ai ha -1 imazethapyr IV) 250 g ai ha -1 imazapyr V) 25 g ai ha -1 imazapyr VI) 60 g ai ha -1 nicosulfuron and VII) 4 g ai ha -1 nicosulfuron. Imazethapyr (30 70 and 100 g ai ha -1 ) imazapyr (25 75 and 125 g ai ha -1 ) or nicosulfuron (4 8 and 20 g ai ha -1 ) had no phytotoxic effects on imidazolinone- resistant sunflower (Paraiso 102 CL). However chlorimuron-ethyl (7.5 and 12.5 g ai ha -1 ) imazapyr (250 g ai ha -1 ) and nicosulfuron (60 g ai ha -1 ) were highly phytotoxic to Paraiso 102 CL. All herbicide treatments produced marked injury symptoms on Embrapa 122. Pasture reestablishment was observed for all herbicide treatments except for imazapyr (125 and 250 g ai ha -1 ) and nicosulfuron (60 g ai ha -1 ). RESUMEN El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la tolerancia del girasol a los herbicidas inhibidores de la acetolactato sintasa (ALS) y retardar temporalmente el crecimiento de la especie forrajera ( Brachiaria ruziziensis ) evitando su competición con el girasol y permitiendo el restablecimiento posterior de los pastizales. En el experimento 1 fue utilizado el diseño de bloques al azar con cuatro repeticiones. Los tratamientos aplicados en el híbrido Paraíso 102 CL (Clearfield ® resistente a los herbicidas inhibidores de ALS) fueron: I) imazetapyr 30 g ai ha -1 II) imazetapyr 70 g ai ha -1 III) y imazapyr 75 g ai ha -1 IV) imazapyr 125 g ai ha -1 V) chlorimuron-ethyl 75 g ai ha -1 VI) chlorimuron- ethyl 125 g ai ha -1 VII) nicosulfuron 8 g ai ha -1 VIII) nicosulfuron 20 g ai ha -1 IX) testigo sin escardar X) testigo escardado. El experimento 2 consistió en un diseño de parcelas subdivididas con bloques completos al azar y cuatro repeticiones. Dos genotipos de girasol (Paraíso 102 CL-resistentes a imidazolinonas y Embrapa 122-susceptibles a imidazolinona) se sembraron en las parcelas y subparcelas fueron sometidas a los siguientes tratamientos: I) testigo escardado II) testigo sin escardar III) imazetapyr 100 g ai ha -1 IV) imazapyr 250 g ai ha -1 V) imazapyr 25 g ai ha -1 VI) nicosulfuron 60 g ai ha - 1 y VII) nicosulfuron 4 g ai ha -1 . Los tratamientos con imazetapyr (30 70 y 100 g ai ha -1 ) imazapyr (25 75 y 125 g ai ha -1 ) y nicosulfuron (4 8 y 20 g ai ha -1 ) no causaran daños a las plantas de girasol resistente (Paraíso 102 CL). Chlorimuron-ethyl en dosis de 75 y 125 g ai ha -1 imazapyr 250 g ai ha -1 y nicosulfuron 60 g ai ha -1 causaran alto grado de intoxicación a las plantas de girasol. Todos los tratamientos herbicidas causaran elevados síntomas de lesiones al girasol de Embrapa 122. El restablecimiento posterior de los pastizales se observó en todos los tratamientos herbicidas a excepción de imazapyr (125 y 250 g ai ha -1 ) y nicosulfuron (60 g ai ha -1 ). RÉSUMÉ L'objectif de ce travail a été d'évaluer la tolérance du tournesol aux herbicides inhibiteurs de l'acetolactato sintase (ALS) et retarder temporairement la croissance de Brachiaria ruziziensis en évitant sa compétition avec le tournesol et en permettant le rétablissement ultérieur du pâturage. Le délignement expérimental pour l'expérience 1 a été en blocs casualisés avec quatre répétitions. Les traitements ont été: I) imazethapyr 30 g ai ha -1 II) imazethapyr 70 g ai ha -1 III) imazapyr 75 g ai ha -1 IV) imazapyr 125 g ai ha -1 V) chlorimuron-ethyle 75 g ai ha -1 VI) chlorimuron- ethyle 125 g ai ha -1 VII) nicosulfuron 8 g ai ha -1 VIII) nicosulfuron 20 g ai ha -1 IX) temoignant sans desherber et X) temoingant sarcle. L'expérience 2 a été en blocs casualisés en parties subdivisées avec quatre répétitions. Deux génotypes de tournesol (Paradis 102 CL-résistant l'imidazolinonas et Embrapa 122-susceptible l'imidazolinonas) ont été semés dans les parties. Sur les parties subdivisées ont été appliqués les traitements suivants: I) temoingant sarcle II) temoignant sans sarclage III) imazethapyr 100 g ai ha -1 IV) imazapyr 250 g ai ha -1 V) imazapyr 25 g ai ha -1 VI) nicosulfuron 60 g ai ha -1 et VII) nicosulfuron 4 g ai ha -1 . Les traitements avec imazethapyr (30 70 et 100 g ai ha -1 ) imazapyr (25 75 et 125 g ai ha -1 ) et nicosulfuron (4 8 et 20 g ai ha -1 ) n'ont pas causé lésions aux plantes de tournesol résistants (Paradis 102 CL). Cependant le chlorimuron- éthyle en doses de 75 et 125 g ai ha -1 imazapyr 250 g ai ha -1 et nicosulfuron 60 g ai ha -1 ont causé haut degré d'intoxication aux plantes de tournesol. Tous les traitements herbicides ont causé symptômes de lésions élevées au tournesol Embrapa 122. Tous les traitements herbicides ont permis le rétablissement ultérieur du pâturage sauf l'imazapyr (125 et 250 g ai ha -1 ) et le nicosulfuron 60 g ai ha -1 .

The genuineness of a hybrid is one of the most important characteristics of good quality seed. In order to identify pure hybrid and pollen shedders/ offtypes an investigation was performed to identify an ideal SSR marker. 58 primer pairs were screened to identify the specific marker associated with each hybrid and parental lines. Hybrid KBSH-44 could be clearly identified by using ORS 309 and ORS 170 based on the banding pattern resolved on polyacrylamide gel (6%). The complementary banding pattern of both parents made a way to identify the hybrid. ORS 309 amplified allele size at 250 bp was specific to female parent (CMS-17A) and 230 bp was specific to male parent (RHA 95- C-1). These two bands of allele size 230 and 250 bp were found only in hybrid KBSH-44. Another SSR primer ORS 170 was able to distinguish the hybrid KBSH-44 by amplifying allele of size 230 bp a female specific (CMS-17A) allele and 200 bp amplicon a male specific allele (RHA 95-C-1). SSR primer ORS 811 found specific to identify KBSH-53 and it amplified allele of size 270 bp in its female parent (CMS-53A) and allele size of 230 bp in its pollen parent (RHA 95-C-1). The hybrid has both the alleles from its parents at 270 and 230 bp.

A three-year experiment (2008 2009 2010) on twenty sunflower hybrids grown in 13 (2010) to 15 (2009 2008) locations in the region of Vojvodina and central Serbia was carried out in order to study GEI (genotype × environment interaction) on oil yield and stability of hybrids using non-parametric measures of stability. The non-parametric test indicated the presence of significant crossover interaction [G(E) and E(G)]. Non-parametric measures S i (1) and S i (2) were used to determine stability of sunflower hybrids. The level of association among stability measures was assessed using Sperman’s rank correlation. Significant differences in rank stability among 20 sunflower hybrids grown in 13 (2010) or 15 (2009 2008) locations were found. According to non-parametric stability parameters S i (1) and S i (2) hybrids Baća and Vranac were most stable in all locations. Baća also had high oil yield in 2008 and 2009. In 2010 two new hybrids (NS-H-6612 NS-H-2069) were high yielding and stable for oil yield. Hybrid NS-H-111 was also stable in all locations in 2009 and 2010 and its oil yield was above average. The Spearman’s rank correlation between non-parametric stability parameters showed highly significant (P<0.01) rank correlations between S i (1) and S i (2) indicating that the two measures were similar in classifying the hybrids according to their stability under different environmental (location) conditions. Non-parametric measures of stability based on ranks could be recommended to agronomists and plant breeders.

Stability of 25 new sunflower hybrid combinations was compared against three standard hybrids in three locations. Seed yield per unit area and oil content in seed were measured using AMMI analysis. The tested combinations showed significant variations in seed yield (t ha -1 ) and oil content in seed (%) from one location to another and within individual locations. Variations in seed yield were mostly due to the impact of location while the variations in oil content were prevalently due to genotypic differences among the hybrids. The highest and lowest average total yields were obtained by the hybrids G20 and G1 respectively. The hybrids G17 G8 G2 and G21 showed the widest adaptability. Slightly narrower adaptability was exhibited by the hybrids G4 G7 G13 G14 etc. The hybrids G6 G16 G15 and G22 showed the narrowest adaptability i.e . they were considerably affected by the analyzed interactions. The highest and lowest average oil contents were recorded in the hybrids G23 and G28 respectively. The hybrids G7 G11 and G23 demonstrated the highest adaptability for oil content in seed. The lowest adaptability was demonstrated by the hybrids G1 and G16.

The present investigation was undertaken to assess the combining ability for dwarfness among the given testers and also to estimate the extent of heterosis for ten different characters in 90 hybrids which were derived by crossing ten diverse cms lines with nine dwarf testers in a line × tester mating design during rabi 2008-09. The resultant hybrids and parents along with standard check RSFH-130 were evaluated for plant height and other yield contributing traits. CMS-107A among lines and R-411R among testers were found to be best general combiners for dwarfness and other yield contributing traits. The best cross combinations for seed yield per plant CMS-104A × RHA-288 and oil content CMS-131A × R-186-1 with high sca effect have been identified. The cross CMS-105A × R-186-1 recorded a significant heterosis over better parent (- 10.65%) for plant height and seed yield and the cross CMS-X × R-4-2-Br recorded a significant heterosis over standard check (-37.30%) for plant height.

For much of the past century mutagenesis has gained popularity in plant genetics research as a means of inducing novel genetic variation. Induced mutations have been applied for the past 40 years to produce mutant cultivars in sunflower by changing plant characteristics that significantly increase plant yield and quality. The present study is focused on generating baseline data to elucidate the role of genotypic differences in the response of sunflower to induced mutagenesis with the aim of expanding the applicability of the use of induced mutant stocks in the genetic improvement of the crop and in its functional genomics. The strategy adopted was to estimate the optimal treatment conditions (doses of mutagens) through relating the extent of damage in seedling progeny to the exposure levels of the initiating propagates to mutagens. Seeds of fifteen elite sunflower genotypes of commonly used as breeding stocks and grown on commercial scales were treated with a range of mutagens: gamma rays (γ rays); fast neutrons and with ethyl-methane-sulphonate (EMS) at different treatment doses. The three mutagenic agents affected seedling height reducing it with increasing dosage. Based on the mutagen damage on seedling height the 50% and 30% damage indices (D 50 and D 30 respectively) were estimated for the 15 sunflower genotypes for the three mutagens. The D 50 (D 30 ) values for the sunflower lines ranged from 120 to 325 Gy (5 to 207 Gy) for gamma irradiation; 9 to 21 Gy (0.1 to 10 Gy) for fast neutrons and 0.69 to 1.55% (0.01 to 0.68%) concentration of EMS.

Immature sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) zygotic embryos of sunflower double haploid fertility restorer line 381 R were treated with ultrasound before planting to embryo culture medium. Some mutant plants were isolated and self-pollinated for several generations. New sunflower forms with inherited morphological biochemical and phytopathological changes were obtained through selection and self-pollination. The genetic changes included 12 morphological and biochemical agronomic traits. In our study the plant height leaf petiole length 1000-seed weigh as well as oil content in them were most unstable based on all investigated characteristics. In comparison to the control 381 R decreasing in the mean value of the indexes was registered for 66.7% of the total number of characteristics and vice verse significant increasing for the number of branches and oil content in seed i.e. 16.7%. Stability after induced mutagenesis was demonstrated by the characteristic number of leaves. This index was not affected by the changes in climatic conditions. Mutation for resistance to Plasmopara halstedii (Farl.) was obtained from the susceptible Bulgarian control line 381 R. Reduction of plant height increasing oil content in seeds very good combining ability resistance to Plasmopara halstedii as well as to the parasite Orobanche cumana of the new mutant lines is a desirable combination in the breeding program of sunflower. Hybrids No. 15 No. 16 and No. 17 developed with the participation of lines No. 97 No. 100 and No. 101 considerably exceeded the mean standard (commercial hybrids San Luka Maritza and Mura) by seed and oil yield. Ultrasound in sunflower can be successfully used to develop new mutant lines useful for heterosis breeding.

The subject of our study was the inheritance of some mutant traits in cultivated sunflower which were found after treating immature embryos of ZL-95 line with a chemical mutagen ethylmethanesulphonate. It was shown that the traits of dichotomous leaf venation and tobacco-like plant are recessive and inherited as monogenic traits when cross-bred with the source line. The given traits are inherited independently when cross-breeding mutant lines with each other and the genes that define them are probably localized in different chromosomes. RESUMEN Se estudió la herencia de algunos rasgos mutantes en el girasol cultivado que se encontraron despues del tratamiento de los embriones inmaduros de la linea ZL-95 de acuerdo con un mutágeno químico etilometanosulfonato. Se ha demostrado que los rasgos de venación dicotómica de la hoja y la planta del tipo tabaco son recesivos y heredados como rasgos monogénicos en cruzas con la línea ZL-95. Los rasgos se heredan de forma independiente y los genes que definen estos rasgos son probablemente localizados en cromosomas diferentes.

The increase in sunflower yield due to the active participation of honey bees ( Apis melifera L.) in crop pollination has been demonstrated in previous studies. However this fact is more evident in earlier commercial hybrids. There are reports that suggest that bees are not required in modern commercial hybrids where a high level of self-compatibility occurs. The purpose of this study was to define formation capacity of fully developed fruits (FDF) and incompletely developed fruits (IDF) in two modern sunflower hybrids exposed to open and closed pollination.Two hybrids one of half cycle and the other of short cycle labelled HA and HB respectively were submitted to two pollination regimes: auto-pollination (bagged treatment) where the heads were covered with mesh bags from the first anthesis (FA) to the last anthesis (LA) avoiding the action of pollinators and open pollination (open treatment). The study was conducted during three consecutive years in two different locations. In the first year the experimental plots were located at the Chacra experimental Barrow (Tres Arroyos; 38°20’ S; 60°13’ W) and in the second and third year at the experimental field of Universidad Nacional del Sur (Bahía Blanca; 38°45’ S; 62°11’ W) reaching an average plant density of 60.000 plants/ha. During the second year treatments were conducted only on the HA and during the third year only on the HB. The number of FDF and IDF in the three experiments on both sites did not show significant differences among treatments. Nevertheless a non-significant different response in the number of FDF and IDF was observed during two years probably as a result of changes in environmental conditions during the anthesis period. We conclude that due to the effect of a high level of self-compatibility no differences in the generation of fully developed fruits can be observed when plants of modern commercial sunflower hybrids are excluded from pollinators. RESUMEN El incremento en el rendimiento del girasol debido a la participación activa de las abejas melíferas ( Apis melifera L.) en la polinización ha sido demostrado en estudios previos. Sin embargo este hecho es más evidente en genotipos comerciales más primitivos. Otras evidencias sugieren que dicha polinización no sería necesaria en cultivares comerciales modernos en los cuales existiría un alto nivel de autocompatibilidad. El objetivo de este trabajo fue definir la capacidad de formación de frutos llenos (FDF) y de frutos de desarrollo incompleto (IDF) en dos híbridos modernos de girasol expuestos a polinización cerrada y abierta. Dos híbridos de girasol uno de ciclo medio y otro de ciclo corto definidos como HA y HB respectivamente fueron sometidos a dos tratamientos de polinización: autopolinización (capítulos cubiertos con bolsas de malla fina antiáfidos desde la primera hasta la última antesis evitando la acción de polinizadores) y polinización abierta (capítulos sin cubrir). El estudio se realizó durante tres años consecutivos en dos sitios diferentes. Las parcelas experimentales se ubicaron el primer año en el Campo Experimental Barrow (Tres Arroyos; 38°20’ S; 60°13’ O) y el segundo y tercer año en el campo experimental de la Universidad Nacional del Sur (Bahía Blanca; 38°45’ S; 62°11’ O) alcanzando en los tres periodos una densidad promedio de plantacion a la floracion de 60.000 plantas/ha. En el ensayo del segundo año los tratamientos se realizaron en el HA y en el tercer año los tratamientos se realizaron en el HB. El número de FDF y de IDF desarrollados en los capítulos en los tres experimentos en los dos sitios no mostraron diferencias significativas entre los tratamientos. Se pudo observar una respuesta diferente no significativa en el número de FDF y de IDF entre diferentes años la cual podría estar asociada a la temperatura ambiente en el intervalo de la antesis. Se concluye que por efecto de un alto grado de autocompatibilidad no existen diferencias en la generación de frutos llenos cuando se excluyen los polinizadores en las plantas de girasol de híbridos comerciales modernos. RÉSUMÉ L'augmentation du rendement du tournesol par la participation active des abeilles ( Apis mellifera L.) dans la pollinisation a été démontré dans des études antérieures. Cependant ceci est plus évident dans les anciens génotypes. D'autres données suggèrent que la pollinisation ne serait pas nécessaire dans les cultivars modernes dans lesquels il y aurait un niveau élevé d'autocompatibilité. L'objectif de cette étude a été de définir la capacité de formation des fruits avec graine (DFF) et des fruits avec un développement incomplet (FDI) dans deux hybrides modernes de tournesol exposés à la pollinisation ouverte et fermée. Deux hybrides de tournesol l’un de cycle intermédiaire et l’autre de cycle court défini comme HA et HB respectivement ont été soumis à deux traitements de pollinisation: l'auto-pollinisation (capitules couverts avec des sacs de filet anti aphidiens dès la première et jusqu’à la dernière anthese en évitant l’action des pollinisateurs) et la pollinisation ouverte (sans couvrir les capitules). L'étude a été menée sur deux sites pendant trois années consécutives. Les parcelles expérimentales ont été localisés la première année à la station expérimentale Barrow (Tres Arroyos 38°20' S 60°13' W) et les deuxieme et troisieme année à la station expérimentale de l'Universidad Nacional del Sur (Bahía Blanca 38°45' S 62°11' W). Au moment de la floraison la densite moyenne de plantes obtenue durant les trois années a eté 60.000 plants / ha. La deuxième année les traitements ont été effectués dans le HA et la troisième année les traitements ont été effectués dans le HB. Le nombre de FDF et de FID développées dans les capitules dans les trois expériences sur les deux sites n'ont pas montré aucune différence significative entre les traitements. Une réponse non significative a pu être observé dans le nombre de FDF et IDF entre les différentes années qui pourrait être liée à la température ambiante dans la période de l'anthèse. Nous concluons que du à l'effet d'un degré élevé d'auto-compatibilité il n'y a pas de différences dans la production de fruits avec graine lorsque les pollinisateurs sont exclus dans les plantes des hybrides commerciales modernes de tournesol.

The objective of this paper is to investigate sunflower meal processing technology which enables adequate breaking up of the conglomerates i.e . detaching of the protein core from the adhered hull and allowing for the hull separation by mechanical fractionation. Sunflower meal from the regular production of a domestic oil extraction plant of the standard pre-determined quality with lower (sample 1) and higher (sample 2) percentage of conglomerates was used as a starting research material. Roll crusher was used for breaking up of the conglomerates. Particles larger than 5.0 mm were almost completely crushed in both samples whereas percentage of particles larger than 2.0 mm was reduced by 17.6% in sample 1 and by 36.9% in sample 2. At the same time percentage of particles smaller than 1.0 mm was increased by 6.9% in sample 1 and by 23.3% in sample 2 indicating that crushing of larger particles is more intense in both samples. Fractionation process on centrifugal separator results in the increased yield of high-protein sunflower meal (passing through the sieve) from 31.72 to 59.33% while crude protein is reduced only from 0.25 to 0.68% of absolute value. As a result obtained products passing through the sieve mesh size 1.5 and 1.8 mm are within the limits prescribed for the high quality sunflower meal. Preliminary treating by roll crusher upgrade the sunflower meal processing technology by increasing the yield of high protein sunflower meal and allow better valorisation of this feed. RESUMEN El objetivo de la investigación fue investigar las posibilidades de encontrar un procedimento tecnologico adecuado de acabado de la harina de aceite de semilla de girasol que posibilite romper bultos es decir liberar el núcleo proteínico de la cáscara pegada con la condicion de que la cáscara no se haga demasiado menuda para que pueda separarse por el fraccionamiento mecánico. El material inicial para las investigaciones fue la harina de aceite de semilla de girasol de la producción regular de una planta aceitera de calidad habitual determinada con antelación con mayor (muestra 1) y menor (muestra 2) contenido de bultos. Por acabado en la trituradora con cilindros en ambas muestras investigadas casi en totalidad las partículas menudeadas fueron mayores de 5.0 mm y la participación de las partículas mayores de 2.0 mm fue disminuida por 17.6% en la muestra 1 y por 36.9% en la muestra 2. Al mismo tiempo la participacíon de las partículas menores de 1.0 mm fue aumentada por 6.9% en la muestra 1 y por 23.3% en la muestra 2 lo que demuestra que este dispositivo menuedeaba más intensamente las particulas de mayor tamaño en ambos materiales investigados. Este proceso posibilita que en la continuación del proceso de procesamiento por fraccionamiento en el separador centrifugo se obtenga por 31.72 hasta 59.33% mayor rendimiento de la harina de aceite de semilla de girasol (la caída) de alto procentaje de proteínas con disminucion de la harina de aceite de semilla de girasol con disminución del nivel de las proteiínas crudas de sólo 0.25 hasta 0.68% del valor absoluto y que las caídas del separador centrífugo con tamices de díametro de la apertura de 1.5 y 1.8 mm se queden dentro de los límites prescritos para la primera calidad de la harina de aceite de semilla de girasol. Aplicando la trituradora con cilindros se adelanta el procedimiento technológico de procesamiento de la harina de aceite de semilla de girasol y se obtiene mayor rendimiento de fracción de alto contenido de proteina lo que contribuye a una mejor valorizacíon de este nutriente. RÉSUMÉ Le but de la recherche a été d’analyser la possibilité de trouver un adéquat procédé technologique de fabrication du tourteau de tournesol qui permettra de briser les grumeaux notamment de séparer le noyau protéique de la membrane collée àcondition de ne pas trop émietter la membrane afin qu’elle soit enlevée par le fractionnement mécanique. Le matériel de recherche a été présenté par des tourteaux de tournesol issus de la production réguliére d’une huilerie locale dont la qualité conforme à la norme d’une quantité de grumeaux plus élevée (échantillon 1) et moins élevée (échantillon 2). Par le concasseur à cylindres les particules plus grandes de 5.0 mm concernant les échantillon sont presque complétement émiettées tandis que une partie de particules plus grandes de 2.0 mm est réduite à 17.6% pour l’ échantillon 1 et à 36.9% pour l’ échantillon 2. En même temps la partie de particules plus petites de 1.0 mm est augmentée de 6.9% pour l’ échantillon 1 et de 23.3% pour l’ échantillon 2 ce qui prouve que appareil a concassé plus intensivement les particules plus grandes pour les deux échantillon. Ce procédé permet d’obtenir de meilleures valeurs protéiques du tourteau de tournesol de 31.72 à 59.33% dans le processus de fractionnement par le séparateur centrifuge d’une diminution de protéines crues seulement de 0.25 à 0.68% de valeur absolute et les tourteaux avec le séparateur centrifuge d’un tamis dont l’ouverture est de diamètre de 1.5 et 1.8 mm restent dans les normes de la première qualité de tourteau de tournesol. La mise en oeuvre du concasseur àcylindres représente une promotion du procédé technologique de fabrication du tourteau de tournesol afin d’obtenir la meilleure valorisation de ces fractions protéiques.

In Turkey which ranks the tenth country worldwide in the sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L . ) production 60% of the production is carried out in the Thrace region. Therefore agricultural enterprises in Thrace situated in the European part of Turkey have become masters in producing sunflower and have become the centre of vegetable oil industry in the region owing to the produced raw material. In this study we aim to investigate the yield and income of the enterprises producing sunflower in Thrace Region in Turkey as well as to discover whether the factors affecting the production are different. In the final section of the study cost analysis is explained in detail on the basis of the cities and sizes of sunflower production area. The data used in this study were collected from 571 agricultural enterprises which were chosen to represent the whole Thrace region with the Stratified Random Sampling method. At the end of the study although the cities where the study was conducted have the same climate and production technologies it is found that in addition to the income and yield obtained per unit area the terms of land rent pesticide fertilizing and seed which directly affect the cost show differences among cities statistically.

Five best sunflower restorer (BR) lines and five elite restorer (ER) lines which were crossed in all possible combinations with half diallel fashion to determine the combining ability mode of gene action and to quantify the magnitude of heterosis at Oilseeds Research Unit Dr. PDKV Akola Maharashtra (India). The ratio of σ 2 GCA/σ 2 SCA variances was less than unity for plant height head diameter filled seeds/head 100 seed weight harvest index oil content and yield/plant indicating non-additive type of gene actions were involved in these traits. The character days to maturity was governed by preponderance of additive gene action due to variance ratio observed more than unity. The characters days to maturity head diameter and 100 seed weight showed the predictability ratio nearer to unity indicating greater predictability based on general combining ability alone. Six crosses 270R × Ak-1R 272R × 273R 273R × 274R 586R × 857R 265R × Ak-1R and 265R × 586R appeared to be worth exploiting. These promising R × R crosses can be used for the development of new R lines in sunflower. It is recommended that in order to get new restorer combinations it is necessary to have at least one elite restorer in combination with best restorer to be incorporated in the breeding programme and vice- versa at least in sunflower.