The results of a long-term program aimed at discovering the hidden potential and genetic variation of sunflower accessions in a germplasm collection and the creation of a set of homozygous lines are presented. A genetic collection has different levels of development: Level 1–homozygous lines with morphological characters are created; Level 2–genetic control of the characters and segregation visually estimated under field conditions are studied; Level 3–selection of lines homozygous for genes controlling biochemical characters; and Level 4–the identification of characters using DNA markers is envisaged. It is especially important that the VIR collection be actively maintained and used for genetic studies gene mapping as well as for creating cultivars and breeding lines to diversify the genetic base of cultivated sunflower.

Lines resistant to Plasmopara halstedii Phomopsis helinthi Septoria helianthi and Orobanche cumana (race E and G) were obtained from the Bulgarian susceptible fertility restorer lines 2574 R 147 R 374 R 381 R 377 R American line RHA-857 and Bulgarian line with normal cytoplasm 197 B. Lines were developed using embryo culture method in combination with ultra sonic and gamma irradiation at sunflower immature zygotic embryos. All investigated lines possessed 100% resistance to diseases and parasite Orobanche . Some of the new lines showed very good combining ability. Line 12002 R developed through embryo culture method at immature zygotic embryos in combination with gamma irradiation at dose 8 Gy is paternal component of commercial hybrid Rada. Line 12003 R developed through embryo culture method at immature zygotic embryos in combination with ultra sonic at dose 25.5 W cm −2 for 1 min is paternal component of commercial hybrid Yana. Hybrids Rada and Yana possessing immunity to parasite Orobanche cumana race E and G respectively; immunity to Plasmopara helianhi – races 300 330 700 and 731; resistance to Phomopsis ; immunity to Macrophomin a and tolerance to Phoma . Our results showed that mutagenesis in sunflower can be successfully applied to develop new lines suitable for use as parental components of new hybrids.

A 2-year study was conducted to determine the response of four sunflower cultivars (Master Lakumka Favorite and Berezanski) to different irrigation regimes: 45 (control) 60 75 and 90% (I1–I4) of maximum allowable depletion (MAD) of available soil water (ASW). Severe deficit irrigation (I3 and I4) significantly decreased water-use efficiency radiation use efficiency yield and yield-related components. The results also showed that water deficit compared to full-irrigated treatment (I1) increased the activity of all antioxidant enzymes in leaves. Master had the highest seed yield in full and limited irrigation as well as the highest antioxidant enzymes content. Sunflower plants extracted most of the soil moisture from 0 to 50 cm soil layer. Therefore it is recommended that only the 0–50 cm soil profile be considered for scheduling irrigation. Measured and simulated results revealed a special irrigation regime threshold for each cultivar with respect to seed yield. The response rate to irrigation regime ceased in higher irrigation rates as I join (65 63 65 and 70% MAD for Master Lakumka Favorite and Berezanski respectively). Moreover all estimated I join for all cultivars were higher than the current recommendation of 50% MAD. This shows the ability to sustain the yield of these sunflower cultivars in the study region under deficit irrigation. The seed yield of all four cultivars tended to respond similarly to irrigation in both years but Master was more efficient than the remaining three cultivars with respect to the response to diverse treatments.

The impact of hydrothermal variability on organic sunflower seed yield in the humid tropical region of Nigeria was studied between 2001 and 2008 using rainfall and temperature as proxies for climate variability. The test variety was “Funtua” a local adapted open pollinated and late maturing sunflower variety. Rainfall amount during the period of study compared favorably with the long-term mean (25 years). September recorded adequate amount of rain throughout the period of study except in 2002. Sum of effective temperature and growing degree days (GDD) ranged between 1907.1 and 2440.3°C and 2435.2 and 3634.3°C and appeared adequate for the production of organic sunflower in the region. Sunflower seed yield obtained between 2001 and 2005 ranged between 1.03 and 1.26 t/ha and were superior to the Nigerian average of 1.00 t/ha African average of 0.81 t/ha and a little below the world average of 1.52 t/ha. Grain yield however declined in 2006 and thereafter remained below 1.0 t/ha till 2008. Nevertheless it could be concluded that despite the global increase in climatic variability a good yield of sunflower is still possible in the humid tropical region.

This study was conducted during 2009 and 2010 at Regional Agricultural Research Station Nandyal Andhra Pradesh India to evaluate the feasibility of subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) in vertisols and its influence on sunflower crop under two lateral spacings with two lengths of lateral and two levels of nitrogen. The experimental design was a split split plot with three replications. Laterals buried at 30 cm depth in the soil were set as per treatments and emitters are spaced 40 cm apart. The experimental results indicated that the SDI with lateral spacing of 150 cm is feasible in vertisols with 75 kg N/ha can be adopted and length of lateral can be adjusted depending on the layout of the SDI system in the field.

The heat tolerance and adaptability to drought of F 2 sporophytic populations after F 1 sunflower pollen heating have been studied. Freshly collected pollen was heated at the temperature of 60°C during 1 and 3 h and used to self-pollinate the emasculated F 1 plants. Half of F 2 seeds were treated with the temperature of 60°C during 15 min before sowing while another was not subjected to high temperature. The number of F 2 flowering plants during 2013 dry summer season was counted. Pollen treatments compared with the control (fresh pollen) significantly increased the number of F 2 plants after seed heating before sowing. In some F 1 hybrids pollen heating during 1 h was not effective. Pollination of F 1 hybrids with pollen treated with the temperature of 60°C during 1 h compared with fresh pollen increased the number of F 2 plants in dry field conditions. Obtained results show that pollen selection was successful to increase the heat tolerance and adaptability to drought in sunflower.

This paper shows the efficiency of the individual selection of plants of the maternal line of sunflower belonging to the type ZL95 on electrophoretic spectra of storage proteins of seeds with a simultaneous assessment of morphological traits for the increase and maintenance of genetic uniformity. On the localization of components of polypeptides their mobility and intensity were installed and identified the allelic options of the electrophoretic spectra: Hel-1 Hel-2 Hel-3 Hel-4 and Hel-6 . By the method of individual selection of plants on the set protein spectra with simultaneous control on morphological traits increased the genetic purity of male analogue line ZL95 from 44.0 to 98.4% fixer of sterility from 47.0 to 98.5% and the assessment on protein spectra 100.0% at both analogues of the line.

Breeding for resistance to the main diseases is very important part of sunflower history in Russia. The list of most important diseases is changed depending on the region and time. Traditionally sunflower breeders pay more attention to broomrape downy mildew and Diaporthe stem canker in Krasnodar region. The aim of our study was to evaluate dynamics for resistance of sunflower lines and hybrids to the most important diseases in a breeding program of All-Russia Research Institute of Oil Crops (VNIIMK) in Krasnodar in order to correct it. Experiments were conducted at the Central Station of VNIIMK from 2000 till 2013. Released prospective and experimental sunflower hybrids and lines of VNIIMK breeding were used as a material. Experimental design was randomized blocks with three replications. Field resistance was evaluated by specialists from the Immunology laboratory of VNIIMK. Results of new experimental sunflower hybrids evaluation for resistance to main diseases are shown. Increasing of some pathogens occurrence is noticed which requires taking more attention to them in the resistance breeding program. These data can be used for breeding program improvement.

Jerusalem artichoke is an excellent source of inulin. Inulin has valuable nutritional and functional attributes and therefore it is needed to know inulin content in different accessions of Jerusalem artichoke tubers. We used rapid high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method following water extraction to determine inulin content in Jerusalem artichoke tubers. HPLC conditions included Rezex RCM-monosaccharide Ca 2+ column deionized water as mobile phase and light scattering detection. It was found that inulin content of Jerusalem artichoke tubers ranged from 8.16 to 13.46% of fresh weight. The maximum value of inulin content in 12 accessions of Jerusalem artichoke was detected in TUB CG 32.

This work was conducted to study the oil content and some quality criteria of oil extracted from seven different sunflower hybrids growing under local environmental condition during seasonal 2012–2013. Three high-oleic hybrids (2031 2033 and Olivko) two mid-oleic hybrids (A12 and A15) and two traditional hybrids (120 and 53) were studied to determine the oil content some physicochemical properties total tocopherol content oxidative stability by Rancimat method at 100°C and fatty acid composition by GC. According to the results the hybrids 2033 2031 and A15 produced higher oil content (44.00 43.30 and 38.79% respectively) than other hybrids under study. Hybrids 2033 Olivko and 2031 had higher tocopherol content (445 423 419 ppm respectively) than other hybrids. In contrast significant differences ( P ≥ 0.05) were noticed in oxidative stability and fatty acids composition. The hybrids 2033 Olivko and 2031 showed the higher oxidative stability (19.00 17.50 and 17.00 h) and oleic acid (82.87 82.11 and 81.40%) respectively. In conclusion results indicated that the high-oleic and mid-oleic sunflower hybrids cultivated under Egyptian conditions gave higher quality oil.

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