USING SUNFLOWER WILD SPECIES TO IMPROVE RESISTANCE OF CULTIVATED SPECIE TO THE PARASITE BROOMRAPE (OROBANCHE CUMANA WALLR.)

The parasitic plant Orobanche cumana (broomrape) is the most important biotic constraint to the production of sunflower, in all countries around the word. The aim of our study was evaluation of populations of some wild Helianthus species to broomrape populations that are highly virulent in Romania. All resistant interspecific population derived from crosses with annual specie Helianthus debilis and perennial specie Helianthus maximiliani. Testing of this interspecific populations indicate the possibility to obtain sources of resistance to broomrape populations present in Romania, but also in countries situated around Black Sea region