SUNFLOWER BREEDING AND SEED PRODUCTION IN THE AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE OSIJEK

Oplemenjivački rad na suncokretu u Poljoprivrednom institutu Osijek započeo je prije 30-ak godina. Tada je počeo proces stvaranja inbred linija pretežito iz visokouljnih ruskih sorti suncokreta koje su se tada uzgajale u Hrvatskoj. Prije 25 godina u oplemenjivačkom radu počeli smo koristiti izvore citoplazmatske muške sterilnosti (cms) ,te izvore restorer gena (rf) za obnavljanje fertilnosti u F₁ hibridnoj generaciji. Tijekom proteklog razdoblja stvoreno je mnogo samooplodnih linija dobrih općih i specifičnih kombinatornih sposobnosti (OKS i SKS). Oplemenjivanje suncokreta, kao i ostalih ratarskih kultura, najučinkovitiji je i za okoliš najprihvatljiviji način za povećanje količine i kakvoće hrane. Glavni cilj našeg rada je stvaranje novih, superiornih, hibrida visokog uroda zrna (iznad 5 t/ha), sadržaja ulja (iznad 50%), te visokog i stabilnog uroda ulja (iznad 2 t/ha). Za ostvarenje ovih ciljeva potrebno je stvoriti hibride niske do srednje visoke stabljike, povećati otpornost na polijeganje i sušu, te povećati žetveni indeks. Posebna pozornost posvećuje se stvaranju linija s naglašenom tolerantnošću prema dominantnim patogenima: Plasmopara halstedii, Alternaria helianthi, Macrophomina phaseolina, Phoma macdonaldi, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum i Phomopsis helianthi. Osim toga, potrebno je stvoriti hibride kraće vegetacije (110-120 dana), s dužim trajanjem lisne površine (Leaf area duration - LAD). Rezultat dosadašnjeg rada je 12 priznatih hibrida suncokreta, koji su uvelike doprinjeli povećanju proizvodnje suncokreta u Republici Hrvatskoj.Također su dva hibrida suncokreta Poljoprivrednog instituta Osijek priznata u Republici Slovačkoj. Kvalitetno sjemenarstvo suncokreta najznačajniji je proces u održavanju genetske čistoće linija i hibrida. U Hrvatskoj se sve češće susrećemo s problemom pronalaženja odgovarajućih površina i potrebne prostorne izolacije. Budući da nova generacija naših hibrida suncokreta ima visok sadržaj ulja, posebna pozornost mora se posvetiti pravovremenoj žetvi i brzoj dopremi sjemena u doradbene kapacitete.Sunflower breeding in the Agricultural Institute Osijek started 30 years ago. At that time began a process of creation inbred lines from high oil Russian sunflower varieties that were grown then in Croatia. In breeding work, we began with usage sources of cytoplasmic male sterility (cms) and restorer genes (rf) for fertility restoring in F₁ hybrid generation 25 years ago. During last period, a plenty of inbred lines with good general and specific combining abilities (GCA and SCA) have created. Sunflower breeding as well as breeding of other field crops is the most efficient and environmentally the most accepted way for increasing food quantity and quality. Main goal of our work is creation of new superior hybrids with high grain yield (over 5 t/ha), oil content (over 50%), and high and stable oil yield (over 2 t/ha). For realization of these goals, it is needed to create hybrids with short to middle high stalk, increase resistance to logging and drought, and increase harvesting index. Special attention is devoted to creation inbred lines with emphasized tolerance to dominant pathogens: Plasmopara halstedii, Alternaria helianthi, Macrophomina phaseolina, Phoma macdonaldi, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Phomopsis helianthi. Furthermore, it is necessary to create hybrids of shorter vegetation (120- 125 days), with longer duration of leaf area (Leaf area duration - LAD). Result of hereunto work is 12 approved sunflower hybrids that have given a large contribution to increasing sunflower production in Republic of Croatia. Also, in Republic of Slovakia have approved two sunflower hybrids of the Agricultural Institute Osijek. Sunflower qualitative seed production is the most important process in maintenance of genetic purity of lines and hybrids. In Croatia, we often meet a problem of finding appropriate areas and required space isolation. Due to high oil content of our new sunflower hybrids generation, a special attention have to be given to on time harvesting and fast delivery of seed to processing facilities