Registration of Three Helianthus Germplasm Lines for Resistance to the Sunflower Moth

THREE Helianthus germplasm lines developed by the USDAARS were released in 1983. SFM 1 (GP14), SFM 2 (GP15), and SFM 3 (GP16) are germplasm lines for use in developing parental lines with increased resistance to achene injury by larvae of the sunflower moth, Homoeosoma electellure (Hulst). All have genes for phytomelanin in the pericarp, which functions as a mechanism for resistance to achene penetration by larvae of H. electellum (1). SFM 1 has upper, recessive branching and SFM 2 has basal, recessive branching, which results in an extended period of pollen production. SFM 3 is a single-headed line with a normal period of pollen production. Crosses of SFM 1, SFM 2, and SFM 3 with ’cms HA 131’ all produced single-headed, fertile progeny (88 observations ea.), indicating the presence of genes for fertility restoration in male-sterile cytoplasm. Pollen-staining by the lactophenol aniline blue (2) technique indicated a pollen viability of 96.4, 98.4, and 97.0% for SFM 1, SFM 2, and SFM 3, respectively. SFM 1 is an F4 single plant selection derived from ’cms HA 89’/Helianthus petiolaris Nuttall//cms HA 89. The H. petiolaris was collected 9 Sept. 1972 on a sandy prairie in Richland County, N. Dak. (2.4 km west and 2.5 km north of Hankinson), is identified USDA No. 72204 (PI 423011), and is maintained at the Bushland laboratory. From 1978 through 1981, SFM 1 averaged 64.9 days from planting to flowering of the primary head when planted.in the 3rd week of April (Table 1). Plants averaged 79.6 cm tall, and had an average 22.7 auxiliary heads on upper, lateral branches. The mean diameter of dried, primary heads was 4.9 cm. Seed injury by larvae of the sunflower moth from 1978 through 1981 averaged 6.6%, compared with 20.2 and 21.9% for ’hybrid 894’ and ’Peredovik’, respectively ̄ (Table 2). Seed oil content for SFM 1 averaged 37.2%. Stalks of SFM 1 had significantly fewer (5% level) larvae of a stem weevil, Cylindrocopturus adspersus (LeConte), than did stalks of hybrid 894 or Peredovik in 1981 and 1982. Because of its extensive recessive branching, prolonged pollen production, and fertility restoration characteristic, SFM 1 may have value as a male parent in the production of sunflower hybrids. SFM 2 is an F4 single plant selection derived from cms HA 89/Helianthus tuberosus L.//cms HA 89. The H. tuberosus parent is the Russian variety ’Skorospelka’, PI 356301. From 1978 through 1981, SFM 2 averaged 59.5 days from planting to flowering of the primary head when planted in the 3rd week of April (Table 1). Plants averaged 73.1 tall, and developed an average 6.1 auxiliary heads on basal branches. The mean diameter of dried, primary heads was 8.8 cm. Seed injury by larvae of the sunflower moth from 1978 through 1981 averaged 7.8% (Table 2), and seed oil content averaged 33.3%. Stalks of SFM 2 had significantly fewer (5% level) larvae of C. adspersus than did hybrid 894 or Peredovik in 1981. Because of its earliness, recessive basal branching, extended period of pollen production, and fertility restoration characteristic, SFM 2 also may have value as a male parent in the production of hybrids. 212 Table 1. Agronomic characteristics of three SFM Helianthus germplasm releases and a cultivar check planted in the 3rd week of April at Bushland, Tex. (1978-19811.*