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Pericarp Resistance to Mechanical Puncture in Sunflower Achenes 1
Author(s) -
Stafford R. E.,
Rogers C. E.,
Seiler G. J.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1984.0011183x002400050015x
Subject(s) - achene , sunflower , biology , helianthus annuus , software maintainer , horticulture , botany , resistance (ecology) , agronomy , genetics
Pericarp resistance to mechanical puncture using a penetrometer was determined for achenes of 72 sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) genotypes grown in a greenhouse and sampled at 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 days after fertilization. This study was undertaken to determine resistance of developing sunflower achenes to mechanical puncture and to relate this to possible genetic resistance to the sunflower moth, Homoeosoma electellum (Hulst). Pericarp resistance to puncture was found to be directly correlated with presence of phytomelanin. Significant genotypic differences in resistance to puncture were found among restorer (RHA) and maintainer (HA) lines. Achenes of the restorer lines RHA 272 and RHA 274 were most resistant to pericarp puncture. Of the maintainer lines, achenes of HA 65, HA 246, and HA 250 showed greatest resistance to pericarp puncture. Prediction equations indicated a positive linear relationship between resistance to puncture of the pericarp and age of the respective achene.