Registration of Five Nonoilseed Sunflower Female Germplasm Lines

FIVE nonoilseed sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) restorer germplasm lines, RHA 324 (Reg. no. GP-40), RHA 325 (Reg. no. GP-41), RHA 326 (Reg. no. GP-42), RHA 327 (Reg. no. GP-43), and RHA 328 (Reg. no. GP-44), were developed cooperatively by USDA-ARS and the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, Fargo, ND, and released in 1985. The lines have genes for fertility restoration in a male-sterile (H. petiolaris French cytoplasm) cytoplasm. All have upper branching, controlled by a recessive gene, which provides an extended period of pollen production. The five lines are available for use in sunflower breeding and development programs. RHA 324 is a composite of seed from an F7 plant derived from the cross R811//'Jumbo Israel'/RHA 268 utilizing the pedigree method of breeding. R811, a sister selection of RHA 294, was selected from multiple crosses involving 'Bonita Giant Manchurian', HA 61, 'Mennonite RR', and T670015. Jumbo Israel is an open-pollinated cultivar from Israel. RHA 268 was derived from the cross Bonita Giant Manchurian-1-4/Mennonite RR. RHA 325 is a composite of seed from an F7 plant derived from the breeding line R818-3. R818-3 was selected from multiple crosses involving Mennonite RR-18, HA 61, and ND 71401, a large-seeded restorer source. RHA 326 is a composite of seed from an F6 plant derived from the cross RHA 293/RHA 294. RHA 293 and RHA 294 were released by the USDA in 1976. RHA 327 is a composite of seed from an F6 plant derived from the cross RHA 294/3/R811//Jumbo Israel/RHA 268. The latter parent in the cross was an F3 plant selected from the cross from which RHA 324 was derived. RHA 328 is a composite of seed from an F6 plant derived from the cross RHA 294/3/ R811//HA 292/RHA 282. RHA 282 and HA 292 are nonoilseed lines released by the USDA in 1974 and 1979, respectively. Hybrids with all five lines, produced by crossing with the two female lines cmsHA 292 and cmsHA 288, were significantly higher yielding than the hybrid checks cmsHA 292/ RHA 310 and cmsHA 288/RHA 310 over 2 yr of testing in 1983 and 1984. Height of hybrids with the restorers RHA 324 to RHA 328 when crossed with cmsHA 292 were 180, 185, 185, 188, and 195 cm, respectively, compared with 187 cm for the check hybrid 292/310. Days from planting to flowering of hybrids with RHA 324 to RHA 328 were 71, 72, 74, 70, and 70 days, respectively, compared with 72 days for the check hybrid cmsHA 292/RHA 310. Percentage of achenes passing over a 50/160 cm (20/64 in.) round hole screen for hybrids with RHA 324 to RHA 328 were 64, 74, 36, 64, and 74%, respectively, compared with 71% for the check hybrid cmsHA 292/RHA 310. Hybrids with RHA 324, RHA 326, RHA 327, and RHA 328 had distinct black and white achene color and striping; hybrids with RHA 325 had a dark achene with white side stripes with cmsHA 288 and a dark achene with very slight side stripes with cmsHA 292. All hybrids were equal to the check hybrids in percentage of kernel. All five RHA lines and their hybrids are resistant to race 2 of downy mildew [incited by Plasmopara halstedii (Farl.) Berl. & de Toni], and are moderately resistant to races 1 and 3 of rust (incited by Puccinia helianthi Schw.). The five lines are susceptiible to North American races of Verticillium wilt (incited by Verticillium dahliae Kleb.). These lines produced hybrids that were significantly more uniform in height and flowering than check hybrids, and had more upright head inclination. Limited quantities of seed of each germplasm line are available from the Seedstocks Project, Agronomy Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105.