Registration of Three Maintainer (HA 444 to HA 446) and One Restorer (RHA 447) High Oleic Oilseed Sunflower Germplasms

Three maintainer and one restorer oilseed sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) germplasms were developed and released by the USDA-ARS, Fargo, ND, and the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, Fargo, ND, in 2003; HA 444 (Reg. no. GP-298, PI 639167), HA 445 (Reg. no. GP-299, PI 639168), HA 446 (Reg. no. GP-300, PI 639169), and RHA 447 (Reg. no. GP-301, PI 639170). These germplasms possess a high-oleic fatty acid concentration and are available for use by the sunflower industry and public researchers to create hybrids, parental lines, or improved germplasms with a mid-oleic (NuSun) (.550 and ,700 g kg oleic acid) or a high-oleic (.800 g kg) fatty acid concentration. HA 444 is an F6–derived F7 maintainer line selected from the cross HA 434/HA 406. HA 434 (PI 633744), a high-oleic oilseed germplasm, and HA 406 (PI 597370), a high-linoleic oilseed germplasm, are maintainer lines released by USDA-ARS and the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station in 2001 and 1993, respectively (Miller et al., 2004; Miller and Gulya, 1997). HA 445 is an F5–derived F6 maintainer line selected from the cross HA 434/87CAEB//HA 335/HA 434. 87CAEB is a short-statured line with excellent lodging resistance obtained through a germplasm exchange with W. Vermeulen, Oil and Protein Seed Centre, Potchefstroom, South Africa. HA 335 (PI 518773) was released by USDA-ARS and the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station in 1987 and is resistant to downy mildew [caused by Plasmopara halstedii (Farl.) Berl. & De Toni in Sacc.] race 730 (Tourvieille de Labrouhe et al., 2000; Miller and Gulya, 1988). HA 446 is an F5–derived F6 maintainer line selected from the cross HA 335/87CAEB//HA 434/HA 412. HA 412 (PI 603993) was released by USDA-ARS and the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station in 1995 (Miller and Gulya, 1999). The pedigree breeding method was used to develop HA 444, HA 445, and HA 446. Analyses for oleic acid concentration were conducted on seed harvested from F3 to F6 plants by gas chromatography. The oleic acid concentration of HA 444, HA 445, and HA 446 was 836, 859, and 817 g kg, respectively, compared to an oleic acid concentration of 861 g kg for HA 434. Height of HA 444, HA 445, and HA 446 was 125, 113, and 108 cm, respectively, compared to 125 cm for HA 434. Days to flower of HA 444, HA 445, and HA 446 were 63, 65, and 66 d, respectively, compared to 63 d for HA 434. HA 445 and HA 446 are resistant to the downy mildew race 730, conferred by the Pl6 gene derived from the line HA 335. These lines also provide protection against metalaxyl-insensitive strains of downy mildew collected from sunflower production fields in North Dakota in 1998. RHA 447 is an F7–derived F8 restorer line selected from the cross RHA 377/RHA 348. RHA 377 (PI 560145), a highlinoleic oilseed germplasm, and RHA 348 (PI 509058), a high-oleic oilseed germplasm, are restorer lines released by USDA-ARS and the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station in 1990 and 1986, respectively (Miller, 1992; Miller et al., 1987). The pedigree breeding method was used to develop RHA 447. Analyses for oleic acid concentration were conducted on seed harvested from F3 to F7 plants by gas chromatography. The oleic acid concentration of RHA 447 was 844 g kg, compared to 821 g kg for RHA 348. Height of RHA 447 was 115 cm, compared to 155 for RHA 348. Days to flower of RHA 447 were 65 d, compared to 63 d for RHA 348. RHA 447 has genes for fertility restoration of the PET1 (Serieys, 1996) cytoplasmic male sterility and has upper stem branching conditioned by a recessive gene. Hybrids with the cytoplasmic male-sterile equivalents of HA 444, HA 445, and HA 446 were produced by crossing with two restorer lines, RHA 373 (PI 560141) and RHA 377. Hybrids with the restorer line RHA 447 were produced by crossing to two cytoplasmic male-sterile lines, CMS HA 412 and CMS HA 434. These hybrids were compared to the commercial mid-oleic (NuSun) hybrids Pioneer 63M80, Interstate Hysun 530, and Mycogen 8377 in 2000, 2001, and 2002 trials planted at Casselton, ND, for agronomic characteristics. In addition, tolerance to Sclerotinia head rot [caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary] of RHA 447 testcross hybrids was evaluated by artificial inoculation under mist irrigation at the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, Carrington Research and Extension Center, Carrington, ND. Yield of hybrids with HA 444, HA 445, HA 446, and RHA 447 was 2212, 2075, 2223, and 2070 kg ha, respectively, compared to a 2238 kg ha average for the three check hybrids. Oleic acid concentration of hybrids with HA 444, HA 445, HA 446, and RHA 447 was 558, 568, 553, and 594 g kg, respectively, compared to a 590 g kg average for the three check hybrids. Oil content of hybrids with HA 444, HA 445, HA 446, and RHA 447 was 435, 450, 472, and 461 g kg, respectively, compared to a 464 g kg average for the three check hybrids. Height of hybrids with HA 444, HA 445, HA 446, and RHA 447 was 153, 165, 163, and 165 cm, respectively, compared to a 173-cm average for the three check hybrids. Days to flower of hybrids with HA 444, HA 445, HA 446, and RHA 447 were 67, 68, 71, and 67 d, respectively, compared to a 68-d average for the three check hybrids. Percentage of root lodging of hybrids with HA 444, HA 445, HA 446, and RHA447 in year 2002 was 22, 13, 12, and 27%, respectively, compared to a 34% average for the three check hybrids. Sclerotinia incidence averaged over 2000 to 2002 trials for hybrids with RHA 447 was 38%, compared to 88, 44, 71, and 30%, respectively, for the check hybrids Mycogen SF 270, Mycogen 8377, Pioneer 63M80, and Syngenta 278. Limited quantities of seed of each germplasm are available from the Seedstocks Project, Dep. of Plant Sciences, Loftsgard Hall, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105. We ask that appropriate recognition be made if these germplasm lines contribute to the development of a new breeding line, germplasm, or hybrid. U.S. Plant Variety Protection will not be requested for HA 444, HA 445, HA 446, or RHA 447.