FIELD EVALUATION OF SUNFLOWER BASAL STALK ROT, HEAD ROT AND STEM CANKER FOR GENETIC MAPPING AND GERMPLASM ENHANCEMENT

This project will contribute to genetic improvement of sunflower resistance to three major diseases that limit sunflower production in the north central US growing region. The project will: (1) Evaluate interspecific hybrids of cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and related wild Helianthus species for resistance to Sclerotinia basal stalk rot and Phomopsis stem canker in field nurseries to identify new sources of resistance derived from crop wild relatives; (2) Evaluate an advanced backcross genetic mapping population for Sclerotinia head rot resistance over multiple years in inoculated field nurseries to facilitate mapping of disease resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL) introgressed from the wild sunflower species Helianthus nuttallii; (3) Develop new sunflower germplasm resources with novel and/or improved Sclerotinia and Phomopsis resistance in agronomically acceptable germplasm for release to the public.