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The use of treated domestic effluent in agriculture is important not only as a source of water but also as a source of nutrients for crops. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate its use for the production of ornamental sunflower cv. ‘Anão de Jardim’ in a bench-type low cost hydroponic system, inferring on its technical feasibility and observing the possible impacts on the crop. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse adopting a completely randomized design with four treatments (T1 - nutrient solution of Furlani 100%, prepared in municipal supply water - control), T2, T3 and T4 - nutrient solution of Furlani, respectively, with 100, 75 and 50% strength, prepared in treated domestic effluent and six replicates, totalizing 24 experimental units, each consisting of 15 plants. All treatments met the nutritional requirements of the plants and presented adequate contents of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in leaf and stem at harvest leading to satisfactory plant growth and produced acceptable commercial grade chapters and stems. The plants under treatment T4 although produced chapters of commercial quality but exhibited great variability in comparison to the other treatments, therefore except this treatment any other treatment can be used for hydroponic production of ornamental sunflower utilizing treated domestic effluents.

In the semi-arid region of Brazil due to water scarcity, the use of alternative water sources is of vital importance, such as the use of saline waters and treated sewage effluents. Therefore, in the present work, the growth of sunflower plants irrigated with tap water and treated domestic sewage effluent, associated with organic fertilization was evaluated. The research was carried out in a protected environment at the Federal University of Campina Grande, Campus I, Campina Grande, PB. A completely randomized experimental design with factorial arrangement was used (4 x 2) + 2, with 5 repetitions. the treatments consisted of organic manure dosages (7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15% of manure on a weight basis) and two water sources (supply water and treated domestic sewage effluent). According to the results obtained, it can be indicated that the use of domestic sewage effluent for sunflower irrigation increased sunflower growth in relation to the use of water supply. The application of manure doses of 12.5 and 15% improved the early growth of the sunflower, with significant increases in the growth variables.

O percolado de aterro sanitário é um líquido produzido a partir de processos físicos, químicos e biológicos aos quais os resíduos sólidos urbanos são submetidos nos aterros sanitários. Apresenta uma composição físico-química variável e pode conter altos teores de nutrientes, sendo assim empregado na fertilização de plantas. Por isso, objetivou-se avaliar o crescimento de plantas de girassol irrigadas com água de moderada salinidade e com suplementação nutricional com percolado de aterro sanitário. O experimento foi conduzido em área experimental com cobertura de nylon (sombrite), sob delineamento inteiramente casualizado em um fatorial 4 x 2, sendo [1: 100% de areia de granulometria fina - NBR 6502; 2: areia + adubo/fertilizante orgânico misto (mistura de bagaço de cana, esterco bovino, esterco de galinha, serragem de madeira e gesso agrícola) e 80 kg de N ha-1, 3: areia + percolado de aterro sanitário e 80 kg de N ha-1; e 4: areia + percolado de aterro sanitário e 160 kg de N ha-1] e duas concentrações salinas da água de irrigação [irrigação com água destilada ou solução de NaCl a 60 mM], com 10 repetições, em vasos de 12 L. Foram realizadas análises de crescimento (altura, diâmetro do coleto, número de folhas), teores relativos de clorofila e diâmetro dos capítulos. Nas condições experimentais empregadas, substrato arenoso, as concentrações de percolado de aterro sanitário utilizadas promoveram incrementos em todas as variáveis de crescimento analisadas nas plântulas de girassol, especialmente a 80 Kg N ha-1. A irrigação com solução de NaCl a 60 mM não ocasionou efeitos negativos nas variáveis de crescimento, demonstrando assim a tolerância moderada das plantas de girassol à salinidade em substrato arenoso.

The effects of externally applied sodium nitroprusside on superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT) antioxidant enzyme activities, nitric oxide (NO) levels have investigated in salt stress resistant and sensitive sunflower plants. NaCl treatments and SNP treatments simultaneous with salt application (NaCl + SNP) were performed. SOD, GPx, APX and CAT antioxidant enzyme activities and NO levels, showed differences in leaf tissues treated with 100 µM SNP, different concentrations of NaCl, and NaCl + SNP. SOD, GPx and APX enzyme activities were generally increased in sensitive variety but decreased in tolerant variety. However, while generally increase in CAT enzyme activity was determined in tolerant type, a reduction was established in sensitive type. An increase was determined in both types in NO levels. It is evident from these results that administration of NO donor SNP can cope with reactive oxygen species in both varieties. This study indicates that the negative effects of salt stress on different sun flower varieties can be recovered by nitric oxide.

This work aimed to present the optimum environment number methodology and propose the optimization of the National Sunflower Trials Network, by means of the environments exclusion that do not provide loss of the environmental variability already established. Grain and oil yield data of 16 genotypes evaluated at 16 environments of the National Sunflower Trials Network, obtained from trials conducted out-of-season in 2012 and 2013 were used. An analysis was proposed to establish the optimum environment number for genotypes evaluation, based on genotype performance in the various environmental combinations. The removal or maintenance of environments in the experimental network was dynamic, since different environmental combinations impacted the representativeness of the complete network in a different way. This analysis also provides a graphical view of the impact of the environment removal from the network. Once detected points below the established correlation, the researcher could infer about the network minimum environment number and, suggest through consistent information of several testing years, the environment exclusion.

The aim of the study was to screen nine inbred lines of sunflower by inducing drought for 10 d and subsequent rewatering for 5 d. Impact of drought was determined by chlorophyll fluorescence and some physiological parameters. Drought led to a decrease in the photosynthetic performance, the quantum yield, and efficiency of electron transport in sunflower lines, while it caused an increase in the absorption flux per reaction centre, dissipation of an active reaction centre, and K-band as well as L-band. Drought also decreased the total chlorophyll contents and water status of the lines, which contributed to photoinhibition. Our results suggested that drought may restrict light harvesting and electron transport in the sunflower lines at various levels. Drought did not cause irreversible membrane damage, since the lines recovered after rewatering. Considering all results, the inbred lines TT317-R and 2478-A were adversely affected by drought when compared to other lines, while 9753-2R exhibited better photosynthetic performance under drought and might be considered as the most tolerant among the lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Floret and seed traits are moderately correlated phenotypically in modern sunflower cultivars, but the underlying genetics are mostly independent. Seed traits in particular are governed in part by epistatic effects among quantitative trait loci. Seed size is an important quality component in marketing commercial sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), particularly for the in-shell confectionery market, where long and broad seed types are preferred as a directly consumed snack food globally. Floret size is also important because corolla tube length was previously shown to be inversely correlated with pollinator visitation, impacting bee foraging potential and pollinator services to the plant. Commercial sunflower production benefits from pollinator visits, despite being self-compatible, and bees are required in hybrid seed production, where "female" and "male" inbred lines are crossed at field scale. Issues with pollination of long-seed confectionery sunflower suggest that there may be an unfavorable correlation between seed and floret traits; thus, our objective was to determine the strength of the correlation between seed and floret traits, and confirm any co-localization of seed and floret trait loci using genome-wide association analysis in the SAM diversity panel of sunflower. Our results indicate that phenotypic correlations between seed and floret traits are generally low to moderate, regardless of market class, a component of population substructure. Association mapping results mirror the correlations: while a few loci overlap, many loci for the two traits are not overlapping or even adjacent. The genetics of these traits, while modestly quantitative and influenced by epistatic effects, are not a barrier to simultaneous improvement of seed length and pollinator-friendly floret traits. We conclude that breeding for large seed size, which is required for the confectionery seed market, is possible without producing florets too long for efficient use by pollinators, which promotes bee foraging and associated pollination services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining ability analyses were estimated for 20 lines (females), three restorers (testers) and their 60 hybrids using Line × Tester mating design to assess the breeding potentiality of sunflower breeding material. Analysis of variance for all the studied traits showed significant differences among genotypes. The data were recorded on quantitative and quality parameters viz., head diameter, 100 achene weight, achene yield per plant, oil contents, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid compositions. Based upon significant and positive GCA effects, the lines L6 and L11 showed the highest effects for achene yield per plant, oil contents and oleic acid while L6 and L7 showed the highest GCA effects for 100 achene weight but negative GCA effects for linoleic acid. The highest positive SCA effects for traits head diameter and achene yield per plant were shown by cross L11 × T2 while the crosses L17 × T1, L6 × T1, L20 × T3 and L5 × T3 showed the highest positive SCA effects for 100 achene weight, oil contents, oleic acid and linoleic acid respectively. The crosses L19 × T2 and L10 × T2 showed the highest negative SCA effects for palmitic acid and stearic acid respectively. All the traits in the experiment showed dominant type of gene action due to preponderance of higher SCA than GCA variances emphasizing the vitality of heterosis breeding. Therefore, these results are valuable for improvement of quantitative as well as qualitative traits in sunflower breeding material to fulfill the edible oil requirements and ensure food security for mounting population of the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Seed Science is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Tecnologia de Sementes and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista IRRIGA - Brazilian Journal of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Revista IRRIGA (Brazilian Journal of Irrigation & Drainage) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Dyna is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellin, Facultad de Minas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Anadolu (1300-0225) is the property of Anadolu Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This work aimed to present the optimum environment number methodology and propose the optimization of the National Sunflower Trials Network, by means of the environments exclusion that do not provide loss of the environmental variability already established. Grain and oil yield data of 16 genotypes evaluated at 16 environments of the National Sunflower Trials Network, obtained from trials conducted out-of-season in 2012 and 2013 were used. An analysis was proposed to establish the optimum environment number for genotypes evaluation, based on genotype performance in the various environmental combinations. The removal or maintenance of environments in the experimental network was dynamic, since different environmental combinations impacted the representativeness of the complete network in a different way. This analysis also provides a graphical view of the impact of the environment removal from the network. Once detected points below the established correlation, the researcher could infer about the network minimum environment number and, suggest through consistent information of several testing years, the environment exclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents results of studying the genetic diversity of 126 sunflower inbred lines from the collection fund of the Experimental Farm of Oilseeds of Kazakhstan for protein and SSR markers. The polymorphism of collections in terms of the composition of helianthinin, seed storage protein, was not high. In the zone of fast-moving proteins, three variants of components were found that are characteristic of all types of inbred lines. At the same time, components specific to lines with genes rf and Rf were identified. PCR analysis of DNA of inbred lines by 16 SSR markers showed no variations in the amplification products of locus ORS428 and low polymorphism of locus ORS785 (PIC ≤ 0.2). The following markers in the studied collections showed high polymorphism (PIC > 0.8): ORS316, ORS381, ORS437, ORS456, ORS505, ORS630, ORS761, and ORS925. Based on molecular marking, the registration of inbred lines of the Kazakhstan Collection Fund was carried out. In order to assess the level of hybridity of F1 seeds of commercial sunflower hybrids, SSR markers were selected that can differentiate the genetic material of the original parental lines in the DNA of the hybrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have shown hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a metabolic messenger that increases plant tolerance to various stress conditions. However, little is known about its effect on the mobilization of seed reserves in the establishment of seedlings. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of pretreatment with H2O2 in salt-tolerance and mobilization of reserves during the germination of seeds and establishment of sunflower seedlings. Seeds were pre-imbibed for 24 hr in solutions containing: deionized water (control); H2O2 (1 mM); NaCl (100 mM). Subsequently, seeds were distributed on germitest paper, moistened with deionized water or saline solution (100 mM NaCl). In seedlings not pretreated with H2O2, the salinity increased Na+ and Cl− ions contents and reduced the growth of sunflower seedlings. However, pretreatment of seeds with H2O2 reduced the negative effect of salinity, promoted an increase in salt-tolerance by the reduction of Na+ and Cl− uptake, lower energy cost for osmoprotection by compatible solutes accumulation, and by the higher equilibrium in the mobilization of the cotyledon reserves for the development of the embryonic axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Verde de Agroecologia e Desenvolvimento Sustentável is the property of Revista Verde de Agroecologia e Desenvolvimento Sustentavel and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The effects of externally applied sodium nitroprusside on superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT) antioxidant enzyme activities, nitric oxide (NO) levels have been investigated in salt stress resistant and sensitive sunflower plants. NaCl treatments and SNP treatments simultaneously with salt application (NaCl+SNP) were performed. SOD, GPx, APX and CAT antioxidant enzyme activities and NO levels showed differences in leaf tissues treated with 100 μM SNP, different concentrations of NaCl, and NaCl+SNP. SOD, GPx and APX enzyme activities were generally increased in sensitive variety, but decreased in tolerant variety. However, while general increase in CAT enzyme activity was determined in tolerant type, a reduction was established in sensitive type. An increase was determined in both types in NO levels. It is evident from these results that administration of NO donor SNP can cope with reactive oxygen species in both varieties. This study indicates that negative effects of salt stress on different sun flower varieties can be recovered by nitric oxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since plants need various plant nutrients during their development process, these needs are met with synthetic and chemicals inputs. This increases the input cost considerably. However, such problems can be eliminated thanks to the inputs obtained from completely natural plant wastes. Ash obtained from sunflower plant wastes, especially those used as fuel, has the potential to be an important natural fertilizer with plant nutrient elements in its content. In this study, it was aimed to determine some plant nutrients (B, Mg, P, K) found in the ashes obtained from burning of different variety (Coral, Pioneer63F73, PioneerP64LL05, Pioneer64LC108, Goldsun, Şems, Aga1301, Duna, Bosfora ve PioneerPR64G46) of sunflower plant wastes. As a result of the study, the highest B and Mg content was obtained from Pioneer PR64G46, P and Ca content from Pioneer P64LL05 and K content from Pioneer 64LC108. Observations show that the ash of the sunflower wastes has a very high content of phosphorus and potassium, and that these ashes can be used as fertilizers, especially in phosphorous and potassium-poor soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last years, many efforts have been made to develop sunflower cultivars showing important agronomical characteristics such as herbicide resistance. These approaches have been focused mainly on resistance to herbicides with the same mode of action, that is acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) inhibitors. To date, four induced and natural AHAS mutations have been found that confer resistance to these herbicides and many of these alleles are being used for the production of sunflower hybrids resistant to herbicides and to develop different non-transgenic technologies for weed control. However, little is known about the bases of non-target-site-based resistance (NTSR) developing cross-resistance to herbicides with different modes of action in sunflower. These mechanisms diminish the number of active herbicide molecules that reach the target and are generally polygenic. Elucidating the nature of NTSR would allow evaluating maximal efficiency conditions for the herbicide and would enable to establish weed management strategies in sunflower crop. Nowadays, mining of NTSR genes can be more easily accomplished taking advantage of up-to-date omics-based approaches: high-throughput techniques involving genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics. Considering the difficulties in the discovery of new compounds with a broad spectrum of weed control, it results essential to broaden the use of former herbicides which are highly efficient and ecologically desirable. Full understanding of NTSR mechanisms in sunflower would allow detecting specific genes potentially useful as biotechnological tools for the phytoremediation of herbicides and modern plant breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We used two sunflower genotypes displaying pericarp-imposed dormancy at high incubation temperatures (i.e. 30°C) to investigate the role of the pericarp as a limitation to oxygen availability to the embryo (hypoxia), and its impact on embryo abscisic acid (ABA) content and sensitivity to ABA. Results showed that both genotypes displayed very different oxygen threshold values for inhibition of embryo germination when incubation was performed at 30°C. Expression of dormancy in one genotype was therefore related to exacerbated embryo sensitivity to hypoxia, whereas in the other genotype, the pericarp appeared to act as a more severe restraint to oxygen entry. Increased sensitivity to hypoxia was, in part, related to increased sensitivity to ABA, but not to alterations in ABA metabolism. The activity of pericarp-microbial communities (bacteria and fungi) at high temperatures was also assessed as a potential determinant of hypoxia to the embryo. Oxygen consumption in pericarps incubated at 30°C was attenuated with antibiotics, which concomitantly promoted achene germination. In agreement with the observed more severe oxygen deprivation to the embryo exerted by the pericarp, the bacterial load in the pericarp was significantly higher in the commercial hybrid than in the inbred line; however, the application of antibiotics strongly reduced the bacterial colony counts for each genotype. Different bacterial and fungal communities, assessed through their profiles of carbon-source utilization, were determined between genotypes and after treatment with antibiotics. This work highlights the relationship between enhancement of sensitivity to hypoxia with incubation temperature and seed dormancy expression, and suggests that microbial activity might be part of the mechanism through which hypoxia is imposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flower market is on the rise in Brazil. Among the most requested species stands out the ornamental sunflower. However, there are few studies related to the use of organic waste in its production. The objective evaluate the development and biomass production of ornamental sunflower Dwarf Garden under use ofcattle manure. The study was conducted from June to August 2014 in the greenhouse environment. The experimental design was completely randomized with five doses of cattle manure (0; 2.5; 5.0; 7.5 and 10.0 %) of the substrate volume, with five replications and five plants per plot. At 70 days after sowing, period in which the flower was at the R9 stage (physiological maturity), the harvest has begun. It was evaluated the root length, number of petals, green and dry phytomass of root, green and driesphytomass of petals, green and dry phytomasschapter with and without petals, days from the sowing to the appearance of the first floral bud and for initial opening and full of the floral bud. The cattle manure stimulates the production of petals, green and dry phytomass production and increases the precocity of the Sunflower Dwarf Garden. The organic fertilization with cattle manure is an efficient alternative for the production of ornamental sunflower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluatea the nutritional status of the sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) irrigated with domestic effluents. The study was performed in a pilot sewage treatment plant, where the treatments were composed by the combination of two factors: types of water (A1 - effluent treated by UASB reactor; A2 - effluent treated with digester decant and anaerobic filtering; A3 - effluent treated with anaerobic filtering; and A4 - water supply) and irrigation depths (L1 - equal to the crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and L2 - 1.2 ETc. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme, with four replications. At 96 days after sowing, the leaves, capitulum, and achenes were collected for the concentration evaluation of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S. The analyses of variance were performed based on the concentration of the nutrients in the respective organs; when significant, they were analyzed by orthogonal contrasts. The sunflower nutritional status was influenced by the types of treatment for the domestic sewage, especially regarding N, Ca and S, and by the irrigation depths; the sunflower crop presented a better nutritional balance when irrigated with treated domestic effluents; with the application of the water supply only, the nutritional supply of the P and S, is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical fertilization of soils has been adopted as a productivity-boosting mode for many years but it is marked by excessive synthetic chemical utilization and significant persistence in the ecological matrices. Current research has for the first adopted a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and sustainable mode of soil fertilization and consequent growth augmentation of Helianthus annuus by utilization of kitchen waste and garden waste-based processed compost. Comparative analysis of the prepared compost with chemical fertilizer expressed a profound responsiveness of the soils towards compost in pot experiments conducted at Rawalpindi, Pakistan for assessment of soil quality after modification with compost. Soil amendments were varied including compost amended soil (CAS), di-ammonium phosphate amended soil (DAS), urea amended soil(UAS), and control soil (CS). Organic matter of CAS i.e. 4.67% and 4.91% and micro and macro nutrients excelled in other amendments signifying the potential of CAS to be adopted as a future green manure as an effective substitute to chemical fertilizers. Heavy metals i.e. Ni, Zn, Pb, and Cu concentration determination of soil treatments expressed a slightly higher trend but within permissible limits. Helianthus annuus grown in treated soils expressed outstanding phyto-morphological aspects in CAS and UAS. Composting as an organic fertilizer provides a cost-effective, ecologically friendly, and sustainable way to improve soil fertility. As a result, high-quality, reasonably priced compost will be produced, offering a practical and efficient waste disposal alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum (Al) toxicity in plants evidences the importance of genotype evaluation to the identification of tolerance markers. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of aluminum stress on the relative water content, membrane damages and anatomical changes, in Al-tolerant and Al-sensitive sunflower cultivars. Sunflower plants [Catissol (Al-tolerant) and IAC-Uruguai (Al-sensitive)] were grown in nutrient solution (control) or nutrient solution containing 0.15 mM of AlCl3 (Al-stress treatment), in a greenhouse. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a factorial arrangement consisting of four harvest times x two sunflower cultivars x two Al levels, with four replications. The results showed that Al negatively affected the absolute integrity percentage and relative water content only for the IAC-Uruguay cultivar. These results in the stressed leaves of the Al-sensitive cultivar may be due to damage in the xylem structure. In addition, the increase in leaf blade thickness and parenchyma layers, as well as lignification of root tissues, are important traits of IAC-Uruguay plants and may be used as anatomical markers of Al sensitivity in sunflower.

O girassol é uma espécie vegetal com inúmeras aplicações, apresentando grande potencial para a produção de energia renovável. Apesar de existir informações na literatura, as necessidades hídricas e o comportamento de cultivares de girassol ainda não estão perfeitamente definidos, principalmente no Nordeste do Brasil. Objetivou‑se, assim, com este trabalho avaliar características do crescimento, desenvolvimento e produção de cultivares de girassol submetidas a diferentes regimes hídricos. O trabalho foi realizado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 3 x 4, sendo três cultivares (BRS Gira 26, Agrobel 962 e Embrapa 122 V‑2000) e quatro níveis de irrigação (40, 60, 80 e 100% do conteúdo de água na capacidade de campo), com quatro repetições. Foram avaliadas as características: altura de plantas, diâmetro do caule, área foliar, início do florescimento, maturação fisiológica, fitomassa da parte aérea, número de aquênios e peso de aquênios. A reposição hídrica com 100% da água disponível apresentou maior altura de planta, diâmetro do caule, área foliar, fitomassa e, número e peso de aquênios, destacando‑se a Agrobel 962 para a maioraia das características. Lâminas de irrigação de 635,5; 603,7 e 546,2 mm, equivalentes a 100% da capacidade de campo, proporcionam melhores respostas de crescimento, desenvolvimento e produção das cultivares BRS Gira 26, Agrobel 962 e Embrapa 122 V‑2000, respectivamente.

Transcriptional activity of four defence-related genes (NPR1, PAL, defensin and PR5) in seven sunflower lines – resistant (MS-2161A), tolerant (MS-2039A) and susceptible (MS-2098A, MS-2091A, MS-2077A, MS-2067A and MS-1589A), infected with three broomrape populations (Tulcea, Romania; Soroca and Anenii Noi, Republic of Moldova), was studied in advanced stages of infection (90 days after sowing). Obtained results revealed that resistant genotypes are characterized through higher stability in transcriptional activity of the studied genes. Thus, resistance could be associated with ability rapidly to maintain and recover a normal level of metabolism under more intensive stress factors. Also, it was established that expression of PR5 and defensin genes was altered and revealed considerable deviations in this phase of adaptation, while NPR1 and PAL mostly showed values at the level of the control group, which allows assuming that these genes, in the moment of sample collection and analysis, had normalized transcriptional activity, probably being involved in early responses.

The impact of sowing dates (early, normal and late) on the crop physiological parameters (leaf area index (LAI), chlorophyll content (SPAD)) and yield of sunflower cultivars (NK Neoma, NK Ferti, PR64H42) was observed in 2012, 2013, and 2014 on chernozem soil in Eastern Hungary. The obtained LAImax values were 5.1-5.3 m2/m2 (early sowing date), 4.5-5.2 m2/m2 (normal sowing date) and 4.4-5.2 m2/m2 (late sowing date). Pearson's correlation analysis revealed a close negative correlation between LAImax and sowing date in 2013 and 2014 (r = -0.920**,r = -0.813**) and an average, non-significant correlation between LAImax and sunflower yield (r = 0.575ns, r = 0.509ns). The relative chlorophyll content was not significantly affected by either growing year, sowing date or genotype in the period between May and July (~40). In the case of high infection index (Ii) values (2012), sunflower cultivars had the highest yield in the late sowing date (4.3-5.3 t/ha). However, average Ii values (2013) were associated with the highest yields in normal sowing date (5.1-5.3 t/ha) and moderate Ii values (2014) showed the highest yields in early sowing dates (4.6-5.1 t/ha).

En el mejoramiento genético de girasol es importante la existencia de variabilidad genética, siendo uno de los principios básicos para la obtención de ganancia genética en el desarrollo de nuevos híbridos o variedades de polinización abierta. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la divergencia genética de 25 genotipos de girasol proveniente de diferentes empresas. El experimento fue realizado en el Campo Experimental de Chore del Instituto Paraguayo de Tecnología Agraria (CECH – IPTA) en un diseño de bloques completo al azar con 25 tratamientos y tres repeticiones, los tratamientos estuvieron dados por los diferentes genotipos de girasol. Se evaluaron las siguientes variables: rendimiento de grano, altura de planta y diámetro de capítulo. Fueron encontradas diferencias significativas entre los genotipos en altura de planta y diámetro de capítulo. Los genotipos 24, 21, 13 y 15 se destacaron como los menos similares y los más similares fueron 3, 9, 10, 11 y 14 entre los 25 genotipos evaluados. A partir del dendrograma representativo de las poblaciones de 25 genotipos fueron formados dos grupos, siendo el genotipo 15 el más divergente. Las características que más contribuyeron para la divergencia genética fueron altura de planta y diámetro de capítulo.

ABSTRACT The sunflower plant is an oilseed crop that has aroused a great interest in the Brazilian and international scenery especillay because of the possibility of using its oil for biodiesel production. The objective of this study was to evaluate productivity and yield components of Embrapa 122 sunflower according to the spatial arrangement. Treatments were arranged in 4 x 4 factorial arrangement, which are the four spacings between rows (0.30; 0.50; 0.70 and 0.90 m) and four sowing densities (30,000; 45,000; 60,000 and 75,000 plants ha-1). The experiment was carried out in a complete randomized block design with four replications. The experiments were conducted in the experimental area of the Plant Science Department in Fortaleza, State of Ceará-Brazil and on the Curu Vale Experimental Farm in Pentecoste, State of Ceará-Brazil. Productivity and the following production components were analyzed in the end of the crop cycle: harvested capitula, capitulum diameter, capitulum mass, achene mass per capitulum, mass of 100 achenes, achenes per capitulum, harvest index and oil content in the achenes. The experiments were analyzed jointly in relation to the cropping area and the data submitted to analysis of variance and quantitative factors tested by polynomial regression. The variables, spacing, density and cropping area did not interact with these variables and the spatial arrangement of the plants affected only the components. The cropping area influences the productive behavior of sunflower Embrapa 122. The spatial arrangement of the plants of sunflower of variety Embrapa 122 influences yield components but does not affect productivity.

Approximately 10% of agricultural land is subject to periodic flooding, which reduces the growth, survivorship, and yield of most crops, reinforcing the need to understand and enhance flooding resistance in our crops. Here, we generated RNA-Seq data from leaf and root tissue of domesticated sunflower to explore differences in gene expression and alternative splicing (AS) between a resistant and susceptible cultivar under both flooding and control conditions and at three time points. Using a combination of mixed model and gene co-expression analyses, we were able to separate general responses of sunflower to flooding stress from those that contribute to the greater tolerance of the resistant line. Both cultivars responded to flooding stress by upregulating expression levels of known submergence responsive genes, such as alcohol dehydrogenases, and slowing metabolism-related activities. Differential AS reinforced expression differences, with reduced AS frequencies typically observed for genes with upregulated expression. Significant differences were found between the genotypes, including earlier and stronger upregulation of the alcohol fermentation pathway and a more rapid return to pre-flooding gene expression levels in the resistant genotype. Our results show how changes in the timing of gene expression following both the induction of flooding and release from flooding stress contribute to increased flooding tolerance.

This long-term field trial aimed at remediating a Cu-contaminated soil to promote crop production and soil functions at a former wood preservation site. Twenty-eight field plots with total topsoil Cu in the 198–1,169 mg kg−1 range were assessed. Twenty-four plots (OMDL) were amended in 2008 with a compost (made of pine bark chips and poultry manure, OM, 5% w/w) and dolomitic limestone (DL, 0.2%), and thereafter annually phytomanaged with a sunflower—tobacco crop rotation. In 2013, one untreated plot (UNT) was amended with a green waste compost (GW, 5%) whereas 12 former OMDL plots received a second compost dressing using this green waste compost (OM2DL, 5%). In 2011, one plot was amended with the Carmeuse basic slag (CAR, 1%) and another plot with a P-spiked Linz-Donawitz basic slag (PLD, 1%). Thus six soil treatments, i.e., UNT, OMDL, OM2DL, GW, CAR, and PLD, were cultivated in 2016 with sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv Ethic). Shoots were harvested and their ionome analyzed. At high soil Cu contamination, the 1M NH4NO3-extractable vs. total soil Cu ratio ranked in decreasing order: Unt (2.35) > CAR (1.02), PLD (0.83) > GW (0.58), OMDL (0.44), OM2DL (0.37), indicating a lower Cu extractability in the compost-amended plots. All amendments improved the soil nutrient status and the soil pH, which was slightly acidic in the UNT soil. Total organic C and N and extractable P contents peaked in the OM2DL soils. Both OMDL and OM2DL treatments led to higher shoot DW yields and Cu removals than the GW, CAR, and PLD treatments. Shoot DW yields decreased as total topsoil Cu rose in the OMDL plots, on the contrary to the OM2DL plots, demonstrating the benefits to repeat compost application after 5 years. Shoot Cu concentrations notably of OMDL and OM2DL plants fitted into their common range and can be used by biomass processing technologies and oilseeds as well. In overall, there is a net gain in soil physico-chemical properties and underlying soil functions.HIGHLIGHTS- Compost incorporated into Cu-contaminated soils improves the sunflower growth.- Soil organic matter increases in compost-amended soils.- Extractable soil Cu decreases in compost-amended soils.- Shoot Cu removal by sunflower reaches 26–88 g Cu ha−1 year−1.

W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań dotyczących wpływu niskocząsteczkowych kwasów organicznych na fitotoksyczność oraz efektywność pobierania i translokacji kadmu przez rośliny słonecznika (Helianthus annuus L.). Do skażonego kadmem podłoża (100 mg Cd · kg–1) wprowadzano roztwory kwasów cytrynowego lub szczawiowego o stężeniu 25 lub 50 mmol · dm–3. Stwierdzono, że obecność jonów kadmu w podłożu powodowała nieznaczne zmniejszenie biomasy pędów, jednak ich wzrost elongacyjny był istotnie ograniczony. Nie odnotowano wpływu zastosowanej dawki kadmu na zawartość barwników fotosyntetycznych w liściach. Wprowadzenie kwasów organicznych do skażonego substratu z reguły nie wpływało negatywnie na wzrost roślin i zawartość barwników fotosyntetycznych, natomiast skutkowało znacznym zmniejszeniem zawartości kadmu w pędach, szczególnie pod wpływem wyższej z zastosowanych dawek kwasów. Wykazano, że kwas szczawiowy skuteczniej ograniczał translokację kadmu do części nadziemnych słonecznika niż kwas cytrynowy.

A rapid laboratory test for detection of tribenuron-methyl resistant sunflower genotypes was developed. Four homozygous and four heterozygous tribenuron-methyl resistant hybrids, as well as a susceptible one were grown on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of herbicide (2.0 µM, 2.5 µM, 3.0 µM, 3.5 µM and 4.0 µM) and with pH either 7 or 8. The effect of medium pH and herbicide concentration on above-ground part and root mass of sunflower seedlings was observed. The test enabled visual discrimination between resistant and susceptible genotypes in 5 days, and discrimination between homozygous and heterozygous resistant genotypes in 12 days. All tested herbicide concentrations and morphological parameters were found to be suitable for discrimination of tribenuron-methyl susceptible genotypes. The best pH and herbicide concentration combination and morphological parameter for discrimination between homozygous and heterozygous resistant sunflower genotypes were 3.0 µM at pH 7 and root mass, respectively.

O girassol é uma das mais importantes culturas produtoras de óleo comestível, portanto, o estudo foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de avaliar aspectos da qualidade física, fisiológica e sanitária das sementes de diferentes genótipos de girassol produzidas no Norte de Minas Gerais. As sementes foram avaliadas por meio das seguintes determinações e testes: teor de água, massa de 1000 sementes, biometria das sementes (comprimento, largura e espessura), teste de germinação, primeira contagem, índice de velocidade de germinação, teste de tetrazólio e sanidade das sementes, em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso. Nos diferentes genótipos, foi observada desuniformidade no tamanho e massa de sementes e, para os genótipos SYN 034A, SY 3840, SY 4065, HLA 06270, M 734 e SYN 039A constatou-se elevado vigor e viabilidade, enquanto que, o SYN 034A e SY 3840 tinham baixa qualidade por meio do teste de tetrazólio. Os fungos detectados nas sementes dos diferentes genótipos tiveram baixa influência sobre o vigor e germinação delas

The objective was to evaluate the water consumption of sunflower cultivars irrigated with saline waters. The experimental design utilized was in randomized blocks of a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement. This was composed of two levels of electrical conductivity (ECw) of irrigation water (N1 - 0.6 and N2 - 3.0 dS m-1 at 25 °C) and four cultivars of sunflower (C1 - Helio 863, C2 - Embrapa 122-V2000, C3 - Catissol 01 and C4 - Multissol), with three replications, each of them with three plants totaling 72 experimental units. There was a reduction in water consumption of sunflower cultivars irrigated with saline water (N2 - 3.0 dS m-1). The irrigation with saline water resulted in a greater volume of drained water in all sunflower cultivars. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo evaluar el consumo de agua de cultivares de girasol regados con aguas salinas. El diseño experimental utilizado fue de bloques al azar con arreglo factorial 2 x 4. Éste se compuso de 2 niveles de conductividad eléctrica (CEa) del agua de riego (N1 - 0,6 y N2 - 3,0 dS m-1 a 25 °C) y cuatro cultivares de girasol (C1 - Helio 863, C2 - Embrapa 122-V2000, C3 - Catissol 01 y C4 - Multissol), con 3 repeticiones, y cada una de ellas con 3 plantas, totalizando 72 unidades experimentales. Se observó una reducción del consumo de agua de los cultivares de girasol regados con agua salina (N2 - 3,0 dS m-1). El riego con agua salina resultó en un mayor volumen de agua drenado, en todos los cultivares de girasol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was carried out in the land of Bingöl Province in the eastern Anatolian crossing region in 2012-2014. The research was conducted with randomized block design with 3 replications in both years. In trial at 10 sunflower varieties (Confeta, Çiğdem1, Dkf2525, Sirena, Alhaja, Ege2001, Transol, Vinimik, Sanbro and Tr3080) plant height (cm), number of node (Ad./Bit.), stem diameter (mm), table diameter (cm), the internal rate of grain (%), 1000 seed weight (gr) and seed yield (kg da-1) properties were examined. According to the research results; the highest plant height, number of node and stem diameter are obtained from Vinimik variety (2012, respectively; 204.76 cm, 29.83 ad., and 23.41 mm) (2014, respectively; 159.93 cm, 28.40 ad., and 22.33 mm). The lowest plant height was obtained from Confeta (161.96 cm) in 2012 and Ege 2001 (122.86 cm) in 2014. The highest 1000 seed weight was obtained from Confeta variety (85.26 g and 96.86 g) in both years, while the lowest 1000 seed weight was obtained from Sirena variety (41.63 g) in 2012 and DKF2525 in 2014. The highest yield was obtained from Çiğdem1 variety (300.91 kg da-1) in 2012, while it was obtained from Confeta variety (297.64 kg da-1) in 2014. As a result, in the conditions of the region sirena, alhaja and transol oil varieties and as a cookie confeta variety was better adapted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of spatial arrangement of incompletely developed fruits (IDF) in capitula could be used to understand the nature and the relative arrangement of these fruits at maturity, previously unexplained by current models. The objective of this work was to quantify and define the distribution pattern of visible IDF (IDFvis) at physiological maturity in the capitulum of the cultivated sunflower, in two genotypes with different self-compatibility expression grown in three different environments. Spatial characteristics and the possibility of randomness of IDFvis pattern generation were also evaluated. We were able to define four IDFvis patterns: Type I, where the distribution of the IDFvis was located mainly at the capitulum center, Type II, where the distribution remained grouped at its center but spreads towards the periphery, Type III, where the distribution was more homogeneous over the entire capitulum surface and Type IV with a homogeneous but very dispersed distribution over the entire capitulum surface. Second order spatial point pattern analysis techniques for a plane (Ripley's K) were applied to the distribution of IDFvis in the four predefined IDFvis patterns. Using the ADE-4 software, spatial distribution patterns contained in a circular surface and corrected for edge effects were analyzed. By grouping the different types of IDFvis patterns by environment and genotype, a tendency was observed to generate preferably two types of patterns, Type I and Type IV, directly related to the genotype and not to the environment. The K index obtained for each type of pattern showed that, for the scales analyzed, Types I, II and III can be defined as grouped, since they laid outside the Poisson confidence limits. The Type IV pattern presented results consistent with a completely randomized distribution. It was observed a low- frequency appearance of the IV (random) pattern and only for one genotype in the different environments studied, while in the rest of the genotype x environment combinations there was always a greater degree of grouping (non random; Type; I, II and III patterns). Proved that mostly of the IDFvis patterns presented in the sunflower capitulum were mainly non random, the results shown here suggest that, to the intrinsic characteristics of the plant to express this character, mainly physiological, intra-receptacle physical factors could be added in the post-pollination stage, capable of altering the normal development of the embryos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The control of soilborne crop pathogens is conditioned by the limited management options due to difficult access to active infection courts and to restrictions in the use of synthetic pesticides in Europe. For most soilborne sunflower pathogens, an effective management relies on genetic resistance which is, however, hindered by new pathogen populations (new races). Special emphasis is thus put on updated monitoring and characterization of pathogens and on the enlargement of the set of tools for disease management. Concerning characterization, advances on the population structure of Verticillium dahliae affecting sunflower by means of genetic, molecular and pathogenic approaches are presented. Also in relation to increases of sunflower wilt diseases recently observed, the fungus Cadophora malorum has been identified in Russia and reported as a new pathogen of this crop. Third, new races of Plasmopara halstedii (sunflower downy mildew), have been identified in Spain and Portugal. Most of them have a high virulence, since they overcome several genes for resistance. With regard to alternatives for disease control, entomopathogenic fungi (EF) constitute a novel tool. Used for years in Integrated Pest Management strategies due to their efficacy in controlling insect pests affecting crops, new ecological roles of these fungi have recently been reported. The EF species Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium brunneum have been assessed by their in vitro effect against V. dahliae and C. malorum by our research group. Our results suggest that antibiosis and/or competition for ecological niche are operating in some EF-pathogen interactions. In summary, pathogen characterization is essential for genetic resistance for worldwide environments of sunflower production. Moreover, the security of sunflower yield and profitability is dependent not only on effective genetic resistance, but also on additional new control options that can be included in successful strategies of sunflower disease management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Sunflower seed cake is a by-product of the sunflower oil industry which is a valuable source of protein for animal feed. The presence of phenolic compounds significantly affects the sunflower proteins quality to animal feeding, decreasing its commercial value. Seeking to valorize this by-product, by improving the nutritive potential of the sunflower cake and getting an extract rich in antioxidants, the present study aims to maximize the phenolic compounds extraction from sunflower seed cake. The following parameters were evaluated: temperature (20-70 °C), ethanol concentration (0-85%) and ultrasound amplitude (0-80 µm). Response surface methodology was employed to optimize the extraction factors and a second order polynomial model provided a satisfactory fit to the experimental data. The response variables analyzed were the total phenolic compounds and the chlorogenic acid concentrations, which ranged between 751 and 1851 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g and 609-1635 mg CGA/100 g of sunflower seed cake in dry basis, respectively. The temperature and ethanol concentration showed the highest effect on the TPC extraction from sunflower cake. The ultrasound-assisted extraction effect was observed only in the first minute of extraction, having no influence at longer times.Graphical Abstract: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-density genetic linkage maps are particularly important for quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, genome assembly, and marker-assisted selection (MAS) in plants. In this study, a high-density genetic linkage map of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) was constructed using an F2 population generated from a cross between Helianthus annuus L. '86-1' and 'L-1-OL-1' via specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAFseq). After sequence preprocessing, 530.50 M reads (105.60 Gb) were obtained that contained a total of 343,197 SLAFs, of which 39,589 were polymorphic. Of the polymorphic SLAFs, 6,136 were organized into a linkage map consisting of 17 linkage groups (LGs) spanning 2,221.86 cM, with an average genetic distance of 0.36 cM between SLAFs. Based on this high-density genetic map, QTL analysis was performed that focused on four sunflower phenotypic traits: oleic acid content (OAC), plant height (PH), head diameter (HD), and stem diameter (SD). Subsequently, for these four traits eight QTLs were detected that will likely be useful for increasing our understanding of genetic factors underlying these traits and for use in marker-assisted selection (MAS) for future sunflower breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the challenges brought by the circular economy requires a reconsideration of waste, which may under certain circumstances turn into genuine resources. By extension, soil pollution with heavy metal is a major concern since it directly affects the health of the population. The goal of the present research work is to analyze the impact of the use of waste from other technological processes in agriculture: fly ash (resulting ash from thermal power plants), zeolite bush (resulting from the processing of rock from zeolite quarries), and manure (garbage from zoo technical farms). In this respect, complex treatments based on inorganic substances (fly ash and volcanic indigenous tuff with 70% clinoptilolite) were applied to less-favored agricultural soils in the absence and in the presence of an organic fertilizer (manure), respectively. After cultivating sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), a semi-early hybrid grown in the type of soil on which fly ash has been applied, there have been obtained seed crops 15.8% higher than the seed crops grown in the soil on which no fertilizer has been applied. The results obtained when combining fly ash and manure tend to amount to those obtained when combining manure with indigenous volcanic tuff with 70% clinoptilolite. The quality of the seed crops, obtained in the case of the three types of soil on which amendments were added in the absence/presence of the fertilizer, corresponds to the requirements of the national rules and allows their food processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild and managed bees are needed to move sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) pollen, both to create hybrid seed and to encourage high, consistent yields when those hybrids are subsequently grown. Among floral traits that influence bee preference, floret size may be critical, as the depth of the corolla affects the accessibility of nectar. Sampling and observation of inbred maintainer (HA) lines were used to assess variation in floret size, and to measure any effects of floret size on pollinator visitation. Among 100 inbreds sampled, there was significant variation among the lines, with floret lengths of 6.8–9.9 mm. Floret length, measured before anthesis, was closely related to corolla depth during anthesis and was consistent between 2 years (environments). Pollinator observations on 30 inbred lines showed floret size explained a majority (52%) of the variation in wild bee preference, with a reduction in floret length of 2 mm more than doubling pollinator activity. Though honey bee, Apis mellifera L., colonies were located ≈ 60 m from the plots, near-zero honey bee activity in the sunflowers precluded an assessment of how strongly this managed pollinator is affected by floret length. Production of inbreds and hybrids with smaller florets could enhance sunflower pollination, but genetic markers for floret size are needed to facilitate selection, and an understanding of potential trade-offs also is required. Information on variation and heritability of other traits, such as pollen and nectar rewards, could help explain residual variation in wild bee visitation to sunflowers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Non-decorticated sunflower meal (SFM) is a potential protein source for dairy cows with high-fibre content but high ruminal degradability. The effect of replacement of soybean meal (SBM) and wheat middlings (WM) with SFM on the intake, digestibility, microbial protein synthesis, nitrogen utilization and milk production of dairy cows was evaluated. Twelve Holstein cows were blocked by days in milk and distributed in three 4 × 4 Latin squares. Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and contained 550 g maize silage/kg dry matter (DM). Treatment diets were no SFM (CON) or 70, 140 and 210 g/kg DM of SFM replacing fixed mixture of SBM and WM (536 and 464 g/kg of the mixture, respectively). The inclusion of SFM in diet did not affect DM intake, but intake of rumen degradable protein increased linearly. Inclusion of SFM reduced or tended to reduce total-tract digestibility of non-fibre carbohydrate, total digestible nutrients and excretion of purine derivatives. Milk production, milk protein content and efficiency of nitrogen use for lactation were reduced with increasing levels of SFM in the diet. The use of non-decorticated SFM as a replacement for SBM–WM mixture in diet reduces performance and efficiency of nutrient use in lactating dairy cows. The outcome of the current study is attributed to reduced fibre digestibility in SFM hulls. Therefore, future studies should evaluate the use of decorticated SFM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life-history strategies of insect are controlled by fitness-related trait tradeoffs, in particular, the age at which either one of the two sexes copulate and this demonstrated to influence insect reproductive output and longevity. The banded sunflower moth, Cochylis hospes Walsingham, is one of the most important lepidopteran pests of cultivated sunflower, Helianthus annuus L., in North America. Larvae of C. hospes feed on the head of sunflower, causing extensive damage and a reduction in the number of seeds produced (Royer and Walgenbach, 1987). Individual virgin females of either species, age 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days, were placed with a single conspecific virgin male (2-4 days old) in a 20 ml glass vial 3 h prior to the onset of the scotophase, in a room under the same conditions as those of the respective colonies. The percentages of copulations, and percentages of females with spermatophore in their bursa copulatrix, were compared by Χ² analyses; if there were any significant differences, each pair was compared by a Χ² analysis. The distributions of time that copulation started for the different age females and males were compared, respectively, by chi-squared tests. The percentage of female C. hospes that copulated was significantly influenced by female age. Significantly higher proportions of females aged 3 and 5 days old copulated than did females of the other ages. The percentage of female C. hospes that copulated that had spermatophores in their bursa copulatrix was also significantly influenced by female age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Necrosis disease incited by tobacco streak virus (TSV) causes significant yield losses in sunflower in the tropics and sub-tropics. Genetic engineering of sunflower through deployment of the coat protein gene of TSV (TSV-CP) was attempted along with neomycin phosphotransferase gene (nptII) for selection of putative transformants on kanamycin. Split cotyledons from decoated mature seeds were used as target tissues for Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation and putative transformed shoots were obtained with an average frequency of 3.3%. Presence of the introduced transgene was identified by PCR; expression was determined through RT-PCR, northern blot analysis and quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR); stable integration was ascertained through Southern blot analysis of plants in T0 to T4 generations. Out of 102 positive T0 events, 20 events were carried to T1 generation from which five events (CP-S-237, CP-S-247, CP-S-481, CP-S-648 and CP-S-753) were advanced till T4 generation. Challenge inoculations of plants of event No 481 showed resistance to necrosis disease and plants grew to maturity in TSV-CP transgenics while control plants (untransformed) showed mortality within 1-2 weeks following inoculation. Expression analysis of the TSV-CP and nptII genes in different tissues at flowering and seed setting stages revealed constitutive expression of the transgene till seed maturation. One event (No 481) was selected for transfer of the TSV-CP gene into agronomically superior genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ciência Agronômica is the property of Revista Ciencia Agronomica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)