Project Number: 5442-21220-023-28
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jun 01, 2004
End Date: May 31, 2009

Objective:
Conduct screening of sunflower commercial hybrids and experimental lines for incidence of sclerotinia head rot to confirm differences in susceptibility and to evaluate new resistant material. In addition, identify effective fungicide control measures for confection sunflowers.

Approach:
Commercial hybrids and experimental lines submitted by seed companies will be sown in the field, inoculated with disease ascospores at the onset of flowering, misted to favor disease development, and evaluated for disease symptoms. In addition, approximately 15 fungicide treatments (products and application methodology) will be evaluated for disease control on two confection sunflower hybrids differing in susceptibility to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.