Oil Content Of Sunflower Seeds Research Articles

Влияние применения дефеката на вредоносность проволочников и продуктивность подсолнечника в Краснодарском крае

Larvae of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae) are wireworms, one of the most spreading polyphagous soil pests damaging the agricultural crops, including sunflower. They prefer soils having pH from 5.6–6.0 to 4.5–5.0 and humus content more than 3.3%. Liming is the primary means to optimized reaction of a soil solution. In 2016–2018, in the V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops, influence of filter cake (lime organic and mineral fertilizers produced after sugar beet processing) application in doses 3.9 and 5.9 t/ha on damaging of sunflower seedlings by larvae of beetles from an Elateridae family (wireworms) and crop productivity. The dry filter cake in the studied doses introduced 30 days before sunflower planting with further incorporation into the physically mature soil by tillers “Krot” on a depth of 12–15 cm decreased significantly a number of wireworms – from 15–21 (in control) to 6–10 pcs/m2. Thinning of sunflower crops due to wireworm damages on average reached 53.3% in control, as plant death in variants with application of an organic and mineral fertilizer in doses of 3.9 and 5.9 t/ha was at a level of 31.6 and 26.7%, respectively. The filter cake application in doses of 3.9 and 5.9 t/ha allowed obtaining yield increase of 0.86–0.87 t/ha. Oil content in sunflower seeds in these variants was equal to 51.3–52.1%.

SIMULATION OF THE PROCESS OF VIBRATING SUNFLOWER DRYING

This work is devoted to the research and substantiation of the technology of drying sunflower seeds and the development of technological and technical proposals for the creation of drying equipment that would ensure work on this crop, both in seed and food modes. The technological value of sunflower seeds is determined by their oil content. Therefore, it is important to preserve the quantity and quality of oil. Under optimal drying conditions, the oil content in sunflower seeds increases. Therefore, the question of selecting technological equipment for the drying process arises. Analysis of the mechanical and technological parameters of series-produced dryers showed that these machines are mainly intended for the processing of grain crops. The disadvantages of well-known mine grain dryers are low moisture removal during one pass of the material through the dryer, overheating of the seed and a decrease in its quality in the area of contact with the surface of the intake boxes, increased fire hazard. Drum grain dryers when drying sunflower seeds are very fire-hazardous and do not allow obtaining seeds with uniform moisture content, and the use of high-temperature modes leads to a decrease in the sowing qualities of seeds due to overheating. When drying sunflower seeds in recirculation type dryers, it is very important to evenly distribute the seeds over the entire cross-section of the chamber, as well as to prevent the accumulation of oil dust in the heating chamber and to eliminate the ingress of sparks from the furnace into the heating chamber. One of the promising methods of drying bulk materials is the method of drying in a vibrating fluidized bed, which can be achieved on vibrating dryers of various types. A number of experiments were conducted to substantiate the technological and technical proposals for the process of drying sunflower seeds and to determine the operating parameters of the dryer. Based on the results, graphs were constructed. The results of the research proved the expediency and necessity of using vibrating dryers during drying of sunflower seeds. The best parameters of the infrared radiation drying process with a selected wavelength of 1,5-3,0 μm , a sunflower seed layer height of 15 mm, and a heat flow density of IR radiation were found. 5 kW/m 2 , the height of the placement of the IR generator blocks relative to the layer of the irradiated product is 25 mm, while the drying time will be 11 minutes.

Sunflower hybrids productivity depending on the rates of mineral fertilizers in the south of Ukraine

Abstract Areas of sunflower cultivation in Ukraine, Europe, and the world have significantly increased over the past decade, along with an increase in crop yield, largely due to the development of new varieties and hybrids resistant to various abiotic stresses and extreme environmental conditions. The mineral nutrition background is also an important element of sunflower cultivation technology. The influence of mineral fertilizer rates on the productivity of new early-maturing and medium-early sunflower hybrids was the focus of research conducted during 2020–2021 on dark chestnut soils in the southern region of Ukraine. The results of the study showed that optimization of the mineral nutrition background contributed to increased plant height and leaf area. Both indicators were maximized for the cultivation of Alambra KS and Blyutuz hybrids with the application of fertilizers at the rate of N90P60. These experimental variants also ensured the formation of the maximum level of seed yield (3.05 t/ha for Alambra KS hybrid; 3.39 t/ha for Blyutuz hybrid) and the highest indicators of profitability per 1 kg of active substance of fertilizers (0.35 tons for Alambra KS hybrid; 0.45 tons for Blyutuz hybrid). The mineral nutrition background had little effect on the oil content in sunflower seeds. With an increase in the nitrogen fertilizer rate on the phosphorus background, the oil content in the seeds slightly decreased. However, the experimental variants differed in terms of conditional oil output per hectare of sunflower cultivation. Among early-maturing hybrids, the Alambra KS hybrid showed a higher value for this indicator, while among medium-early hybrids, it was the Blyutuz hybrid. The most effective rate of mineral fertilizers in terms of oil output was determined to be N90P60. Based on the results of the study on dark chestnut soils in the southern region of Ukraine, it is recommended to cultivate the Alambra KS hybrid among early-maturing sunflower hybrids and the Blyutuz hybrid among medium-early hybrids, with the application of mineral fertilizers at the rate of N90P60.

VTE1 and VTE3 Gene Expression During Vitamin E Production in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Treated with Different Fertilization.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Sunflower is one of the important commodities in agriculture. The oil content in sunflower seeds has been widely used as cooking oil, but in Indonesia, the utilization of this oil is still relatively low. In addition, sunflowers also contain vitamin E which is useful as an antioxidant, so it can be used to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. This study aims to determine gene expression at the RNA level towards vitamin E biosynthesis using different fertilization treatments. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Sunflowers that had been given different fertilizers were taken in three flowering phases, R3, R5 and R8. Flower samples were isolated until RNA was obtained. The isolation results were tested using real-time PCR to determine the relative gene expression of the <i>VTE1</i> and <i>VTE3</i> genes. After the sunflower seeds were fully ripe, vitamin E content was tested in each treatment and the results were compared with the relative gene expression obtained. <b>Results:</b> The results obtained were fluctuating, but in general, the relative gene expression obtained in the <i>VTE1</i> gene increased in the R3 phase and then decreased in the R5 and R8 phases. Whereas, in the <i>VTE3</i> gene, the relative gene expression obtained experienced an increase in the R3 and R5 phases and then decreased in the R8 phase. The highest vitamin E content was obtained by sample P3 (4218 μg mL<sup>1</sup>) and the lowest was obtained by sample P2 (1798 μg mL<sup>1</sup>). <b>Conclusion:</b> A balanced ratio of 92:46:30 kg ha<sup>1</sup> of major nutrient fertilizer involving N, P and K could increase vitamin E content in sunflowers. Such a combination exhibited stable expression of the <i>VTE1</i> and <i>VTE3</i> genes in all phases of flowering.

Determination of the Oil Content of Sunflower Seeds Using Natural Samples of Sunflower Oil: on the Example of the Calibration of a Pulsed NMR Analyzer

One of the main parameters of sunflower seeds is its oil content. This characteristic is mandatory for certifica[1]tion of agricultural products and assessment of their value. IR spectroscopy and pulsed NMR methods are widely used to determine the oil content.The purpose of the research was to scientifically and practically substantiate the possibility of using sunflower oil samples for calibrating NMR analyzers, identifying and assessing the quality of oilseeds and products of their processing based on the NMR method. The comparison of the results of various options for the calibration of a pulsed NMR analyzer for determining the oil content of sunflower seeds was carried out. The first option was to measure the NM relaxation characteristics of oil protons from prepared samples of sunflower seeds, followed by determination of their oil content by exhaustive extraction in a Soxhlet apparatus, construction of a calibration equation based on the obtained data, and entering its coefficients into the program of NMR analyzers.The resulting calibration was the base one, with which other calibration options were compared. The second option was to use for calibrating the NMR analyzer various samples of sunflower oil obtained by pressing from sunflower seeds of the same varieties and hybrids, that were used for the first calibration option, as well as sunflower oil samples purchased in a commercial network. Five samples evenly distributed in the range from 2.000 g to 7.000 g with an accuracy of 0.001 g were taken from each oil sample using laboratory scales, and the amplitudes of proton NMR signals were measured in them. The dependency between the oil mass of the analyzed samples and the amplitude of proton NMR signals in them was graphed. Comparison of the obtained calibration dependences showed their close nature. Mathematical calculations have shown that the use of sunflower oil for the calibration of NMR analyzers does not lead to an increase in the error in the measurement results of the oil content of sunflower seeds compared to the first option of the calibration.The practical significance of the research will considerably simplify the calibration process, reduce the calibration time from 3–4 days to 3–4 hours, and eliminate the use of toxic solvents and additional expensive equipment without a significant change in the error in determining the oil content of sunflower seeds by NMR.

Результаты агротехнических исследований по подсолнечнику в Крыму

The research was aimed at developing a scientifically justified cultivation technology for sunflower hybrids of domestic breeding, ensuring their high productivity and seed quality in the arid conditions of the Crimean Peninsula. In the contrasting weather conditions of the research years (2017-2021), the hybrids Signal (1.22 t/ha), Garant, and Sprint (1.18 t/ha) were notable in terms of yield. Hybrids Komandor, Garant, Sprint, and Gorstar (coefficient of ecological plastici-ty bi > 1) were distinguished as demanding to the agronomy level. The hybrid Kometa should be cultivated on an extensive background (coefficient of ecological plasticity bi < 1) to unlock its potential at minimum cost, and it was the most stable in terms of yield (stability index Ϭd2 = 0.48). The most unstable hybrid was Kommandor (stability coefficient Ϭd2 = 2.19). We formed the optimal parameters of the sunflower hybrid model for the conditions of the steppe zone of the peninsula. We established the influence pattern of water reserves in the soil before sowing, HTC and precipitation during the growing season, as well as the natural water availability of the cultivation zone on the sunflower yield depending on the plant density at different sowing dates. The sunflower hybrid Avangard should be sown in the beginning or end of April at a given density of 40-50 thousand plants/ha to guarantee a high yield (1.19-1.32 t/ha). We noted that the seed oil content did not depend on the plant density but decreased if the hybrid was sown late (from 45.2 to 41.6%). Due to the uncertain-ty of water availability during the growing season, it is advisable to sow the sunflower hybrid Fakel in April on two dates – one part in the beginning, and one part at the end of the month with a density of 40 thousand plants at harvesting time (1.35-1.39 t/ha). We noted that the oil content of sunflower seeds decreased at late sowing (from 45.2 to 40.8%) and did not depend on the plant density.

Influence of water stress on engineering characteristics and oil content of sunflower seeds

Knowing some physical and mechanical characteristics and oil percentage of sunflower seeds could be useful for harvesting and processing equipment and activities such as transportation, storage, food production processes and establishing database of this seed. The main aim of this research was to study the effect of water stress during irrigation on seed’s properties and quality. For this purpose, a field experiment was done under four deficit irrigation treatments [80%, 60%, 100–80 (100% irrigation requirement ETc to seed formation, and then reduced to 80% until harvesting) and 100–60% (100% ETc to seed formation, and then reduced to 60% until harvesting)] in comparable with full irrigation (100%). Geometrical, gravimetrical and mechanical characteristics as well as oil seed content and yield of sunflower seed were estimated. Result showed that there was no significant effect of low (100–80%) and medium (80%) irrigation deficit treatments on geometrical, gravimetrical and mechanical characteristics, while applying 60% of irrigation requirement (ETc) showed a significant effect on them. On the other hand, low and medium irrigation stress treatments improved the oil yield and seed oil content. The highest increase was 8.54% and 5.6% for oil yield and oil content respectively, considering T100–80 followed by applying 80% ETc, but with high water stress (60% ETc) oil yield and seed oil content significantly decreased.

Effect of lime fertilizer on reducing the larvae harmfulness of the beetles of the Elateridae family and sunflower productivity

The article presents the research results on the effect of lime mud (lime fertilizer from sugar beet waste during processing) in doses of 3.9 and 5.9 t/ha on the yield and infestation of sunflower sowings with the beetle larvae of the Elateridae family. We carried out the research in 2016-2018 at V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops (Krasnodar, Russia). We established that lime mud applied 30 days before crop planting resulted in a significant decrease of wireworm population from 15-21 to 6-10 specimens/m2. Recording of plant density at the stage of full sprouts showed considerable thinning of sowings due to pest damage; in the control variant, it reached up to 80 % whereas plant death under fertilizer application at the doses of 3.9 and 5.9 t/ha was 42 and 32 %, respectively. The application of lime mud at a dose of 3.9 t/ha resulted in the highest increase in yield - 0.58 t/ha. The oil content of sunflower seeds in the experiment was 48.9-52.1 % but we noted the decrease of this indicator in the variant with the lime mud at a dose of 3.9 t/ha. Oil acid value was at the same level in both variants (3.9 and 5.9 t/ha) of lime application and reached 1.5 mg KOH.

ВИРОЩУВАННЯ СОНЯШНИКА ЗА ВИКОРИСТАННЯ МІКРОДОБРИВ ТА БАКТЕРІАЛЬНИХ ПРЕПАРАТІВ

У статті наведені результати досліджень впливу різних фонів живлення на продуктивність та фенологічні показники гібриду соняшника Тунка фірми Лімагрейн за умов природного зволоження зони Південного Степу України. У дослідженнях, які проводили на полях навчально-науково-практичного центру Миколаївського національного аграрного університету, вивчали питання впливу і поєднання комплексу з висококонцентрованого халатного добрива, моноелементного мікродобрива та функціонального мікродобрива з направленою специфічною дією торгової марки Квантум виробництва НВК «Квадрат» та біопрепарату для живлення і профілактики хвороб Біокомплекс-БТУ-р підприємства Компанії «БТУ-Центр». Робота проводилась з використанням передпосівної обробки насіннєвого матеріалу гібрида соняшника, позакореневого підживлення рослин різними нормами сумішки біопрепарату з комплексом мікродобрив у фазі 5–6 листків, у фазі 9–10 листків та дворазової обробки посівів у фазах 5-6 та 9-10 листків. Тривалість періоду від посіву до збирання в досліджуваного гібриду соняшника залежно від факторів впливу варіювала порівняно з контрольною ділянкою від 2 до 13 днів, а висота рослин у період цвітіння збільшувалась під впливом препаративних форм, які використовувалися від 4,37 % до 13,1 %. Спостерігалася чітка тенденція до збільшення діаметру кошиків рослин гібрида залежно від факторів досліду, за умови максимального поєднання передпосівної обробки насіння з позакореневим підживленням у дві фази розвитку. При цьому максимальний приріст у розмірах складав 28,7 %. Відповідно до зміни умов позакореневого підживлення змінювались і показники урожайності насіння гібриду, найбільш високим він формувався посівами у разі поєднання обробки насіннєвого матеріалу та дворазового підживлення. Ці показники варіювали від 1,81 до 2,54 т/га. Зміна кількісного та якісного складу використаних препаративних форм призводило до зміни вмісту олії в насінні соняшника. Умовний вихід сирої олії у разі максимальної норми застосування комплексу мікродобрив Квантум та біоперарату Біокомплекс-БТУ-р в поєднанні з передпосівною обробкою насіння гібрида, при дворазовому позакореневому підживленні рослин у фазах 5-6 та 9-10 листків, формувався максимальним, та мав приріст порівняно з контролем 0,424 т/га.

Correlation between valuable economic features and quality indicators in sunflower lines with altered composition of tocopherol isomers

The purpose of our study was to determine the contents of tocopherol isomers and to analyze correlations between valuable economic features and quality indicators in sunflower lines - pollen fertility restorers with altered composition of tocopherol isomers.Materials and methods. The study was conducted at the Plant Production Institute named after V.Ya. Yuriev of NAAS in 2017-2018. Ten lines - pollen fertility restores with altered tocopherol isomer composition were taken as the test material.Tocopherol isomer contents were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The oil content in sunflower seeds was determined by weighing after oil extraction using a Soxhlet extractor. The protein content was determined by the Kjeldahl titrimetric method. The fatty acid composition of oil was determined on a gas chromatograph Selichrom 1 using a modification of the Peisker method.Results and discussion. In 2017-2018 at the Plant Production Institute named after V.Ya. Yuriev 10 lines - pollen fertility restorers with altered tocopherol composition and other valuable economic features were developed through self-pollination and individual selections. Lines Kh1717V, Kh1716V, Kh1747V, Kh1729V, and Kh1712V have an increased β-tocopherol content: 24.50 mg%, 19.87 mg%, 15.67 mg%, 15.09 mg%, and 12.19 mg%, respectively. A high content of γ-tocopherol was found in lines Kh1719V, Kh1738V, Kh177V, and Kh1711V: 35.70 mg%, 14.73 mg%, 8.47 mg%, and 7.80 mg%, respectively. An increased content of δ-tocopherol was observed in lines Kh1729V (7.08 mg%), Kh1712V (5.85 mg%), and Kh1719V (3.64 mg%).In our tests, the correlation coefficients between the tocopherol composition and the contents of oil, protein, oleic and linoleic acids were calculated. There was no significant correlations between these parameters, while there was a significant negative correlation between the β-tocopherol content and 1000-seed weight.Conclusions. The new lines with altered composition of tocopherol isomers have been developed; they are adapted to the growing conditions of the eastern forest-steppe of Ukraine, which allows a new direction in sunflower breeding for quality. Creation of hybrids with oxidation-resistant oil is of great importance for the development of our country's agricultural sector.Analysis of the correlations between different valuable economic features showed that, when creating new breeding material, one should pay attention the content of β-tocopherol and 1000-seed weight, since there was a significant negative correlation between these two traits.

The optimization of oil quality in sunflower seeds (Heliantus annuus L.) by giving cow manure and EM4

Sunflower as a source of oil that is consumed as a provider of high quality protein. Sunflowers play an important role in nutrition for humans. This study aims to examine the optimization of oil quality in sunflower seeds (Heliantus annuus L.) by providing cow manure and EM4 to obtain recommendations for developing cultivation technology engineering formulas to improve oil quality. This study used a Randomized Completely Block Design method consisting of 2 treatments and each treatment was repeated 3 times. The first factor for manure dosing, consists of 4 levels, there are: N0: 0 ton ha-1; N1 : 10 ton ha-1; N2 : 15 ton ha-1; N3: 20 ton ha-1. The second factor is concentration of EM4, consists of 4 levels, there are: D0: EM4 0 cc/lt-1; D1: EM4 15 cc/lt-1; D2 : EM4 30 cc lt-1; D3 : EM4 45 cc lt-1. The variables of this research were: seed weight per plant and per plot, and quality of oil content of sun flower seeds. The results of analysis of variance on the variable seed weight of each plant and per plot showed the interaction between treatments with the best treatment combination was N1D2 (manure dosage of 10 tons ha-1, EM4 concentration of 30 cc lt-1). In the observation parameters, the sunflower seed oil content also has interactions between treatments with the best treatment combination is N2D3 (manure dosage of 20 tons ha-1, EM4 concentration of 45 cc lt-1).

SINTESIS SURFAKTAN DIETANOLAMIDA DARI METIL ESTER MINYAK BIJI BUNGA MATAHARI (Helianthus annuus. L) MELALUI REAKSI AMIDASI

Synthesis of dietanolamide surfactant from methyl ester of sunflower seed oil (Helianthus annuus. L) has been carried out through an amidation reaction. The synthesis process includes extraction, esterification and amidation. In the extraction process showed the oil content of sunflower seeds was 32.93% with an acid number of 3.25 mg KOH/g and ALB levels of 1.63%. Sunflower seed oil was then converted to methyl ester through the esterification process and obtained an acid number 1.84 mg KOH/g so that the ALB level dropped to 0.92% and obtained saponification numbers of 61.19 mg KOH/g. The most dominant composition of methyl ester of sunflower seed oil based on GC-MS analysis was methyl oleate at 23.28%. The FT-IR methyl ester spectrum gives a specific absorption peak for group C=O ester at wave number 1743 cm-1. Methyl esters are converted to diethanolamide through an amidation process. The resulting diethanolamide has an acid number of 9.7 mg KOH/g and a saponification number of 3.08 mg KOH/g. The FT-IR spectrum provides specific absorption peaks for groups C=O amides at wave numbers 1622 cm-1 and C-N at wave numbers 1055 cm-1. The value of HLB dietanolamide in practice is 13.6495 and in theory is 14.291 which includes the surfactant in the oil in water (O/W) emulsifying class.

Electromagnetic technology of increasing the yield of sunflower

The article solves the problem of obtaining scientifically based practical and experimental results of increasing the yield and oil content of sunflower seeds, based on the use of information EMF of EHF range for pre-sowing treatment of seeds. The study of the biophysical effects of the electromagnetic field on sunflower seeds was carried out in order to determine the biotropic parameters of the electromagnetic field, which have a stimulating effect on the seeds. For this, a mathematical model of a sunflower seed in the form of a spheroid was developed. For the calculations, the following frequency range of the exciting wave 25–40 GHz was chosen. The choice of this range is due to two circumstances. First, the relative dielectric constant of sunflower seeds in this range practically does not have frequency dispersion. Secondly, the wavelength is commensurate with the characteristic geometrical sizes of the seeds and, therefore, the intensity of the excited electric field inside the seeds resonantly depends on the frequency. The measurement of chemiluminescence was chosen as the response of the biological object. For registration of extremely weak light fluxes of seeds, the photon counting method was chosen, which made it possible to carry out effective measurements of both spontaneous biochemiluminescence and induced information EMF. As a result of theoretical and experimental studies, a system was developed for measuring the chemiluminescence of seeds. The purpose of the experiment was clarification of the optimal biotropic parameters of the information EMF, which would provide an increase in yield and quality of sunflower seeds when they are irradiated with EMF. The result of field tests showed the advantage of using electromagnetic technology over other methods of pre-sowing treatment of seeds

Development of the Enhanced Halsey Model to Predict Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) of Sunflower Seeds with Different Oil Contents

Abstract. Using the right equilibrium moisture content (EMC) relationship is critical for implementing successful aeration strategies and for determining the safe storage moisture content of grains and oilseeds. The oil content of sunflower seeds substantially affects the moisture equilibrium relationship, implying that a specific set of model parameters for each oil content range should be obtained. To overcome this practical limitation, the Enhanced Halsey model was developed incorporating a new parameter (D) to characterize the effect of oil content on the original Modified Halsey model. The constants A, B, C, and D of the model were obtained for a wide range of temperatures, moisture and oil contents. The simplicity of the Enhanced Halsey model and the possibility of adapting EMC as a function of oil content make the Enhanced Halsey model valuable for engineering applications (e.g., aeration controllers) and for predicting the safe storage moisture content of seeds with different oil contents, such as sunflower. Keywords: Composition, Grain, Isotherms, Oilseed, Relative humidity, Sorption, Storage quality.

Genomic Prediction of Sunflower Hybrids Oil Content.

Prediction of hybrid performance using incomplete factorial mating designs is widely used in breeding programs including different heterotic groups. Based on the general combining ability (GCA) of the parents, predictions are accurate only if the genetic variance resulting from the specific combining ability is small and both parents have phenotyped descendants. Genomic selection (GS) can predict performance using a model trained on both phenotyped and genotyped hybrids that do not necessarily include all hybrid parents. Therefore, GS could overcome the issue of unknown parent GCA. Here, we compared the accuracy of classical GCA-based and genomic predictions for oil content of sunflower seeds using several GS models. Our study involved 452 sunflower hybrids from an incomplete factorial design of 36 female and 36 male lines. Re-sequencing of parental lines allowed to identify 468,194 non-redundant SNPs and to infer the hybrid genotypes. Oil content was observed in a multi-environment trial (MET) over 3 years, leading to nine different environments. We compared GCA-based model to different GS models including female and male genomic kinships with the addition of the female-by-male interaction genomic kinship, the use of functional knowledge as SNPs in genes of oil metabolic pathways, and with epistasis modeling. When both parents have descendants in the training set, the predictive ability was high even for GCA-based prediction, with an average MET value of 0.782. GS performed slightly better (+0.2%). Neither the inclusion of the female-by-male interaction, nor functional knowledge of oil metabolism, nor epistasis modeling improved the GS accuracy. GS greatly improved predictive ability when one or both parents were untested in the training set, increasing GCA-based predictive ability by 10.4% from 0.575 to 0.635 in the MET. In this scenario, performing GS only considering SNPs in oil metabolic pathways did not improve whole genome GS prediction but increased GCA-based prediction ability by 6.4%. Our results show that GS is a major improvement to breeding efficiency compared to the classical GCA modeling when either one or both parents are not well-characterized. This finding could therefore accelerate breeding through reducing phenotyping efforts and more effectively targeting for the most promising crosses.

Use of Honeycomb method selection to improve oil content of sunflower seeds

Selective programe by honeycomb method was used to improve oil content of sunflower seeds (Coban) cultivar. This programme started with progeny test. Individual plants were selected in spring of 2006 continuoly for five selective cycles. Selection was carried out for the best oil content and grain yield on the basis of parent off spring regression for progeny test. Plant performance was preserved by sibbing between the individuals of the same progeny. Results show that selection had anoted impact on oil content, which have been increased from 36.45 to 43.52 %, this increament was 7.07 % as compared to the original community. The genetic gain average for oil content for each cycle was 0.67. On the other hand higher genetic gain was 6.3%, and for each selection cycle reached 3.5%. The average of heritage percentage reached 42.7% for each cycle. The best genotype among the genotype stubied that gave the highest oil content were HCC, HCC9, HCC10. The percentages, however, were 43.96, 43.35 and 43.23% respectively. It is also obvious that selection did not effect significantly the plant highet, seed number and on plant yield.

EFFECT OF INTEGRATED WEED CONTROL ON SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annuus L.) PRODUCTIVITY AND ITS ASSOCIATED WEEDS.

Two field experiments were conducted during successive summer seasons of 2007 and 2008 at Sakha Agricultural Research Station to investigate the efficacy of some weed control treatments i.e. butralin, Prometryne and fulazifop-p-butyle, whether alone or in combination, or plus one hand hoeing in addition to the hand hoeing twice for controlling annual weeds and their effects on some growth characters, seed yield and its components of sunflower. Results indicated that the herbicides, whether in combination, or plus one hand hoeing decreased dry weight of total weeds during the two seasons. The treatments ( butralin and prometryne) plus fluazifop-p-butyl reduced the dry weight of total weeds by 83.5 and 84.1 %, respectively in the first season and 86.2 and 88.7 %, respectively in the second season while, the herbicides plus one hand hoeing reduced the dry weight of total weeds 84.1, 87.7 and 85.5 %, respectively in the first season and, 93.3, 95.8 and 94.4 % respectively in the second season as compared to the control at 65 days from sowing. Hand hoeing twice was reduced total weeds only by 81.1 and 91.7 %. Therefore, it can be used herbicides, whether combined between in, or plus one hand hoeing for the control of most annual weeds. Results revealed that all studied herbicides plus one hand hoeing or in combination significantly increased growth characters of sunflower i.e. plant height, stem diameter and dry weight/plant during the growth stage and at harvest. (Butralin, prometryne and fluzazifop-p-butyle) plus one hand hoeing increased seed yield/fed by about 47.91, 48.62 and 44.84 % and, by about 45.45, 45.86 and 42.21%, during both growing seasons, respectively as compared to the control t. Data also cleared that all herbicide treatments slightly decreased chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll but did not adversely affect oil content of sunflower seeds. These results indicated that under heavy invested soil with annual weeds, it is possible to apply herbicides i.e. butralin at 2.5 l/fed, prometryne at 1.0 l/fed, and fluazifop-p-butyl at 1.0 l/fed followed by (one hand hoeing) after 30 days from sowing or combined between in). Also, the highest net return was obtained by herbicides plus one hand hoeing and hand hoeing twice. These practices gave the height reduction in annual weeds and increased sunflower yield and its components. Thus, these herbicidal treatments can replace hand hoeing for the control of annual weeds in sunflower crop.

Oil Content and Saturated Fatty Acids in Sunflower as a Function of Planting Date, Nitrogen Rate, and Hybrid

The fatty acids (FA) composition of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) determines its uses and health effects on humans, while oil content determines the price paid to producers. The hypothesis of this study was that agronomic factors (genotype, planting date, and N rate) will affect total saturated fatty acid (TSFA) concentration and oil content of sunflower. Additionally, Mississippi‐grown sunflower will have a different FA composition than the original seeds produced in more northern latitudes and used for planting. A field experiment was performed in four locations in Mississippi (Newton, Starkville, and two locations in Verona) to assess the effect of planting date (20 April, 20 May, and 20 June), N application rate (0, 67, 134, and 202 kg N ha−1) and genotype (hybrid, DKF3875, DKF2990, DKF3510, and DKF3901) on sunflower seed oil content and composition. The TSFA and oil content were significantly affected by planting date, hybrid, and N rate. Overall, later planting dates increased TSFA relative to the first planting, and in most instances TSFA concentrations in sunflower from the third planting was higher than in seeds from the second. Generally, the first planting date provided the highest oil content of the four hybrids, the second planting reduced oil content, while the third was not different from the second. Our results suggest that an earlier planting date may reduce the TSFA and increase oil content of sunflower in Mississippi. Regarding individual FA, overall, palmitic (16:0) and stearic acid (18:0) concentrations in sunflower seed grown in Mississippi from the first planting were reduced relative to the respective concentrations in the original seed. Later planting tended to increase these two acids relative to the first planting and relative to the original seed. The three minor saturated fatty acids (SFA), arachidic (20:0), behenic (22:0), and lignoceric acid (24:0) followed a similar pattern. This study demonstrated that agricultural factors such as planting date, hybrid, and N rate may significantly modify FA composition and oil content of sunflower grown in Mississippi, suggesting that these could be used as management tools for decreased TSFA and increased oil content.

Developing high oil sunflower hybrids

The paper is a synthesis of research issues concerning oil content in sunflower seeds and the relationship between seed oil contents in parent lines and their hybrids.

Alternative crop production strategies for rice-wheat cropping systems in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India

Field experiments were carried out in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India during 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000 with the objective to identify alternative crop sequences that are more productive as well as remunerative than the rice–wheat cropping system. The results indicated that the highest mean sunflower seed yield was obtained in the soybean–sunflower rotation followed by the rice–sunflower rotation and the lowest in the maize–mustard–sunflower crop rotation. Similarly, the sesbania–toria–sunflower rotation had the highest biological yield followed by the soybean–sunflower and urd–toria–sunflower rotations. The mean highest harvest index was found in the cowpea–toria–sunflower rotation (35.1%) followed by the urd–toria–sunflower (33.2%) and rice–sunflower (32.7%) rotations. A significantly high oil content in sunflower seeds was observed in both the soybean–sunflower and sesbania–toria–sunflower rotations that was similar to that in the urd–toria–sunflower and cowpea–toria–sunflower rotations. The maize–potato–sunflower, maize–mustard–sunflower, cowpea–toria– sunflower and rice–sunflower rotations had significantly higher sunflower seed yield equivalents (201, 17, 15 and 4% higher, respectively) than the rice–wheat rotation. Similarly, the maize–potato–sunflower rotation produced the highest net income followed by cowpea–toria–sunflower, rice–sunflower and maize–mustard–sunflower, that was 351, 37, 14 and 4%, respectively, higher than the net income of the rice–wheat rotation. The benefit : cost ratio was also observed to be significantly highest in the maize–potato–sunflower rotation (1.60). After 3 years of field experimentation, soil organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were observed to be highest in the urd–toria–sunflower, soybean–sunflower, cowpea–toria–sunflower and soybean–sunflower rotations, respectively. The mean value of total available nutrients was greater in soybean–sunflower than rice–wheat rotation.It can be concluded that the cowpea–toria–sunflower, soybean–sunflower and rice–sunflower crop rotations may be preferred for greater sustainability over the rice–wheat system not only in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India but also in the whole of Asia, and these findings may be a very useful reference for future research on Australian crop diversification.