Location: Sunflower and Plant Biology Research
Project Number: 3060-21220-034-025-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2019
End Date: Jul 31, 2022
Objective:
The overall objective of this project is to facilitate genetic improvement of sunflower for Sclerotinia stalk and head rot through genetic mapping and germplasm characterization.
Approach:
Field phenotyping for both head rot and stalk rot resistance will be performed on sunflower research materials. In 2019, we will establish an inoculated, mist-irrigated head rot nursery at Carrington, ND as well as an inoculated stalk rot nursery at Carrington. The head rot nursery will be inoculated with a suspension of Sclerotinia ascospores at 20% bloom to establish disease and evaluated for head rot approximately 6 weeks after inoculation. The stalk rot nursery will be inoculated with Sclerotinia-infested millet approximately 6 weeks after planting and evaluated for disease at plant maturity. This project, in addition to developing cultivated sunflower germplasm with improved Sclerotinia resistance, also involves identifying Sclerotinia resistance in wild annual and perennial Helianthus species and interspecific hybrids between these species and cultivated Helianthus annuus to increase diversity in sources of resistance to Sclerotinia diseases. Additionally, advanced backcross mapping populations derived from crosses of cultivated H. annuus with wild sunflower species possessing Sclerotinia resistance will be phenotyped to facilitate genetic mapping. The personnel on this project are responsible for maintaining the research plots, setting up the mist irrigation system for head rot screening, and assisting with inoculation for head rot screening of a diverse group of wild interspecific and cultivated sunflower germplasm lines.
