2017 NSA Funded Research

The National Sunflower Association selected and funded the following research projects for the 2017 year. Funding was also in part possible due to the North Dakota Oilseeds Council, South Dakota Oilseeds Council, Colorado Sunflower Administrative Committee, Kansas Sunflower Commission, Minnesota Sunflower Council and the North Dakota State Board of Agricultural Research and Education.

2017 NSA-Funded Research Projects

Evaluation of Crop and Weed Species as Possible Hosts to the Pathogens Causing Phomopsis Stem Canker on Sunflower

Principal Investigators: Sam Markell, Richard Zollinger, North Dakota State University and Febina Mathew, South Dakota State University.

Project Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine the host range of pathogen species causing Phomopsis stem canker in a ‘natural’ environment with the anticipation that Diaporthe/Phomopsis lesions will occur on multiple weed/crop hosts. Knowledge from this study will allow for improved crop rotation recommendations and the importance of weed/crop hosts that may be serving as a reservoir for the pathogens.

Funded Amount: $16,500

Predicting Phomopsis Stem Canker on Sunflower

Principal Investigators: Febina Mathew, South Dakota State University, Sam Markell, North Dakota State University and Bob Harveson, University of Nebraska, Scottsbluff.

Project Objectives: This study should provide information on when spores are released by the Phomopsis stem canker pathogens (P. helianthi and P. gulyae) and when they initiate the disease development. This information will help develop a robust disease forecasting system using the data obtained and will provide recommendations to sunflower producers in the region to manage Phomopsis stem canker.

Funded Amount: $30,686

Quantification of Yield Loss from Rhizopus Head Rot in Sunflower

Principal Investigators: Bob Harveson, University of Nebraska, Scottsbluff, Febina Mathew, South Dakota State University, and Sam Markell, North Dakota State University.

Project Objectives: To effectively evaluate future screening of sunflower lines for resistance, or the positive effects of fungicide applications, it is important to determine and understand the negative implications of Rhizopus infection on yield reductions. This project will induce disease and document the extent of potential damage to both oil and confection sunflower production under field conditions from multiple geographically and environmentally different locations within sunflower production areas of the Great Plains.

Funded Amount: $18,000

Efficacy and Economics of Insecticide Seed Treatments for Management of Wireworms and Seed Corn Maggots in Sunflowers

Principal Investigators: Adam Varenhorst, South Dakota State University, Janet Knodel, North Dakota State University, and J.P. Michaud, Kansas State University

Project Objectives: Wireworms and seed corn maggots are occasional pests of sunflowers, but when present they can significantly reduce stands and diminish crop production. In certain locations, other seed-feeding beetles called false wireworms can have equally devastating consequences to sunflower stands, and the effectiveness of insecticide against false wireworms has not been established. The results of this research have the potential to improve management of wireworms and other sunflower insects in areas where they are especially problematic and cause significant losses. The outcomes will include improved knowledge of insecticide efficacy in controlling target pests and an analysis of the net economic benefits to sunflower producers.

Funded Amount: $40,000

Applying Genomic Tools to Accelerate Breeding for Disease Resistance in Confection Sunflower

Principal Investigators: Lili Qi and Guojia Ma, USDA ARS

Project Objectives: The proposed project aims to apply genomic tools for efficient identification of DM resistance (R) genes to increase the efficiency of sunflower breeding, enhance yield and quality, and reduce chemical use. The objective are to analyze the allelic relationship of the DM R gene Pl₁₇ with a new gene Pl₁₉, conduct high-resolution genetic and physical mapping of the three DM R-genes, Pl₁₇, Pl₁₈, and Pl₁₉, identify candidate genes for DM resistance, and develop user-friendly ‘perfect’ markers suitable for marker-assisted selection.

Funded Amount: $113,496

Use of Thermal Imaging in Sunflower Phenomics

Principal Investigators: Loren Rieseberg, Ivana Imerovski, University of British Columbia

Project Objectives: The objectives of this project are to investigate the precision and reproducibility of thermal imaging for assessing and quantifying disease severity in sunflower (namely identification of pre-symptomatic areas, as well as quantifying the amount of tissue with wilting, chlorosis and necrosis) in controlled conditions; and examine its utility in detecting and quantifying disease symptoms in different plant organs (i.e. leaf, stem and head); and test the efficacy of thermal imaging technology in field conditions.

Funded Amount: $30,000

Inheritance and Mapping of Sunflower Insect Resistance Traits

Principal Investigators: Jarrad Prasifka and Brent Hulke, USDA ARS

Project Objectives: The insects which pose the greatest risk to quantity and quality of yield in North America are seed-feeders, including the red sunflower seed weevil, sunflower moth, and banded sunflower moth. Any of these insects can produce losses of 20% or more without management. This project will characterize the inheritance and map genes determining resistance to red sunflower seed weevil conferred by PI 431542 using artificial infestations of adult weevils in a replicated field trial. It will also continue to evaluate and develop physical and chemical traits which may limit damage of floret-feeding insects such as banded sunflower moth and sunflower moth.

Funded Amount: $15,672

Benefits of Insect Pollination to Confection Sunflowers

Principal Investigators: Jarrad Prasifka and Rachel E. Mallinger, USDA ARS

Project Objectives: Recent studies showed that insect pollination increased sunflower yields substantially, though benefits varied across cultivars, regions and years. Most pollination studies have been conducted on oilseed sunflowers or in hybrid seed production, while confection sunflowers are relatively understudied. Understanding the degree to which modern confection hybrids are dependent on insect pollination is important for both crop management as well as future plant breeding efforts. The investigators will evaluate the benefit of insect pollination for yield, center seed set and efficacy of different insect pollinators of modern confection sunflowers across growing regions and years.

Funded Amount: $17,900

Insecticide Effectiveness for Texas-Kansas Sunflower Moth Control

Principal Investigators: Calvin Trostle, Texas A&M University and Ron Meyer, Colorado State University

Project Objectives: Sunflower moth remains the primary pest for a majority of Texas and Kansas sunflower acres and for other areas of the Southern High Plains. Though effective sunflower moth control is generally obtained, control failures due to misapplication, poor timing, or insufficient understanding of chemical mode of action are highly damaging to sunflower. Newer chemistries are now available which have limited testing beyond the research and development stage. This work will determine effectiveness of chlorantraniliprole and flubendiamide in sunflower moth control compared to pyrethroids The results will provide data on sunflower moth control to determine appropriate recommendations for these products.

Funded Amount: $20,000

Identifying and Mapping Modifiers of High Oleic and High Oleic, Low Saturated Fatty Acid Composition

Principal Investigators: Brent Hulke and Qing Ming Gao, USDA ARS

Project Objectives: Fatty acid composition has been the key to oilseed sunflower marketing success. The transition from traditional, linoleic oil to NuSun (mid-oleic) composition happened quickly and oil buyers quickly latched on to the new oil. With the industry transitioning to high oleic sunflower oil; breeding for stable fatty acid composition can be a problem facing a breeder working in oilseed sunflower, especially if the goal is a marketable high oleic type. This project will provide breeders with a marker set and elite germplasm with very high oleic acid and very low saturated fat for use in developing new hybrids.

Funded Amount: $28,845

Efficacy of an Avian Repellent (AV-4044) Applied to Sunflower Using Drop Nozzle-Equipped Ground Rigs in Reducing Blackbird Damage

Principal Investigator: Page Klug, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services

Project Objectives: This project will evaluate efficacy of AV-4044 an AQ-based repellent (Arkion™ Life Sciences, LLC) when applied with drop nozzle technology (360 Yield Center, 360 Undercover®) to the face of ripening sunflower in a semi-natural field experiment. The study objectives include evaluation of drop nozzle technology for applying repellent to sunflower, AQ residues on achene and disk flowers after application and before harvest, and efficacy based on damage and sunflower yield incorporating enclosed birds.

Funded Amount: $25,067

2017 NSA Sunflower Production Survey

Principal Investigators: Tom Gulya, USDA ARS retired, Febina Mathew, South Dakota State University, Ryan Buetow, North Dakota State University and Jarrad Prasifka, USDA ARS

Project Objectives: The survey is conducted bi-annually prior to harvest. Volunteers from all levels of the sunflower industry visit sunflower fields to survey crop conditions. Teams survey for yield and production practices, weeds, insects, diseases and bird damage. The survey will be conducted in the states of ND, MN, SD, KS, NE, TX, and CO. Manitoba, Canada will also be included. Survey data helps guide the NSA Research Committee in setting research priorities.

Funded Amount: $14,750