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2021 NSA Funded Research

The National Sunflower Association selected and funded the following research projects for the 2021 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.

2021 NSA-Funded Research Projects

Enhancing Rust Resistance in Confection Sunflower

Principal Investigators: Lili Qi and Guojia Ma, USDA ARS   Project Objectives: Rust is a growing threat to sunflower production worldwide, leading to losses in yield and seed quality. This project will apply cutting edge genetic and genomic approaches to characterize the genetic basis for rust resistance in sunflower. Project deliverables include new tools (i.e. diagnostic SNP markers) that will enable sunflower breeding programs across the US to more easily develop superior cultivars that are resistant to rust. These modern technologies and promising disease resistance materials will be transferred to stakeholders to accelerate confection sunflower breeding and incorporate into finished hybrids.   Funded Amount: $130,004

Effect of Sunflower Growth Stage on Phomopsis Stem Canker Development

Principal Investigators: Febina Mathew, South Dakota State University, Sam Markell, North Dakota State University and Bob Harveson, University of Nebraska, Scottsbluff.   Project Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to determine the relationship of time of infection to development of Phomopsis stem canker on sunflower. The results of this study will help improve our understanding of the etiology of Phomopsis stem canker, help develop strategies to manage the disease and provide recommendations to sunflower producers in the region to manage Phomopsis stem canker.   Funded Amount: $32,795

Effectiveness of Fungicides to Manage Phomopsis Stem Canker of Sunflower

Principal Investigators: Febina Mathew, South Dakota State University, Sam Markell, North Dakota State University and Bob Harveson, University of Nebraska, Scottsbluff.     Project Objectives: The research objectives are to (1) determine the sensitivity of P. helianthi and P. gulyae to candidate fungicides in vitro and under greenhouse conditions; and (2) test effective fungicides (based on results of Objective 1) using a susceptible hybrid and a partially resistant hybrid under field conditions in Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. If this research is successful, the effective fungicides determined from this study will be used for developing and providing fungicide recommendations to sunflower producers for managing Phomopsis stem canker.   Funded Amount: $32,795

Investigating the Impact of Diseases and Associated Factors on Yield

Principal Investigators: Sam Markell, North Dakota State University, Febina Mathew, South Dakota State University, and Bob Harveson, University of Nebraska, Scottsbluff.     Project Objectives:  Yield loss to sunflower diseases cause economic stress to sunflower growers across the United States.  However, the amount of yield loss caused by many diseases (locally and nationally) is not well understood. Additional factors considered by growers who are trying to protect yield, such as the effect of hail on disease development and yield impacts from ‘plant health’ fungicide applications, are also not well understood.  This research will give us a better understanding of the yield impacts of diseases and disease-related factors and will lead to better disease management recommendations. This should translate into increased economic returns to sunflower growers.            Funded Amount: $18,000

Monitoring Plasmopara halstedii (Downy Mildew) virulence in the Dakotas

Principal Investigators: Sam Markell, North Dakota State University, Febina Mathew, South Dakota State University, and Bob Harveson, University of Nebraska, Scottsbluff.     Project Objectives:  Downy mildew remains a yield limiting disease in sunflower production. This project will allow us to understand if the pathogen that causes downy mildew is overcoming the effective management tools that sunflower growers use to keep downy mildew managed (resistance genes and the seed treatment Plenaris/Lumisena). We further anticipate that the information will be useful for sunflower breeders as they develop the next generation of hybrids and hope that they incorporate resistance genes that will be most useful for US growers.   Funded Amount: $12,000

Evaluating New Insecticides for Wireworm Control in Sunflower

Principal Investigators: Janet Knodel, North Dakota State University and Patrick Beauzay, North Dakota State University.   Project Objectives: The outcomes of this project include improved knowledge on efficacy of new insecticides (mode of action) in management of wireworms in sunflower. Results of this research have the potential to improve management of wireworms in areas where they are especially problematic causing significant yield losses. Key information, such as plant stand loss, root damage ratings will be assessed for different insecticides tested for control of wireworms in sunflower.   Funded Amount: $12,000

Evaluate the Distribution of Red Sunflower Seed Weevil Populations that are Resistant to Pyrethroid Class Insecticides

Principal Investigators: Adam Varenhorst, South Dakota State University, Patrick Wagner South Dakota State University, Philip Rozeboom, South Dakota State University, Janet Knodel, North Dakota State University and Patrick Beauzay, North Dakota State University.   Project Objectives: In South Dakota, the red sunflower seed weevil is a major insect pest of sunflowers each year. As a result, insecticides are used to prevent yield loss. There is some thought that pyrethroid insecticides with the active ingredient lambda-cyhalothrin have seen reduced control compared to treatments that contained other active ingredients. This project will allow researchers to evaluate numerous insecticides through efficacy trials and glass vial assays, to determine if there are pyrethroid resistant red sunflower seed weevils in North Dakota and South Dakota. It will also provide more accurate management recommendations to farmers. The South Dakota Oilseeds Council provided $25,000 of check-off dollars towards this project.   Funded Amount: $38,000

Using Insect Biology and Cultural Practices for Management of Red Sunflower Seed Weevil

Principal Investigators: Jarrad Prasifka USDA ARS, Beth Ferguson, USDA/ORISE, Fargo,  Deirdre Prischmann-Voldseth, North Dakota State University.     Project Objectives: This project will provide data on red sunflower seed weevil overwintering and emergence that allows accurate prediction of weevil emergence (i.e., a degree-day model). This work will provide information on how a combination of tools and strategies can provide the most effective (and cost-effective) management of this pest.  Developing a degree-day model (and subsequent demonstration of efficacy for planting time effects or host plant resistance) means individual growers will have more and better options to limit seed weevil damage.   Funded Amount: $20,600

Integrating Cover Crops and Residual Herbicides to Control Glyphosate Resistant Weeds in High Plains Sunflower Production

Principal Investigators: Vipan Kumar, K-State, Dan O’Brien K-State. Jeanne Falk Jones K-State, Nevin Lawrence, and Cody Creech, UNL Extension.   Project Objectives:  Due to lack of effective control of glyphosate resistant (GR) kochia and Palmer amaranth populations, maintaining the overall profitability and sustainability of High Plains sunflower farms are at higher risk. This project will provide research-based information on the optimum spring termination timing of fall-planted cover crop to maximize cover crop biomass accumulation and its impacts on overall suppression (emergence, growth, reproduction, and soil seedbank depletion) of GR kochia and Palmer amaranth populations, soil water budget, soil health benefits, reduction in POST herbicide applications, and crop yields. The intent is to develop sustainable and profitable weed management systems by improving growers’ knowledge and understanding of cover crop management in sunflower-based cropping systems. An outcome of this project is also to enhance adoption of best management strategies for cover crop termination timing among sunflower producers. The Kansas Sunflower Commission provided $3,750 of check-off dollars towards this project.   Funded Amount: $32,000

Early Maturing Sunflower for Double Crop Use in the Central Plains

Principal Investigator: Brent Hulke, USDA ARS.   Project Objectives: Double cropping has become a popular concept in the Central Plains to avoid loss of productivity and soil degradation that is characteristic of the traditional winter wheat-fallow rotations. Under no-till management, there is often enough residual soil moisture to allow for production of a second crop in the same season. This project will increase the availability and diversity of parental lines with early maturity and adaptation to various climates providing commercial breeding companies and seed producers with an excellent starting point to come to market with hybrids suitable for double crop scenarios. The research will provide both seeds and data that can help to expand sunflower double crop acreage in the Central Plains and beyond, and provide more resources to continue breeding work. The Kansas Sunflower Commission provided $3,750 of check-off dollars towards this project.   Funded Amount: $24,089

Identification and Mapping of Genetic Factors Affecting the Stability of Oleic Acid in Inbred Lines and Hybrids

Principal Investigators: Brent Hulke, USDA ARS and Nolan Kane, University of Colorado Boulder.   Project Objectives: Fatty acid composition has been the key to oilseed sunflower marketing success. This project will deliver suitable markers for sunflower breeders to predict oleic acid level in NuSun and HO hybrids, and provide valuable information for selecting breeding lines with stable oleic acid content. This knowledge will benefit breeders, by improving predictability of hybrid product performance, and producers, by reducing the uncertainty of oleic composition in newly developed high oleic hybrids.   Funded Amount: $22,589

Assessing the Importance of Plant Spacing Heterogeneity (skips, doubles, gaps) on Yield, and Heritability of Seedling Emergence in Field Conditions

Principal Investigator: Brent Hulke, USDA-ARS, Ron Meyer Colorado State University and Calvin Trostle, Texas A&M University.   Project Objectives: Plant spacing has become a topic of interest in the sunflower industry, especially the effects of skips, doubles, and gaps that often occur because of errors in calibrating planting machinery, inherent flaws in machinery, issues of speed, and seedling insect/disease issues. This project will objectively pick apart the effects of stand heterogeneity and stand gaps on yield. It will also help determine the degree of genetic variation in days to emergence and early plant vigor in the field.   Funded Amount: $27,391

2021 NSA Sunflower Production Survey

Principal Investigators: Ryan Buetow, North Dakota State University, Febina Mathew, South Dakota State University, and Jarrad Prasifka, USDA ARS   Project Objectives: The survey is conducted bi-yearly 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: $11,000