An Algorithm for Research of Sunflower Hybrids Productivity Under Conditions of Insect Pollination

Abstract

The article summarizes the practical experience of five-year research on seed productivity of autofertile hybrids of sunflower Helianthus annuus L. in the presence and absence of insect pollination. The productivity of 21 sunflower hybrids from six producers «Pioneer», «Syngenta», «Euralis», «Limagrain», «MAS Seeds», «RAGT» - was studied. Experiments were conducted in the fields of the Continental Farmers Group agro-holding in the agroclimatic conditions of Western Ukraine. To exclude the effect of insect pollination, the heads of experimental plants were covered with bag isolators made of 50x40 cm polypropylene spunbond with a density of 30 g/m2 and the ability to adjust the strength of tying during inflorescence development. The heads of control plants were left open for free insect pollinators access. After full seed maturity, the isolators were removed from the experimental plants, and the heads of control plants were selected based on the identity of their diameters. The selected material was dried to an air-dry state and used for further research in laboratory conditions. Seed productivity was determined by indicators such as incompleteness of heads and seeds in different zones of the head disk, huskiness, 1000-seed weight, purity, biological yield, oil content, and protein content. Individual indicators of hybrid productivity were studied for the head disk within the outer, intermediate, and inner zones, each of which occupied one-third of its radius. To determine the incompleteness of seeds and huskiness in each zone of the head disk, 20 seeds were randomly selected from each zone and cleaned of seed coats. Analysis of oil content and protein content was carried out by a non-invasive method of NIR spectroscopy. The paired Wilcoxon criterion was used to determine statistically significant differences between control and experimental groups of plants under different pollination conditions. As a result of the conducted research, it was possible to develop an algorithm for determining quantitative and qualitative indicators of productivity of modern sunflower hybrids in the presence and absence of insect pollination