Review of 40 years of research carried out in Serbia on sunflower pollination

Abstract

-Sunflower pollination has been a subject of research for more than 40 years at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad, Serbia. Since the first experiments in 1970s, the importance of climatic conditions was acknowledged and analyzed as a key factor for the performance of plants and pollinators. Climatic conditions, disease and pest problems changed significantly during this period, but sunflower production technology and breeding also advanced making seed production more stable. Nonetheless, the quality of agronomic practices still varies which also reflects on the plant and pollinator performance. Sunflower breeding led to improved germplasm which still maintains high degree of variability for nectar content and pollinator attractivity. Pollinators are essential in crosses involving cytoplasmic male sterile lines, but are also beneficial in hybrid sunflower seed production. Pollinator attractivity is thus an important trait for both breeders and producers and worth to be considered as a quality trait in sunflower breeding programs.Keywords: sunflower / pollination / honey bee / Serbia Résumé -Retour sur 40 années de recherche menées en Serbie sur la pollinisation du tournesol. La pollinisation du tournesol est l'objet de travaux de recherche depuis plus de 40 ans à l'Institut des cultures de plein champ et des cultures légumières de Novi Sad, en Serbie. Depuis les premières expériences conduites dans les années 1970, l'importance des conditions climatiques a été reconnue et analysée comme un facteur clé de la performance des plantes et des insectes pollinisateurs. Les conditions climatiques, les problèmes de maladies et de ravageurs ont considérablement changé au cours de cette période, mais les techniques de production et la sélection du tournesol ont également progressé, ce qui a permis de stabiliser la production de semences. Néanmoins, la qualité des pratiques agronomiques reste encore fluctuante, influant également sur la performance des plantes et celle des insectes pollinisateurs. La sélection du tournesol a conduit à l'amélioration du matériel génétique, qui possède encore un haut degré de variabilité vis-à-vis de la production de nectar et l'attractivité des insectes pollinisateurs. Les insectes pollinisateurs s'avèrent essentiels dans les croisements impliquant des lignées à stérilité mâle cytoplasmique, mais également bénéfiques dans la production de semences hybrides de tournesol. L'attractivité des insectes pollinisateurs représente un caractère important à la fois pour les sélectionneurs et les producteurs et devrait être considérée comme un critère de sélection dans les programmes d'amélioration génétique.Mots clés : tournesol / pollinisation / abeille domestique / Serbie

Confectionery sunflower breeding and supply chain in Eastern Europe

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Breeding and seed production of oil crops in Serbia

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Landscape and Local Drivers Affecting Flying Insects along Fennel Crops (Foeniculum vulgare, Apiaceae) and Implications for Its Yield

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