History of sunflower breeding for resistance to broomrape in Russia (review)

The history of sunflower breeding in Russia is permanently connected with breeding for resistance to broomrape (Orobanche cumana Wallr.) - a parasitic plant. The most important task for the scientists was to develop vrieties resistant to broomrape. V.S. Pustovoit, L.A. Zhdanov, E.M. Plachek and other breeders have developed broomrape tolerant sunflower varieties. Their introduction into agricultural production played a huge role in keeping and increasing of sunflower productivity. As evolution of host-plant and parasite develops inseparably, during natural selection of resistant varieties and hybrids there are appeared the new more aggressive races of broomrape which are able to live and multiply. The development of the new aggressive races must be controlled permanently. It can be reached by development of the new resistant sunflower varieties and hybrids.