To the issue of creation of specialized sunflower seed production zones in Russia

Researches were conducted at the All-Russia Research Institute of Oil Crops by Pustovoit V.S., Krasnodar, Russia. The purpose of the research was to estimate quality of different generations sunflower seeds of oil varieties Buzuluk, R-453, SUR and confectionary varieties SPK, Lakomka and Oreshek. There were used: breeders seeds from the reproductive plots, foundation seeds, elite and certified seeds produced in the central zone of Krasnodar region in 2012-2015. The following traits in seeds were evaluated: oil content (due to the State Standard R 8.620-2006), 1000 seeds weight (due to the State Standard 12042-80), fatty-acid composition of oil (by the gas-liquid chromatography on a Chromathek-Kristall 5000), and pathogenic microflora (by Naumova’s method). During the reproduction from the breeders to certified seeds, the progressive decrease of 1000 seeds weight from 82-88 g to 70-72 g at oil varieties and from 149-158 g to 110-128 g at confectionary ones was observed. These were influence much more by the condition of a year of cultivation than by a variety genotype. Oil content in seeds was stable at the variety Buzuluk, increased from 50.2 to 51.3% at the variety R-453 and decreased from 48.9 to 46.8% at the variety SUR. Significant increase of oil content was observed in all confectionary varieties: from 40.4 to 43.5% in the variety SPK, from 40.6 to 44.1% in the variety Lakomka and from 39.7 to 44.6% in the variety Oreshek. This indicates the increased heterogeneity of the studied confectionary sunflower varieties. The variability of the oil content under the effect of the genetic structure of the variety was comparable to the variability under the year conditions influence. Maximal stability of linoleic and oleic acid contents in oil was noted for the varieties R-453 and SPK, and minimal - for the variety SUR. Variation of the essential fatty acids contents under the variety genetic structure impact and year conditions influence was approximately similar. Seeds produced in the central zone of the Krasnodar region contained generally alternaria and bacterial pathogens. The seeds portion with prevalence of these pathogens was almost similar during the all reproduction stages: from the original to certified seeds production. Certified seeds of the confectionary varieties were infested by Alternaria species less than original and elite seeds. Impacts of the variety genetic structure and year conditions were approximately equal. Just the analysis of qualitative traits, without analysis of yield qualities, of the sunflower varieties seeds of the different generations do not allow to judge definitely about efficiency of their reproduction from breeders to certified seeds.