Thermogigrogramm application in sunflower breeding for horizontal resistance to downy mildew

Sunflower potential productivity is limited by a whole complex of pathogens, so it is very important to prevent possible loss of the future yield. Fungal diseases cause biggest damage to the sunflower production and downy mildew (caused by Plasmopara halstedii (Farl.) Berl. еt de Toni) is one of the most important among them. It is spread in all main world areas of sunflower production. Breeding for resistance to downy mildew is one of the most reliable and effective methods to control it. Concentration of modern breeding programs on vertical (race-specific) resistance leads to stimulation of race-developing process in the pathogen’s population and, as a result to consistent search and introduction of new resistance genes. So breeding for horizontal (race-nonspecific) resistance should become an important addition. The aim of our work was to study influence of combination of meteorological conditions on the downy mildew distribution on sunflower by means of thermogigrogramms...