Sunflower breeding in the changing agro-climatic conditions of the Tambov region

Tambov Research Institute of Agriculture - a branch of the I.V. Michurin Federal Research Center (early Tambov State Regional Agricultural Experimental station) has been conducting the breeding of sunflowers from the 50th of the last century. The Tambov region is located on 52о N lat. In the north border of the sunflower cultivation. The duration of a period from seedling appearance to physiological maturity of sunflower should be equal no more than 80-85 days in conditions of the Tambov region. A short frostless period and early autumn colds, often accompanied with long rains do not allow producing more productive sunflower varieties and hybrids with a growing season of 120-130 days. The agricultural production requires for very early and early varieties maturing without desiccation before harvest. During these years, as the results of scientific breeding works, 19 varieties and a hybrid of sunflower were developed. Currently, five varieties Spartak, Chakinsky 931, Chakinsky 77, PK 05, Chakinsky 100, and a hybrid Nadezhda developed jointly with a company “Agroplazma” are included into the State Register of breeding achievements permitted for the agricultural production in the Central Chernozem (5) and Middle Volga (7) regions. In 2021, the new sunflower variety Zagrey 21 was introduced into the State variety trial. During the testing period in a competitive variety trial nursery, its 1000 seed weight was 75.4 g, oil content - 49.2%. Oil yield of the new variety reliably exceeded the control by 40 kg/ha. Now, the sunflower breeding department works on development of productive, oil and confectionary types, herbicide resistant, very early and early maturing sunflower varieties and hybrids.