Influence of a shape and angle of inclination of a head of sunflower parental lines and hybrids on seeds losses

The researches were conducted at the All-Russia Research Institute of Oil Crops, Krasnodar, in 2009-2012. There were involved 20 maternal sunflower lines, 14 lines-restorers of pollen fertility, and seven F1 hybrids of VNIIMK breeding in the experiment. Three head types were selected for maternal lines: convex, plain, and shapeless (with a curve of a head in center). Parental lines of sunflower hybrids had four types of a head: convex, plain, shapeless, and concave. The head form of sunflower lines is determined to effect on seeds losses. Plants of maternal lines with convex and plain head types had low and average seeds losses. Plants with shapeless head type are characterized by high seed losses. Paternal lines with any of the selected shapes of a head can have low seed losses. However, lines having plain and shapeless head are three times more spreading in a group with low seed losses compared to plants with convex and concave heads. Among studied sunflower hybrids, low seed losses are common for plants with convex type of a head, and high losses - for hybrids with shapeless heads. Angle and slope of inclination did not influence significantly on seed losses of the studied sunflower lines.