Development of high yielding sunflower varieties with desirable market attributes, and appropriate

crop management options

29th August 2012

Annual Review

Presenter: Moses Biruma

Project staff 4 Scientists

• Anyanga Walter Breeder• Pius Elobu Agronomists• Gayi Denis Entomologist• Moses Biruma Pathologist/Molecular Biologists

2 Technicians• James Oumo & Betty Alepo

1 Secretary and 4 Field Assistants

Numerous other support staff

OBJECTIVES/TARGETS

• Develop high yielding sunflower varieties (Hybrids & OPVs) resistant/tolerant to drought and major diseases with high oil content

• Develop appropriate agronomic practices for production of sunflower

• Develop integrated diseases management options for control of major diseases

• Disseminate appropriate sunflower technologies to uptake pathways and end users

Achivements/progress

Development of high yielding sunflower varieties resistant/tolerant to drought and major diseases

• Evaluated & identified 2 candidate Hybrids from EASL for release later this year

• 60 Lines were evaluated on-station

out of which 26, were identified as being superior

• The 26 lines are now being evaluated at 3 TVCs (Ngetta, Kumi & Kuju)

• 75 Crosses were made and are being evaluated

Development of high yielding sunflower varieties resistant/tolerant to drought

and major diseases

• 43 restorer lines were developed from imported hybrids

• Acquired 7 inbred lines with high oleic from germany

• Acquired 5 inbred lines with resistance to scretonia from germany

Development of appropriate agronomic practices for production of sunflower

• Tested two foliar fertilizers (Megacol, Push & New Suryamin)

• Inter-cropping regimes on-station ie Sunflower vs pigeon peas, cowpeas, green grams, beans, groundnuts, soybeans and cotton were conducted

• Sunflower-bean intercrop in a ratio of 1:1 gives the best results

Development of integrated diseases management options for control of

major diseases

• Surveys to identify distribution of major diseases, in different agro-ecologies were conducted

• 108 diseased sunflower samples/materials collected for identification and characterisation

• 26 advanced lines were identified being resistant to majar diseases onstation & were recomended for multilocational trials

• Two parental lines (CMS 372 and CMS 433) & their maintainers (HA 372 and HA 433) were identified with moderate resistance to leafspot

Dissemination of appropriate sunflower technologies to uptake pathways

• Multiplied and distributed 1200Kg & 200Kg of Sesun2H & Sesen1H, respectively to;

Seed companies (Pearl, EASL), Farmer Grps (P’KWII, UOSPA &

Amuria Farmers grp Mukwano grp of Companies

• Sunflower production manuals to be launched

Dissemination of appropriate sunflower technologies to uptake pathways

• Capacity building: Farmer trainning &Student mentoring

• Publication (Anyanga & Biruma)

• Posters

Constraints/challenges• Transport

• Infrastructure; Greenhouses, Laboratory space & equipments are insuffient

• High labour costs

• Delayed relaese of funds

• Insuffience funds

• Storage facilities

Constraints/challenges• Bereaucracies involved in

procurement

• Access to new germplasm sources

• Weather uncertainities; Drought, High Rainfall

• Emerging pests and diseases

• Rapid loss of viability in storage

• Bird damage

• Irregular power

Strategies to overcome the challenges

• Alternative sources of funding

• Networking

• Capacity building

• Lobbying

• Generate own germplasma

Research activities in progress/Planned activities

Development of high yielding sunflower varieties

resistant/tolerant to drought and major diseases

• Multi-location adaptation trials at 3 sites

• Multiplication of parental lines for hybrid sunflower seed

• Maintenance breeding

• On-farm evaluation of atleast 15 lines

Development of high yielding sunflower varieties

resistant/tolerant to drought and major diseases

• Widen germplasm base through collection (local and introductions)

• Continue with hybridization

• Oil content analysis

• Evaluation of the new introductions

Develop appropriate agronomic practices for production of sunflower

• Evaluation inter-cropping trial on-station and at various locations including farmers’ fields

• Determining the effects of sunflower on soil nutrient status

• Testing the effect of foliar and seed dressed fertilizers on sunflower yields

Integrated diseases management options for control of major diseases

• Screening for resistance (Advanced and introductions)

• Characterisation (physical & molecular) of the different pathogens

• Evaluate efficacy of different fungicides & botanicals

• Evaluate cropping systems in disease management

Acknowledgement• Uganda Government

• MAAIF

• Word bank,

• VoDP

• Seed Companies

• Extension (NAADS & District production dept)

• Individual farmers and Farmer groups

• Universities & other service providers

• Our families (Wives/Husbands & Childrens)