Development of high yielding sunflower
varieties with desirable market attributes,
and appropriate crop management
options
29th August 2012
Annual Review
Presenter: Moses Biruma
Project
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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)