Rust Resistance in Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.)

Abstract

RUST (Puccinia helianthi Schw.) is a major hazard to sunflower production in a number of countries. The area devoted to sunflowers for edible oil in Canada, all in southern Manitoba, was reduced from 60,000 acres in 1949 to 3,500 in 1952, largely because of losses from rust. The Argentine crop Was severely damaged by rust in 1952–53. In Peru, where sunflowers were grown for fodder, rust has practically eliminated the crop. The search for rust resistance is therefore a prime objective in sunflower breeding. The present communication is a preliminary report on resistance which has been discovered in the Canadian sunflower investigations.