Screening for resistance to highly virulent races of sunflower broomrape (Orobanche cumana)

Abstract

Sunflower broomrape (Orobanche cumana Wallr.) is a major constraint for sunflower production in most production areas around the world, particularly in areas of Eastern and Southern Europe and the Middle East. The yield losses caused by this parasitic weed can reach 100% for the susceptible cultivars which are heavily infested. The development of resistant cultivars as well as optimized managing strategies is a high priority in sunflower breeding programs all over the world. Since the problem of resistance to broomrape race E is fully resolved, almost all commercial sunflower hybrids have incorporated resistance gene Or5, the main goal in sunflower breeding program in the terms of resistance to broomrape is to find new sources of resistance genes to the new broomrape races which are present in Europe. The objective of this research was to screen newly developed inbred lines in order to find resistance to highly virulent races overcoming race F of broomrape present in Southern and Eastern Europe.