2011 Research Areas of Interest
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
filed under: Research and Development
(These are not listed in order of priority.)
1. Irrigation timing and other issues related to irrigation of sunflower with emphasis on limited irrigation.
2. Blackbirds: Innovative and new approaches to reduce damage.
3. Factors related to achieving an adequate plant stand. This could include: planter calibration and other planter issues, seeding depth, soil temperature/moisture, seedling vigor, seed biology, insects/diseases and other.
4. Identify methods for hulled confection sunflower planting seed to enhance planting ease and establish desirable plant stands/spacing. Issues of interest include hulling methods, integrity of seed germ/ membrane and seed coating.
5. Rotation studies with other crops before or after sunflower, looking at a broad range of aspects from yield, soil water use, disease and insect interactions, nitrogen utilization and more. Preference for farmer field studies.
6. Fungicide application for control of diseases and yield enhancement. Issues of timing and tank mixing with insecticides/ herbicides are of interest. There is a strong preference for using labeled fungicides and the efficacy of adjuvants. Preference for the control of Phomopsis.
7. Double cropping of sunflower after winter wheat.
8. Fertility management for irrigated sunflower. Studies relating to timing and quantity of nitrogen applications for fertigation of irrigated sunflower.
9. Identify techniques to reduce/eliminate combine fires in sunflower harvest.
10. Design planting scheme with tramlines to minimize field damage when using a high-clearance applicator for pesticides, including desiccants.
1. Long-Horned Beetle (Dectes): Interest in multiple approaches to minimizing damage, including date of planting/harvesting, efficacy of stay-green hybrids and the use of experimental insecticides.
2. Controlling insects with conventional insecticide means or other innovative techniques.
3. Screen hybrid and breeding material for midge and other insect resistance.
1. Palmer Amaranth is a species of great concern.
2. Interest in innovative weed control techniques related to existing labels and to test experimental or new-to-market herbicides for potential sunflower application.
1. Phomopsis is of concern throughout the production region. Proposals dealing with short- and long-term control strategies will be of interest. Determining species of the disease is considered very important.
2. Rust — including identifying races and the control of rust via genetic resistance and fungicide application.
3. Verticillium has also been identified as a disease of concern. Proposals dealing with short- and long-term control strategies will be of interest.
4. There is continued interest in downy mildew with the development of new races and fungicide efficacy.
5. Charcoal rot is of interest since it is common to sunflower, soybeans and corn.
6. Sclerotinia proposals should be provided to the National Sclerotinia Initiative.