Advances in Male Sterility Systems and Hybrid Breeding in Sunflower

Abstract

Commercial hybrid development is one of the most common goals in crop improvement because it allows farmers to harvest considerably higher seed yields from a uniform crop with improved characteristics and enhanced crop efficiency due to the effects of heterosis. Male sterility is a practical method of producing single-cross hybrids because it eliminates the need for time-consuming and labor-intensive hand emasculation and provides 100% male sterility, consequently eliminating the possibility of selfing. Despite the availability of a large number of male sterility systems, only single-source PET-1 has been widely used world wide due to several advantages. The development of hybrids of sunflower has been investigated, and extensive efforts have been made to identify stable male sterility systems. Hybrids have several advantages over open-pollinated varieties, including higher seed yield (20–30%), greater uniformity in maturity and plant height, and the ability to be harvested at the same time, making them suitable for combine harvesting. They respond to high input agriculture and high autogamy, which reduces the urgency for bees for cross-pollination. F1 hybrids are more tolerant or resistant to major biotic and abiotic stresses. In this chapter, emphasis has been given to the significant achievements in the development of male sterility systems and commercial hybrid seed production in sunflower crops, and it discusses the drawbacks and perspectives of this technology. The use of biotechnological tools and highlighting the prospects of applications of molecular markers in the genetic improvement of sunflower is also discussed.