Coordination and Methodical Council on Scientific Research Program 16 "Sunflower"

On July 6, 2021, the Plant Production Institute named after V.Ya. Yuriev of NAAS, the main institution of Scientific Research Program (SRP) 16 "Sunflower", held an online meeting of the Coordination and Methodological Council (CMC). The supervisors and responsible executors of the SRP projects from seven research institutions of NAAS were present. The meeting was opened by the Chairman of the CMC, Academician of NAAS, Doctor of Agriculture Sciences, Professor Victor Kyrychenko. The meeting participants discussed, clarified and approved the reports of 16 fundamental and applied studies for the first half of 2021. The work plan of the CMC for the second half of 2021 was clarified and proposals were made to improve the quality of the studies and the CMC’s activities. The strategic aspects of sunflower breeding were discussed; it was decided to intensify breeding for resistance to sunflower broomrape, oil quality, confectionery indicators. The need for expansion of research to improve the adaptability of sunflower to abiotic environmental factors (drought, heat, cold, etc.) and to understand effects of biotic factors on genetic plasmas of different origins was recognized. The relevance of studied designed to refine the elements of sunflower cultivation technology, to reduce the energy load on crops, to save energy, and to improve the environment was emphasized. The activities of the Coordination and Methodological Council of SRP 16 for the first half of the year was considered satisfactory.