Sunflower, ZARS, GKVK, Bengaluru

AICRP Scheme/Unit : AICRP on Sunflower
Location : ZARS, UAS, GKVK, Bangalore
Year of Start : 1972

Mandates :

• Evaluation of genetic resources
• To develop region-specific high yielding varieties/ hybrids with resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses
• To develop economically viable production and protection technologies to augment the production
• To evaluate the varieties / hybrids and the technologies of national and regional importance through multi-location testing
• Transfer of technology
• Production of breeder seed of improved varieties and parents of released hybrids

Research Programmes :

• Plant Breeding and Biotechnological interventions for developing hybrids resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses
• Developing agronomically superior hybrids with diversified CMS source tolerant to major pests & diseases
• Development of suitable forewarning systems to promote forecast based pest & disease management
• Development & Popularization of technologies for diversified uses of sunflower
• Optimization of best management practices for maximizing economic yield.

Research Accomplishments :
Technologies/Patents developed/Varieties released/Commercialized:

Externally Funded Projects in Operation :

Crop Production & protection technologies :

1. Soil application of Zinc Sulphate  @ 20 kg/ha at the time of sowing and, foliar application of 0.2 % Borax at ray floret opening stage
2. For Kharif sunflower on Alfisols, fertilizer is the most important constraint followed by thinning and weeding for realizing higher sunflower production and profitability.
3. Seed treatment with Azotobacterchrococcumalong with 75% recommended N  found to be onpar with 100% N recommended.
4. In Alfisols at Bengaluru, sunflower responds significantly and economically up to 90 kg N and 90 kg P₂O₅/ha.
5. Re-assessment of fertilizer recommendation (90:90:60 v/s 60:75:60 kg NPK/ha) for sunflower.
6. Growing legumes preceding sunflower can save 25 kg/ha of nitrogen with an increase of 17% higher yield and a higher B:C ratio of 2.22  Vs 1.79 without growing legumes in Alfisolssouthern dry zone of Karnataka
7. Soil test based fertilizer application with balance fertilization with NPK has resulted in 33% higher seed yield and a B:C ratio of 2.03 over farmer’s practice (1.72).
8. Application of 100% RDF +5t FYM/ha for groundnut in Kharif and application of 100% RDF for succeeding Rabi sunflower increased the system yield (16%) and system economics (B:C ratio of 2.77) in Alfisols southern Dry zone of Karnataka.
9. Alternaria leaf spot and rust can be managed with need based fortnightly spray of Propiconazole 25 EC (1 ml/litre).
10. Seed treatment with  metalaxyl  M 31.8 % ES @ 5 g/kg of seeds before sowing is recommended for management of downy  mildew
11. Management of sunflower necrosis virus disease: Seed treatment  with Imidacloprid  70WS @ 5 g/kg or Thiamethoxam 30 FS @4g/kg of seed  before sowing  +  spraying Imidacloprid  17.8SL (@0.5ml/L  or Thiamethoxam  25 WG @ 0.3 gm/L. at 30 & 45 DAS.
12. Management of capitulum borer(Helicoverpaarmigera): Two spray applications of Spinosad 45SC @1 ml/ 10L first at star bud stage  and second spray  15days later
13. Application of 5% Neem Seed Kernel extract (NSKE) at 40 and 55 DAS is effective for the management of leaf eating caterpillars (Semiloopers, Bihar hairy caterpillar and Myllocerus weevil). To manage capitulum borer (Helicoverpa armigera) application of Ha NPV @ 1 ml/litre is recommended at 55 & 65 DAS.
14. Weed management with post emergent herbicides in sunflower, Quizalofop-p-ethyl 15% EC @ 1.5 ml/L at 15-20 days after sowing
15. Powdery mildew management: Seed treatment with carbendazim12% + Mancozeb 63% WP @2g/Kg seed followed by two foliar sprays with Difenconazole 25%+ Propiconozole25% @ 0.25ml/l (First spray at the onset of incidence or 45 days after sowing and second spray 15days after 1st spray)
16. Chlorantraniliprole 18.5SC treated plot was significantly superior over Bt 127 in controlling the defoliators and Helicoverpa

Awards / Recognitions :

• AICRP (Sunflower ) Centre, UAS, Bangalore was adjudged as best AICRP (Oilseeds) centre by the Quinquennial Team constituted by the ICAR to review the research work of ICAR-IIOR and AICRP on oilseeds for the five years (2017-2021) during AGM 2023 at Jodhpur
• Best Stall award in Krishimela 2022, GKVK, UAS Bangalore
• Umar M.S. was presented with a Certificate of “Best Ph.D thesis award 2022”for Plant Breeding under guidance of Dr. M. S. Uma, for Plant Breeding during International Conference on Innovative approaches in Agriculture, Horticulture & Allied Sciences organized by SGT University, Gurugram, Just Agriculture Edu. Group ISAHRD, Chandigarh.
• “Best thesis award 2022”- to Divyashree for M.Sc. Plant Pathology under the guidance of Dr. C. P. Manjula for under the title of Distribution of Alternaria species in Sunflower, their host range and management, during ISMPP 42nd Annual conference and National Symposium on Plant health management held at Dept. of Plant Pathology, CoA, AAU, Anand, Gujarat held during May10th to 12th 2023
• ArjumanBanuwas presented with a Certificate of “Best Ph.D thesis award 2022” during International Conference on Innovative approaches in Agriculture, Horticulture &Allied Sciences organized by SGT University, Gurugram, Just Agriculture Edu. Group ISAHRD, Chandigarh.
• Divyashree, Manjula C.P., Dinesh Kumar,P.V., Prasanna KumarM.K., and Nehru, S.D., “Identification of A. tenuissima, A solani, A. burnsii and A. gossypina as new members of Alternaria population in Karnataka on sunflower” presented at International Conference on Vegetable Oils 2023 on 17th to 21st Jan. 2023 at PJTSAU, Hyderabad, India organized by IIOR-ICAR, Hyderabad – received Best Paper Award
• M.S. Uma was conferred with Incentive award from UAS, Bangalore for obtaining a research project worth of Rs. 29.62 lakhs  from  DST,GOI during 2016-17
• G.M. Sujith was conferred with “Prof. B.V. VenkataRao Best Scientific Research Article award – 2017” during Krishimela-2017 from University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru.
• “Exhibition stall on Oilseeds” exhibited during Krishimela-2018 held on 15-18, November 2018 was awarded with best exhibition stall prize.
• “Sunflower field demonstration plot” of AICRP (Sunflower), laid out for Krishimela-2019 held on 24-27, October 2019 was awarded with best field demonstration plot prize.
• “Exhibition stall on Oilseeds” exhibited during Krishimela-2019 held on 24-27, October 2019 was awarded with best exhibition stall prize.
• “Sunflower field demonstration plot” of AICRP (Sunflower), laid out for Krishimela-2020 held on 21-24, October 2020 was awarded with best field demonstration plot prize.
• “Management of sunflower Alternariaster leaf blight using combined fungicide products” Presented in  National Symposium  on Advances in crop health management by Dr. C. P. Manjula and Dr. K. Karuna received 2nd Best poster presentation award in IPS South zone held at ICAR-IARI Regional Station, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu during 1-2nd December, 2020 (Online)
• C. P. Manjula received best paper presentation under women scientist category in 16^thKannada vigyanasammelana held at Mangalore University on 15th to 17th September 2021.
• “Sunflower field demonstration plot” of AICRP (Sunflower), laid out for Krishimela-2021 held on 11-14, November 2021 was awarded best field demonstration plot Award.
• The “Best Krishimela Exhibition stall” award during Krishimela-2021 held on 11-14, November 2021, UAS, GKVK, Bangalore was received by the oilseeds stall laidout during the mela

Facilities Available :

• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer (NMR) facility was created at AICRP (Sunflower), Bengaluru for estimation of oil content in Sunflower and other oilseed crops
• Molecular Biology Laboratory
• Insect cage for screening work
• Net house
• Established laboratory and conference hall with AV aids
• High end equipmentsviz., Gas chromatography, leaf area meter, Millipore water purification system, water potential meter, Infra-red gas analyzer, Spectrophotometer etc. are in physiology laboratory

Other Activities :
Organizing of Training Programmes/ field day :

Front line demonstrations/Large scale demonstrations 2023

Externally Funded Projects in Operation :

Staff Profile