RESISTANCE OF INBRED LINES AND HYBRIDS OF SUNFLOWERS (HELIANTHUS ANNUUS L.) IN A NATURAL EPIDEMIC OF ASTER YELLOWS
Resistance to aster yellows has been identified in sunflowers. In 560 inbred lines and single plant progenies, 356 showed no symptoms of the disease under field conditions. The others showed infections ranging up to 100 per cent. Six entries, observed at three points, showed a range of infection from 0 to 86 per cent and eighteen others, at two points, a range from 0 to 73 per cent. The behaviour was consistent at the different locations.The resistance to aster yellows appeared to be qualitatively inherited. Single cross hybrids between resistant and, susceptible lines showed the resistance to be dominant. It occurred in association both with susceptibility and with resistance to rust. Of 15 lines with evidence of resistance to leaf mottle disease, 13 lines also had resistance to aster yellows.