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NSA Committee Sets 2001 Research Priorities
Sunday, October 1, 2000
filed under: Research and Development
The National Sunflower Association Research Committee met this fall
and has recommended the following 15 research priorities for 2001,
ranked in order of importance:
1. Rotations, tillage systems, and biological agents and fungicides to
either control or hasten degradation of sclerotia in the soil. Also,
testing genetic hybrid tolerance/resistance to Sclerotinia head rot
through misting systems or other means.
2. Blackbird control.
3. Post-emergence broadleaf weed control, including tank mix options
with IMI herbicides.
4. Fungicide control of downy mildew.
5. Control of sunflower midge with insecticides, plant resistance and
date of planting strategies.
6. Feeding sclerotia to livestock.
7. Controlling yield losses through desiccation on plants with
Sclerotinia head rot infections.
8. Evaluating fungicides for the control of phomopsis.
9. Disease and insect surveys.
10. Stem weevil insecticide trials.
11. Incidence of plant disease in solid seeded fields.
12. Harvest losses as impacted by harvest date.
13. Impact of starter fertilizer.
14. Strategies for controlling late flushes of weeds.
15. Aster yellow/seed maggot. Misshapen heads with petals in the
middle of the head have been observed this year. There is debate
whether this is aster yellow or seed maggot, and if yield is impacted.
Sunflower researchers across the nation have been informed of the
priorities. The NSA committee will review research proposals on November
27, and report to the NSA Board of Directors on November 28, with
funding for approved research projects based on the 2001 priority list
and the available budget.