Sunflower Characteristics: Growing Peculiarities
Sunflowers grow in almost all countries with a temperate or warm climate. They are grown as a field crop in well-lit areas with moist, fertile soil. They are cultivated throughout Russia, the North Caucasus, and Ukraine.
Genetic Technology
Some of today”s most notable cultivated plants do not exist in the wild at all. For example, no one knows or has seen wild durum or common wheat, wild corn, sunflowers, eggplants, peaches, or wild flax. There is ample reason to believe that these cultivated plants arose through hybridization, i. e., crossbreeding. This suggests that ancient peoples were proficient in crossbreeding and even hybridization. Sunflowers are currently grown over vast areas in Russia, and unfortunately, much of this territory is infested with sunflower broomrape. However, the highly sought-after genetics company Limagren has developed a hybrid that incorporates the innovative Saneo technology. These unique hybrids combine the latest broomrape resistance gene with Clearfield technology.
Open-Ground Cultivation
Proper soil preparation is essential for sunflower cultivation. The most important requirements for fundamental soil cultivation are a well-leveled surface, the complete elimination of perennial weeds, and moisture conservation. In fields free of perennial weeds, semi-fallow cultivation and improved stubble plowing are used. This requires cultivating the soil to a depth of 25 cm and incorporating organic and mineral fertilizers. Sunflower seeds are sown in spring in rows, planted 5 cm deep. Once seedlings emerge, thinning should be done to retain the strongest and most vigorous plants.
Sunflower Root System
The stem roots are highly branched and actively absorb nutrients and water from a large volume of soil. The main root grows vertically and penetrates the soil to a depth of up to 2 meters. From this root, highly branched and quite strong lateral roots extend; these form 2-3 tiers, depending on nutrient distribution and soil moisture conditions. In addition to the taproot and its branches, sunflowers develop cauline rootlets, which grow from the hypocotyl in the moist soil layer.
