TRAITS ASSOCIATED WITH RESISTANCE TO BIRD DAMAGE IN SUNFLOWER

Abstract

Ten sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) experimental hybrids, an open-pollinated variety and an inbred line, were evaluated for their resistance to bird depredation and several morphological traits. The experiment was carried out in Saltillo, Coah., Mexico in 1990, to identify any possible genetic variation in the susceptibility of sunflowers to achene consumption by birds, as well as its correlation with other traits. Complementarily, a method was developed to measure the curvature of the heads, since this trait was considered associated to bird damage. The bird species found consuming achenes were mainly Passer domesticus and Carpodacus mexicanus. Significant differences in bird damage were detected among the evaluated materials. Furthermore, statistically significant correlations were detected between percentage of non-consumed area by birds and the variables head curvature (r = -0.673), achene length (r = 0.630), and hull percentage (r = 0.741). There results indicate that materials with concave heads or high hull percentage are very likely to be resistant to bird damage.