New ornamental sunflower forms

Miroslava Hristova-Cherbadzhi

Abstract: The sunflower is the second largest hybrid crop and the fifth largest edible oilseed crop. Helianthus annuus L. is grown not only for production of oil, but also for humans and birds food, and for flowers (ornamental). Ornamental sunflower grown for cut flowers, for growth in a pot or in the garden. It has a variety of colored ray flowers, very low or very high, with or without the anthocyanin in the plant, with or without branching, etc. Early florists-breeders received this type plants after sampling in introduced populations, and at the moment the main method for selecting is remote hybridization (interspecific and intergeneric). New Bulgarian ornamental sunflower forms – Inbreeds lines and hybrids after remote hybridization are received. Most forms are pollenfree. Colours are from traditional golden orange with a dark disc to vibrant reds and bicolour combinations. There have single stemmed or branched sunflowers.

Keywords: inbreeds lines; ornamental sunflower; remote hybridization

Date published: 2017-07-26