Due to a specific structure of its main organs (root, stem, leaves, head), sunflower can be successfully grown on marginal soils and in semi-arid conditions and it is more resistant to abiotic stresses than other field crops. In sunflower breeding for resistance to abiotic stresses, the greatest progress has been made in selection for drought resistance. Breeders use over 30 different parameters in sunflower screening for drought resistance, with physiological ones being the predominant type. Best breeding results have been achieved using the phenomenon of stay-green, with the added bonus that this method incorporates into the cultivated sunflower not only drought resistance but resistance to Macrophomina and Phomopsis as well. The diversity of the wild Helianthus species offers great possibilities for increasing the genetic resistance of the cultivated sunflower towards abiotic stresses. In using wild sunflower species in sunflower breeding for drought resistance and resistance to salinity, best results have so far been achieved with H. argophyllus and H. paradoxus, respectively. In addition to the use of wild Helianthus species, sunflower breeding for abiotic stress resistance should also make more use of molecular breeding techniques. More progress has been made in sunflower breeding for heat resistance than in that for cold resistance. Specific breeding programs dealing with sunflower resistance to mineral deficiency and mineral toxicity have yet to be established. Sunflower breeders worldwide should commit to a greater use of wild Helianthus species in breeding for resistance to abiotic stresses.

sunflower; breeding; resistance; abiotic stresses; wild species; genus Helianthus