Sunflower is one of the main oil crops in Turkey and the world. Turkey which has 3% ratio of sunflower production is in the first ten countries in the world. However, the half of Turkey oil need is supplied by imported from some countries such as Ukraine, Argentina, Bulgaria, Romania etc. The preference of Turkish people mostly sunflower oil as vegetable oil and the being main crops in the rotation system in Trakya Region which has 75% of Turkey sunflower production increase the importance of sunflower year by year in Turkey.

Sunflower having high adaptation capability is growing mainly under dry conditions in Turkey and the world. However, sunflower could not produce in large areas due to getting low income and could not compete with other more profitable crops such as wheat, corn, soybean, cotton etc… in both dry and irrigated conditions (Kaya, 2003). To compete with other crops and increase sunflower growing areas, the cultivar having higher yield capacity should be developed in the breeding programs. Hybrid cultivars having high yield performance, uniformity and resistance to pest and diseases are preferred mainly by sunflower farmers in both Turkey and the world. In today, hybrids are used in more than 90% of sunflower production areas in Turkey.

1. The Past of Sunflower Breeding and Seed Industry in Turkey

Sunflower production was started firstly by Turkish immigrants from Bulgaria in Turkey in 1950s. However, sunflower was produced in very limited areas in these years. First sunflower research works were initiated by Yesilkoy Agricultural Research Institute- Istanbul in 1950s as conducted adaptation trials and used introduction materials from other countries. Similar researches were carried out by Sakarya Research Institute-Adapazari in 1960s and Trakya Agricultural Research Institute - Edirne (TARI) in 1970s. Local open pollinated varieties were planted until 1960s and the sunflower production was about 100.000 M ton in Turkey (Anonymus, 2003c). Sunflower production were dropped at lower level (60.000 M ton) at the beginning 1960s due to very serious broomrape (Orobanche spp.) parasite epidemic effects in Turkey. However, resistant V-1646 and V-8931 open pollinated Russian varieties were introduced immediately from Russia and were planted in 1965. The sunflower production raised again (160.000 M Ton) and increased year by year (200.000 M ton).

Basic breeding methods were applied in these research stations until the beginning 1970s. The main research and breeding program was initiated in TARI in 1970. However, all sunflower breeding and agronomic research works conducted in Turkey were merged as National Sunflower Research Program in 1978. TARI was selected as the national coordinator institute for sunflower research in Turkey. All sunflower genetic materials were collected in TARI and sunflower breeding works were accelerated as national basis year by year. A lot of introduction materials came from other countries in these years and were tested in different parts of Turkey. However, such V-1646, V-8931 and Peredovik open pollinated Russian varieties were the main cultivars planted until 1970s. Sunflower planting areas were mostly in Trakya Region which is European part of Turkey. In addition to The National Program effects, sunflower planted areas increased from 300.000 ha to 400.000 ha and production increased from 400.000 M Ton to 550.000 M Ton due to end of colza production and some limitations on poppy production at the end of 1970s (Anonymus, 2003c).

Due to the appearance of new races of broomrape (Orobanche spp.) and the second epidemic effect, the first sunflower hybrids resistant to broomrape were introduced from Romania in1980s. Turkey sunflower production rose from 550.000 M Ton to 700.000 M ton due to high yield potential of hybrids at the beginning of 1980s. Additionally, sunflower planted areas were increased due to providing some subsidies to sunflower by the government in Turkey.

After starting supports by government to seed industry in 1983, some private companies were established in the sector and sunflower breeding works were accelerated in first half of 1980s in addition to government programs. The first private seed company, GUNES, a joint company of Interstate and TRAKYA BIRLIK, was established in 1983. Romsun-253, Romsun, H-1, IS-3310, etc… were the sunflower hybrids planted in these times. The first Turkish sunflower hybrid TURKAY-1 was developed by TARI in 1984. Additionally, other hybrids Edirne-87, TRAKYA-83, TRAKYA-129 and TRAKYA-259 also were developed by TARI and presented to farmers at the end of 1980s (Anonymus, 2003c).

When the use of hybrids in sunflower plantings increasingly year by year, Turkey planted area reached to 700-750.000 ha and sunflower production reached to 1.250.000 Metric Ton in the end of 1980s (Anonymus, 2003c) . Hybrid use was accumulated from 32 % in 1986 to 90 % in the next ten years. However, sunflower planted areas were stabled at about 550.000 ha and sunflower production changed between 800 and 900.000 Metric Ton from the beginning of 1990 to today depending on climate in vegetation periods.

1. The Present Situation of Sunflower Breeding and Seed Industry in Turkey

Private seed companies active in the sector are usually international companies, but MAY Seed Co., SAPEKSA Seed Co., AGROMAR Seed Co. and GENC Seed Co are Turkish seed companies working in sunflower seed business. However, SAPEKSA Seed Co. is closed and leaved from the sector now. In addition to public sunflower breeding program in TARI - Edirne and Aegean Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) - Izmir; private seed companies; PIONEER Seed Co., ADVANTA Seed Co. and MAY Seed Co are conducting sunflower breeding program in Turkey. From Turkish companies, GENC Seed Co. is selling of TARI sunflower hybrids, MAY Seed Co. selling of ASGROW hybrids and AGROMAR Seed Co. is selling of French companies’ hybrids. In addition to these Turkish companies, Turkish Government Farm (TIGEM) is entering to sunflower seed sector selling of TARI hybrids in 2004. MONSANTO Seed and SYGENTA Seed companies have breeding program in other countries, but they are conducting adaptation trials in Turkey.

The registered sunflower cultivars from the past to today in Turkey are given in Table 1. Seven private seed companies and two government research institutes (TARI and AARI) registered sunflower cultivars for oil type. International companies changed their names and owners frequently in the last years. GUNES seed was purchased by ADVANTA Seed and active in the same name in now. SANDOZ Seed Co firstly was purchased by NORTHROP KING, then NOVARTIS and lastly SYNGENTA Seed Co. and active as the same name. MONSANTO was purchased CARGILL, ASGROW and DEKALB seed companies and is working under the same name in the sector now.

Table 1: Sunflower cultivars registered in Turkey*.

*Source: 2003b, ** Open Pollinated Cultivars

In the sunflower seed sector in 2003, 22 sunflower hybrids one IMI resistant hybrid and one open pollinated variety were sold out farmers in Turkey (Table 2). The selling rate of private seed companies was over 90 % in the market. Sanbro cultivar, registered in 1995, had the highest market ratio among the sunflower hybrids in Turkey. All Pioneer hybrids sold in the sector in 2003 were production permitted. Vniimik - 8931 was only as open pollinated sunflower cultivar, was produced by TARI and was sold out by TIGEM. This cultivar was planted mainly in Middle Anatolia and marginal dry areas.

Table 2: The registered or production permitted sunflower cultivars sold in Turkey in 2003.

SYNGENTA Sanbro, SANAY***

MAY AGRO AS-615, AS-6310, AS-503, AS-508, VANKO*

ADVANTA Isera, H1, Megasun, C-70165

PIONEER XF-4027*, XF-4028*, XF-4223*

MONSANTO Coban, C-207, Alhaja

SAPEKSA Nantio F1, TR-3080 (Ozdemirbey), TR-6149 SA

GENC SEED Meric - 2002

Source: Anonymus, 2003a, *Production permitted, ** Open Pollinated, *** IMI Resistant

The situation of sunflower seed sector in Turkey was given in Table 3. Turkey sunflower seed market usually was about 2.000 Metric Ton depending on years. Syngenta Seed Company producing Sanbro had almost the half rate of the sunflower seed market in 2003. Pioneer Seed Co. was increasing market share in the last years due to only their hybrids being resistant to new races of broomrape. Advanta Seed Co. was a joint company of Trakya Birlik and was the 3^rd biggest company other than Syngenta and Pioneer Co. in the oil sunflower seed market of Turkey.

Trakya Birlik, farmer cooperative for oil crops but mostly sunflower, was the biggest dealer for distributing sunflower seed in the sector activated in Trakya, Marmara, Aegean and Middle Anatolia regions. Trakya Birlik had oil processing and sunflower cake factories also. Tarim Kredi, a farmer cooperative, was the second biggest dealer in the Turkey. Another oil crop farmer cooperative, Karadeniz Birlik, activated in mainly in the Black Sea region and followed them respectively. However, almost 30 % of seed was distributed by small seed dealers located in different cities in the sunflower seed sector (Kaya and Tan, 2000b).

Table 3: Sunflower hybrid seed production, supply, stock and imports of companies in 2003

Source: Anonymus, 2003a.

Turkey does not import usually hybrid seed except very little amounts in some years. For example, in 2003, only 60 ton SANAY hybrid was imported due to not registering yet in Turkey, because Turkey is cheaper country and has very well conditions for seed increasing. All seed companies produce sunflower hybrid seed for domestic need in Turkey. Additionally, some international companies such as Syngenta, Monsanto, Advanta produce sunflower hybrid seed in Turkey and distribute in other countries. In 2003, over domestic need, 2139 Metric Ton sunflower hybrid seeds were produced in Turkey and exported to Balkan and other European countries by private seed companies (Anonymus, 2003a).

Sunflower planted areas and production was decreasing in the last years due to low prices mainly both in Turkey and the world. Sunflower could not compete with wheat and other crops in the rotation system even under dry conditions. Turkey is importing each year almost the same amount sunflower or other oil crops for domestic need of vegetable oil. Although Turkey support oil crop production such as sunflower, soybean and canola giving the subsidies to farmers, sunflower and other oil crops could not compete with other crops under both dry and irrigated conditions due to low income.

Broomrape which is one of the main limitation factors in the sunflower made epidemic again at the beginning of new century. Broomrape broke genetic resistance each 20 years, became problem repeatedly in 1960, 1980 and 2000. New broomrape races (F, G and H) other than known races (A, B, C, D and E) were observed in spreading out 70 % of sunflower production areas in Trakya Region in 2003. Pioneer Seed Co. developed only resistant sunflower hybrids against these new races which were more aggressive than other countries such as Spain and Ukraine. In addition to public research, developing resistant lines and hybrids works to these races in the private breeding programs continue also.

After getting Imidizalinone (IMI) herbicide resistant genes in wild types in US, the first IMI resistant hybrid was developed by Syngenta and obtained production permission in Turkey in 2003. SANAY IMI sunflower hybrid which was added IMI resistant genes SANBRO parents were distributed to farmers in last year. Additionally, INTERVIX herbicide (Imazamox + Imazapyr (33+15 g/l)) were registered by BASF Company to control both O. cernua and key weeds in sunflower production. This herbicide and SANAY hybrid called as CLEARFIELD System ® developed by BASF Co. were used widely by farmers without problem in 2003.

C. The Future Directions of Sunflower Breeding and Seed Industry in Turkey

Sunflower seed sector was under the pressure some limited factors such as low price, broomrape, dry conditions, head diseases, etc… in the last years in Turkey. Turkey should increase sunflower production due to reduce of losing money for excessive imports in the near future. Sunflower has very high adaptation capability and could grow in different conditions. Due to need the higher use of mechanization and fewer workers, sunflower is the most fitting oil crop to supply vegetable oil need of Turkey. However, to increase sunflower cultivated areas, the government should increase the amount of subsidy to compete easily with alternative crops for sunflower. To determine the best varieties in different regions both for sunflower and other crops, a national project is conducting by under the coordination of TARI. The main goal of Turkey is to supply enough sunflower seed production for domestic needs (Kaya and Tan, 2000a). These kinds of research helping reducing oil crop imports and increasing oil crop production should support by the government in the next years.

The broomrape (Orobanche cernua Loefl.) is the most serious problem in Trakya Region which has 70 % of sunflower area of Turkey. The infested areas with new races of broomrape are increasing year by year in the region. The 100% genetically broomrape resistant hybrids are not developed yet in Turkey. The new broomrape races could be appeared and the resistance of the highly tolerant Pioneer hybrids could break down due to existing highly aggressive these races in the near future. Therefore; the breeding works on development of resistant hybrids should be accelerated in the seed companies and research institutes and these programs should be supported by the government. The genetically resistant hybrids will be more popular and have more market share in the future. Additionally; IMI herbicide resistant hybrids also will be preferred by the farmers in some problem areas with both broomrape and weeds such as cocklebur. In addition to Syngenta Co., other seed companies and TARI could develop and register IMI hybrids in 2004. These IMI hybrids could be about 20% of oil sunflower seed market share in Turkey in the near future.

Head rot (Rhizopus, Sclerotinia, Botrytis etc…) was another problem in the some areas in the last years. These head rot diseases could be epidemic in some years especially under rainy conditions in the summer in the future. However; there is no any resistant cultivar to these kinds of diseases yet in the world (Fick and Miller, 1997).

Sunflower yield is mostly affected by dry climatic conditions. Therefore, the resistance to drought should be the first objective other than oil yield in the future sunflower breeding programs. The most molecular breeding works should focus initially more on drought tolerance and disease resistance in the near future. The sunflower cultivars having high potential even under dry climates will increase share in both Turkey and world sunflower seed market in the next years.

Conclusions

Sunflower production has 50 years past in Turkey. Turkey has one of the main sunflower markets in the world due to its high sunflower oil consumption and production, having large planted areas, higher yield than world average and having one of the largest crushing capacities. However, sunflower production is decreasing year by year due to lower profit comparing to other crops in the rotation system. This decrease in the production areas influences the incomes of sunflower farmers, workers in the sunflower industry and the owners of the seed and crushing companies. Therefore, Turkey should support sunflower production using high subsidies like other producer countries and sunflower research to increase oil production and not to lose modern oil seed industry.

References

Anonymus, 2003a. Turkey Seed Distribution, Supply and Production Program. The Directorate of Agricultural

Production and Development. Agriculture Ministry of Turkey. ANKARA, Turkey.

Anonymus, 2003b. National Seed Cultivars List. The Directorate of Seed Registration and Certification Center. AgricultureMinistry of Turkey. ANKARA, Turkey.

Anonymus, 2003c. National Sunflower Research Project Report Trakya Agriculture Research Institute. Edirne,

Turkey.

Fick, G.N. and J.F. Miller. 1997.Sunflower Breeding. In A. A. Schneiter (ed.) Sunflower Technology and Production.

ASA, SCSA, and SSSA Monograph. No: 35. Madison, WI. USA. P. 395-440.

Kaya, Y. and A. Ş. Tan. 2000. Sunflower Production and its Future Strategies of Turkey in 2001-2005. Turkey 8^th

Five-Year Developing Plan 2001 - 2005. The State Planning Organization. ANKARA, Turkey.

Kaya, Y. and A. Ş. Tan. 2000. Sunflower Production Report and Future Policies of Turkey. Agriculture Ministry

of Turkey. Kızılay, ANKARA.

Kaya, Y. 2003. The problems and solution suggestions of oil sunflower production in Turkey. CINE TARIM

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