The top Bulgarian contributions to sunflower breeding

Abstract The sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is a fundamental oil-yielding culture for Bulgaria and the world and thus, special attention is paid to it. Various selection methods have been used over the years and as a result of successful breeding programs new sunflower forms, lines (В/А and R) and hybrids (oil and confectionery type) were created in Bulgaria. Some of these new forms have new plant architectonic, different vegetation periods, seeds with different sizes and coloration, high combining ability, resistance to diseases, the parasite Broomrape and some herbicides, high seed oil and fatty acid content, genes for restoration of fertility (Rf genes), and different types of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS).