Recent research on safflower, sunflower, and cotton

Research on safflower shows the following: a) levels of greater than 80% oleic acid and linoleic acid will be achieved with few effects by management of genes; b) oil content of 50% will be possible in extreme reduced hull types; c) resistance to several diseases has been identified in introductions of domesticated and wild safflower; and d) improvements can be made in ornamental types of safflower used in dried flower arrangements. In sunflower, major improvements are: a) resistance to all important diseases; b) some resistance to larvae of the sunflower moth through use of types with an armored layer in the hull of the seed; and c) development of superior hybrid varieties. In cotton, oil and meal have been improved by the genetic or mechanical removal of gossypol glands.