Effect of morphological traits of plant, head and seed of sunflower hybrids on house sparrow damage rate

Birds are important key pests of sunflower crops in many countries. In this study, 615 heads and 5429 seeds of 31 sunflower hybrids (single cross, three-way cross and introduced hybrids) were randomly selected and rates of bird damage were estimated at the Plant Breeding Research Institute of Karaj during the summer of 2004-2005. The Spearman correlation test showed a significant relationship between bird damage rate and some plant characteristics such as height of plant head above the ground (r = 0.100), inter-head distance or distance of heads from stems (r = −0.195), distance of petiole (nearest leaf) from head (cm) (r = −0.113), head diameter (r = −0.213), head angle to the horizon (r = 0.217) and seed density in sunflower heads (r = 0.320) (p < 0.01), but there was no significant correlation between bract length (r = 0.047), the sterile area to head surface ratio (r = −0.020), achene length (r = 0.267) and hull thickness (r = −0.002) and the rate of bird damage (p > 0.05). The Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test showed significant differences of bird damage rate to hybrid plants, for head shapes, bract orientation in relation to the head surface and achene colors (p < 0.01) but no significant for stem hanging forms and degree of striping on the achene (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the sunflower heads suffering lower bird damage rates had traits such as greater diameter, flat and convex shape (edges curled outside), fewer angles to the horizon, more down-faced heads, open and longer bracts, longer distances between adjacent stems or heads, longer distance of petiole from head, and lower seed density. In considering the results of the present and previous studies, there was a degree of inconsistency of findings across all studies, but not for each sunflower trait. Future studies are still necessary for height of head above the ground surface, stem hanging form, head shape, bract length and orientation, sterile area ratio, seed density, achene length, color and striping, and hull thickness. Nevertheless, plant breeding trials should bear in mind these results to pursue the understanding of relevant characteristics in morpho-genetic studies in relation to bird damage.

Research highlights► Head diameter and angle, height of plant head and seed density influenced bird damage rate. ► Inter-head/stem distance and the distance of petiole from sunflower head affected damage rate. ► Significant difference of damage rate found for head shapes, bract orientation and achene color. ► Six factors did not influence bird damage rate on sunflower. ► Plant breeders should consider morpho-genetic characteristics relevant to bird damage.