Weather calamities considered in Marina Trunova's selection process
In the face of a prolonged drought that made 2025 a challenging year for Kuban agriculturalists, the V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Oil Crops (VNIIMK) in Novokubansk district has been working tirelessly to develop drought-resistant sunflower varieties.
These sunflower varieties, specifically bred for enhanced drought tolerance, are designed to maintain yield and oil quality under water-limited conditions. The institute's researchers have focused on creating hybrids and varieties with improved root system architecture for better water uptake, enhanced resistance to drought stress at critical growth stages, and high oil content with stable yield performance under moisture-deficit conditions.
Some notable drought-tolerant sunflower hybrids developed by VNIIMK include those adapted for the Krasnodar region and other areas prone to dry spells. These varieties contribute to the sustainability of sunflower production in Russia’s southern agricultural zones.
While specific variety names might vary as new cultivars are released, VNIIMK's work is a beacon of hope for farmers in the region. The institute's exhibition, held amidst the challenging agricultural conditions in Kuban, showcased domestic selections of sunflower, corn, sugar beet, and soybean hybrids and varieties.
The prolonged drought in 2025 impacted both cereal and oilseed crops in Kuban, with sunflower crops, particularly in Kushchevsky, Eysky, and Krylovsky districts, being severely affected. The worst sunflower crop conditions were reported in these districts, with over 80,000 hectares in poor condition.
Despite these challenges, the grain harvest in Kuban was completed, yielding 9.3 million tons. The wheat harvest, however, collected over 7.8 million tons. An emergency situation regime has been introduced in 9 northern districts of Kuban to manage the crisis.
As the agricultural community in Kuban continues to battle the effects of the drought, the development of drought-resistant crops like those from VNIIMK offers a glimmer of hope for a more resilient future.
- The improved root system architecture of the drought-tolerant sunflower varieties, developed by VNIIMK, is designed to facilitate better water uptake, withstanding water-limited conditions during critical growth stages.
- In an effort to sustain sunflower production in Russia's southern agricultural zones, VNIIMK has developed drought-tolerant sunflower hybrids, like those adapted for the Krasnodar region, contributing significantly to the agricultural industry's resilience amidst prolonged droughts, such as the one experienced in 2025.
