In the state variety testing system, sunflower lodging resistance is evaluated on a 5-point scale. The assessment is conducted visually up to harvest, taking into account the plants' ability to straighten. A score of 5 is assigned to non-lodging varieties, while 1 point corresponds to severe lodging that makes mechanical harvesting impossible.
In addition to the point score, specialists record the type of damage, the plant development stage, and the conditions that triggered the phenomenon, such as stand density, weather conditions, or disease infection. The risk of sunflower lodging increases significantly with pathologies that weaken stem and root tissues, for example, Phoma infection.
Key agrotechnical factors for preventing lodging are the optimization of sowing density and balanced nitrogen nutrition, which prevents the formation of excessively thin stems. Morphological features of the plants, including the high windage of the flower head, also play a significant role in resistance to wind loads.
General information about the subject — on the page
Lodging.