Object: Breeding of sunflower F1 hybrids for adaptability. Aim: Theoretical rationale, development and improvement of methodological approaches to heterosis breeding of sunflower for adaptability and their practical application. Methods: General scientific, field, measuring/weighing, laboratory, statistical. Novelty: A scientific problem of increasing in adaptive capacity of sunflower hybrids to changing environmental conditions was solved, and the solution differs from the previously known research results by a systemic approach. A model of high-yielding hybrids of oleic type was theoretically rationalized and developed, which enables targeted selection of promising hybrid combinations for corresponding environmental conditions; methodical approaches to determining ecological plasticity of breeding material was developed; major traits, variability of which provides adaptability of hybrids to the conditions of Eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, were identified; patterns of leaf surface dynamics and peculiarities of formation of structural characteristics of anthodium in sunflower lines and hybrids were defined; inheritance patterns of reaction norm of major breeding traits in sunflower hybrids were determined; a method for evaluation and prediction of genetic value of sunflower lines was theoretically grounded and developed. Results: Methods for assessment of sunflower breeding material by leaf surface area in different developmental phases of plants and quantitative traits of anthodium were developed by the applicant as a co-author. Methodical approaches to determination and prediction of genetic value of lines to create highly-heterosis hybrids with enhanced adaptability and to evaluation of ecological plasticity of breeding material using multivariate analysis were developed. Twenty sunflower hybrids belonging to short-season, early-ripening and middle-early groups (Kursor, Kochetok, Batyanya, Romans, Rurik, Trubizh, Taim, Borey, Rubikon, Registr, Raut, Maksimus, Sait, Truvor, Elitnyanskyy, Yuriivskyy) and 5 parental lines were created. Methodical approaches to plant breeding field crops for adaptability and heterosis were developed, improved and published in monographs and manuals. Degree of Implementation: The sixteen sunflower hybrids created are introduced in agricultural production and annually grown on the area of over 56,000 hectares. Four more hybrids are being tested in the state expert examination. The methodological approaches to breeding for adaptability and heterosis are used in theoretical research, breeding practice and the education process of research and higher education institutions. Field of Implementation: scientific institutions of NAAS of Ukraine, institu-tions of higher education, agricultural enterprises of all forms of ownership of the agricultural sector of Ukraine.
