*2.1.1 Selection of drought tolerant genotypes during pollen germination on the stigmas in vivo*

Undoubtedly, successful selection for any trait is possible only if there is a genetic variability for this trait. This also applies to the trait of drought tolerance in sunflowers. Therefore, in order to prove the effectiveness of microgametophytic selection for drought resistance, genetic variability for this trait at the level of the male gametophyte (pollen) was created artificially. For this, *F*1 hybrid was obtained from the crossing of inbred sunflower lines with contrasting drought resistance which was
