21AU8868WHelianthus Perennial Sunflower

Wild perennial relatives of sunflower

There are 82 species of sunflowers (genus Helianthus), all native to North America. Of these, 38 are perennials. Sunflower breeders have crossed many of these species with the crop sunflower because they are a source of useful genes.

 

All wild sunflower speciesPerennial sunflower speciesThe domestic sunflower

Wild species supply genes for conventional breeding programsWild perennials are a source of genes for perennial grain breedingAnnual crop sunflower is a source of genes for perennial grain breeding

drought resistance

new types of oils

disease resistance

deep, persistent roots

rhizomes

tubers

cold tolerance

spring emergence

Large seeds

Shatter resistance

Fast germination and seedling growth

High seed yields

Perennial sunflowers survive the winter by storing food in underground freezing-tolerant stems called rhizomes. Rhizomes enable a plant to spread into new territory. Tubers are storage organs and are modified rhizomes.

Done