Genetic analyses of the domestication syndrome have revealed that domestication-related traits typically have a very similar genetic architecture across most crops, being conditioned by a small number of quantitative trait loci (QTL), each with a relatively large effect on the phenotype. To date, the domestication of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) stands as the only counterexample to this pat...

The sunflower (Helianthus annuus) genome contains a very large proportion of transposable elements, especially long terminal repeat retrotransposons. However, knowledge on the retrotransposon-related variability within this species is still limited. We used next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies to perform a quantitative and qualitative survey of intraspecific variation of the retrotrans...

The present study was aimed to isolate bioactive metabolites produced by a fungal endophyte from Helianthus annuus, Capsicum annuum, and Cucumis sativus and to assess their role in seed germination. Culture filtrate of the endophyte HA-3B from H. annuus was significantly inhibitory towards the germination and growth of lettuce seeds. HA-3B was identified as Cladosporium cladosporioides LWL5 thr...

Although cavitation and refilling cycles could be common in plants, it is unknown whether these cycles weaken the cavitation resistance of xylem. Stem or petiole segments were tested for cavitation resistance before and after a controlled cavitation-refilling cycle. Cavitation was induced by centrifugation, air drying of shoots, or soil drought. Except for droughted plants, material was not sig...

Crop wild relatives (CWR) are a rich source of genetic diversity for crop improvement. Combining ecogeographic and phylogenetic techniques can inform both conservation and breeding. Geographic occurrence, bioclimatic, and biophysical data were used to predict species distributions, range overlap and niche occupancy in 36 taxa closely related to sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Taxa lacking com...

Pot-based phenotyping of drought response sometimes maintains suboptimal soil water content by applying high-frequency deficit irrigation (HFDI). We examined the effect of this treatment on water and abscisic acid (ABA) relations of two species (Helianthus annuus and Populus nigra). Suboptimal soil water content was maintained by frequent irrigation, and compared with the effects of withholding...

Article history: Received on: 11/05/2016 Revised on: 06/07/2016 Accepted on: 24/07/2016 Available online: 26/08/2016 Systematic screening of culturable endophytic bacteria for production of poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) [P(3HB)] has resulted in the isolation of a potent strain identified as Bacillus cereus HAL 03 (GenBank Accession No. KR869088) from leaf tissue of Helianthus annuus L. Production...

This study aimed to control lesser grain borer Rhizopertha dominica via using of Zingier officinale (ginger) and Helianthus annuus (sunflower) oils as protectant Tritium spp. The inhibition rates were 38.00, 28.98, 22.67 4.60% respectively when the wheat treated by 0.5, 1, 1.5and 2% sunflower oil while 35.50, 28.00, 7.25 3.25% same concentrations Z. oil. damage assessments decreased increasing ...

A natural dye lawsone (2-hydroxy-1, 4-naphthoquinone) was isolated from dry leaves of Lawsonia inermis L., by extraction with clove oil, ethyl alcohol, water and its effectiveness as staining agent for angiospermic stem tissue was studied. Lawsonia revealed meta-chromatic property of staining. A 10%w/v crude extract of Lawsonia inermis L., leaves in ethyl alcohol and water were used for stainin...