Molecular inflammation is a pivotal process in various degenerative immune diseases, including asthma and atopic dermatitis. In this study, we examined the effects of Helianthus annuus seed (HAS) aqueous extract on an in vivo anti-asthmatic model. Ovalbumin-induced mice were orally administered the aqueous extract of Helianthus annuus seeds, and their lungs were assessed by hematoxylin and eosi...

The primary requirement for a new diploid species to arise via hybridization is ecological divergence from its parental species. Ecological divergence protects the nascent hybrid species from competition with its progenitor species and may contribute to reproductive isolation. However, the means by which hybridization might facilitate the necessary adaptive transitions are poorly understood. He...

Determining the genetic structure of isolated or fragmented species is of critical importance when planning a suitable conservation strategy. In this study, we use nuclear and chloroplast SSRs (simple sequence repeats) to investigate the population genetics of an extremely rare sunflower, Helianthus verticillatus Small, which is known from only three locations in North America. We investigated ...

A set of 250 distinct, stable, and uniform backcross-derived inbred lines were developed in sunflower through 5 interspecific cross combinations involving 4 wild diploid annual species (Helianthus argophyllus, H. petiolaris, H. annuus, and H. debilis). The presence of the wild-species genome in these inbred lines was confirmed through higher chromosome associations (tri- and quadrivalents) at d...

Can the complex phenotypes that characterize naturally occurring hybrid species be re-created in early-generation artificial hybrids? We address this question with three homoploid hybrid species (Helianthus anomalus, Helianthus deserticola, Helianthus paradoxus) and their ancestral parents (Helianthus annuus, Helianthus petiolaris) that are phenotypically distinct and ecologically differentiate...

In recent decades allelopathy has gained much attention in the sustainable agricultural systems. It is necessary to trace out the mechanism of action of allelochemicals of plants on other plants. Allelochemicals of different plants interact differently with each other. In the present context an attempt has been made to study the influence of allelochemicals released by Parthenium on the growth,...

In present investigation, the seeds of Helianthus annuus L. variety Modern were treated with nine different concentrations (0.05%, 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, 1.00%, 1.25%, 1.50%, 1.75% and 2.00%) of caffeine to raise the M1 generation and the effect of caffeine on seedling height on 30 th day of sowing, mature plant height, days to maturity and yield parameters was observed. Generally, the lower dose...

The response of RIMI [imazethapyr-tolerant (T)] sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrid and the local imazethapyr-sensitive hybrid "Zoltan" (S) was investigated under controlled conditions. Hybrids grown in pots were treated post-emergence with imazethapyr at the two pairs of leaves stage. Visual injury evaluation and vegetative parameters were recorded. ALS (acetolactate synthase) enzyme activ...