title: Sunflower genetic, genomic and ecological resources.
abstract: Long a major focus of genetic research and breeding, sunflowers (Helianthus) are emerging as an increasingly important experimental system for ecological and evolutionary studies. Here, we review the various attributes of wild and domesticated sunflowers that make them valuable for ecological experimentation and describe the numerous publicly available resources that have enabled rapid advances in ecological and evolutionary genetics. Resources include seed collections available from germplasm centres at the USDA and INRA, genomic and EST sequences, mapping populations, genetic markers, genetic and physical maps and other forward- and reverse-genetic tools. We also discuss some of the key evolutionary, genetic and ecological questions being addressed in sunflowers, as well as gaps in our knowledge and promising areas for future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. nckane@gmail.com
authors.forename: Nolan C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marek
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seiler
authors.forename: Felicity
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vear
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baute
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Knapp
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vincourt
authors.forename: Loren H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Rieseberg
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D004463:Ecology / Q000379:methods*; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D018745:Genome, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D006368:Helianthus / Q000235:genetics*; D020161:Physical Chromosome Mapping; D012639:Seeds; D013048:Specimen Handling
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers