Breeding Climate-Resilient Sunflowers in the Climate Change Era: Current Breeding Strategies and Prospects
摘要
Climatic resilience, the ability of crops or plants to withstand and recover from climate change impacts, is crucial in addressing the challenges posed by global warming. Sunflower stands out as a robust oilseed crop, thriving in diverse agro-environments ranging from temperate to tropical climates. In hybrid breeding for sunflowers, the key objectives include enhancing their sustainability in the face of climate change by developing genotypes resistant to diseases, drought, and salinity, while also maximizing seed and oil production. Moreover, there is a growing demand for hybrids with modified oil traits, confectionery attributes, herbicide tolerance, and ornamental qualities. To achieve these goals, various native germplasms, including landraces, domesticated hybrids, variations, and Helianthus wild species, along with genetically modified strains, have been developed using cutting-edge sunflower breeding technologies. While sunflowers are susceptible to several diseases, only a select few significantly impact seed yield. Abiotic stresses like drought, salinity, heat, frost, heavy metals, and UV radiation also pose considerable threats. Sunflowers boast a broad genetic diversity, benefiting from advances in genomics and next-generation sequencing methods. These advancements aid in pinpointing valuable genes from the vast gene pool of wild relatives, enhancing sunflowers’ ability to adapt to changing environments. This chapter delves into the technological innovations and agricultural enhancements applied to sunflowers, ensuring their resilience amidst the challenges of climate change.