The hexaploid species of Helianthus tuberosus is a potential source of resistance to several sunflower pathogens. But crossed with cultivated sunflower, it produces F, hybrids which have low values of fertility or even full sterility. Pollen viability and meiotic features were studied in 17 populations of the species H. tuberosus and in F1 hybrids. Significant differences in pollen viability existed between populations (47.1–98.8%). In the 15 FI hybrids, plant fertility ranged from 0 to 100 per combination, while pollen viability ranged from 12.4 to 57.1. Meiosis was almost normal in the analyzed species, and irregular in the F, hybrids. The highest percentage of meiocytes was with bivalents (85.9), but univalents (0.3) and multivalents (13.8) occurred as well. In metaphase and anaphase, the percentage of meiocytes with fast and lagging chromosomes was high. In anaphase, chromosome bridges were detected in 9.9 of the meiocytes.

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Vavilovia formosa is a relict, endangered species from the highlands of the Caucasus and the Near East. Described in 1812, it has had an uncertain status and was finally recognized as a separate genus of tribe Fabeae (Fabaceae). Our informal international group was established in 2007 to revive the interest in this species as it had been seriously neglected for decades. Here, we provide an overview of the accumulated knowledge on V. formosa and present the results of the most recent multidisciplinary research. Three expeditions were made to two locations in Armenia in 2009, providing the material for anatomical, morphological, chemical and molecular analysis. Unlike previous attempts, ex situ conservation in Yerevan and in vitro propagation, important for potential interspecific hybridization, were successful. Molecular tools were used to clarify the taxonomic position of V. formosa, often considered the closest to the extinct ancestor of the whole tribe. The analysis of four informative regions of plastid and nuclear DNA showed that V. formosa belongs to the same clade as Lathyrus and Pisum, with a distinct status. Preservation and maintenance of V. formosa remains the only basis for further development of all other scientific aspects, especially breeding and uses in agronomy. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 172, 524–531.

The object of study were 8 divergent sunflower inbred lines and 15 F 1 hybrids, which were analyzed for mode of inheritance, gene effects, combining ability and components of genetic variance for oleic and linoleic acid content. Mode of inheritance was estimated on the basis of a test of significance of mean values of F 1 hybrids in relation to the parents' mean (Borojević, 1965). Combining ability was determined by the method line × tester (Singh and Choudhary, 1976). The inheritance of oleic and linoleic acid contents varied in the F 1 generation. Dominance, partial dominance, intermediacy and heterosis were found. The inbred lines HA-22 and RHA-N-K exhibited highly significant positive GCA values for the content of oleic acid, the lines HA-74 and RHA-C-B for the content of linoleic acid. The inbred lines HA-22 and RHA-C-B exhibited highly significant negative GCA values for the content of oleic acid, the line RHA-N-K for the content of linoleic acid. All F 1 hybrids exhibited non-significant specific combining ability (SCA) for the two characteristics. Prevalence of additive gene action was observed in the control of inheritance of oleic acid content. The non-additive component, i.e., dominance and epistasis, prevailed in the control of inheritance of linoleic acid content.

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Several nutritive values for tubers of 114 Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) populations were evaluated during 2006. The used material is a part of wild sunflower species collection at the Institute of field and vegetable crops and it is situated in Rimski Šancevi, Novi Sad. The samples were analyzed as fresh tubers on 'Venema' automatic laboratory for alpha amino nitrogen, sodium and potassium content. Total sugar content was determined as the brix value on a refractometer. Total nitrogen was determined by the Kjeldahl method on dried samples. Significant variability was found for all analyzed traits. Total nitrogen varied from 0,695 to 2,179% dry weight (mean 1,23%), alpha amino nitrogen content 0,012 to 0,118% fresh weight (m. 0,07%), potassium 0,231 0,452% fresh weight (m. 0,403%) and sodium 0,0003 - 0,0143% fresh weight (m. 0,007%). Total sugar content varied from 13,69 - 22,94% fresh weight (m. 19,14%). Alpha amino nitrogen is an essential nutrient for animals so that it's presence in tubers of Jerusalem artichoke as food is positive. The protein content is similar to the one in potato and as such satisfactory for nutrition. The K/Na ratio is high which is useful, because an increased content of potassium in food can positively affect the reduction of Na/K ratio and lower systolic blood pressure by a significant amount in adults with mild hypertension. Inulin makes up to 80% of the total sugar content in the tubers of Jerusalem artichoke, and as a dietary fiber and a fructose polymer it positively influences digestion and sugar blood levels. The obtained results suggest that selection of cultivars and populations with inappropriate nutritive values is possible. Further research is needed to estimate the share of genetic in total variability and to determine whether the selection for new cultivars is justified

Three diploid perennial sunflower species are useful for variety improvement : Helianthus mollis, because of sessile leaves, H. salicifolius, because of a high oil concentration, and H. maximiliani, a potential source of resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum . The crossability of these species to cultivated sunflower was examined .Hybrids were obtained from eight combinations, with 3-15 Fl plants per combination . The 171's exhibited the dominant phenotype of the wild species . Pollen viability varied between 32 .1 and 69 .9% . Meiosis was irregular in the Fl hybrids . At diakinesis, bivalents (62 .7-97 .9% of meiocytes), univalents (0-31 .23%), and multivalents (3 .84-7 .68%) were detected . At anaphase I, chromosome bridges were detected in 6 .77 to 11 .44% of meiocytes . Fast chromosomes in metaphase I, and lagging chromosomes in anaphase I and telophase II were evidenced in a high percentage of meiocytes .

Hexaploid sunflower species provide potential sources of desirable genes in breeding for resistance to pathogens as well as high protein and oleic acid content. The possibility of using them in sunflower breeding was studied by testing the crossability of hexaploid species to cultivated sunflower, by the analysis of meiosis and pollen viability in the Fi interspecific hybrids.The hybrids were obtained from 16 combinations, with 1-18 F, plants per combination. The Fj hybrids in general exhibited the dominant phenotype of the wild species. Sterility ranged from 0 to 87.5% per F, combination, while pollen viability ranged from 43.0 to 70.2%.Meiosis was almost normal in the species analysed but irregular in the F, hybrids. Most of the meiocytes showed predominantly bivalents (86.79--90.22%), but univalents (0.00-4.99%) and the multivalents (8.23-10.09%) occurred as well. At anaphase I, chromosome bridges were detected in 6.88-8.48% of meiocytes. Fast chromosomes in metaphase I and lagging chromosomes in anaphase I and telophase II were observed in many meiocytes.