Latest Helianthus Stories

For more than a century, Vincent Van Gogh's series of paintings depicting overly-bushy sunflowers were thought to be the result of his alleged mental illness at work, but now could actually be realistic impressions of a genetic mutation seen in some strains of the flowers, according to a new study. Most typical sunflowers have a brown, seed-filled middle and a single ring of yellow petals. But some seem overgrown with double rows of petals -- like the "Teddy Bear" variety -- and others...

In addition to being among his most vibrant and celebrated works, Vincent van Gogh's series of sunflower paintings also depict a mutation whose genetic basis has, until now, been a mystery In addition to being among his most vibrant and celebrated works, Vincent van Gogh's series of sunflower paintings also depict a mutation whose genetic basis has, until now, been a mystery. In a study published in PLoS Genetics, a team of University of Georgia scientists reveal the mutation behind the...

NEW CASTLE, Del., March 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Environmental Protection Agency has issued Section 18 permits to market Avipel® for the 2012 planting season in the following states: Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin. The state of Pennsylvania has been granted a Section 24c allowance. Permits are pending for several other states. This action frees farmers, allowing them to protect their crops from damage by hungry birds. All seven states...

New genetic evidence presented by a team led by Indiana University biology doctoral graduate Benjamin Blackman confirms the eastern United States as the single geographic domestication site of modern sunflowers. Co-authors on the findings published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences include Blackman's advisor, IU Distinguished Professor of Biology Loren H. Rieseberg, and four others from Rieseberg's lab, as well as collaborators from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de...

New information about early Native Americans' horticultural practices comes not from hieroglyphs or other artifacts, but from a suite of four gene duplicates found in wild and domesticated sunflowers.In an upcoming issue of Current Biology, Indiana University Bloomington biologists present the first concrete evidence for how gene duplications can lead to functional diversity in organisms. In this case, the scientists learned how duplications of a gene called FLOWERING LOCUS T, or FT, could...

As agricultural land becomes increasingly valuable, the need to maximize its utilization increases and decisions about what crops to plant and where, become paramount.The sunflower family includes a number of valuable food crops, with sunflower seed production alone valued at about $14 billion annually. Yet the sunflower family is the only one of a handful of economically important plant families where a reference genome is not available to enable the breeding of crops better suited to their...

Research shows benefits, detriments of silicon supplements for ornamental flowersVibrant, showy sunflowers are revered worldwide for their beauty and versatility. While many varieties of sunflower are grown specifically for their nutritional benefits, ornamental sunflowers have become standards for commercial growers and everyday gardeners. As sunflowers' popularity grows, scientists are looking for new supplements and growing methods to enhance production and quality of this celebrated...

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati and Florida State University have confirmed evidence of domesticated sunflower in Mexico "” 4,000 years before what had been previously believed. "People sometimes ask "What is the big deal about sunflower?" says David Lentz, professor of biological sciences and executive director of the Center for Field Studies in the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Cincinnati (UC). Lentz worked with Mary Pohl from Florida State...

FARGO, N.D. -- Sunflower farmers say a German study looking into possible links between the plant and AIDS medicine may grab headlines, but they believe it's too early to increase production of the crop.Scientists at the University of Bonn say a substance used by sunflowers to fight off a plant disease could be used in new drugs to prevent HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, from reproducing.The German researchers have patented their method and are looking for private partners to manufacture the...