Progress and Bottlenecks in the Early Domestication of the Perennial Oilseed Silphium integrifolium, a Sunflower Substitute

Alejandra Vilela, Luciana González-Paleo, Kathryn Turner, Kelsey Peterson, Damián Ravetta, Timothy E. Crews and David Van Tassel
Additional contact information
Alejandra Vilela: National Scientific and Technical Research Council (MEF-CONICET), Fontana 140, Trelew, Chubut, Argentina
Luciana González-Paleo: National Scientific and Technical Research Council (MEF-CONICET), Fontana 140, Trelew, Chubut, Argentina
Kathryn Turner: The Land Institute, 2440 E Water Well Rd, Salina, KS 67401, USA, turner@landinstitute.org (K.T.)
Kelsey Peterson: The Land Institute, 2440 E Water Well Rd, Salina, KS 67401, USA, turner@landinstitute.org (K.T.)
Damián Ravetta: National Scientific and Technical Research Council (MEF-CONICET), Fontana 140, Trelew, Chubut, Argentina
Timothy E. Crews: The Land Institute, 2440 E Water Well Rd, Salina, KS 67401, USA, turner@landinstitute.org (K.T.)
David Van Tassel: The Land Institute, 2440 E Water Well Rd, Salina, KS 67401, USA, turner@landinstitute.org (K.T.)

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 3, 1-23

Abstract: Silflower ( Silphium integrifolium Michx.) is in the early stages of domestication as a perennial version of oilseed sunflower, its close relative. Grain crops with deep perennial root systems will provide farmers with new alternatives for managing soil moisture and limiting or remediating soil erosion, fertilizer leaching, and loss of soil biota. Several cycles of selection for increased seed production potential following initial germplasm evaluation in 2002 have provided opportunities to document the botany and ecology of this relatively obscure species, to compare agronomic practices for improving its propagation and management, and to evaluate the differences between semi-domesticated and wild accessions that have accrued over this time through intentional and unintentional genetic processes. Key findings include: domestication has increased aboveground biomass at seedling and adult stages; seed yield has increased more, achieving modest improvement in harvest index. Harvest index decreases with nitrogen fertilization. Silflower acquires nitrogen and water from greater depth than typical crops. In agricultural silflower stands within its native range, we found that Puccinia silphii (rust) and Eucosma giganteana (moth) populations build up to unacceptable levels, but we also found genetic variation for traits contributing to resistance or tolerance. Breeding or management for reduced height and vegetative plasticity should be top priorities for future silflower research outside its native range.

Keywords: harvest index; yield components; specialist pests; N acquisition; new crops; breeding (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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