Comparative pericarp anatomy of wild perennial Helianthus L. species

Abstract

The production of high yielding cultivated sunflower genotypes, which are of higher and improved quality, as well as of increased resistance to abiotic and biotic factors, has been the main goal in the process of breeding. Apart from the taxonomically useful information, the characteristics of pericarp are very important in defining the fruit yield potential. General anatomy of the sunflower fruit is relatively well known, but not enough attention has been given to the research of the anatomic characteristics of the pericarp as potentially important parameters in the breeding programme. Therefore, we considered that it was important to make very detailed comparative analysis of pericarp anatomic characteristics of the 19 wild perennial Helianthus species. The plant material was cultivated in the experimental field. For anatomical observation mature achenes were randomly selected and cross sections were obtained from the middle part of the fruit, using cryotechnic procedure.