Combined approach for identification of phenotypic and -omics markers that could be included in sunflower breeding programs

Abstract

Diversity in plant genetic resources provides an opportunity for plant breeders to develop new and improved cultivars with altered quality traits, resistant to diseases and unfavourable environment. Novel approaches in genotyping and phenotyping enabled more efficient data collection for identification of quantitative characters and to explain the genetic basis of agriculturally important traits. The flip side of these new approaches is the risk of drowning in the massive amounts of data. That is why it is essential to develop proper approaches for data management and integrated analysis of differently collected data. Within the framework of ongolng projects, we have started to perform comparative phenotypic, metabolic and molecular analyses of 7 annual and 21 perennial wild sunflower (Helianthus spp.) species, as well as 19 genotypes of cultivated sunflower.