David Van Tassel, Kenneth Albrecht, James Bever, Arvid Boe, Yaniv Brandvain, Timothy Crews, Markus Gansberger, Pedro Gerstberg, Luciana Gonzalez-paleo, Brent Hulke, Nolan Kane, Paul Johnson, Valentin Picasso Risso, Elena Pestsova, Jarrad Prasifka, Damian Ravetta, Brandon Schlautman, Craig Sheaffer, Kevin Smith, Pablo Speranza, Kathryn Turner, Alejandra Vilela, Philippe Von Gehren, Christian Weaver
Abstract: Silphium perfoliatum L. (cup plant, silphie) and S. integrifolium Michx. (rosinweed, silflower) are in the same sub-family and tribe as sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). S. perfoliatum has been grown in many countries a forage or bioenergy crop with forage quality approaching that of alfalfa and biomass yield close to maize in some environments. S. integrifolium has large seeds with taste and oil quality similar to traditional oilseed sunflower. Silphium species are all long-lived, diploid perennials. Crops from this genus could improve the yield stability, soil, and biodiversity of agricultural landscapes because in their wild state they are deep-rooted and support pollinators. In contrast to premodern domestication, de novo domestication should be intentional and scientific. We have the luxury and obligation at this moment in history to expand the domestication ideotype from food/energy production to (1) crop-driven ecosystem services important for sustainability, (2) genetic diversity to enable breeding progress for centuries, (3) natural adaptations and microbiome associations conferring resource use efficiency and stress tolerance, (4) improving domestication theory itself by monitoring genetic, morphological and ecophysiological changes from pre-domestication baselines. Achieving these goals rapidly will require the use of next generation sequencing for marker development and an international, interdisciplinary team committed to collaboration and strategic planning.
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