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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sunflower and Plant Biology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #369676
Research Project: Genetic Enhancement of Sunflower Yield and Tolerance to Biotic Stress

Location: Sunflower and Plant Biology Research

Title: Screening hydrocarbon yields of sunflowers: Helianthus maximiliani, H. grosseserratus H. nuttallii, and H. tuberosus in the North Dakota-Minnesota-South Dakota area

Author
item ADAMS, ROBERT - Baylor University
item JOHNSON, SAM - Baylor University
item Seiler, Gerald

Submitted to: Phytologia
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/29/2019
Publication Date: 12/21/2019
Citation: Adams, R., Johnson, S., Seiler, G.J. 2019. Screening hydrocarbon yields of sunflowers: Helianthus maximiliani, H. grosseserratus H. nuttallii, and H. tuberosus in the North Dakota-Minnesota-South Dakota area. Phytologia. 101(4):208-217.

Interpretive Summary: There is considerable interest in developing bio-renewable sources of hydrocarbons as alternative sources of fuels, chemicals, feeds, and other important materials from perennial species. Among the 39 perennial wild relatives of the U.S. sunflower crop, only a limited number of species have been evaluated for hydrocarbons. The current study analyzed four perennial sunflower species from the Minnesota-North Dakota-South Dakota area for hydrocarbons. Yields varied geographically with lower hydrocarbons obtained from the North Central U.S compared to similar species from Oklahoma and Texas. One of the species analyzed, Jerusalem artichoke, had a moderate hydrocarbon yield and high potential for biomass production, making it a potential candidate for hydrocarbon production. Because simultaneous breeding for increased hydrocarbons and biomass yield in wild sunflower is achievable, some of these perennial species could be developed to help reduce our nation's dependency on foreign sources of materials and to stimulate economic growth.

Technical Abstract: Analyses of biomass (g DW 10 leaves), % HC yields, and g HC yield/ g DW 10 leaves for four perennial sunflower species, Helianthus grosseserratus, H. maximiliani, H. nuttallii ssp. ssp. rydbergii, and H. tuberosus revealed that these taxa are all low in biomass in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Percent HC yields were lower (H. grosseserratus 5.42, H. maximiliani 3.18, H. nuttallii ssp. ssp. rydbergii 4.37, H. tuberosus 2.97%) than in annual, H. annuus in Texas. The small amount of biomass coupled with low % HC resulted in meager HC yields (g HC/ g DW leaves). However, a few high HC yielding plants were found: 7.76% H. nuttallii; 5.97% H. grosseserratus; 4.40% H. tuberosus; and 4.95% H. maximiliani. Population variability in HC yields varied geographically and also between populations, suggesting the micro-habitat environments are important, as well as limited genetic population size.