Research Project: Sunflower Yield, Crop Quality, and Interactions with Biotic and Abiotic Stressors

Location: Sunflower Improvement Research

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

Haplotype-phased genomes elucidate genetic architecture of environmental adaptation and domestication traits in Silphium - (Pre-print Publication)
Souza, R., Clevenger, J., Jenkins, J., Korani, W., Schmutz, J., Grimwood, J., Plott, C., Handley, L.5., Webber, J., Boston, L.B., Brandvain, Y., Miller, A., Woeltjen, S., Rubin, M., Smith, K., Hulke, B.S., Nastasi, L.F., Murrell, E., Turner, K., Harkess, A., Van Tassel, D. 2026. Haplotype-phased genomes elucidate genetic architecture of environmental adaptation and domestication traits in Silphium. Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8753360/v1.

Characterization and multivariate analysis of engineering properties of red sunflower seed weevil-infested achenes - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Jammeh, P.T., Prasifka, J.R., Hulke, B.S., Berti, M., Sun, X., Monono, E. 2026. Characterization and multivariate analysis of engineering properties of red sunflower seed weevil-infested achenes. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research. 26. Article 102749. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102749.

Aerodynamic properties of silflower seed (Silphium integrifolium): Effects of moisture content and seed morphology - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Understanding genetic architecture overcomes tradeoffs between seed quality and insect resistance - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Wild bee visitation unaffected by disparate nectar phenotypes in a sunflower inbred line population - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Prasifka, J.R., Fugate, K.K., Hulke, B.S. 2025. Wild bee visitation unaffected by disparate nectar phenotypes in a sunflower inbred line population. Crop Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70093.

Pathways to improving IPM: Understanding how the education and attitudes of crop advisors influence human-insect interactions in agriculture - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Variant filters using segregation information improve mapping of nectar production genes in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Barstow, A.C., Mcnellie, J.P., Smart, B.C., Keepers, K.G., Prasifka, J.R., Kane, N.C., Hulke, B.S. 2025. Variant filters using segregation information improve mapping of nectar production genes in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). The Plant Genome. https://doi.org/10.1002/tpg2.70042.

Early-career experiences in sunflower entomology at USDA-ARS - (Abstract Only)

Biology, ecology, and pest management of the red sunflower seed weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cluever, J.D., Bradshaw, J.D., Varenhorst, A.J., Knodel, J., Beauzay, P., Prasifka, J.R. 2025. Biology, ecology, and pest management of the red sunflower seed weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Journal of Integrated Pest Management. 16(1). Article 14. https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmaf004.

The role of cover crops in improving biodiversity - (Book / Chapter)

Genetic and pathogenic diversity among isolates of Diaporthe helianthi causing Phomopsis stem canker on cultivated sunflower - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Underwood, W. 2025. Genetic and pathogenic diversity among isolates of Diaporthe helianthi causing Phomopsis stem canker on cultivated sunflower. Plant Pathology. 74:956-967. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.14061.

Understanding genetic architecture overcomes tradeoffs between seed quality and insect resistance - (Pre-print Publication)
White, J., Mcnellie, J.P., Keepers, K.G., Smart, B.C., Portlas, Z.M., Prasifka, J.R., Kane, N.C., Hulke, B.S. 2025. Understanding genetic architecture overcomes tradeoffs between seed quality and insect resistance. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.12.20.629859.

Spatial patterns of seed weevil damage in grower fields in central South Dakota - (Abstract Only)
Cluever, J.D., Tarble, Z.J., Prasifka, J.R. 2025. Spatial patterns of seed weevil damage in grower fields in central South Dakota. Meeting Abstract.

Effects of ray petals and disc color on pollinator visitation and seed damage - (Abstract Only)
Hirzel, G., Prasifka, J.R., Cluever, J.D., Tarble, Z.J., Greenlee, K. 2025. Effects of ray petals and disc color on pollinator visitation and seed damage. Meeting Abstract.

Update on effects of planting date on seed weevil damage and other yield components - (Abstract Only)
Prasifka, J.R., Varenhorst, A., Simons, K., Cluever, J.D., Wagner, P., Ireland, S. 2025. Update on effects of planting date on seed weevil damage and other yield components. Meeting Abstract.

First report of Diaporthe caulivora causing Phomopsis stem canker on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in Minnesota - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Henning, S., Underwood, W. 2025. First report of Diaporthe caulivora causing Phomopsis stem canker on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in Minnesota. Plant Disease. 109(2):502. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-24-2068-PDN.

The impact of pollen and nectar availability on insect communities of cultivated sunflowers - (Abstract Only)
Lewis, G.M., Prischmann-Voldseth, D.A., Prasifka, J.R. 2024. The impact of pollen and nectar availability on insect communities of cultivated sunflowers. National Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting.

Population genomics of red sunflower seed weevil, Smicronyx fulvus - (Abstract Only)
Miller, N.J., Prasifka, J.R. 2024. Population genomics of red sunflower seed weevil, Smicronyx fulvus. National Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting.

Diversity and composition of pollen collected by the sunflower specialists Melissodes agilis and M. trinodis - (Abstract Only)
Prasifka, J.R., Ferguson, B., Puppo, P. 2024. Diversity and composition of pollen collected by the sunflower specialists Melissodes agilis and M. trinodis. National Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting.

She loves me / she loves me not: How petal and anthocyanin presence in cultivated sunflower affect native bee foraging preferences - (Abstract Only)
Hirzel, G.E., Greenlee, K.J., Prasifka, J.R. 2024. She loves me / she loves me not: How petal and anthocyanin presence in cultivated sunflower affect native bee foraging preferences. National Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting.

Precise, quantitative measurement of sunflower capitulum inclination: a trigonometry-based approach - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
DeValk, E.M., Koehler, B.D., Hulke, B.S. 2024. Precise, quantitative measurement of sunflower capitulum inclination: a trigonometry-based approach. Agronomy Journal. 116:2783-2790. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21708.

Environment, plant genetics, and their interaction shape important aspects of sunflower rhizosphere microbial communities - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Bueno de Mesquita, C.P., Walsh, C.M., Attia, Z., Koehler, B.D., Tarble, Z.J., Van Tassel, D.L., Kane, N.C., Hulke, B.S. 2024. Environment, plant genetics, and their interaction shape important aspects of sunflower rhizosphere microbial communities. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 90. Article e01635-24. https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.01635-24.

Advances in quantitative genetic analysis in sunflower, applied to breeding programs - (Abstract Only)
Hulke, B.S. 2024. Advances in quantitative genetic analysis in sunflower, applied to breeding programs [abstract]. Virtual 21st International Sunflower Conference, Wuyuan Inner Mongolia, China.

Association studies of salinity tolerance in sunflower provide robust breeding and selection strategies under climate change - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
McNellie, J.P., May, W., Rieseberg, L., Hulke, B.S. 2024. Association studies of salinity tolerance in sunflower provide robust breeding and selection strategies under climate change. Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 137. Article 184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-024-04672-3.

Efficacy of red sunflower seed weevil resistance from inbred line cms HA 488 in single-cross hybrids - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Prasifka, J.R., Hulke, B.S. 2024. Efficacy of red sunflower seed weevil resistance from inbred line cms HA 488 in single-cross hybrids. Agronomy Journal. 116:2081-2084. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21613.

Strategies and ongoing research for managing the red sunflower seed weevil - (Abstract Only)
Prasifka, J.R. 2024. Strategies and ongoing research for managing the red sunflower seed weevil. Meeting Abstract.

Efforts to re-establish sunflower IPM in South Dakota - (Abstract Only)
Prasifka, J.R., Varenhorst, A., Simons, K., Ireland, S. 2024. Efforts to re-establish sunflower IPM in South Dakota. Meeting Abstract.

Towards a more holistic approach for red sunflower seed weevil management - (Abstract Only)
Cluever, J.D., Prasifka, J.R. 2024. Towards a more holistic approach for red sunflower seed weevil management. Meeting Abstract.

Effects of early planting and early-maturing sunflower hybrids on damage from the red sunflower seed weevil - (Abstract Only)
Prasifka, J.R., Varenhorst, A., Simons, K., Cluever, J.D., Wagner, P., Ireland, S. 2024. Effects of early planting and early-maturing sunflower hybrids on damage from the red sunflower seed weevil. Meeting Abstract.