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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sunflower Improvement Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #421722
Research Project: Sunflower Yield, Crop Quality, and Interactions with Biotic and Abiotic Stressors

Location: Sunflower Improvement Research

Title: Effects of ray petals and disc color on pollinator visitation and seed damage

Author
item HIRZEL, GRACE - North Dakota State University
item Prasifka, Jarrad
item Cluever, Jeffrey
item Tarble, Zachary
item GREENLEE, KENDRA - North Dakota State University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/10/2024
Publication Date: 1/8/2025
Citation: 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.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sunflower pests and beneficial insects like pollinators use visual cues in the environment to locate plants. We used a population segregating for visual traits of petal number and disc floret color to assess the importance of these traits to pollinator visits and seed damage by pests (red sunflower seed weevil and banded sunflower moth). Though neither of the visual traits seems likely to be adopted for incorporation into commercial sunflower hybrids, development of this population provides a resource for future experiments and allows us to understand the role of visual cues relative to other traits in sunflower-insect interactions.