Evidence from a specialist parasitic insect supports range expansion of cultivated sunchoke (Helianthus tuberosus) in the Eastern Agricultural Complex

To determine the demographic and agricultural history of the sunchoke (Helianthus tuberosus), we studied the evolutionary history of an insect parasite of the sunchoke, Strauzia longitudinalis. Using population genomics and demographic modelling approaches, we determined that S. longitudinalis and thus H. tuberosus was likely distributed by humans as part of the North American Eastern Agricultural Complex.