Intraspecific divergence within Helianthus niveus

Wild germplasm are valuable sources of beneficial alleles for crop improvement; therefore, collecting and characterizing the genetic diversity of crop wild relatives can contribute importantly to sustainable crop production and food security. Wild sunflower Helianthus niveus is partially cross-compatible with the cultivated sunflower (H. annuus) and is known for its high seed oil content and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, especially drought. Here we assess patterns of genetic variation and divergence among three previously described subspecies (subsp. niveus, subsp. canescens, and subsp. tephrodes), as well as two new morphotypes of H. niveus recently discovered in Baja California, Mexico.