Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an important oilseed crop, valued for its high-quality edible oil and protein-rich byproducts. Its economic and agricultural significance continues to grow due to increasing demand for vegetable oil and renewable resources worldwide. The following research provides a comprehensive analysis of sunflower biology, agronomy, and genetics, emphasizing traits crucial for its sustainable crop production. The description of sunflower taxonomy, classification, and morpho-biological features succeeded in highlighting its structural diversity and adaptability to diverse agroecological zones. Physiological and agronomic traits, such as growth dynamics, yield potential, and oil composition, attained examination in interaction with environmental factors and cultivation practices. Special attention focused on the sunflower’s resistance to major pests and diseases influencing global production. Furthermore, the study reviewed the genetic resources and molecular seed production tools, including marker-assisted selection and genomic mapping, which accelerate the development of improved cultivars with higher yield, better oil quality, and enhanced stress tolerance. The summary of data from national and international genetic collections resulted in tabular form. The findings underline the importance of integrating classical selection with molecular approaches to meet the challenges based on climate change and sustainable agricultural development.
Sunflower (H. annuus L.), genetics, morphology, physiology, resistance, stress, seed production, molecular markers
The study confirmed the substantial genetic and morphological diversity in the regional and global sunflower (H. annuus L.) collections, providing valuable resources for seed production. The integration of molecular markers and genomic technologies has considerably accelerated the identification of desirable traits, enabling the development of improved sunflower cultivars with enhanced yield, oil quality, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.