Thermal biology and overwintering behavior of the red sunflower seed weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Most natural mortality of the red sunflower seed weevil, Smicronyx fulvus LeConte (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), occurs while larvae overwinter in the soil. To test the hypothesis that S. fulvus mortality is related to low temperatures, experiments were used to (i) evaluate the temperature at which larvae freeze (= supercooling point [SCP]), (ii) assess possible vertical movement between entry into the soil in fall and adult emergence in summer, and (iii) determine if realistic soil temperatures could explain patterns of overwintering mortality.

Genetic mapping of a pollinator preference trait: Nectar volume in sunflower ( L.).

Although high pollinator visitation is crucial to ensure the yields of pollinator-dependent crops, the quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling nectar volume in sunflower ( L.), a pollinator preference trait, have yet to be identified. To address this, a recombinant inbred line mapping population, derived from lines with contrasting nectar volume, was used to identify loci responsible for the phenotype.

Vitrification of Lepidopteran Embryos-A Simple Protocol to Cryopreserve the Embryos of the Sunflower Moth, .

Embryos of the sunflower moth, (Hulst), were cryopreserved after modification to the method that was previously described for . The workflow to develop the protocol consisted of methods to weaken the embryonic chorion followed by the application of various methods to disrupt the sub-chorionic wax layer. These steps were necessary to render the embryos permeable to water and cryoprotectants.

Testing for evolutionary change in restoration: A genomic comparison between , native, and commercial seed sources of .

Globally imperiled ecosystems often depend upon collection, propagation, and storage of seed material for use in restoration. However, during the restoration process demographic changes, population bottlenecks, and selection can alter the genetic composition of seed material, with potential impacts for restoration success. The evolutionary outcomes associated with these processes have been demonstrated using theoretical and experimental frameworks, but no study to date has examined their impact on the seed material maintained for conservation and restoration.

Fatty Acid Data and Crop Surveys Indicate Sources of Red Sunflower Seed Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Populations and Suggest Strategies for Management.

The red sunflower seed weevil, Smicronyx fulvus L., is a univoltine seed-feeding pest of cultivated sunflower, Helianthus annuus L. Artificial infestations of S.