Silflower (Silphium integrifolium Michx.) has been identified as a candidate for domestication as a perennial oilseed crop. In order to successfully domesticate silflower it will be necessary to identify traits that should be targeted for selection. We have conducted the first multilocation trial of replicated silflower genotypes at six sites across four states. By observing architectural, phenological, and yield traits in a diversity panel of silflower breeding material, we were able to estimate the heritability of these traits, as well as patterns of correlation across years and environments. We found that this population expressed heritable variation for many, but not all, traits of interest, and that targeted introgression of diversity may be beneficial for some traits. In addition, we used regression analysis to identify several traits, particularly height, number of stalks per plant, and stalk diameter as important contributors to determining levels of yield and levels of lodging. These results will help to guide future silflower domestication efforts and have already shaped the direction of our breeding program.

中文翻译：

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评估白花 (Silphium integrifolium Michx.) 的表型多样性，以确定驯化选择感兴趣的性状

银花 ( Silphium integlifolium)Michx.) 已被确定为作为多年生油籽作物驯化的候选者。为了成功驯化银花，有必要确定应作为选择目标的性状。我们在四个州的六个地点对复制的 silflower 基因型进行了首次多地点试验。通过观察银花育种材料多样性面板中的建筑、物候和产量性状，我们能够估计这些性状的遗传力，以及跨年份和环境的相关模式。我们发现，这个群体对许多（但不是全部）感兴趣的性状表达了可遗传的变异，并且有针对性的多样性渗入可能对某些性状有益。此外，我们使用回归分析来确定几个特征，特别是身高，每株植物的茎数和茎直径是决定产量水平和倒伏水平的重要因素。这些结果将有助于指导未来的白银驯化工作，并已经确定了我们育种计划的方向。