The sunflower has fascinated mankind for centuries. The oilseed sunflower contributes approximately ten percent of the world’s plant-derived edible oil and the confection type sunflower holds a considerable share of the directly consumed snacks market. In addition, sunflower is also grown as an ornamental for cut flowers, as well as in home gardens. We are now embarking on the age of genomics which will expedite the process of genetic improvement of crops. There has been an explosion of information on genetic markers, DNA sequences, and genomic resources for most major food crops including sunflower. This volume is intended to bridge traditional research with modern molecular investigations on sunflower.

Basic Information: Gerald Seiler & C.C. Jan
Introduction; Economic Importance; Crop History; Botanical Description; Genetic Resources; Importance as a Model Plant; Conclusions; References.

• Classic Genetics and Breeding: Felicity Vear
Introduction; Hybrids; Breeding Methods; Breeding Objectives; Classic Genetic Mapping and Cytogenetics; Interest of Molecular Maps and Knowledge of Genomics for Conventional Genetics and Breeding; The Introduction of Genomics in Breeding since 1995; References.

• Genetic Linkage Maps: Strategies, Resources and Achievements: Jinguo Hu
Introduction; Brief History of Mapping Efforts: Morphological and Biochemical Markers; DNA-based Marker Techniques; Mapping Populations and Tools; Achievement; Published Sunflower Linkage Maps; Challenges; References.

• Mapping and Tagging of Simply Inherited Traits: Volker Hahn & Silke Wieckhorst
Introduction; Disease Resistances; Herbicide Resistance; Male Sterility; Morphological Traits; Seed Quality; References.

• Molecular Mapping of Complex Traits: Seifollah Poormohammad Kiani & Ahmad Sarrafi
Introduction; Identification Trait Loci Quantitative; Conclusion; References.

 • Gene Cloning and Characterization: Renate Horn & Sonia Hamrit
Introduction; Map-based Cloning Approaches in Sunflower; Candidate Gene Approaches based on Homology to Genes of Other Species; Verification of Candidate Genes and Functional Analyses of Genes; Conclusion; References.

• Molecular Breeding: Begoña Pérez Vich & Simon T. Berry
Introduction; Overview of Components and Objectives for Molecular Breeding; Germplasm Characterization; Molecular Strategies to Create and Identify Novel Variation; Marker-assisted Selection; Molecular Breeding in Private Sector Breeding Programs; Limitations and Prospects of MAS; References.

• Oil Composition Variations: André Bervillé
Introduction; Mutations Leading to One Main Fatty Acid Accumulated in Oil; Tocopherols; Phytosterols; Acknowledgements; References.

• Transgenic Sunflower: Miguel Angel Cantamutto & María Mónica Poverene
Introduction; Released Transgenic Crops; Transgenic Sunflower; Overcoming of Crop Constraints through Transgenic Sunflower and New Products; Debate about Transgenic Sunflower; Prospective View on Transgenic Sunflower Release; References.

• Future Prospects: Brady A. Vick & Jinguo Hu
The Past; Future Potential to Increase Productivity; Impact of Advances in Sunflower Genomics; Future Potential to Expand into Other Geographical Areas; New Uses; Outlook; References.