THIS PROJECT (PROJECT DIRECTOR: EMILY WARSCHEFSKY) WILL IDENTIFY SV IN THE CULTIVATED AND WILD H. ANNUUS GENOME THAT HAVE BEEN THE TARGET OF SELECTION, INTRODUCED VIA INTROGRESSION, OR ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ADAPTATION TO PARTICULAR ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS. ADDITIONALLY, SV THAT CONTRIBUTE TO GENETIC LOAD IN SUNFLOWER WILL BE IDENTIFIED. FURTHERMORE, THIS PROJECT WILL TEST WHETHER SV HAS CHANGED THE CORRELATIONS BETWEEN AGRICULTURALLY IMPORTANT TRAITS, SUCH AS SEED DIMENSIONS. AS SUCH, IN LINE WITH THE AFRI PRIORITY AREA: PLANT HEALTH AND PRODUCTION AND PLANT PRODUCTS, THE RESULTS OF THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE TO ALL CROP BREEDING PROGRAMS AND WILL DIRECTLY BENEFIT SUNFLOWER BREEDING PRACTICES.