Abstract
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is indigenous to the New World with domesticated types characterized by a single stem with a large seed head. Archeological evidence has indicted that domestication occurred in the Eastern United States. However, images of domesticated sunflower are found in a pre-Hispanic Aztec stone sculpture, various 16th century images from New Spain (present day Mexico), and 16th century European herbals based on imported seed. Iconographic, linguistic, and archaeological evidence confirm that the domesticated types were known by the Aztec previous to the conquest of Cortés in 1522. This evidence suggests either an independent domestication of sunflower in Mexico or a pre-Hispanic migration from North America.
Highlights
The sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is the third most important world oilseed
Images of domesticated sunflower are found in a pre-Hispanic Aztec stone sculpture, various 16th century images from New Spain, and 16th century European herbals based on imported seed
The iconographic evidence cannot differentiate between an independent sunflower domestication in Mexico and a pre-Hispanic migration of domesticated plants from North America
Summary
The sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is the third most important world oilseed. World oilseed production in millions of tonnes for 2019/2020 was soybean (337.5), rapeseed (44.3), sunflower (53.5), peanut (44.5), and African oil palm kernel (20.0) (www.statista.com). Sunflower seed oil is used for cooking, margarine, salad dressings, lubrication, soaps, illumination and as a component of paints and varnishes (Duke, 1983). Decorticated press-cake is used as a high protein food for livestock. Sunflower seed is widely used for wild and caged birds, raw or roasted salted kernels are a popular snack food, and hulls provide filler in livestock feeds and bedding. Plants are used for fodder and silage. Major producers are Ukraine, Russia, Argentina, China, and Romania (Pilorgé, 2020)
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