Wild genes to the rescue: High-throughput genomics reveals the wild source of broomrape resistance in sunflower

The co-evolutionary arms race between crops and their parasites requires continuous identification of new resistance mechanisms. Broomrape (Orobanche cumana), a root parasitic plant, poses a severe threat to sunflower (Helianthus annuus) production, yet the genetic architecture underlying host resistance remains poorly understood. To address this, we established a high-throughput phenotyping platform to quantify root infestation across a diverse sunflower association mapping (SAM) population. Co