Final answer:
The statement that the present-day Southeastern United States was a center of plant domestication is true, with evidence of early indigenous peoples domesticating crops such as sunflowers and squash.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement regarding the region of the present-day Southeastern United States being one of the world's independent centers for plant domestication is TRUE. Archaeological evidence suggests that this region was indeed a center of early plant domestication, where indigenous peoples domesticated several key crops well before the arrival of Europeans. Some of the most notable crops domesticated include sunflowers, marsh elder, and certain varieties of squash and gourd. These contributions are an important part of the history of agriculture and highlight the advanced nature of pre-Columbian societies in North America.