Integrated approach to account for the effects of variety, management, and environment on late‐cycle sunflower disease incidence and severity

This study develops integrated modelling approaches to quantify the effects of cultivar choice, cropping practices (tillage, sowing date, nitrogen fertilisation), and environmental conditions (local parasitic pressure, soil, climate) on the incidence and severity of sunflower late‐cycle diseases caused by four major fungi: Plasmopara halstedii, Diaporthe helianthi, Leptosphaeria lindquistii, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. By coupling crop and epidemiological models, the research elucidates how interactions among pathogens and management variables influence disease dynamics. The resulting tools aim to aid researchers, advisors, and breeders in designing sustainable sunflower cropping systems and in developing cultivar ideotypes tailored to integrated pest management strategies.