The impact of crop management on sunflower diseases

The most significant fungal diseases affecting sunflower crops are phoma (Phoma macdonaldii), downy mildew (Plasmopara halstedii), phomopsis (Phomopsis helianthi) and sclerotinia (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum). Thanks to genetic progress, the main method of controlling sunflower diseases today relies on the use of varieties with good disease resistance. Agronomic control encompasses a range of measures that help to reduce the risk of infection and limit the impact of such infections on the crop. Based on prevention (e.g. crop rotation), avoidance (e.g. sowing date) or the creation of conditions unfavourable to the pathogen’s growth (restricting vegetative growth), these measures are all practices whose partial effectiveness against sunflower diseases has been demonstrated. The combination, over time and across the region, of agronomic, genetic, chemical and biological control methods is the key to effective and sustainable management of sunflower diseases.