19 Mar 5 important diseases of Sunflower and their management
सूरजमुखी के 5 प्रमुख रोग और उनका प्रबंधन Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) belongs to family Compositae. The root system consists of tap root going up to 3 meter depth with larger lateral spread of feeder roots. It is an annual, erect herbaceous plant. Sunflower is grown in India as an ornamental plant since ancient time. But as an oilseed crop, it was introduced in 1969 only. Commercial cultivation of this in India was started in 1972 in few hectares land in southern states. Because of the certain qualities, sunflower becomes popular even in northern states also. Economic Importance of Sunflower The favourable features for the phenomenal growth of sunflower in India are, wide adoptability to range of agro climatic conditions and soil types, photoperiod insensitivity overcoming seasonal variations, Short duration (70-100 days), high yield potential of seed and oil, high quality edible oil (high PUFA content), high seed multiplication ratio (>1:80), Easier and cheaper cultivation of the crop (low seed rate, no specialized operations, low water requirement), remunerative market price and non branched determinate plant type with single head. 1. Downy mildew in sunflower: Plasmopara halstedii Sunflower downy mildew was first described from the North-Eastern United States in the late 19th century on Eupatorium. Sunflower downy mildew can cause heavy losses of up to 50-95 percent in cool...