Integrated Disease Management of Sunflower Necrosis Disease

Management of sunflower necrosis disease (SND) was attempted with 15 treatments comprising of chemical and non-chemical methods for two consecutive years. Seed treatment with thiomethoxam and three sprays of thiomethoxam at 15, 30 and 45 days after sowing along with 3 rows of border crop sorghum followed by seed treatment with imidacloprid and three sprays of imidacloprid along with 3 rows of border crop sorghum were found best in reducing the disease incidence (3.80per cent and 4.65per cent respectively compared to 21.16 per cent in control) and the thrips population (0.56 and 0.70 thrips/plant compared to 4.06 thrips/plant in control). The next best treatments were seed treatment and three sprays of imidacloprid or thiamethoxam including roguing of infected plants. The treatments not only reduced SND infection and thrips population but also increased yield and yield parameters in sunflower cv. Morden.