SUNFLOWER DISEASE AND INSECT PESTS IN PAKISTAN: A REVIEW

Sun flower (Helianthus annuus L.) is one of the important oil seed crops and potentially fit in agricultural system and oil production sector of Pakistan. Various diseases, insects and nematodes attack damage the sunflower crop, results a wide range of loss in production and yield. Sunflower is susceptible to diseases of various kinds. The most serious diseases of sunflower are caused by fungi. The major diseases include rust, downy mildew, Verticillium wilt, Sclerotinia stalk and head rot, charcoal rot, blight and leaf spot. The severity of these diseases affects on crop yield. An account of important sunflower pests is discussed for brief understanding low yield of sunflower crop in Pakistan.