Sunflower is an important oil seed crop grown in temperate countries.

Sunflower originated in North America.

Sunflower is grown over an area of more than 25 million hectares globally in about 70 countries with a world average yield of 1637 kg/ha.

The major Sunflower growing states of India are Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Orissa and Tamil Nadu.

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Division: Magnoliophyta
• Class: Magnoliopsida
• Order: Asterales
• Family: Asteraceae
• Genus: Helianthus
• Species: annuus

• Seeds and oil are the most economic important part of Sunflower.
• Latex from leaves are a source of rubber.
• Stalks are raw material for the paper industry.
• De-oiled meal is used as a animal feed.

Sunflower crops requires a cool climate during germination and seedling stage.

Warm weather from seedling up to flowering is ideal

High humidity together with cloudy weather and rainfall at the time of flowering results in poor seed set.

The seasonal rainfall requirement for a good crop of Sunflower is about 500mm.

Sunflower performs well on a wide range of soils such as sandy loams, black soils and alluviums.

It also performs best in fertile, well drained neutral soils.

A pH of 6.5 to 8.0 is ideal for its Sunflower cultivation.

Sunflower can tolerate slight alkaline conditions but not acidity.

• The major challenges involve Biotic and Abiotic causes.
• Biotic Causes:
  • Major Pests: Cutworms, Green Stink Bug, American Boll Worm, Aphid and Head Caterpillar.
  • Major Diseases: Alternaria Leaf Blight, Downy Mildew, Phoma Blight, Powdery Mildew and Septoria Leaf Spot.
• Abiotic Causes:
  • Buds browning
  • Splitting
  • Sunburn