HARSHA VARDHINI R.*, PRADEEP M., VENKATARAVANAPPA V., VENKARAMANAMMA K. AND SUJATHA M.

Department of Plant Pathology, S.V. Agricultural College, ANGRAU, Tirupati – 517 502.

ABSTRACT   

Leaf curl disease is becoming a significant threat to sunflower cultivation in major growing regions of Andhra Pradesh. A roving survey was conducted in major growing regions of sunflower in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka during rabi season 2022-2023. The major symptoms of sunflower leaf curl disease observed are vein clearing, vein thickening, upward curling of leaves, reduction in the leaf size, enations, stunted growth with reduced ear head resulted poor seed set. The leaf curl disease incidence recorded from 24.80 to 56.30 per cent. Highest disease incidence was noticed in Sunbreed- 275 hybrid (56.30%). The prevalence of leaf curl disease was found to be greater in hybrids of sunflower than varieties. On an average whitefly population per leaf was noticed ranged from six whiteflies. The survey was conducted for the first time on this disease in Andhra Pradesh and advanced research and gaining valuable insights form further studies is crucial.

KEYWORDS: Sunflower, survey, leaf curl, begomovirus, percent disease incidence, whitefly.