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Making Better Decisions - Agricultural - Colorado State University College of Agricultural ...
Technical Report TR 21-6

       Agricultural
               Experiment Station
College of Agricultural Sciences   Department of Soil & Crop Sciences   Extension

Making
Better
Decisions

                                                              2021 Colorado
                                                                Sunflower
                                                                 Variety
                                                               Performance
                                                                  Trials
Making Better Decisions - Agricultural - Colorado State University College of Agricultural ...
For the fastest access to up-to-date variety information and results visit us at:
www.csucrops.com

Research conducted by Colorado State University Crops Testing Program
Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
Colorado State University Extension
Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station

Disclaimer

**Mention of a trademark or proprietary product does not constitute endorsement by the
Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station.**

Colorado State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and complies
with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding
affirmative action requirements in all programs. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located
in 101 Student Services. In order to assist Colorado State University in meeting its affirmative
action responsibilities, ethnic minorities, women, and other protected class members are
encouraged to apply and to so identify themselves.

2
Making Better Decisions - Agricultural - Colorado State University College of Agricultural ...
Table of Contents
Authors.......................................................................................................................................................3
Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................................3
Summary of the 2021 Colorado Sunflower Hybrid Performance Trials...........................................4
2021 Irrigated Oil Sunflower Hybrid Performance Trial at Burlington............................................6
2021 Irrigated Confection Sunflower Hybrid Performance Trial at Burlington...............................7
2021 Irrigated Confection Sunflower Hybrid Performance Trial at Prospect Valley......................8
2021 Irrigated Oil Sunflower Hybrid Performance Trial at Prospect Valley....................................9
2021 Dryland Oil Sunflower Hybrid Performance Trial at Julesburg.............................................10
2021 Dryland Oil Sunflower Hybrid Performance Trial at Sheridan Lake.....................................11
White Mold of Sunflower........................................................................................................................12

                                                                      Authors

Sally Jones-Diamond - Director - Crops Testing, CSU Department of Soil and Crop Sciences,
Phone: 970-214-4611, E-mail: sally.jones@colostate.edu

Ed Asfeld - Research Associate - Crops Testing, CSU Department of Soil and Crop Sciences,
40335 CR GG, Akron, CO 80720, Phone: 970-554-0980, E-mail: ed.asfeld@colostate.edu

Dr. Jerry Johnson - (Retired) Professor and Extension Specialist - Crop Production, CSU
Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, E-mail: jerry.johnson@colostate.edu

Dr. Robyn Roberts - Assistant Professor - Plant Pathology, Colorado State University,
Department of Agricultural Biology, Phone: 970-491-8239, E-mail: robyn.roberts@colostate.edu

Olivia LoGrasso - Student - Colorado State University, Department of Agricultural Biology,
E-mail: olivia.lograsso@colostate.edu

                                                         Acknowledgments
The authors wish to express their gratitude to the collaborating Colorado farmers who
voluntarily and generously contributed the use of their land, equipment, and time to facilitate
the 2021 sunflower hybrid performance trials: Josh Lechman at Julesburg, Jason Specht at
Sheridan Lake, Gerhard Heintges at Burlington, and Leon Zimbelman at Prospect Valley.

We thank Red River Commodities Inc. in Colby, KS, for doing the confection sunflower seed-
sizing analyses and the USDA-ARS Northern Crop Science Laboratory in Fargo, ND, for doing
the oil content analyses.

                                                                                                                                                             3
Making Better Decisions - Agricultural - Colorado State University College of Agricultural ...
Summary of the 2021 Colorado Sunflower Hybrid Performance Trials
                                      Sally Jones-Diamond

Colorado State University (CSU) conducts hybrid sunflower performance trials to provide
research-based, unbiased, current, and reliable information to Colorado sunflower producers
to make better planting decisions. Colorado State University promotes crop variety testing as a
service to crop producers and seed companies who depend on us for crop variety performance
information. The sunflower trials are made possible by funding received from company entry
fees, the Colorado Sunflower Administrative Committee, and Colorado State University.

Colorado State University personnel planted four irrigated and two dryland sunflower trials in
Colorado, including oil and confection type trials. Irrigated trial locations were Burlington and
Prospect Valley. The dryland trials were located at Julesburg and Sheridan Lake. Thirty-one
hybrids with diverse origins, maturities, and value-added traits were tested in our different
irrigated and dryland trial locations. Trial results are statistically analyzed and reported
shortly after harvest on our website at agsci.colostate.edu/csucrops/sunflower/.

Testing Methods

Hybrids were included in the test based on paid company entries where company
representatives select and enter hybrids and provide seed for planting. All trial entries were
randomized within each replication using a randomized complete block design. Plot sizes
were 2 rows wide for irrigated trials and 4 rows wide for dryland trials at 30” spacing by
35’ long. Both irrigated and dryland trials had four replicates. Cultural practices for each
trial location are included below the individual site tables when available and management
practices in the trial area match the rest of the grower’s field in most cases.

Plots at all locations were planted using a four-row Seed Research Equipment Solutions
(SRES) 2013 Classic Aire small plot vacuum planter equipped with Monosem seed meters.
Oil irrigated trials were planted at 25,000 seeds per acre and confection irrigated trials were
planted at 20,000 seeds per acre. The dryland oil trials were planted at 19,000 seeds per acre
and the dryland confection trial was planted at 15,000 seeds per acre. Grain yields for all trial
hybrids are reported in the tables.

Sunflower plots at all locations were harvested using a Case IH 1620 combine modified for
small plots and equipped with a H2 GrainGage weighing system (provides weight, moisture,
and test weight). All yields are calculated and adjusted to 10% moisture content. Oil seed
contents are also adjusted to 10% moisture. Confection seed sizing is evaluated by the percent
of seeds that go through or stay above different sizes of round-hole screens.

Data Results

The least significant difference (LSD) is provided at the bottom of the results table. The LSD
is used to help determine whether the difference in hybrid yields are statistically significant.
If the difference between two hybrid yields equals or exceeds the LSD value, the difference is
significant. Farmers should use the LSD (P
Making Better Decisions - Agricultural - Colorado State University College of Agricultural ...
risk of false positive results. If two entries being compared have a difference in yield that is less
than the LSD value, those two entries are to be considered equal yielding. Hybrid yields in
bold are in the top LSD group. Hybrids in the table are sorted from highest to lowest-yielding.

Hybrid selection may be based on more than yield performance. Other factors to consider
when selecting a hybrid may include maturity, herbicide or pest tolerance traits, disease
resistance, standability, seed size, and seed quality.

                                                                                                   5
Making Better Decisions - Agricultural - Colorado State University College of Agricultural ...
2021 Irrigated Oil Sunflower Hybrid
                                           Performance Trial at Burlington

                                                           Oil                                     3-Year              Test         Plant               Oil
    Brand                             Hybrid              Typea Technology Traitsb       Yieldc   Avg. Yield Moisture Weight        Height Population Contentc
                                                                                         lb/ac      lb/ac    percent   lb/bu          in    plants/ac percent
    CROPLAN by Winfield United        CP7919CL             NS    Clearfield              3420         -        14       30           66     23,100      38
    Nuseed                            N4H521 CL            HO    Clearfield, DMR         3330       2820       14       30           75     22,100      38
    Dyna-Gro                          H49NS14CL            NS    Clearfield              2850       2750       15        31          70     20,300      36
    Dyna-Gro                          H49HO19CL            HO    Clearfield              2730       2480       14        31          66     21,100      37
    Nuseed                            N4H422 CL            HO    Clearfield, DMR         2700       2460       14        30          72     21,600      33
    Nuseed                            Hornet               HO    Clearfield, DMR         2670       2670       14        30          71     19,200      35
    Dyna-Gro                          XH81H52CP            HO    Clearfield              2640         -        16        32          78     24,800      37
    CROPLAN by Winfield United        CP455E               HO    ExpressSun              2520       2490       14        31          66     21,100      35
    Nuseed                            N4H470 CL Plus       HO    Clearfield Plus, DMR    2520       2260       15        31          65     23,500      37
    Nuseed                            Falcon               NS    ExpressSun              2490          -       14        32          73     21,900      36
    Nuseed                            NHKE53359            HO    ExpressSun, DMR         2220          -       15        30          70     22,700      33
    Nuseed                            NLKE4002             NS    ExpressSun, DMR         2070          -       15        33          76     23,100      35
    Average                                                                              2680       2560       14        31          71     22,000      36
    d
     LSD (P
Making Better Decisions - Agricultural - Colorado State University College of Agricultural ...
2021 Irrigated Confection Sunflower Hybrid

                                                                                                                           Seed Retained Over Screen
                                        Technology                  2-Year              Test  Plant                       Over Over Over Over
                                              a
Brand                    Hybrid         Traits            Yieldb   Avg. Yield Moisture Weight Height Population           24/64 22/64 20/64 16/64
                                                          lb/ac      lb/ac    percent  lb/bu    in    plants/ac                    percent
Royal Hybrid             RH609CLP       Clearfield Plus   4320       3649       12       18    80      15,500              47.8 27.0 18.2     6.8
Valia Genetics           Valia 95       N/A               3300       2963       12       18    68      16,700              42.5 28.1 19.7     9.4
Valia Genetics           D2101EXP       Clearfield        3120         -        13       20    80      19,200               6.7   4.5    5.8 44.2
Royal Hybrid             21-EXP01       ExpressSun        3030         -        12       18    63      17,600              26.7 28.8 28.3 15.3
SH Seeds                 SHS 46         IMI               3030         -        12       17    60      14,700              73.4 18.2     7.0  1.2
Red River Commodities    RRC 2319       N/A               2880       2762       12       18    72      14,500              60.2 25.5 11.1     2.7
Red River Commodities    RRC 2414       N/A               2820       3145       13       18    64      13,900              66.4 19.4 10.0     3.8
Nuseed                   4334           Clearfield        2640          -       12       18    74      12,500              62.9 22.7     9.5  4.8
Valia Genetics           Valia 92       N/A               2610       2714       13       19    72      17,300              22.8 25.8 30.1 18.4
Valia Genetics           Valia 41       N/A               2490       2593       12       19    64      10,000              23.8 29.6 33.9 12.5
SH Seeds                 Express        IMI               2460         -        11       18    60      12,200              11.7 29.3 29.8 26.9
Red River Commodities    RRC 2310       N/A               2430       2511       13       20    73      14,700              70.3 17.2 10.1     1.8
Nuseed                   NSKM15788      Clearfield        2130         -        13       17    72      16,400              11.9 25.2 38.5 23.0
Nuseed                   NDKM16761      Clearfield        2070         -        12       19    60      16,700              56.7 22.5 13.6     6.6
Nuseed                   NJKE15790      Clearfield        1500         -        11       19    54      14,500              32.5 24.8 24.8 16.4
Average                                                   2720       2905       12       18    68      15,100              41.1 23.2 19.4 12.9
c
 LSD (P
Making Better Decisions - Agricultural - Colorado State University College of Agricultural ...
2021 Irrigated Confection Sunflower Hybrid

                                                                                               Seed Retained Over Screen
                                             Technology                              Test     Over Over Over Over
    Brand                     Hybrid         Traitsa           Yieldb    Moisture   Weight    24/64 22/64 20/64 16/64
                                                               lb/ac     percent    lb/bu              percent
    Royal Hybrid              RH609CLP       Clearfield Plus   3390        13         17       90.6   6.5     2.5  0.0
    Royal Hybrid              21-EXP01       ExpressSun        3330        12         17       78.3 15.3      4.9  1.1
    Nuseed                    NSKM15788      Clearfield        3270        12         15       56.0 31.0 10.4      2.0
    Red River Commodities     RRC 2414       N/A               2940        12         16       94.2   3.7     1.1  0.5
    SH Seeds                  Express        IMI               2160        12         16       83.6 11.8      3.4  0.7
    SH Seeds                  SHS 46         IMI               2160        12         16       89.6   7.5     1.9  0.8
    Red River Commodities     RRC 2319       N/A               2130        13         16       77.4 15.2     5.0  1.8
    Nuseed                    4334           Clearfield        1920        12         16       90.6   5.9    2.9  0.0
    Red River Commodities     RRC 2310       N/A               1830        11         17       60.0 27.0 11.4     1.1
    Nuseed                    NJKE15790      Clearfield        1710        13         18       35.1 31.1 22.5 10.5
    Nuseed                    NDKM16761      Clearfield        1650        11         16       63.1 26.8     8.5  1.1
    Average                                                    2410        12         17       74.4 16.5     6.8  1.8
    c
     LSD (P
Making Better Decisions - Agricultural - Colorado State University College of Agricultural ...
2021 Irrigated Oil Sunflower Hybrid
                                   Performance Trial at Prospect Valley

                                                        Oil                                      2-Year              Test         Plant       Oil
Brand                              Hybrid              Typea Technology Traitsb        Yieldc   Avg. Yield Moisture Weight        Height    Contentc
                                                                                       lb/ac      lb/ac    percent  lb/bu           in      percent
CROPLAN by Winfield United         CP7919CL             NS    Clearfield               3210         -        15       26           57         37
Dyna-Gro                           H49NS14CL            NS    Clearfield               2700       2950       17       26           43         32
Nuseed                             N4H521 CL            HO    Clearfield, DMR          2700       2700       16       26           48         38
Nuseed                             Hornet               HO    Clearfield, DMR          2490       2410       15       26           58         33
Nuseed                             N4H422 CL            HO    Clearfield, DMR          2490       2590       14       26           54         33
CROPLAN by Winfield United         CP455E               HO    ExpressSun               2340       2690       14       28           63         35
Nuseed                             Falcon               NS    ExpressSun               2280         -        13       28           56         34
Dyna-Gro                           H49HO19CL            HO    Clearfield               2160       2410       13       27           47         34
Nuseed                             N4H470 CL Plus       HO    Clearfield Plus, DMR     2070       2130       15       28           59         36
Dyna-Gro                           XH81H52CP            HO    Clearfield               2040         -        16       28           56         34
Nuseed                             NHKE53359            HO    ExpressSun, DMR          1830         -        16       25           56         31
Nuseed                             NLKE4002             NS    ExpressSun, DMR          1740         -        13       26           56         31
Average                                                                                2340       2550       15       26           54         34
d
 LSD (P
Making Better Decisions - Agricultural - Colorado State University College of Agricultural ...
2021 Dryland Oil Sunflower Hybrid
                                     Performance Trial at Julesburg

                                                       Oil                                         2-Year                Test     Plant      Oil
                                                           a                b                 c                                                   c
 Brand                            Hybrid              Type Technology Traits           Yield      Avg. Yield Moisture   Weight    Height   Content
                                                                                       lb/ac        lb/ac    percent    lb/bu       in     percent
 CROPLAN by Winfield United       CP7919CL             NS     Clearfield               1590           -        12         28       50        38
 Dyna-Gro                         H49NS14CL            NS     Clearfield               1410           -        12         30       42        38
 Nuseed                           N4H422 CL            HO     Clearfield, DMR          1380         1320       12         29       50        36
 Nuseed                           N4H521 CL            HO     Clearfield, DMR          1380         1380       12         29       43        37
 Nuseed                           N4H470 CL Plus       HO     Clearfield Plus, DMR     1350         1200       12         30       42        38
 Nuseed                           Falcon               NS     ExpressSun               1290           -        12         30       50        37
 Dyna-Gro                         H49HO19CL            HO     Clearfield               1230           -        12         29       42        36
 Nuseed                           Hornet               HO     Clearfield, DMR          1230         1200       12         29       38        36
 Dyna-Gro                         XH81H52CP            HO     Clearfield               1200           -        12         30       46        37
 CROPLAN by Winfield United       CP455E               HO     ExpressSun               1140         1240       12         29       50        36
 Average                                                                               1320         1270       12         29       45        37
 d
   LSD (P
2021 Dryland Oil Sunflower Hybrid
                                      Performance Trial at Sheridan Lake

                                                    Oil                                     2-Year              Test          Plant               Oil
Brand                           Hybrid             Typea Technology Traitsb       Yieldc   Avg. Yield Moisture Weight Lodging Height Population Contentc
                                                                                  lb/ac      lb/ac    percent  lb/bu percent    in    plants/ac percent
CROPLAN by Winfield UnitedCP7919CL                  NS    Clearfield              1200          -       11       27     33     39     17,700      33
Nuseed                    Hornet                    HO    Clearfield, DMR         1140        941       11       27     33     45     19,000      34
Dyna-Gro                  XH81H52CP                 HO    Clearfield              1140          -       11       28     33     46     19,100      33
Dyna-Gro                  H49NS14CL                 NS    Clearfield              1110        922       11       27     30     48     18,100      33
S&W Seed Company          SF440 HO/CL               HO    Clearfield              1080        885       11       27     25     48     16,000      33
Nuseed                    N4H521 CL                 HO    Clearfield, DMR         1020        803       11       27     31     50     16,900      33
CROPLAN by Winfield UnitedCP455E                    HO    ExpressSun               990        859       11       26     28     46     18,000      31
Dyna-Gro                  H49HO19CL                 HO    Clearfield               990        847       11       26     35     49     18,300      32
Nuseed                    N4H422 CL                 HO    Clearfield, DMR          990        824       11       27     40     53     16,400      33
Nuseed                    N4H470 CL Plus            HO    Clearfield Plus, DMR     960        800       11       27     30     47     19,800      34
S&W Seed Company          NSW21460                  HO    Clearfield Plus          780          -       11       27     50     44     17,000      32
S&W Seed Company          SW1H81CLP                 HO    Clearfield               600          -       11       25     40     43     14,800      31
S&W Seed Company          SF1H63CL                  HO    Clearfield               570          -       11       25     35     50     11,200      30
Nuseed                    Falcon                    NS    ExpressSun               540          -       11       26     53     47     20,200      32
Average                                                                            940        860       11       27     35     47     17,300      32
d
  LSD (P
White Mold of Sunflower

                                         White Mold of Sunflower
                                      Olivia LoGrasso and Dr. Robyn Roberts

 White mold disease and symptoms
         White mold, caused by the Sclerotinia sclerotium fungus, is a highly destructive disease of
 sunflower in Colorado. The white mold fungus causes disease in over 370 plant species, including dry
 beans, soybean, and many legumes; aster species, which include sunflowers, are particularly
 susceptible. In sunflower, the fungus causes three separate white mold diseases: basal stalk rot and wilt,
 mid-stalk rot, and head rot. Each of these white mold diseases develop differently in sunflowers,
 depending on the mechanism and location of the initial fungal infection, but are all caused by the same
 pathogen.

 Basal rot and wilt
          Basal stem rot symptoms typically
 appear near the flowering stage, but may               A
 occur earlier depending on the environmental
 conditions and inoculum level. The pathogen
 infects the roots and causes drooping or
 wilting of the plant without any visible spots
 or fungal growth on the leaves (Figure 1A). At
 the base of the stem, tan to brown
 discoloration, rot, and water-soaked lesions
 form large, pitted wounds (called cankers),
 which lead to stem girdling. If moist
                                                        B
 conditions persist (which perpetuate fungal
 growth), white, cottony-appearing mold
 (mycelia) may appear (Figure 1B). The disease
 will progress up the stem, with the fungus
 consuming the internal parts of the stem
 (called the pith) and causing a dry, shredded
 appearance of the basal end of the stem,
 along with stem bleaching. The best
 diagnostic sign of white mold infection is a
                                                           Figure 1. Symptoms of basal rot and wilt. A) Wilting
 hollowed stem filled with black, irregularly-             symptoms, and B) fungal mycelia growth (red arrow) and
 shaped and darkly-colored fungal structures               basal stalk rot, indicative of white mold disease. Photos:
 called sclerotia (Figure 2). Once the plant               Howard F. Schwartz, 2008a & 2008b.

 begins to wilt, it typically dies within one
 week. Less severe infections may not cause wilt or death; however, symptoms will appear as lesions
 with fluffy white mycelia on the stalk, which will be weakened and more likely to lodge in high winds.

12
Mid-stalk rot
         Mid-stalk rot symptoms typically aren’t observed
until later in the season (around the flowering period) and
look similar to basal rot. However, unlike basal stalk rot
which appears at the base of the stem, symptoms for mid-
stalk rot instead develop around the middle of the stalk,
typically near a leaf node. Symptoms can occasionally
begin on a leaf and move to the petiole (the slender
segment that connects the leaf to the stem) and then from
the petiole to the stem. Browning and water-soaked
lesions, similar to those seen in basal rot, appear in the
infected area. A canker forms around the stem, and tissue
                                                              Figure 2. Stalk rot symptoms due to white mold
around the canker will appear and feel wet and rotted. The disease. Shown are a degraded stalk, white fungal
weakened stalk will often fall over at or above the canker    growth (mycelia), and fungal fruiting structures
                                                              (sclerotia). Red arrows indicate sclerotia. Photo:
site. Typically, white, cottony mold grows and covers the     Gerald Holmes, 2009a.
rotting tissue, and sclerotia form on and in the affected
area. Eventually the infection will take on a bleached and shredded appearance like that of basal rot.

Head rot
         Usually seen near the end of flowering,               A
head rot often causes the most severe disease. The
early symptoms include dark and water-soaked
lesions on the back of the flower head, or white
mycelial fungal growth that progresses over the
seeds in the flower (Figure 3A). The fungus grows
prolifically inside the flower head, beneath the
seeds. It produces large numbers of sclerotia both
beneath and around the seeds; eventually, the
entire flower head disintegrates, dropping many
large sclerotia (Figure 3B). The disintegrated flower          B
head appears dry and shredded, often compared to
a straw broom.

Infection and pathogen survival
         The pathogen is highly dependent on
moisture from weather and irrigation practices.
Infections become more severe in cool (68°F–77°F)
and moist conditions; typically in early spring or
fall, when there is more rainfall and temperatures                 Figure 3. Head rot symptoms caused by white mold.
                                                                   A) Mycelial growth around sunflower seeds. B)
are lower. It overwinters in the soil or crop debris               Disintegration of heads. Sclerotia are indicated with
in fungal long-term ‘survival structures’ called                   red arrows. Photos: Gerald Holmes, 2009b & 2009c.
sclerotia, which are darkly colored, pigmented

                                                                                                                           13
structures composed of compacted thread-like fungal filaments (hyphae). The fungus can remain
 dormant and infectious for long periods of time through sclerotia. For S. sclerotiorum, they remain
 infectious for 3 to 7 years.
          There are two ways that the fungus can infect sunflower. In the early summer when
 temperatures are cooler and soil moisture is higher, the sclerotia will germinate in the soil and infect the
 plant through the roots. Chemicals emitted by the roots stimulate the sclerotia to germinate mycelial
 strands that penetrate plant roots and begin moving up through the plant. This mode of infection leads
 to basal stem rot and wilt. Unlike other crops, sunflower is especially susceptible to root infection by S.
 sclerotiorum.
          The fungus can also infect the plant through mushroom-like fruiting bodies (called apothecia)
 that develop from the sclerotia. Around the time of flowering, sclerotia germinate apothecia after
 periods of cooler temperatures, high soil moisture, and high humidity. The apothecia produce spores
 (ascospores) that are puffed out into the air. Upon landing on the plant, they germinate and infect the
 plant. This infection process causes mid-stalk rot and head rot, which typically remains localized within
 the field; however, wind can sometimes carry spores further distances, allowing infections to spread
 more broadly.

 Management
           Integrated pest management approaches have shown to be the most effective methods in white
 mold management. Because sclerotia can persist and remain infectious in fields for at least 3 years,
 three- to five-year crop rotations (or longer with severe infections) with non-hosts (such as corn) should
 be used. Do not rotate fields with other host species (such as soybeans), and if possible, avoid planting
 sunflowers on or near fields that were known to be infected in recent years. In fields with less severe
 infections, no-till practices in combination with non-host crop rotation can help control disease in
 subsequent years. Since sclerotia can remain infectious in the soil for up to 7 years, crop rotation alone
 is not sufficient at controlling disease so other management practices should also be implemented.
           Management of white mold host weeds (such as Canada thistle, pigweed, or wild sunflowers)
 prevents the pathogen from ‘hiding out’ in other plants, which can serve as a pathogen inoculum source.
 Making the environment around sunflowers less favorable to the pathogen can also help control the
 fungus. Since the fungus thrives under cool, moist conditions, effectively managing irrigation to prevent
 water-logged soil and using wide row spacing to help promote air flow in the field will make the
 environment less favorable for the fungus. Avoid over-fertilization as it will promote a dense canopy
 that inhibits air flow.
           Head rot disease results in the formation of sclerotia on seed (and sometimes within seeds), so
 choosing certified disease-free seed will help minimize the risk of introducing the fungus into fields.
 Currently, no sunflower varieties are completely resistant to white mold diseases, but tolerant varieties
 are commercially available. The use of resistant or tolerant crop varieties in combination with other
 management practices will help reduce disease impact. There are potential biological controls, including
 the fungal parasite Coniothryium minitans Campbell, which attacks sclerotia produced by S.
 sclerotiorum. While this control method has been shown to reduce levels of sclerotia in the field, its
 reliability is not thoroughly understood. While fungicides may help control white mold infections in
 soybean, they are not typically recommended for sunflowers because the fungus commonly infects

14
through roots, making above-ground fungicide applications ineffective. Seed coating with fungicide
resistance action committee (FRAC) group 11 active ingredients may help protect plants from basal stalk
rot during the seedling stage. There are fungicides labelled for Sclerotinia mid-stalk rot and head rot, but
the efficacy trials of these fungicides are inconsistent and other management methods are more
reliable.

Additional resources
Colorado Sunflower trial results to aid in variety selection:
        https://agsci.colostate.edu/csucrops/sunflower/

Lesson on S. sclerotiorum diseases on sunflower, with in-depth control methods:
        https://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/disandpath/fungalasco/pdlessons/Pages/SclerotiniaSunflow
        er.aspx

FRAC (Fungicide Resistance Action Committee, https://www.frac.info/ and https://plant-pest-
        advisory.rutgers.edu/understanding-the-strobilurin-fungicides-frac-group-11-2015-2/)

Photos (used with permission):
Schwartz, H. F., Colorado State University and Bugwood.org. 2008a. Sclerotinia timber rot (Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum). IPM Images. https://www.ipmimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5357373.

Schwartz, H. F., Colorado State University and Bugwood.org. 2008b. Sclerotinia timber rot (Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum). IPM Images. https://www.ipmimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5357376.

Holmes, G., Strawberry Center, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Bugwood.org. 2009a. Sclerotinia timber rot
(Sclerotinia sclerotiorum). IPM Images.
https://www.ipmimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5610168.

Holmes, G., Strawberry Center, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Bugwood.org. 2009b. Sclerotinia timber rot
(Sclerotinia sclerotiorum). IPM Images.
https://www.ipmimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5610169.

Holmes, G., Strawberry Center, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Bugwood.org. 2009c. Sclerotinia timber rot
(Sclerotinia sclerotiorum). IPM Images.
https://www.ipmimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5610153.

                                                                                                               15
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