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Diaporthe helianthi (stem canker of sunflower )
Diaporthe helianthi
stem canker of sunflower
Phomopsis helianthi
Africa: Morocco; Asia: Pakistan; Europe: Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine; North America: Mexico, USA; South America: Argentina, Venezuela
IL, MN, ND, OH, SD, TX
2025-08-06
fungus
China
Main: sunflower
DIAPHE
Diaporthe helianthi infects plants through wounds or natural openings, particularly during warm and humid conditions. The fungus produces dark, sunken lesions on stems that may girdle and weaken the plant, often leading to lodging. It survives on infected plant debris in the soil and can spread via rain splash, wind, and contaminated equipment. Infected seeds may also serve as a potential pathway for transmission. D. helianthi is limited in the US and due to cultivation practices does not usually cause significant disease losses.
1 Known Hosts
Helianthus annuus
sunflower
Yes
DIAPHE-2, DIAPHE-3, DIAPHE-5, DIAPHE-7
Seeds may become infected, but infected seeds are usually not viable. Infected seeds lose viability after storage for 10 months. Seed transmission has low importance as a source of inoculum and disease development in areas that are already infested, but could be a means of introduction to new areas.
The test for Diaporthe, Phomopsis on soybean often applied to testing sunflower seed. (NSHS USDA)
EPPO has proposed good plant protection practice for control of the disease . 4 yr rotation up to 5 yr rotation.
Good plant protection practice for control of the disease and a 4-5 year crop rotation.
DIAPHE-1, DIAPHE-4
2025-08-06 09:41:31
DIAPHE-2
Slyusar' eL, Antonova TS, Bochkarev NI, 1998. On the spread of Phomopsis infection on sunflower. Zashchita i Karantin Rastenii^breve~, No. 1:33-35, (Article in Russian, needs translation to verify information)
DIAPHE-3
Battilani P, Rossi V, Girometta B, Delos M, Rouzet J, André N, Esposito S, 2003. Estimating the potential development of Diaporthe helianthi epidemics in Italy. Bulletin OEPP/EPPO Bulletin, 33:
DIAPHE-5
Smetnik AI, Aleksandrov IN, Skripka OV, Izmalkova AG, 1998. Sunflower seeds as a way of preservation of Phomopsis infection. Zashchita i Karantin Rastenii^breve~, No. 1:35-36.
DIAPHE-7
Block, C.C. 2015. In Compendium of Sunflower Diseases and Pests. eds.; Robert M. Harveson, Samuel G. Markell, Charles C. Block, and Thomas J. Gulya. APS Press
DIAPHE-1
Diaporthe helianthi In: Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
DIAPHE-4
OEPP/EPPO, 2001. EPPO Standards PP 2/21 Good plant protection practice for sunflower. Bulletin OEPP/EPPO Bulletin, 31: 243-255
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