Nébih provided an overview of the economically most important pathogens of sunflower

By: STA Date: 2025. 05. 28. 11:00

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The National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) held a pathology presentation in Tordas at the beginning of May, which focused on disease resistance tests against the economically most important pathogens of sunflower. Its special feature and the occasion of the event was the presentation of greenhouse experiments, where interested parties could see and follow the very important process of variety testing related to pathology “from alpha to omega”, i.e. from the basics to evaluation.

(Photo: Pixabay)

What diseases are we facing in sunflower in Hungary today? How can we recognize them and how can we protect ourselves against them? Why are resistance tests important in the process of breeding and variety recognition? The participants in the pathology variety presentation in Tordas were able to get answers to these and similar questions. At the event, station manager Attila Szokó first presented the station and its tasks. He was followed by József Csapó, head of the Field Variety Experiment Department of Nébih, who provided information on the variety recognition system, highlighting the role of pathological examinations. Then, pathology supervisor Zsófia Czakó gave a presentation on sunflower diseases, the pathogens behind them, the possibilities of control and the tests related to disease resistance. She dedicated a separate block to two pathogens: sunflower downy mildew and sunflower wilt. Their prominent role is also shown by the fact that, in addition to field testing of variety candidates, Nébih only tests these diseases under greenhouse conditions.

In the case of both pathogens, those interested could also take part in a practical demonstration

Erzsébet Nagy, head of the Grain Testing Laboratory in Tordasi, introduced the participants to the laboratory practice of the sunflower downy mildew experiment, who were later able to “touch” the downy mildew spores in the greenhouse and see the disease on living plant material. The sunflower canopy experiment set up for this purpose was also presented there, about which those present at the event also received detailed information. The visit program was implemented within the framework of the “Support for Demonstration Plants VP1-1.2.1–23” application.

Nébih