INTERNATIONAL SUNFLOWER ASSOCIATION

Fats, oils and lipids.

The parasitic angiosperm broomrape (Orobanche cumana Wallr) causes economic damage in sunflower production in a number of countries around the world, but especially in Central and Eastern Europe, Spain, Turkey, Israel, Iran, Kazakhstan, and China.

For almost a century, there has been a constant tug-of-war between sunflower breeders and Orobanche cumana, with frequent changes in which side has the upper hand. Almost as soon as the breeders find a source of resistance to the latest race of the pathogen, broomrape responds by evolving into another virulent race. The development of resistant cultivars as well as optimized managing strategies is a high priority in controlling this parasite, over the world.