Try GOLD - Free
Calls For More Oilseed Research
Farmer's Weekly
|Farmer's Weekly 27 April 2018
The widespread outbreak of Alternaria leaf blight in sunflower has emphasised the extent to which oilseed research in South Africa has been neglected, according to Chris Schoonwinkel, a sunflower producer near Wesselsbron in the Free State.
Foliar diseases in sunflower are caused by various pathogens, including Alternaria helianthi, Puccinia helianthi and Septoria helianthi. Alternaria survives between sunflower crops in infested crop debris, on weed hosts and on seed. The disease starts when spores land on leaves or stems, germinate in the presence of moisture, and directly penetrate and infect the leaves.
SUNFLOWER LOSSES
Alternaria leaf blight appears as circular, dark brown to black lesions, with concentric rings ranging from 0,2mm to 0,5mm in diameter. Lesions eventually enlarge in size and coalesce, causing blighting of the leaves. Some lesions can be identified by distinct yellow halos, particularly on young plants. If the disease is severe, plants may defoliate prematurely and die.
This story is from the Farmer's Weekly 27 April 2018 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Farmer's Weekly
Farmer's Weekly
Tropical avo smoothie
Escape to the tropics with this luxurious, creamy, and vibrant smoothie! Blending rich avocado and sweet mango with zesty lime, fragrant mint, and a punch of tangy granadilla, this recipe transforms into a nutrient-packed and silky-smooth treat.
1 min
January 16-23, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
THE HITCHING POST
I am a 60-year-old white woman who loves camping, animals, the outdoors and watching sport.
2 mins
January 16-23, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
The enduring legacy of Tiyo Soga
In the 1850s, Tiyo Soga, a Xhosa man, became the first ordained black South African minister. But as Mike Burgess writes, his legacy would also be determined by his all-round intellectual abilities honed by a solid Scottish education.
4 mins
January 16-23, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Isuzu D-Max shows single cabs can be comfortable companions
Bakkie manufacturers don't give single cabs to the media due to them generally being regarded as workhorses without the bells and whistles from fancier double cabs. The Citizen's Charl Bosch was gobsmacked when a single cab arrived for a three-month stay.
2 mins
January 16-23, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
South Africa eyes home-grown rice as ARC expands research efforts
South Africa is taking bold steps toward reducing its dependence on rice imports by exploring the viability of home-grown upland rice. Through a major research drive led by the Agricultural Research Council's Small Grain division, scientists and industry partners are testing rice varieties capable of thriving in South Africa's diverse soils and increasingly water-scarce climate. Anelisa Gusha reports.
3 mins
January 16-23, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Spanish tortilla
Bring the authentic flavours of Spain to your table with this robust and satisfying Spanish tortilla.
1 min
January 16-23, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
New year brings marvellous new titles
Patricia McCracken, like many of us, has settled back into the grind of the new year and picked up a diverse selection of books ranging from travel, to fiction, to non-fiction and a delightful local children's adventure.
2 mins
January 16-23, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Nitrogen 'switch' unlocks greener crops
A ground-breaking discovery by molecular biology professors Kasper Røjkjær Andersen and Simona Radutoiu at Aarhus University in Denmark offers a significant step toward developing self-fertilising grain crops, potentially revolutionising agriculture to be greener and more climate-friendly.
1 min
January 16-23, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
Sweet prospects: the current state of litchi production in South Africa
Bram Snijder, agricultural consultant and chairperson of the South African Litchi Growers' Association, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about the litchi industry embracing new opportunities, tackling challenges, implementing innovation, and reaching markets both locally and internationally.
6 mins
January 16-23, 2026
Farmer's Weekly
How AFGRI uses technology to unlock farm finance from asset to market
As modern farming becomes more capital-intensive and digitally driven, AFGRI is reinventing agricultural finance by linking technology directly to lending decisions.
5 mins
January 16-23, 2026
Translate
Change font size