Occurrence of Verticillium dahliae on sunflower (Helianthus annus) in the UK

In August 1994 verticilliosis-like symptoms were noticed in a maturing crop of sunflower at IACR-Rothamsted. Wilting plants with chlorotic areas on some leaves, and dark areas of microsclerotia at the base of stems, were first observed on 11 August. As the plants matured, dark stripes were also observed on the stems. Many stems became brittle and later collapsed. Infected xylem showed a brown discolouration, later turning to black, and microsclerotia developed. Verticillium dahliae was isolated from all parts of the plant.
In general, once symptoms were present, the incidence of verticilliosis-affected plants increased, and the disease developed, more rapidly in early maturing varieties than in the later maturing types. At harvest, incidence ranged between 24.5% and 89.8%, depending on variety. Early maturing varieties appeared to be more susceptible than later maturing types.
Isolates of V. dahliae were cultured in the laboratory. Sunflower plants were artificially inoculated with these isolates and developed verticilliosis symptoms when grown under controlled environmental conditions.