Safflower Pests

Pests of National Significance

Insect pests

• Gram pod borer/capsule borer: Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
• Safflower caterpillar: Perigaea capensis (Thunberg) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
• Safflower aphid: Uroleucon carthami (Theo) (Hemiptera Aphididae)
• Capsule fly/safflower bud fly: Acanthiophilus helianthi (Rossi) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Diseases

• Alternaria blight: Alternaria carthami S. Chowdhury
• Cercospora leaf spot: Cercospora carthami Sundaram & T.S. Ramakr
• Powdery mildew: Erysiphe cichoracearum DC.
• Mosaic: Cucucmber mosaic virus
• Head rot and wilt: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (L) de Bary
• Ramularia leaf spot: Ramularia carthami (Zaprometov)
• Rust: Puccinia carthami (Corda)
• Wilt: Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. carthami Klis. & Houston
• Root rot: Rhizoctonia bataticola Taubenn (Butler)

Weeds

Broadleaf

• Lamb’s quarter: Chenopodium album L. (Chenopodiaceae)
• Scarlet pimpernel: Anagallis arvensis L. (Primulaceae)
• Sweet clover: Melilotus indica (L.) All. (Fabaceae)
• Fine leaf fumitory: Fumaria parviflora Lam. (Fumariaceae)
• Corn spurry: Spergula arvensis L. (Caryophyllaceae)
• Onion weed: Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav. (Asphodelaceae)
• Common vetch: Vicia sativa L. (Fabaceae)
• Wild safflower: Carthmus oxycantha M. Bieb. (Asteraceae)
• Asthma herb: Euphorbia hirta L. (Euphorbiaceae)
• Wild poinsettia: Euphorbia zeniculata Ortega (Euphorbiaceae)
• Camel thorn: Alhagi maurorum Kedik. (Fabaceae)
• Field bindweed: Convolvulus arvensis L. (Convolvulaceae)

Grasses

• Blue grass: Poa annua L. (Poaceae)
• Canary grass: Phalaris minor Retz. (Poaceae)
• Bermuda grass: Cynadon dactylon (L.) (Poaceae)
• Annual beard grass/annul rabbits foot grass: Polypogon monspliensis (L.) Desf. (Poaceae)

Sedges

• Purple nutsedge: Cyperus rotundus L. (Cyperaceae)
• Flat sedge: Cyperus difformis L. (Cyperaceae)

Parasitic plant

• Broom rape: Orobanche aegyptiaca (Orobanchaceae)

Pests of Regional Significance

Insect pests

• Gujhia weevil: Tanymecus indicus Faust (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

IPM for Safflower

To know the IPM practices for Safflower, click here.

Source: NIPHM and Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage