Le Phomopsis du tournesol (Diaporthe helianthi ou Phomopsis helianthi ) est arrivé en France au début des années 1980. Il constitue un cas d'école en matière d'introduction de maladie. Sunflower phomopsis arrived in France at the beginning of the 1990's. Since then, fluctuations in resulting crop damage levels have been seen to be influenced by climatic conditions : the spreading of the disease to previously unaffected areas has been inevitable.
The fungus has now spread to almost all regions where sunflowers are cultivated. Fungicidal protection should evolve in the coming years, although the choice of the least sensitive varieties is still essential.
