Symptom

• Safflower plants few weeks after planting or at flowering stage are commonly attacked.
• Circular to irregular brown sunken spots of 3-10 mm diameter are formed on leaves.
• Spots are surrounded by yellow halos.
• Symptoms first appear on lower leaves and spread to upper leaves.
• Stems and nodes may also be affected.
• In severe infections bracts are also affected with reddish brown spots.
• Affected flower buds turn brown and die.   

• Remove and destroy the diseased plants.
• Deep summer ploughing,
• Avoid growing in low-lying areas and flooding under irrigation.
• Seed treatment with thiram 3 g/kg and spraying of mancozeb 2.5 g ; or carbendazim 1 g per litre of water.