Contribution of leaves to the yield of sunflowers - Willow Tree

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To quantify the contribution of different sunflower leaves to yield and oil quality by applying 12 leaf defoliation treatments.
Sunflowers are generally considered a minor crop in the northern grains region. However, they play an important role in providing a broadleaf summer crop rotation option. An individual sunflower plant produces on average 2000–6,000 cm2 of leaf area, which drives yield and oil content.
Identifying which leaves contribute most towards yield and oil content helps inform decisions around disease, pest and general crop management in sunflower crops. Whether it is because the crop is infected with a disease such as powdery mildew, or has insect damage e.g. loopers, the end result is a need for growers and advisors to know where and when to spend money in crop protection to achieve the best economic return on investment through maintaining green leaf area.