International Sunflower Association

New book "Dr. Luka Ćuk - A life story" written by Dr Branislav Dozet.
The book "Dr. Luka Ćuk - A life story" written by Dr Branislav Dozet was recently published.

Dr. Luka Ćuk is the recipient of the world's foremost award in sunflower reserach, the Pustovoit Award. This very high quality edition of the book takes the reader through 10 chapters, enriched with 20 illustrations and 15 photographs on 90 pages. The book is available in both English and Serbian language and only in hard copy print.

More information at

New book "Dr. Luka Ćuk - life story" written by Dr Branislav Dozet. - International Sunflower Dr. Luka Ćuk is the recipient  of the world's foremost award in sunflower reserach,  the Pustovoit Award. This very high quality edition of the book takes the reader through 10 chapters, enriched with 20 illustrations and 15 photographs on 90 pages. The book is available in both English and Serb...

HELIA Sunflower Journal
ear Colleagues,

HELIA Sunflower Journal, our community journal and a Scopus indexed journal, has been published since 1978 by the International Sunflower Association in open access and free of charge.

We need your support for both citations in your published papers and using/citing more Helia articles journal to increase our impact factor and be put into WOS indexed journal as soon as possible.

We are also eagerly awaiting the submission of your papers about sunflowers.

https://heliajournal.org/

https://helia.ejournal.gen.tr/

You can reach all papers previously published in Helia in our association website and Helia journal website: https://www.isasunflower.org/publications/archives/helia-scientific-review

For any issue regarding Helia, please contact Prof Yalcin KAYA/Editor in Chief, yalcinkaya22(at)gmail.com

Sincerely Yours,

Prof Dr Yalcin KAYA, Editor in Chief of Helia

Helia (Scientific Review) - International Sunflower

ORO-STRESS 2026 - Abstract deadline extended
Dear colleagues,

We would like to inform you that the abstract submission deadline for the 6th International Symposium on Broomrape in Sunflower & 1st Meeting on Sunflower Biotic and Abiotic Stress (ORO‑STRESS 2026) has been extended until 15 April 2026.

The event will take place in Novi Sad, Serbia, at the Sheraton Novi Sad, from 15–18 June 2026.

The abstract submission guidelines and procedure are available here:
https://panacomp.club/symposium-2/

We look forward to welcoming you to Novi Sad.

Kind regards,
Organizing Committee

https://www.isasunflower.org/news-events/news/article/oro-stress-2026-abstract-deadline-extended

ORO-STRESS 2026 - Abstract deadline extended - International Sunflower We would like to inform you that the abstract submission deadline for the 6th International Symposium on Broomrape in Sunflower & 1st Meeting on Sunflower Biotic and Abiotic Stress (ORO‑STRESS 2026) has been extended until 15 April 2026.

Reminder: Early Bird Registration Ends 15 February | ORO-STRESS 2026
This is a kind reminder that the Early Bird registration for the 6th International Symposium on Broomrape in Sunflower & the 1st Meeting on Sunflower Biotic and Abiotic Stress (ORO-STRESS 2026) will close on 15th February 2026.

News - International Sunflower This is a kind reminder that the Early Bird registration for the 6th International Symposium on Broomrape in Sunflower & the 1st Meeting on Sunflower Biotic and Abiotic Stress (ORO-STRESS 2026) will close on 15th February 2026.

Early Bird Registration Extended - 6th International Symposium on Broomrape in Sunflower & 1st Meeting on Sunflower Biotic and Abiotic Stress

Dear colleagues,

We would like to inform you that the Early Bird Registration deadline has been extended to 15 February 2026 for the 6th International Symposium on Broomrape in Sunflower & 1st Meeting on Sunflower Biotic and Abiotic Stress (ORO-STRESS 2026).
The Preliminary Program and Sponsorship Options are available here on the conference webpage. https://panacomp.club/symposium/

We look forward to seeing you in Novi Sad.
Kind regards,
Organizing Committee

Symposium | Panacomp WelcomeCommitteesPlenaryProgramRegistrationSubmissionGeneral infoSponsorsContact Dear Colleagues and Friends, We are pleased to invite you to participate in the 6th International Symposium on Broomrape in Sunflower & 1st Meeting on Sunflower Biotic and Abiotic Stress, which will take place in Novi S...

Second Announcement ORO-STRESS 2026

Dear Colleague,
We are delighted to share the Second Announcement for the upcoming 6th International Symposium on Broomrape in Sunflower, held jointly with the 1st Meeting on Sunflower Biotic and Abiotic Stress (ORO-STRESS 2026). The event will take place in Novi Sad, Serbia, at the Sheraton Hotel, from June 15 to 18, 2026.
https://www.isasunflower.org/news-events/events/article/second-announcement-oro-stress-2026

We warmly invite you to save the date, and we very much look forward to welcoming you to Novi Sad!

Second Announcement ORO-STRESS 2026 - International Sunflower This international meeting is organized by the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia (IFVCNS), in collaboration with the International Sunflower Association (ISA).

Ayçiçeği arkadaşlar yine toplandık🌻👌🧿😍
Sunflower friends gathered again!!

Academician Dragan Škorić (1937-2025)

On November 18th, after a short illness, Academician Dragan Škorić, long-time director of the Department of Oilseed Crops at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad, Serbia, professor at the Faculty of Agriculture in Novi Sad and professor emeritus at the University of Novi Sad, passed away at the age of 88.

Academician Škorić is the creator of a large number of sunflower hybrids that were grown all over the world and the author of a large number of scientific papers and books in the field of genetics and breeding. His contribution to the development of the Institute, the spread of sunflowers in Yugoslavia and the world, the improvement of scientific work and the formation of young scientists at the Institute is enormous.

He was a long-time representative of Serbia on the ISA board and Chairman of the ISA in Novi Sad in 1988. He left an indelible mark on Serbian, Yugoslav and world agricultural science, primarily in sunflower breeding. He is the recipient of numerous domestic and international awards, among which the Pustavoit Award stands out.

The funeral of academician Dragan Škorić will be on Friday, November 21, 2025 at 1:30 PM at the City Cemetery in Novi Sad. The date of the commemoration will be announced later.

May his soul rest in peace.

Academician Dragan Škorić (1937-2025) - International Sunflower Academician Škorić is the creator of a large number of sunflower hybrids that were grown all over the world and the author of a large number of scientific papers and books in the field of genetics and breeding. His contribution to the development of the Institute, the spread of sunflowers in Yugos...

Professor José M. Fernández Martínez.

Professor José M. Fernández Martínez, one of the pioneers of sunflower research in Spain and recipient of the Pustovoit award in 2004, passed away on November 11th, 2025.

José María Fernández Martínez was a leading figure in research on annual oilseed crops. Over more than four decades, he combined scientific insight with an exceptional ability to turn knowledge into practical advances for agriculture. Trained in California under the renowned oilseed breeder Paul F. Knowles, he joined the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INIA) in Córdoba, Spain, in 1975, where he helped launch the first sunflower breeding programmes tailored to Spanish conditions. His work left a lasting mark on crops such as sunflower, safflower, and carinata, through the development of pioneering in**ed lines, innovative oil-quality traits, the introgression of broomrape-resistance genes from wild Helianthus species, and the establishment of improved germplasm in several species. He also played an essential role in safeguarding plant genetic resources by collecting local sunflower and castor seed materials across Spain.

His scientific production was extensive, including more than 150 articles in leading journals, numerous book chapters, and conference presentations. He served as editor of the FAO’s Sesame and Safflower Newsletter, which helped give international visibility to research from developing regions. A generous mentor and collaborator, he cultivated a broad network of colleagues who valued his openness and integrity.

In 2004, he received the prestigious Pustovoit Prize from the International Sunflower Association in recognition of his outstanding contributions to sunflower research. After retiring as Research Professor at the Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (CSIC), he remained active as Professor ad honorem, leaving behind a legacy defined by scientific excellence, innovation, and deep commitment to sustainable agriculture.

May his soul rest in peace.

Professor José M. Fernández Martínez - International Sunflower José María Fernández Martínez was a leading figure in research on annual oilseed crops. Over more than four decades, he combined scientific insight with an exceptional ability to turn knowledge into practical advances for agriculture. Trained in California under the renowned oilseed breeder Paul...

Flight Above the Sunflower Field, Dr Branislav Dozet.
Looking for some reading this summer?
An ISA member wishes to share his last book about sunflower with the Sunflower community.
https://www.isasunflower.org/news-events/news/article/flight-above-the-sunflower-field-branislav-dozet

This book is not in any book story and can be obtained from the author Dr Branislav Dozet. Hard copy is in limited edition only. There is not any advertising in book.

The main target of the book is popularization of the sunflower. Promotion of the book was done in April 2025 in Historical Museum in Novi Sad, Serbia.

Flight Above the Sunflower Field, Dr Branislav Dozet. - International Sunflower From Australia to Africa, both Americas, Asia, and Europe – where it is most widely cultivated today – the sunflower has captivated someone, marked someone’s life, either as an agricultural crop, a source of oil and protein, or simply as an inexhaustible source of beauty. Dr. Vladimir Miklic