This paper summarizes the results of infection level evaluation for the most harmful sunflower diseases in Central Chernozem Region of Russia. Using annual and perennial wild sunflower species from collection as sources of resistance to pathogens has shown to be important. Various forms of cultivated sunflower have been obtained during many years work. Among them, we identified male and female sunflower lines with complex resistance. These lines also possess high general combining ability and agronomically important traits. A disease causing several extremely located necrotic spots has been regis tered at the end of the growing season. This kind of disease development may be considered as field resistance index.