An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of the ratio of leaf removal from bottom of plants (0, 4, 8 and 12 leaves/plant) shortly before flow ering on yield components and some quality characters of sunflower ecotypes. According to ecotype averages, seed setting, seed yield, kernel ratio, crude oil and crude protein contents in seed, crude oil yield and crude protein yield changed with different degree of leaf removal. Head diameter, seed setting, seed yield, 1000-seed weight, kernel ratio, crude oil, crude protein content, crude oil yield and crude protein yield varied with degree of leaf defoliation of some ecotypes while these characters were not affected by defoliation in other ecotypes.