ARS | Publication request: Preliminary evaluation of Laetisaria arvalis as chemical seed treatment alternative in sugarbeet

Submitted to: American Society of Sugar Beet Technologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: January 30, 2009
Publication Date: February 25, 2009
Repository URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10113/33308
Citation: Lartey, R.T., Lenssen, A.W., Caesar, T., Eckhoff, J., Hanson, S.L. 2009. Preliminary evaluation of Laetisaria arvalis as chemical seed treatment alternative in sugarbeet. 35th General Meeting of American Society of Sugar Beet Technologists. 1(35):48.

Technical Abstract: As with several other crops, application of protective fungicides as seed treatment is a common and effective practice to manage seedling diseases of sugar beet. Sugarbeet seeds from commercial sources are pretreated with one or more of the available fungicides. Occasionally, some of the fungicides are combined to pretreat sugarbeet seed to enhance the spectrum of activity against targeted pathogens. Chemicals used to pretreat sugarbeet seeds include hymexazol, metalaxyl and tetramethylthiuram disulfide; (TMTD). In the Lower Yellowstone River Valley sugarbeet growing region (Eastern Montana and Western North Dakota), a combination of metalaxyl and TMTD is commonly offered as seed treatment to commercial sugarbeet growers. We present in this paper the result of a preliminary evaluation of Laetisaria arvalis as a biological alternate to commercial fungicide treatment of sugarbeet seed. Ground dried culture of L. arvalis was applied to sugarbeet seed using methyl cellulose. In other treatments, L. arvalis was cultured in substrates and incorporated in soil prior to planting of untreated seed. Controls consisted of untreated or commercially treated seeds. After planting, the crops were maintained under controlled environment and subsequently assessed for emergence and growth over a period of six weeks. Emergence and growth of all the L. arvalis treatments were comparable to the chemical treatment. The Laetisaria cultures on substrates enhanced growth of the sugarbeet seedlings. Our results support the need for expanded investigation of L. arvalis as an alternate to chemical seed treatment of sugarbeet seed.