Author
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Strausbaugh, Carl |
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CAMP, S - AMALGAMATED SUGAR CO. |
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Submitted to: Plant Disease Management Reports
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 2/12/2007 Publication Date: 4/1/2007 Citation: Strausbaugh, C.A., Camp, S. 2007. Verticillium wilt in experimental sugar beet cultivars in Cassia County, ID, 2006. Plant Disease Management Reports. 1:V113. Interpretive Summary: Verticillium wilt in sugar beets caused by the fungus Verticillium dahliae is not a well documented or understood problem on sugar beets. This fungus is widespread in temperate regions, survives as thick-walled microsclerotia in the soil, and can infect over 50 species of plants. In other susceptible crops a three year or longer rotation with cereals, grasses, and legumes is known to reduce this problem. Based on symptom reduction, host resistance within some experimental sugar beet cultivars appeared to be substantial and would potentially be an effective control measure if Verticillium wilt became a widespread yield limiting problem. Technical Abstract: Twenty-three experimental and two commercial sugar beet cultivars were evaluated for their susceptibility to Verticillium dahliae in Heyburn, ID during the 2006 growing season. The cultivars were planted in a commercial sugar beet field and exposed to natural levels of V. dahliae in the soil. Experimental units were 4-row plots arranged in a randomized complete block design with eight replications. The percentage of symptomatic plants in the center two rows of each plot was established on 6 September. Disease pressure was uniform throughout the field and cultivars averaged 1.4 to 20.8 percent infected plants. Percent sugar content was the only yield parameter that differed between some cultivars. If Verticillium wilt becomes a yield limiting problem, host resistance may be an effective control measure. |
