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ARS Home » Midwest Area » East Lansing, Michigan » Sugarbeet and Bean Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #433295
Research Project: Sugar Beet Genetics and Pathogen Interactions

Location: Sugarbeet and Bean Research

Title: Validation of a spore-based Cercospora beticola risk model for improved application timing and management of Cercospora leafspot on sugarbeets, 2025

Author
item HERNANDEZ, ALEXANDRA - Michigan State University
item BLOOMINGDALE, CHRIS - Michigan State University
item Hanson, Linda
item WILLBUR, JAIME - Michigan State University

Submitted to: Review / Technical Review
Publication Type: Research Technical Update
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/5/2026
Publication Date: 3/9/2026
Citation: Hernandez, A.P., Bloomingdale, C., Hanson, L.E., Willbur, J.F. 2026. Validation of a spore-based Cercospora beticola risk model for improved application timing and management of Cercospora leafspot on sugarbeets, 2025. Review / Technical Review. in Research Results 2025. Michigan Sugarbeet REACh. Bay City, MI.Pgs 47-49.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cercospora leaf spot, a damaging disease of sugar beet, is largely initiated by spores spread from crop residue and weeds. Disease forecasting models have been developed, but have been aimed primarily at later spread and not early detection. To improve early disease disease prediction, a model has been developed to predict elevated spore levels above a risk threshhold. The model was developed based on spore trapping between 2019 and 2022 in Michigan and Ontario, Canada between May and July and evaluating environmental factors that related to spore numbers. This work has been published, and the current study was aimed to validate the model by screening for leaf spot based on predicted timings and comparing a model-based initiation of fungicide treatments to standard timing based on the current grower standards. All treatments showed significantly lower area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC, an indication of season-long disease severity, P<0.001) compared to the untreated control, treatments based on the model showed lower AUDPC values than the grower standard. Three of the model-based programs resulted in significantly (P< 0.01) higher yields and recoverable white sugar per acre than the non-treated control, and one gave significantly higher yield than the grower standard. These results indicate that Cercospora leaf spot management can be improved using model-based risk for spore presence.