Biology and Management of Fusarium Species on Sugar Beet

Abstract

Minnesota and North Dakota together produce about 51% of the beet sugar in the United States of America. Fusarium diseases caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. betae and F. secorum on sugar beet cause significant reduction in both root yield and sucrose concentration. This research was conducted to determine the best inoculation methods to induce Fusarium diseases on sugar beet seeds and plants and to evaluate fungicides for their efficacy at controlling Fusarium diseases in greenhouse conditions. The use of Fusarium colonized barley seeds in close proximity to sugar beet seeds and seedlings caused similar level of disease severity as the standard root-dipping method, and reduced the time for evaluation by directly inoculating seeds and 4-leaf stage plants rather than using older plants which have to be transplanted into new pots. Pydiflumetofen and metconazole fungicides used in-furrow have the potential to provide effective control of Fusarium diseases on sugar beet.