"These are from growers that send in seed every year. We also have samples sent in by growers with the hope that they might make the grade. They have not treated the crop as seed with the associated spray programme and it shows. Some of these samples have anywhere between 70-90 per cent virus."
Sugar beet management key points
- Leaf growth on old clamp sites and spoil heaps will be potential sources of virus for surrounding beet crops and growth should be destroyed
- Dry conditions may be reducing the systemic action of insecticides, but in most situations are giving some level of control
- The vast majority of aphids being found on sugar beet are peach-potato aphids with some potato aphids, and the sycamore aphid and willow carrot aphid
- Winged aphids can move between plants causing primary infection and their progeny, if not controlled, then cause secondary spread
- Sprays should be applied up until the 16-leaf stage when aphids are found at threshold
Source: BBRO
