Diseases of beetroot and control measures. Beet diseases and pests: signs of the most harmful and common ones, measures to combat them

Every housewife strives to grow several rows of beets on her plot. How else? Without the sugary, sweet beetroot (as beets are popularly called), it’s hard to imagine rich borscht, cabbage and your favorite herring under a fur coat. But those who grow beets on their own notice diseases: spots on the leaves, their drying out, underdevelopment of the fruits to the required size, poor keeping quality in winter, wrinkling of the root crops. Of course, diseases can be easily studied from a photo by looking at the picture and comparing the description with the vegetables in the garden, and it’s easy to find out about drug treatment by consulting an agro-shop. We have the opportunity to cure the disease with folk remedies, get a rich harvest and know how to properly grow beets year after year!

Beet diseases: causes

Having noticed a white coating on the petioles, gray, whitish, brown or brown spots on the leaves, which seem to eat through them, noting the lag in the development of root crops, the owner of the garden understands that the beets are sick. And he begins treatment, having studied the disease, listening to the advice of neighbors, trying new drugs or trying to get rid of the disease “at random”.

Few people study the causes of the disease, select from the list those that led to infection and disease of the plant, and make it impossible for them to appear later. But removing the cause of the disease is the guarantee that the beets will be healthy, tasty, sugary and give an excellent harvest!

Diseases often arise due to violations of agricultural practices

For such a complete and scrupulous analysis, it is enough to know what contributes to the development of cerco-, peronospora, fomoz or black rot. The reasons may be as follows:

• insufficient watering of the garden beds. Despite the fact that beets do not like excess water, they need to be watered abundantly, especially during the formation of the root crop;
• deficiency/excess of micronutrients. In order to exclude this point, it is enough to study the main micro- and macroelements necessary for beets, the effect of their excess or deficiency on the plant. Next, purchase the component separately (fortunately, modern manufacturers supply the market with magnesium, potassium, calcium and others in pure form for fertilizing) and add it to the water when watering;
• overly wet or acidic soils.

By paying attention to the conditions for growing beets in your garden, you can become an expert in just one season. For this, all you need is a little knowledge, which is provided by our portal, time to fight the disease and the desire to get an excellent harvest!

Attention! Typically, the appearance of the disease is reflected in the vegetative parts of the plant - leaves, petioles. It is at this moment that it is worth fighting it. Otherwise, the disease will affect the root crops, which can lead to complete loss of the crop.

Beet pests and diseases: those you need to know about

The most common (and most importantly - everywhere!) beet disease is spotting or cercospora blight. It appears as small whitish spots in diameter, around which there is a red border. This is the front part of the sheet, on the back there is a light gray coating.

Cercospora

The disease attacks the ripened lower leaves of the rosette, the spots increase in size, eating through the leaf; if the core is affected, you may not be able to wait for the root crops. The disease is most often noticeable where the weather is warm and rainy. What to do in this case? Treat the bed with the fungicide Rovtal, HOM, Propiconazole, and apply Bordeaux mixture when re-treating (after 14 days).

Traditional methods that help in the fight against the disease:

• thinning of seedlings at the 2-3 leaf stage;
• maintaining cleanliness in the garden, that is, timely control of weeds;
• removing dead leaves.

Lethargy of the leaves, brown spots that look like pieces of faded wood, and wrinkling of the root crop that has begun to form can be noticed if the beets are attacked by Phoma. If you do not fight the disease, the leaves and petioles will dry out on the bushes and crumble into dust, and the root crop will rot in the first couple of weeks of storage. Control - use of Fundazol, treatment of seeds before sowing, treatment of young plants with fungicides (Strike, Benomyl) containing copper.

Powdery mildew

In the fight against Phomasis it will help:

• compliance with crop rotation. Many gardeners violate this point by sowing seeds of the same crop in the same place year after year. In case of Phoma, the area for sowing beets can be used after 3-4 years, other crops are welcome;
• timely harvest;
• applying mineral fertilizers in the autumn, before the new season.

Attention! Phomasis is often caused by a lack of boron. In this case, the fungus that has settled on the neck of the plant causes black rot, which leads to the death of the growing point. Therefore - competent application of complex fertilizers.

Downy mildew or downy mildew is a regular occurrence in beetroot beds where there is a lot of rain. Fungal spores settle on the bottom of the leaf, forming a gray or purple coating, and yellow spots appear on top. The fight against diseases is the same as in the fight against cercospora.

Root crops will be saved from brown and fusarium rot by loosening the rows, timely harvesting of weeds, liming with an “acidic” index, as well as additional fertilizing with boron. In a word, increased attention to the condition of the plant is the key to an excellent harvest!

The importance of preventative measures, or “No!” beet diseases

The fight against diseases is the consequences of some moments that were not taken care of or the manifestation of unfavorable weather. An important point is the prevention of beet diseases. These are the following activities:

Focus on preventive measures

• seed treatment before sowing;
• inspection of crops at an early stage of development;
• compliance with agricultural cultivation techniques;
• timely feeding and disease prevention;
• harvest harvested on time.

Simple rules will help you no longer see reddening/yellowing leaves, additional roots on root crops, and other negative aspects. The main thing is timely preparation for the season, therefore, treatment of the soil, seeds, purchase of fungicides and preventive measures. And the beet harvest will please you, you will be able to treat many neighbors to healthy root vegetables!

Scab is a rather unpleasant beet disease that can be encountered almost everywhere. It is especially unpleasant because growing root crops can be affected by as many as three types of scab. Beet roots attacked by a harmful disease are woody and have a high nitrogen content, which significantly reduces the yield of sugar and significantly impairs their processing. Also, infected fruits become very compacted, lose their marketable qualities and are stored much worse in winter. The good news is that very serious scab lesions are extremely rare.

A few words about the disease

Pimply scab

In general, the symptoms of pimply scab are vaguely reminiscent of potato cancer symptoms. The roots react to the infection that affects them with incredibly active cellular reproduction, leading to the formation of a huge number of plug-like cells.

Calcareous soils are especially favorable for the development of pimply scab. To a large extent, its development is facilitated by the introduction of manure. And green fertilizers will help curb the development of the ill-fated scourge.

Belt scab

When girdle scab develops particularly strongly, grooves of impressive depth appear on root crops, gradually penetrating into the root tissue. This, in turn, can provoke rot in growing crops if wet weather sets in.

Common scab

This is the most severe form of the ill-fated disease. This scab can appear on absolutely any part of the root. It usually appears in the form of dark-brown colored surface scab-like crusts or cracks that heal fairly quickly and are gradually covered with cork tissue. As a rule, all damage is quite shallow. This type of scab develops especially strongly in those areas where straw manure was applied in excess quantities. To a large extent, the development of common scab is also favored by non-compliance with crop rotation, over-limed soils, and dry, warm weather.

The causative agent of this type of scab is various species of streptomycetes, the most important of which is Streptomyces scables. As a rule, a huge number of streptomycetes nest in the soil.

How to fight

If the first signs of scab are detected, the beet plantings are sprayed with Bordeaux mixture or with preparations such as Abiga-Pik, Oksikhom and Kartotsid.

By planting table root crops in the spring, we expect to obtain vegetables for summer consumption and stock up on vitamin products for the winter. Beet diseases and pests that affect seedlings, root systems, heads and tops can disrupt our “harvest” plans and cause a lot of trouble.

Compliance with crop rotation and basic agricultural practices, planting disease-tolerant varieties, and pre-sowing seed treatment allows you to avoid most troubles. But if there is an enemy in the form of an infection or a harmful insect, it needs to be identified and effective methods of destruction must be selected.

A rich and healthy harvest of root crops is in our hands

Disease prevention: general agrotechnical practices

Let's start with prevention. After all, no matter how effective chemicals are, they are still not harmless. They should be used only in cases where pesticides cannot be avoided. In the fight against beet diseases, there are many agrotechnical techniques that can, if not eliminate, then significantly reduce the risk of damage to crops.

1. Proper rotation of crops and avoidance of monoculture in crop rotation helps to reduce pests and pathogens in the soil, especially fungal etiology.
2. Deep autumn tillage is effective. Once on the surface, some pests die from frost and are eaten by birds. Spores and larvae deposited in the upper layers of the soil, on the contrary, freeze at depth.
3. Red beet crops are susceptible to acidic soils; some diseases are provoked by a lack of nutrients and microelements. In this case, liming with wood ash, dolomite flour, and quicklime is effective. The root crop loves to be fertilized with fertilizers consisting of boron and magnesium - this affects its keeping quality and the quality of the pulp.
4. Use treated seeds for sowing. For this purpose, manufacturers use inlay with fungicides (green shell) and insecticides (red). At home, seeds are disinfected with manganese and antifungal biological products.
5. Optimal sowing dates play an important role in disease prevention. In too cold soil (below 7⁰ C), the risk of fungal infections entering the fruit increases. Sowing at a late date, and even with a lack of moisture, is fraught with weakening of the seedlings and attack by pests.
6. The heavier the soil, the more often it is necessary to loosen the plantings and prevent stagnation of moisture. Mulching between rows increases air permeability and prevents crust formation.

Note! The priority direction of modern breeding is the creation of varieties resistant to diseases. Most hybrids designated as F1 have increased resistance to infections; the seeds are treated with protective drugs.

Common diseases

Fortunately, there are not many diseases in beets, and we propose to consider the description, photos, and measures to combat them.

Corneater

A complex disease in which several dozen species of fungi and bacteria are involved. The disease activates on dense, waterlogged soils during periods of sharp temperature fluctuations and returning cold weather. The infection affects shoots before germination or in the cotyledon leaf phase. The roots and the sprouts themselves darken, rot, and the seedlings most often die. But even if the plant has resisted and recovered from the disease, it develops worse, the appearance and quality of the root crops deteriorate.

Important agrotechnical measures in the fight against the root beetle are improving the structure of dense soil with the help of loosening agents (compost, rotted sawdust), liming, and avoiding early sowing of beets in cold soil. A good way to control is to treat the seeds with Fitosporin-M, Previkur, Thiram.

Cercospora

The disease is fungal in nature, transmitted by spores, and the infection is partially stored in the seeds. The fungus begins to actively multiply after heavy heavy rains and affects the leaves and petioles of table beets. The peak of the disease usually occurs in the summer months - June-July.

The pathogen penetrates into the leaf tissue and forms small gray spots on it with a contrasting brown border. As the tops age, they reduce to dark spots. Early and massive infection leads to a deterioration in the growing season, the plant becomes weak and does not grow roots well.

After harvesting, diseased tops must be destroyed, the soil must be dug up deeply, turning the top layer to a depth of at least 20 cm. Among chemical control methods, seed dressing with Fitosporin or Previkur helps well. Diseased crops are sprayed with a solution of fungicides, Bordeaux mixture.

Fomoz

Gardeners sometimes underestimate the negative consequences of beet blight, because the disease develops towards the end of the growing season, when the root crops have already grown. Quite large, randomly located brown spots appear on the leaves. Gradually, the infection spreads to the petioles, in the queen cells it affects the peduncles, and the tops dry out. The insidious beet disease manifests itself in full force during storage. By spring, the tissue of the root crop turns black, becomes hard, and unsuitable for food.

Crop rotation, filling the beds with complex mineral fertilizers, and disinfecting seeds with fungicides will help prevent infection. The remains of infected plants must be removed, and only healthy root crops must be stored.

Note! Fomoz is often confused with the so-called heart rot, which is caused by a lack of boron in the soil. Eliminate physiological disturbances by root feeding of plants (Magbor, Uniflor B, Amco Bor).

Kagatny rot

This is the collective name for rot of root crops during storage caused by fungi and bacteria. Red beets are characterized by diseases such as mold, dry, wet and gray rot. The reasons for rotting can be very different:

• freezing of beet heads during late harvesting;
• violation of storage conditions;
• weakened, infected root crops that have suffered various infections during the growing season.

You can fight rot by eliminating the above reasons for its occurrence.

They fly, crawl, chew...

Beet pests and their larvae cause the main damage at the beginning of the growing season, damaging immature seedlings. Generations of insects, if not controlled, can destroy crops.

Beet flea beetle

Tiny bugs up to 1.5 mm long overwinter in fallen leaves. They are dangerous for beet seedlings, as they damage cotyledons and young leaves. The growing point is often eaten away, which leads to the invariable death of the sprout. A symptom of beet flea infestation is curled and dried leaves. The second generation of the pest emerges by the end of July, feeding on tops.

Seeds treated with insecticides will repel flea beetles. The second method of control is spraying crops with preparations such as Confidor, Calypso, Maxi.

This is interesting! Beet pests cannot stand the smell of dill. The repellent plant will repel fleas and flies, but will attract ladybugs - a threat to leaf aphids.

Beet leaf miner

Outwardly it looks like an ordinary fly, only small – up to 8 mm. The first, most dangerous generation of the pest emerges by the end of April and begins to actively lay eggs on beet seedlings. The hatched larvae penetrate inside the leaf plate - “mining” it, gradually eating away the soft tissue. The eaten cavities gradually dry out.

Considering the small size of the sprout at the beginning of the growing season, the beet fly poses a serious danger. Insecticide solutions (Maxi, Proteus, Calypso) are used to protect plants.

Less common, but also other beet pests, are leaf aphids, beet aphids, and beet chips. They are controlled with insecticides.

Corneater

Beet seedling disease. The disease affects beet seedlings that have not yet emerged to the surface, or seedlings before the formation of 2-3 pairs of true leaves. After root molting (in the phase of the 1st-2nd pair of true leaves), the plants are practically resistant to the root beetle.

Characteristic signs of the root beetle are rotting and darkening of the root and subcotyledon, which sometimes has the appearance of a thread. Sick plants lie down, seedlings thin out. With mild damage, the affected plants can continue to develop, but are stunted in growth, and the yield and sugar content of the roots are significantly reduced.

Root beetle is a complex disease caused by a combination of soil, agrotechnological and other conditions unfavorable for the development of seedlings, followed by damage to them by various microorganisms. The main ones are fungi from the genera Pythium, Aphanomyces, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium and other soil fungi. All of them affect only weakened plants. Heavy floating soil, untimely sowing of seeds (in cold, unheated or dry soil), violation of the seeding depth, poor quality of seed material are the most common reasons predisposing to the development of root beetle. With frequent renewal of beet crops in the same field, the disease intensifies, as pathogens accumulate in the soil. Only Plioma betae Frank can be introduced with seeds. This fungus affects not only seedlings, but also adult plants, including seed bushes.

Control measures:

• sowing beets in crop rotation after predecessors that are not affected by root beetle pathogens (winter and other grain crops, perennial grasses);
• good tillage of the soil and filling it with complete mineral fertilizer in combination with manure. Application of manure is especially important on heavy soils with poor structure;
• timely sowing and planting of seeds at the optimal depth. When soil moisture is high, deep tillage before sowing and relatively shallow seed placement are advisable, and when soil moisture is low, shallow tillage and deeper seed placement are advisable;
• optimal conditions for the friendly emergence of seedlings - soil temperature is not less than 5...7 o C during sowing and 16 o C at germination, soil moisture is about 60% of the total moisture capacity:
• ensuring good soil aeration during the period of seedling emergence. When a soil crust forms on heavy, floating soils, early sharovka immediately after emergence;
• sowing with healthy, high-quality seeds;
• pre-sowing treatment of seeds to create a protective zone around them at the most critical moment (seed germination) and protect seedlings from infection. Table beet seeds are treated with Fentiuram (6 kg/t), TMTD (4-6 kg/t), Tigam (5-6 kg/t).

Fomoz (zonal spotting, heart rot).

The disease is widespread, but is more harmful in the Forest-Steppe and Steppe of Ukraine. All types of beets (sugar, fodder, table) of the first and second years of cultivation, as well as spinach, are affected.

In 2008, the disease appeared on 6-11% of table beet plants on farms in Vinnitsa, Kyiv, Poltava, Kharkov, and Khmelnitsky regions. In 2009, the first signs of the disease appeared in early June in the farms of the Kyiv region, where Phoma was widespread in almost half of the areas sown with table beets. The number of affected plants was 2-5%. In the Poltava and Khmelnytsky regions, the prevalence of Phomaz fluctuated between 12-15%, and in the Ivano-Frankivsk region it reached 40%.

The causative agent of Phoma is the fungus Phoma betae Frank. The disease manifests itself on various organs of beets, at different ages of the plant. The main forms of manifestation of the disease: on seedlings - root rot, on leaves - zonal spotting, on root crops - dry core rot.

On plants of the first year, mainly the lower, older leaves are affected, and on the seed plants, leaves of all ages and bracts are affected. Quite large (0.2-1 cm) yellowish-brown, rounded, later necrotic spots with regular concentric circles appear on them. Often they merge with each other. Small black dots - pycnidia of the fungus - are clearly visible to the naked eye.

On the stems, the affected areas become lighter and often merge, forming large white spots, on which numerous dots are also found - pycnidia of the fungus. This is where another name for the disease comes from - pinpointing of the stems of the testes. The pycnidia of the fungus are spherical or flattened, 100-400 µm in size, from light to dark brown. When it rains or when dew falls, they swell and spew out a mass of small pycnospores that emerge in the form of a ribbon, from which plants become infected.

On root crops, the disease manifests itself in the form of rot of the core (heart), which begins from the head and spreads in a cone to the base. In a longitudinal section of the affected root crop, the affected tissue is dry, black and hard. The mycelium of the pathogen mainly affects young weakened parts of the root, mainly the lateral convexities of the neck, causing the appearance of dark gray or brown spots. The root tissue rots, becomes dry and rotten. Pycnidia of the fungus form on the affected areas. Once in piles or storage facilities, root crops with signs of dry rot quickly decompose and form foci of pile rot.

When planting root crops affected by dry rot, the testes either do not grow at all or quickly fall out. Some of them survive and form puny, infected seed balls with fungal pycnidia (spotted seed balls). The glomeruli are especially affected by pinpointing when the mown seed bushes are in the field for a long time and are exposed to dew and rain. In addition to pinpointing, mycelium of the pathogen can develop in the affected pericarp tissue. When sowing such seeds, the seedlings are usually affected by the root beetle.

It should be remembered that Phoma mainly affects root crops grown with a deficiency of boron in the soil. A lack of boron causes the root growth point to die, and the fungus, after colonizing this dead tissue, causes the development of black dry rot.

The source of Phomosis infection is diseased plant residues, infected roots and seeds.

On overwintered infected beet stems, the marsupial stage of the fungus can also develop in semi-open fruiting bodies - perithecia. Bags containing sacspores are formed in them. At this stage, the fungus is called Pleospora betae Newodowsky. The marsupial stage is an additional source of infection.

The infestation of plants by Phoma is restrained by strict compliance with agrotechnological requirements for growing crops and sufficient provision of plants with nutrients. The development of the disease also depends on the variety of hybrids and on the quality of plant treatment with fungicides.

Control measures:

• place beets in crop rotation in such a way that they return to their original place no earlier than after three to four years;
• The main filling with mineral fertilizers is carried out in the fall, for which complete fertilizers are used (for example, nitroammofoska). In the spring, additional fertilizer is added to the rows during sowing. Fertilizer application rates are selected based on agrochemical soil analysis data;
• manure is applied to the crop, which is the predecessor of table beets;
• It is also recommended to treat seeds to reduce the supply of pathogen spores;
• on mother plantations during the growing season, and on seed plants - before stem formation begins, diseased plants are removed from the site;
• Root crops should be harvested before the onset of frost, since when damaged by frost they lose resistance to disease;
• Only healthy root vegetables can be stored. Their leaves are cut off, leaving petioles 1 cm long. It is better to store beets in small boxes (capacity 15-20 kg), first sprinkled with sand along with fluff lime. Cellars or other rooms intended for root vegetables should be disinfected by treating with a solution of bleach (40 g/l of water). Then the room is ventilated during the day. The best preservation of table beets is achieved at a temperature of 0...2 O C and relative humidity 90-95%.

Downy mildew (peronospora)

The causative agent is Peronospora schachtii. It develops especially intensively in damp and cool weather in the first half of summer. The shortest incubation period is at an air temperature of about 16 o C. In plants of the first year of life, the central leaves of the rosette are affected, and in the second year (testes), young flowering shoots are affected along with leaves, bracts, flowers and even infructescences (glomeruli). A typical sign of the disease is the formation of a gray-purple coating on the underside of the leaves. Plaque can also appear on other terrestrial organs of plants. Leaves become chlorotic, brittle, curl, and thicken. With severe development of downy mildew, the leaves gradually darken and dry out. Physiological processes in plants are disrupted. During an epiphytoty (outbreak) of peronosporosis, the plant may die completely. Beet root crops affected by this disease have reduced resistance to black rot during storage.

The fungus persists on the remains of affected plants, seeds, and also on the surface of beet roots stored for storage. When planting such root crops, the pathogen first attacks the testicular rosette, and then the flowering shoots. If seed plants are located next to mother plants, infection can spread to first year beets.

Control measures:

• implementation of a set of preventive measures (see fomoz), including seed dressing to reduce the supply of pathogen spores;
• when symptoms of a plant disease appear, spray with fungicides. Seed plantings are sprayed with 1% Bordeaux mixture or copper oxychloride (0.4% working solution). The first treatment is carried out when symptoms of the disease are detected, the second, if necessary, after 20 days.

Cercospora

One of the most dangerous and harmful diseases, which occurs in almost all beet-growing areas and is often epiphytotic in nature. The causative agent is Cercospora beticola Sacc. It affects not only table, sugar and fodder beets, but also alfalfa, peas, soybeans, potatoes, sow thistle, quinoa, acorn grass, mallow, sorrel, dandelion, bindweed and other cultivated and wild plants (about 40 species).

It appears mainly on old peripheral leaves, petioles, and stems of plantings. On beets of the first year, the disease is detected starting at the end of June and develops intensively during the further period of its growing season. However, in recent years, an earlier manifestation of cercospora has been observed. In this case, single necrotic round spots with a diameter of 2-4 mm, with an ashen center and a red-brown border along the edges, first form on the affected leaf blades. In humid weather, areas of pathogen sporulation in the form of a faint grayish coating form on their surface (on both sides of the spots). In dry weather, the affected tissue falls out and the leaves become holey. On the petioles the spots are more elongated. As the disease progresses, the number of dead areas increases, necrotic spots merge and cover the entire surface of the affected leaves. As the tissues die, the leaf blades dry out, become dark brown, curl downwards, the tops lie on the soil surface, and the row spacing opens. When the testes are affected, in addition to the leaves and petioles, the stems and pericarp of the seeds become infected.

The premature death of affected leaves leads to the formation of new ones by the plant, which consumes a large amount of nutrients necessary for the formation of the root system. This leads to a shortage of harvest. Damage to royal beets reduces the quality of planting material. The root crops of diseased plants are smaller, are stored less well and produce a smaller seed yield.

The source of infection is mycelium overwintering in dead leaves and petioles remaining on the soil surface, as well as in the pericarp of seed glomeruli. The fungus can also survive in royal beets and other plants affected by cercospora, such as alfalfa.

Cercospora blight is common in areas with warm and humid climates. The disease is especially noticeable in years when long periods of wet weather alternate with short periods of dry weather in the summer. In wet weather, the fungus produces abundant sporulation. In hot weather, plants' turgor decreases and they become less resistant to pathogen infection. Relative average daily air humidity above 70% and average daily temperature above 15 o C are factors favorable for the development of the disease.

The disease intensifies with increasing concentration of beet crops and disruption of crop rotation in crop rotation. Thickened crops are more affected.

Control measures:

• It is imperative to destroy plant residues in the fields where beets were grown in the fall. It should be noted that the fungus loses viability when plant debris is planted to a depth of 20-30 cm;
• Crop rotation plays a significant role in preventing the development of the disease. The normal development of plants and an increase in their resistance to disease are facilitated by careful pre-sowing tillage of the soil, the introduction of balanced doses of organic (under the predecessor, 2-3 years before growing beets) and mineral fertilizers;
• The harmfulness of the disease can be reduced by performing all plant care measures in a high-quality and timely manner (sowing at optimal times, pre- and post-emergence harrowing, fertilizing with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, inter-row loosening, weed control, etc.).

Kagatny rot

Pathogens - Botrytis, Fusarium oxy-sporum, Rhizopus, Phoma, Penicillium, Aspergillus, etc.

It affects beet root crops stored for storage. This disease is caused by a complex of microorganisms of bacterial and fungal nature, but the most aggressive is the causative agent of gray rot. The disease develops mainly on weakened root crops infected in the field. The main symptom of the disease is the appearance of mold of different colors, dry or wet rot, on root crops. The type of rot depends on the main pathogen and storage conditions. Root rot infestation of root crops leads to loss of marketable appearance of the product and to a significant deterioration in its consumer qualities. The rotten mass containing decomposition products of organic matter becomes unsuitable for consumption. Affected beets should not even be used as animal feed, as this can lead to their illness.

The quality of root crops is influenced by the timing of harvesting. When harvesting is late or early, the root crops wither or freeze, which leads to the massive development of black rot.

Control measures the same as with fomoz.

Rust

The causative agent of the disease is Uromyces betae Lev. Affects plants throughout the entire growing season. In spring, on seedlings, mainly on the underside of cotyledons and leaf petioles, the aecidial stage develops in the form of small, yellow, powdery pads. Aecidiospores infect adult plants, on which brown pads of the fungal uredastadia are formed. Thisstage dominates in the development cycle of the pathogen, forming several generations, and causes massive infection of plants. By the end of summer, dark brown powdery pads form in the affected areas, which overwinter on plant debris. When rust is severe, the leaves dry out prematurely. The most favorable conditions for the development of the disease occur in years with warm and humid weather.

Rust can be spread by seeds. The fungus also overwinters on mother root crops and in the soil - on the remains of affected plants.

Control measures the same as with peronosporosis. In addition, spatial isolation must be observed; first-year crops must be placed at a distance of at least 1.5 km from the second-year crop.

Red rot (felt disease, rhizoctonia)

The causative agent of the disease is Rhizoctonia violacea Tul. Affects beets, carrots, rutabaga and other root vegetables. On the root vegetables of the dining roomIn beets, the first signs of the disease appear in the field, but red rot reaches its greatest development by the time of harvesting. Lead-gray subcutaneous spots of various sizes, covered with a felt plexus of red-violet mycelium, are found on root crops. After harvesting, numerous very small black sclerotia form on the root crops. The affected tissues remain hard for a long time, but then soften and rot.

Waterlogging of the soil and warm weather contribute to the massive manifestation of rhizoctonia. The disease develops in low places where water stagnates, as well as in wetlands and waterlogged peatlands.

Control measures:

• correct choice of site for table beets;
• strict adherence to crop rotation and cultivation technology.

Common scab

The causative agents of the disease are radiant fungi from the genus Streptornyces. The disease manifests itself on any part of the root in the form of a rough, scab-like, sometimes with cracks, dark brown crust. Cracks heal quickly, forming cork tissue, without forming constrictions on the surface of the roots in the neck area. With scab in the cervical area, from one to several annular interceptions are observed. The root in the affected area acquires a wavy surface, as if tied with a belt. The disease is most often observed on plants that have suffered from rootworm and is the most severe form of scab.

Warm, dry weather, the application of fresh, unrotted manure and excessive liming contribute to the strong development of scab.

Control measures. The same as with rhizoctoniosis.

Gray rot

The causative agent is Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr. The first signs of the disease were discoveredappear already during cleaning. The lesion most often begins from the tail part of the root crop. The affected tissue becomes brown in color. A gray fluffy fungal coating forms on its surface, consisting of mycelium, conidiophores and conidia. Conidia are round or oval, colorless, unicellular, 10-15x5-10 microns in size. On conidiophores they are located crowded, in the form of a cluster. Later, black sclerotia with a diameter of 2-5 mm are formed. The disease can be transmitted to healthy root crops by direct contact and by airborne spores.

The strong development of gray rot is facilitated by wilting, hypothermia and mechanical damage to root crops, as well as violation of storage conditions: increased temperature and humidity in storage.

Control measures:

• compliance with crop rotation;
• compliance with the technology of growing table beets and storing root crops.

White rot

White rot of beets is caused by the same fungus that causes white rot of cabbage, carrots and other vegetable crops. The affected tissue becomes soft, wet, covered with abundant cotton wool-like mycelium, on which black, large sclerotia, up to 3 cm in diameter, are formed. During storage, rot continues to develop and can cause infection of other root vegetables upon contact.

The massive spread of white rot is facilitated by high humidity and temperature in the storage, one-sided fertilization with increased doses of nitrogen or phosphorus.

Control measures the same as with gray mold.

Powdery mildew

The causative agent is Erysiphe communis Grev. f. betae Jacz. It affects plants of the first and second years of life. On plants of the first year, middle-aged leaves are infected first, then older ones, and lastly the youngest; on seed plants - leaves, stems, and seed balls. All affected organs are covered with a white powdery coating in the form of separate spots, which then merge into a continuous spot. The plaque consists of mycelium, conidiophores and spores. In the second half of summer, cleistothecia (fruiting bodies) form. Spore sizes are 30-40x10-15 microns, cleistothecia - 80-100 microns.

The development of powdery mildew is favored by dry and hot weather, when beet plants wilt and become susceptible to the disease.

Control measures:

• compliance with crop rotation;
• destruction of post-harvest plant residues;
• pollination of plants with ground sulfur (15-30 kg/ha or 300 g/100 m 2 ). The first treatment is carried out when signs of the disease appear, subsequent ones - depending on the degree of its development.

List of used literature

1. Andryushko A. Yu., Bocharov S. V., Varash O. I., Sologub Yu I. Current technologies for the production and marketing of agricultural crops. - K., 2002.
2. Bolotskikh A.S. Vegetable grower's encyclopedia. - Kharkov: Folio, 2005.
3. Buryak R., Niko de Grot. Standards for the preservation of berries in the production of fruits and vegetables: introduction into the EU marketing standards and the EurepGAP system. - K., 2006.
4. Gil L. S., Dyachenko V. I., Pashkovsky A. I., Sulima L. T. Modern industrial production of vegetables and potatoes using drip irrigation systems. - Zhitomir: Ruta, 2007.
5. Gil L. S. Fertigation - irrigation using soluble fertilizers in drip irrigation systems. - Ethnos, 2005.
6. Gil L. S., Pashkovsky A. I., Sulima L. T. Current ovochivnistvo of the open ground. -Vinnytsia: New book, 2009.
7. Gusev A. M. Healing vegetable plants. - M.: TSKHA, 1991.
8. Protection of greenhouse and greenhouse plants from pests: Handbook. - M.: KMK Scientific Press Ltd., 1999.
9. Lapa O. M., Drozdov V. F., Gogolev A. I. Current technologies for the development and destruction of sheep crops. - K., 2004.
10. Likhatsky V. I., Burgar B. I., Vasyanovich V. D. Ovochivnitstvo. I, II parts. - K.: Harvest., 1996.
11. Pashkovsky A.I. Modern vegetable growing in closed and open ground. - Zhitomir: Ruta, 2007.
12. Overflow of pesticides and agrochemicals permitted in Ukraine. - K.: Univest Media, 2010.
13. Sayko V. F., Boyko P. I. Changes in agriculture in Ukraine. - K.: Agrarian Duma, 2002.
14. Pivovarov V.P. Vegetables of Russia. - M.: Russian seeds, 1994.
15. Pivovarov V.P., Konkov P.F., Nikulshin V.P. New vegetables on your table. - M.: VNIISSOK, 1995.
16. Stancheva J. Atlas of diseases of agricultural crops. - Bulgaria: Pensoft, 2001.

In the Ivano-Frankivsk region it reached

To get a good harvest, beets need to be properly cared for. To do this, it is important to know the description and treatment of the main diseases of beets, what pests threaten them in the garden. You can fight them with folk remedies, chemical and biological drugs.

Major diseases

Compliance with agrotechnical measures will protect plantings from various infections, but there are exceptions. Regardless of the variety - table, fodder or sugar beet - the diseases are often the same. Fungal and bacterial infections cause diseases:

• rot - black, gray, white, red, fusarium, tail;
• peronosporosis;
• Phomasis;
• bacterial cancer.

When infected with the virus, rhizomania, mosaic, and jaundice may develop. The cause of some beet lesions is a lack or excess of micronutrients in the soil. The creation of unfavorable growing conditions leads to rotting of the roots and a decrease in yield.

Kagatny rot

This is the name of a group of sugar beet diseases caused by fungi and bacteria. What is common is that the first symptoms appear during the storage of root crops, although infection occurs during the growing season. Manifestations of the disease depend on the microorganisms that caused the disease; measures to combat them come down to compliance with agricultural practices for planting and growing, disinfection of seed material and soil. Affected specimens must be removed as they become unsuitable for consumption and processing. Symptoms of infection depend on the pathogen and appear in the form of mold of various shades, dry and wet rot. Diseased root vegetables are dangerous for healthy ones.

Beet rot affects damaged beet heads even through small scratches. Frostbitten and wilted specimens are especially susceptible to it. Conditions of high or low temperature and humidity contribute to the development of the disease. To avoid infection, you must:

• timely control of pests;
• observe agricultural techniques for planting and growing;
• store only whole, healthy root vegetables;
• create optimal indoor conditions;
• take preventive protective measures.

Powdery mildew

A fungal disease that manifests itself at the first stage as small white spots on the upper side of the leaves. Gradually, the spots become larger in size, first occupying the leaf, then the entire aerial part. It seems that the plant has been watered with a lime solution. Upon closer examination, the mycelium of the fungus is noticeable, similar to a cobweb or a thin layer of cotton wool. Over time, the plaque becomes dense and powdery.

The disease greatly suppresses the plant, but does not immediately lead to death, since the pathogen exists at its expense. Beets spend a lot of energy and nutrients on the formation and development of the root crop, so they cannot cope with the infection and die. Powdery mildew spreads quickly in dry, hot weather. Increased temperature and humidity weaken plants and reduce their resistance to disease. Preventive control measures - agricultural technology, crop rotation, seed treatment before planting. Infected specimens must be removed from the beds and destroyed. At an early stage of the disease, treatment with a fungicide can help; all healthy plants are sprayed with it for prevention.

The drugs used are Quadris, Topaz, Bayleton, Fundazim, Ditan M-45, Fundazol.

Common scab

Dark-brown crusts 2-3 mm thick with cracks may appear on any part of the beet head. Severe infection with common scab is manifested by the formation of hard, corky growths. Bacterial and fungal infections in deep cracks cause the development of rot.

The disease is typical for beets cultivated on heavy soils with an alkaline environment (pH 7-8). Mushrooms are not able to decompose fiber, so they do not penetrate into root vegetables.

Compaction of the soil after heavy watering or heavy rain in conditions of elevated temperature is favorable for infection.

Common scab leads to a slowdown in the growth of beet heads, a decrease in their weight by up to 2 times, and a decrease in sugar content by 1-3%. Prevention of the disease consists of observing crop rotation, pre-sowing soil preparation (all plant residues should be removed, and if necessary, increase the acidity by adding sulfuric or phosphoric acid). Excessive amounts of fertilizing, especially organic fertilizers, should not be allowed. At the first signs, it is necessary to spray the bushes with Bordeaux mixture, copper oxychloride, carticide or other preparations.

Rust

Caused by a fungal infection, it can appear in the spring as dark dots on the upper side of the leaves and orange pads on the bottom. In summer, the formations are brown in color and generate dust. It is during the summer stage that mass infection of plantings occurs. Rust causes the death of the above-ground parts of the beets, reducing the yield and sugar content in the tubers.

All foci of infection must be burned, and plant remains must be carefully removed after harvesting. The specimens on which the first signs appear should be immediately removed from the beds. Fertilizing with potassium and phosphorus at an early stage can help. The drugs used are Alto super 330, Abacus, Amistar extra 280.

Rizomania

The causative agent is a virus transmitted by the fungi Polymyxa betae. Infection appears at the stage of formation of 4-6 true leaves. Their color becomes light green, yellowish. In the second half of growing beets, a change in the color of the leaf vessels to a brownish tint becomes noticeable, then necrosis develops in these places. Symptoms may be absent, then the disease is determined by dwarfism and bearded heads. Browning of blood vessels is noticeable on a cut of a root crop.

Timely weeding, removal of plant debris after harvesting, and destruction of infected specimens will prevent infection of plantings. Pesticides are powerless against infection. Crop rotation is also not effective, since the pathogen remains in the soil for up to 10 years. There are varieties resistant to rhizomania, in most cases these are hybrids.

Downy mildew

Symptoms are leaves turning pale, their edges curling down, thickening, and brittleness. A grayish-violet coating appears on the bottom of the leaf, as a result it turns black and dies. Downy mildew, or downy mildew, affects flower stalks and seed pods. They become deformed, develop poorly, and die.

The causative agent is a fungal infection. Favorable conditions for development are cool (+16°C) weather with high humidity (70%). The disease usually begins in May - June. The second outbreak occurs in autumn. Pre-sowing soil preparation, destruction of infected specimens, and cultivation of resistant varieties will help prevent downy mildew in beets. Before planting, seeds must be treated with Apron XL 350. Fungicides used during the growing season are Amistar Extra, Acrobat MC.

Fomoz

Zonal spotting appears on the lower leaves in the form of large yellow or light brown spots of necrosis with pronounced concentric circles. Gradually they increase in size, merge, and later small black dots appear. Subsequently, brown spots appear on petioles, peduncles, stems, and flowers. On the beet heads, the spots are depressed, dark in color, and the border between healthy and diseased tissue is noticeable.

Phoma of beets is caused by a lack of boron, violation of crop rotation, and improper pre-sowing soil preparation. When symptoms of infection appear, fertilizing with boron-containing fertilizers is required. The fungicides used are Benazol, Titul, ZIM 500.

Blackleg

Beet root blight is caused by a fungal infection under unfavorable growing conditions. Provoking factors are waterlogging, cool weather, dense plantings. The disease manifests itself as blackening and rotting of the root collar. The stem also turns black, becomes thinner, and the lower leaves may turn yellow. As a result, the seedling breaks and dies.

After the formation of 2-3 true leaves, the plants become resistant to infection, but the pathogen remains in the soil. For the fight, the drugs Fentiuram, TMTD, colloidal sulfur, Fitosporin, Baktofit, Fundazol are used. Common folk methods include dusting plants and the soil surface with ash or soot, watering with a baking soda solution, and sprinkling the ground with eggshell powder.

Gray rot

It appears as vague brownish spots on tubers, petioles and leaves with smoky-gray mycelium with spores. The affected areas turn brown, dry out, and crack. Young seedlings completely rot. Before storing root vegetables, they must be carefully inspected; even a small spot will lead to damage to the vegetable and infection of neighboring heads. Before long-term storage, beets must be thoroughly dried.

A disease of an infectious nature. The root crop softens and becomes wet. A mycelium appears on the surface, similar to white cotton wool, followed by the formation of black sclerotia. Beets rot and are unsuitable for food. Favorable factors are increased ambient temperature and humidity.

Damaged specimens must be removed immediately, as they can infect other root crops.

Infection with rhizoctonia occurs during the growing season. Rotting begins from the tail or lateral roots. Many small red-purple spots and formations appear on the skin of the beet heads. With increased soil moisture, the root crop becomes covered with a reddish-purple velvety felt. Provoking factors are heavy soil, waterlogging, high temperature. Crop rotation, weeding, and avoidance of high humidity conditions when growing beets help combat red rot.

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Gray rot

Fusarium rot

First, the older leaves turn yellow, then the younger ones, possibly unilateral wilting and yellowing. The petioles below turn black and begin to rot. The lateral roots die off and many new ones grow in their place. The root system rots, the vascular bundles turn black, browned and dead vessels and longitudinal cavities with pinkish-white mycelium are visible on the cut. Dry rot can lead to the death of the entire plant or rotting of only the root crop. There are no chemical treatments.

Prevention of fusarium:

• disease-resistant varieties;
• compliance with crop rotation;
• removal of plant residues;
• use of the biological product Biocomposite-correct for processing seed material and during cultivation.

Tail rot

Sugar beet gommosis starts from the tail, rises to the head, affecting it completely. First, the lower leaves, then the upper ones acquire a chlorotic color, wither, and die. The root crop rots and the plant dies. The causative agents are several microorganisms and fungi. Decayed tissues become slimy, foamy, and light yellow in color. The smell is characteristic.

Provoking factors:

• heavy soil;
• waterlogging;
• crust on the surface of the earth;
• heat;
• excess nitrogen-containing additives;
• pest damage;
• mechanical damage from labor tools.

Treatment is the creation of favorable growing conditions, the implementation of agrotechnical measures to the fullest extent, caution with the application of fertilizers, and the destruction of pests. Before storing beets, you need to carefully sort through them, discarding damaged and infected specimens.

It appears as light spots of various shapes and sizes on the leaves, the surface of the damaged tissue is wrinkled. The virus affects all types of beets and is transmitted by pests - aphids, bugs, cicadas. The disease reduces sugar content and yield. Control measures - weeding, uniform planting, territorial division of beets to obtain seeds and commercial root crops, destruction of pests. To obtain seed material, you need to use only healthy tubers.

Goiter appears in the form of growths on the neck or lower part of the root. A tumor with an uneven surface, covered with cork tissue, the inside is light and hard. The root crop often does not have time to develop. Alkaline soil provokes bacterial infection. It is unacceptable to feed beets with fresh manure.

For prevention, legumes are incorporated into the soil as green manure.

Yellowing begins on the lower leaves, spreading from the upper tip to the petiole. The green color is retained only along the main veins. The leaves thicken, become brittle, and die. There are mild and severe jaundice viruses. Symptoms of engraving are present only in the second case. The disease reduces the quality, sugar content and yield of root crops. The spread of infection occurs due to pests (aphids). The fight against jaundice involves weeding and treatment with insecticides.

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Beet pests

Regardless of the variety, if the surface or underground parts are severely damaged, the vegetable may die.

You need to know beet pests and how to combat them. If you find them in the garden or if signs of their presence appear on the plants, you need to take action immediately. Plantings are especially bothered by:

• flea beetles;
• nematodes;
• shieldweed.

Fleas

Insects can be of several types - southern, western, common and root beet flea beetle. The size of the bugs is 1.5-2.5 mm, the body is oval, convex, black in color with a metallic tint. Pests overwinter on plant debris, after the temperature reaches +8-9°C they wake up, settle on weeds, then on beet seedlings. Flea beetles eat the above-ground parts of plants and can destroy the entire crop. Particularly dangerous in dry, hot weather. Insect fertility is 200-240 eggs. Depending on the variety, 1-2 generations occur per year.

Root nematode

Protection against nematodes consists of maintaining crop rotation, timely weeding, and treating seeds, equipment and soil with nematicides. Planting marigolds next to beets helps. Traditional methods help reduce the number of pests, but do not get rid of them. Approved biological products - Basamil, Nematofagin, Metarizin, Fitohit.

Smooth carrion eater

A beetle up to 1.3 cm long, black in color, covered with brownish hairs. Feeds on young seedlings. It overwinters on weeds and lays eggs (up to 100) in the top layer of soil. The hatched black larvae feed on leaves. Methods for controlling beet pests include weeding and treatment with insecticides (spray, water according to instructions):

• Diazole is an organophosphate insecticide;
• Ditox is a highly effective systemic insectoacaricide;
• Pirinex is a combined broad-spectrum insecticide;
• Terradim is an innovative insectoacaricide to combat various types of harmful insects and mites;
• Chlorpyrifos is an odorless organophosphorus insecticide for the destruction of eggs, young and adult bedbugs, mites, aphids, cockroaches, flies, and ants.

Weevil

A beetle 0.9-1.5 cm long with a shiny scaly body covered with dark spots on a grayish background. The head is tube-shaped. Female pests are larger than males. Before the beet seedlings appear, the insect lives on weeds (sow thistle, quinoa), then eats up young cultivated plants, overwinters in the beds at a depth of 20 cm. The beetle moves along the ground over long distances, lays eggs (about 100 pieces) in the soil, after which the female dies . The larvae move quickly in the soil and are able to gnaw through a thick root in 1-2 days.

Protection from the pest consists of loosening, deep digging, weeding, pre-sowing seed treatment with a growth stimulant and insecticide, and frequent watering. It is advisable to dig around the perimeter of infected beds with deep furrows treated with chemicals. In extreme cases, beet and soil pests are treated with Alatar, Karate, Pochin, Fufanon. The natural enemies of the weevil are birds, ants, and ground beetles.

Aphid

Insects appear in April, but can settle on plants at any time during the growing season. Beet aphids feed on the juice of leaves, located on the underside, which leads to their curling, delayed growth of the bush, and low yield. The pest severely damages the testes, significantly reducing the quality of the seed material. The larvae overwinter on trees; after warming, wingless females wake up; winged individuals appear after the leaves become coarser. The fight against aphids is complex and includes folk remedies (soap solution, infusion of ash or tobacco) and purchased drugs (Inta-Vir, Iskra, Envidor, Komandor).

Mining moth

A butterfly with a wingspan of 1.2-1.4 cm, gray-brown color with black spots and a yellowish pattern. The larvae are grayish-green when they grow and have 5 longitudinal dotted pink stripes. Moths harm sugar beets and, to a lesser extent, table and fodder varieties. Over the summer, 4 generations of larvae appear. The first 2 feed on the tops, which becomes the reason why the beet leaves turn black and dry out, the subsequent caterpillars gnaw out passages in the root crops.

Pest control measures:

• cleaning up all plant residues after harvesting;
• deep autumn digging of the soil;
• treating beets with insecticides during mass egg laying;
• washing butterflies off leaves with water under pressure.

Beet fly

The insect is 6-8 mm in length, light gray in color, reddish-brown eyes, dark spots on the abdomen. The larvae are worm-like, yellowish in color. The beet fly overwinters in the upper layers of the soil and additionally feeds on weeds. The caterpillars that emerge from the eggs mine the leaves, eating away the cavities. Mines look like dirty yellow, swollen spots. The appearance of larvae on young seedlings leads to the death of plants; in the second half of the growing season, a decrease in the mass of root crops occurs. Autumn soil preparation, loosening, weeding, and the use of insecticides will help protect plantings from the beet leaf miner.

Cottonwort

The bugs are 6-7 mm in size, green (young) or rusty-brown (overwintered) in color with black spots, black underneath. The beet beetleaf has a fertility of up to 200 eggs, with 2 generations appearing over the summer. Larvae and adults feed on leaves, gnawing holes with drying edges, leaving the veins untouched. Control methods - timely weeding of weeds, red beets are first treated with biological products, if this does not help, insecticides are used.

Preventive measures

Ensuring that beets are protected from pests will significantly reduce the risk of disease.

Basic preventive measures:

• compliance with crop rotation;
• deep digging with clearing of plant residues in the fall without leveling the surface and breaking large blocks will ensure freezing of deep layers of soil in winter;
• it is necessary to comply with the required soil acidity levels, adding lime or acids only when necessary;
• application of permitted fertilizers in acceptable quantities;
• do not use fresh manure when growing beets;
• dressing and disinfection of seed material before sowing;
• treating the beds with a solution of potassium permanganate or hot water;
• loosening, weeding;
• sufficient and timely watering;
• when symptoms of diseases and pests appear, treat the plantings with approved preparations;
• Thoroughly dry the harvested crop before storing it, and inspect it for signs of root rot.

There are many diseases and pests of beet plantings that significantly reduce yields. Compliance with agricultural cultivation techniques reduces the possibility of their appearance on plants. If preventive methods do not help, you must immediately treat with approved drugs in combination with traditional methods.