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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Kimberly, Idaho » Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #368283
Research Project: Development of Elite Sugar Beet Germplasm Enhanced for Disease Resistance and Novel Disease Management Options for Improved Yield

Location: Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research

Title: Management of beet curly top virus in sugar beet

Author
item Strausbaugh, Carl

Submitted to: International Geminivirus Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/2/2019
Publication Date: 10/15/2019
Citation: Strausbaugh, C.A. 2019. Management of beet curly top virus in sugar beet. 9th International Geminivirus Symposium at University of California-Davis from November 9-13,2019.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Beet curly top (CT) is an important yield limiting disease caused by strains of Beet curly top virus (BCTV) in arid to semi-arid sugar beet production areas worldwide. Despite efforts to improve resistance in commercial sugar beet cultivars, resistance is still low to intermediate. In 2016, the USDA-ARS sugar beet program in Kimberly, ID released the double haploid sugar beet line KDH13, which contains a high level of resistance to BCTV. However, maintaining resistance to BCTV in sugar beet cultivars is problematic since resistance is multigenic, yield and other disease resistance traits are important to maintain, and several parents are required to generate the three-way hybrid cultivars. Since some resistance to BCTV in sugar beet can be strain specific, the BCTV strains found in western US sugar beet production areas were investigated. The Severe strain of BCTV declined incidence from 2006 to present day. Insecticides were also investigated to find management options for the beet leafhopper, Circulifer tenellus Baker, which vectors the BCTV. Results indicated that the neonicotinoid seed treatments based on clothianidin (sold as Poncho and NipsIt) and thiamethoxam (sold as Cruiser) could significantly reduce CT symptoms for at least 77 days from the time of planting and increase yields by at least 17%. The seed treatments and subsequent CT control not only improved yield variables in the field but could also improve sucrose yields from roots stored under ambient conditions in Idaho. Even without CT pressure in sugar beet fields, the general pest control provided by the seed treatments more than pays for the cost of treatment. Investigations have shown that when control by the seed treatments runs out, the best foliar insecticides to use to extend control are pyrethroids based on esfenvalerate (sold as Asana and Mustang). The foliar insecticides are not effective for season long control but are a cheap way to supplement the control provided by host resistance and the seed treatments. Utilizing a different insecticide chemistry for CT control will also help decreasing the likelihood of resistance building up to the neonicotinoids.