Beet farming is one of the simplest, but even its impeccable compliance does not guarantee the absence of diseases and insect attacks. Knowing what enemies the beets have, being able to recognize and diagnose them, you can quickly prevent their spread and save the crop.
The main diseases of beet
Beetroot is a hardy plant with high immunity, but under unfavorable circumstances and violation of agricultural technology, bacteria, viruses and fungi can affect it. Many diseases significantly reduce the quality of the crop and cause losses after storing root crops.
Powdery mildew
This is a fungal disease that appears in the second half of summer. One of the most common and dangerous diseases that affects a wide variety of cultures. The main reason for the appearance of powdery mildew is high humidity and hot weather.
Symptoms:
- At the initial stage, the leaves are covered with small white spots.
- Then the spots increase, gradually spreading throughout the leaf, and then along the stems and shoots. The above-ground part seems to be watered with lime.
- The cobweb plaque gradually becomes dense and powdery.
- The plant weakens and dies gradually.
Control measures:
- spraying with colloidal sulfur - 20 g per bucket of water;
- treatment with fungicides - Topaz, Quadris, Fundazol.
Prevention is standard - adherence to agricultural techniques, crop rotation, disinfection of seeds, removal of plant residues and deep autumn digging.
Fomoz
Fungal disease affecting leaves and roots. The disease can be recognized by the state of the leaves. If left untreated, the tops will dry out completely. The disease does not disappear even after harvesting, and appears after the root crops are laid for storage. It manifests itself with a boron deficiency.
Symptoms:
- Large concentric spots, yellowish or brownish, appear on the tops.
- The affected tissues are covered with small black dots. They also later cover the seeds of the beet.
- In the cut of the root crop, there are affected black tissues. They contain voids with a white coating of fungus. Later, other pathogens join the phomosis, and the plaque turns black, pink, green. Such root crops should not be planted on seeds - they die after planting.
Spotting almost does not affect the size of root crops - the harvest is good. But after harvesting, the beets start to deteriorate.
How to fight:
- removal and destruction of diseased specimens;
- spraying with Bordeaux liquid;
- treatment with Fundazol, Benazol, Title 390 and other special agents;
- immediately after spraying - weeding and thinning of the beds, as well as the introduction of boron-containing fertilizers, for example, "Ultramag Bor".
Specific preventive measures for phomosis are the introduction of boron preparations and storing only healthy root crops.
Rope rot
Beetroot disease, in which it is attacked by fungi and bacteria during storage, is called stag rot. Pathology leads to the loss of most of the crop. Symptoms of the disease appear already at the beginning of autumn. First, a greenish mold appears on the beets, which darkens over time, and the root crops completely rot.
Causes of pathology:
- violation of agricultural technology;
- nutritional deficiencies.
Control measures:
- timely application of dressings;
- growing resistant varieties;
- selection of optimal cleaning times;
- storing root crops without delay;
- rejection of damaged or frozen root crops;
- spraying root crops with slaked lime - before laying in the cellar.
Rust
This fungal infection is called single-farm, as it affects only beets. Due to rust, the entire aerial part dies off, the yield and sugar content in root crops decreases. The cause of the disease can be a lack of phosphorus and potassium.
Symptoms:
- In spring, black dots appear on the lower part of the leaves. On the reverse side there are orange pads.
- In summer, brown dusty spots grow on the leaves. During this period, a massive infection of beet beds begins.
Control measures:
- Spraying with chemicals (Abacus or Alto super).
- Removal of diseased specimens and destruction of all foci of infection.
- Timely application of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.
Common scab
Fungal disease affecting root crops. Scab usually occurs in beets grown on heavy soils with an alkaline environment (pH 7-8). Fungi are not able to process fiber, therefore they spread only over the surface of root crops, without penetrating into their middle.
Common scab reasons:
- lack of rotted manure;
- liming of the soil.
Symptoms:
- Rough, scabby areas appear on the roots. A dark crust forms on them.
- In the region of the neck of the root crop there are annular interceptions.
- Plants slow down growth.
Control measures:
- Treatment with fungicides (Chistotsvet, Discor, etc.).
- Spraying with copper oxychloride and Kartacid.
Traditional methods of prevention - spraying plantings with a solution of ash or soap, are powerless against scab.
Rhizomania
This viral disease causes necrotic yellowing of the veins. Carriers of the virus are unicellular parasites that are especially active in hot and humid weather.
Symptoms:
- sheet plates lose their elasticity and shine;
- growth slows down;
- the fruits become smaller, their lower part is shortened, and the inside of the root vegetable hardens.
It happens that the disease passes without symptoms, its presence can be guessed by low yields and by the type of fruits - they have a "beard".
Control measures:
- for spraying use Fundazol, Benazol or Rovral;
- timely fertilizers containing boron are applied.
Jaundice
A viral disease that appears at the stage of aphid activation. The disease can reduce the yield by 30-60%. The best way to fight is prevention.
Symptoms:
- yellowing of the lower and middle leaves, first the tops turn yellow, then the edges;
- young leaves remain green for a long time, but it is noticeable that the veins acquire a necrotic appearance;
- affected leaves are shorter than healthy leaves, they lose their smoothness and become brittle.
Control measures:
- Destruction of aphids by timely treatment with an insecticide. If the aphid has just appeared, then the edges of the plantings are processed along the perimeter. If more than 5% of the plantings are infected, then all the beds are sprayed.
- Affected specimens are torn out and burned.
- Planting is treated with fungicides, for example, Phosphamide.
Peronosporosis (downy mildew)
This fungal disease especially often affects beet beds in high humidity. The fungus mainly affects the tops. Appears in May-June. It disappears when the heat begins, and in the fall, when it gets colder, it returns again.
The reasons:
- infection from diseased plants, conidia are carried by the wind;
- lack of potassium and phosphorus.
Symptoms:
- a lilac bloom appears on the leaves, then yellow spots, which quickly spread over the entire leaf plate;
- the leaves are deformed, thickened and die off quickly;
- on the reverse side of the leaves there is a grayish-purple bloom containing spores of the fungus.
Control measures:
- plantings are sprayed with Apron, Amistar, Acrobat - they are used for both treatment and prevention;
- at the first symptoms - spraying with Bordeaux liquid 1%;
- planting of varieties resistant to downy mildew and selection of high-quality planting material.
Bacterial cancer
This is not a particularly common disease caused by pathogenic bacteria. The disease can significantly impair the quality of root crops.
The reasons:
- spread by insects making moves in root crops;
- high humidity and temperature.
Symptoms:
- on the root collar there are smooth growths that can exceed the size of the root crop itself;
- on the leaves - tumors.
Control measures:
- planting varieties that are resistant to bacterial cancer;
- spraying with Fitoflavin, Fitoverm, Phytoplasmin.
Blackleg
This disease affects many crops, especially during the seedling stage. The causative agents are fungi and microorganisms living in the ground. Usually weak specimens are affected.
Provokes a black leg:
- high humidity and waterlogging of the soil;
- shallow seeding depth;
- heavy soils;
- poor-quality pre-sowing treatment of the site and insufficient fertilization;
- use of contaminated material;
Symptoms:
- seedling roots rot and darken;
- affected seedlings die, gaps appear in their rows, and the rest of the plants slow down their growth;
- wilting leaves.
Control measures:
- at the initial stage - spraying with Fitosporin, Baktofit or other suitable fungicide;
- dusting with ash also helps at the onset of the disease;
- watering the seedlings with a solution of soda (take 1 tsp of soda per glass of water);
- seed treatment in Epin's solution.
Mosaic
A viral disease leading to loss of yield and deterioration in fruit taste. The virus is carried by insects - aphids, bugs, cicadas. The disease affects not only beets, but also cabbage, beans, weeds.
Symptoms:
- a mosaic pattern appears on the leaves;
- leaf plates deform and fade over time;
- root crops lose sugar content.
Control measures:
- timely weeding;
- separation of plantings for root crops and seed material.
To date, there are no effective methods of dealing with mosaics.
Gray rot
Disease of a fungal nature. It affects a variety of crops, found on carrots, tomatoes, radish, cabbage. The disease is also called botrytosis. It develops both during the growing season and after laying beets for storage. The appearance of gray rot in the storage is provoked by increased temperature and humidity. There are no signs of the disease on the aboveground part.
Symptoms:
- brown rounded spots on root crops;
- the affected areas are covered with gray-green mold;
- the roots soften and the tops become dull.
Control measures:
- spraying the soil with Glyocladin;
- cleaning the site from plant residues.
Most often, gray rot affects frozen, dried-up root crops or those that were harvested late.
Tail rot
Root decay begins from the end. First, the "tail" rots, and then the disease spreads to the entire root crop. The causative agents of tail rot are various microorganisms and fungi.
The following factors can provoke the disease:
- heavy soils;
- high humidity;
- the formation of a crust on the soil;
- hot weather;
- excess nitrogen in the soil;
- mechanical damage to root crops during loosening and weeding;
- insect pests.
Symptoms:
- leaves, first the lower, and then the upper, brighten, wither and die;
- roots rot, and the plant dies.
Control measures:
- the correct dosage of dressings;
- timely destruction of pests;
- careful partitioning of root crops before storing.
Red rot
Other names for red rot are felt disease and rhizoctonia. This pathogen is also dangerous for carrots, rutabagas, radishes and other vegetables with root vegetables. The disease appears in high humidity and hot weather. Typically such conditions are created in lowlands, wetlands and wet peatlands.
Symptoms:
- the surface of the root crop - all or individual areas, is covered with lead-gray spots, on which the mycelium of a reddish-purple hue is visible;
- small black sclerotia are formed on root crops;
- the affected tissues become soft and the root crop rots;
- with severe infection, the leaves wither during the growing season.
Control measures:
- treatment with a fungicide, for example, Gamair;
- use of selected seed material.
Folk remedies against red rot are powerless.
White rot
The disease is also called sclerotinosis. The causative agent is a fungus that often affects beets, carrots and other vegetables. The disease develops after storage and leads to crop losses.
Symptoms:
- the affected areas of root crops are covered with a fluffy bloom and soften;
- sore areas harden, white, and then black bumps appear on them, exuding liquid;
- the roots become soft and completely rot.
Control measures:
- prevention - compliance with crop rotation, disinfection of seeds, disinfection of the site and storage;
- spraying with fungicides - Amur, Absolute, Alpha-Standard.
Fusarium rot
The disease progresses in early summer. The penetration of the pathogen occurs through the roots, weakened and damaged plants are primarily affected. Soil or plant debris can be a source of infection. The pathogen multiplies vigorously in hot weather.
Symptoms:
- leaf petioles turn black, tops wither over time;
- roots slow down growth, many lateral roots grow back;
- on a cut of a root crop, empty cavities filled with pink-white mycelium and fibrous areas are visible;
- the disease can spread to the surface of the root crop, it turns brown and rots.
If the lesion is severe, then the plant dies at the beginning of development. There is no effective treatment for fusarium. The only way to protect beets from this type of rot is through prevention.
Preventive measures:
- planting resistant varieties;
- you cannot plant beets in one area more often than after 2-3 years;
- prevention of mechanical damage to root crops.
Ramulariasis
Ramularis spot is a fungal disease that occurs in the second half of the growing season. Sometimes found in spring on young beets. The fungus is transferred through the seeds. For its development, a temperature of +17 ° C is sufficient.
Symptoms:
- leaves are covered with light spots ranging in size from 4 to 15 mm;
- spots may have brown edging;
- gray-green spots turn brown over time, becoming covered with a white spore-bearing bloom.
Preventive measures:
- compliance with crop rotation;
- spraying with any fungicides used against beet leaf diseases.
Ramulariasis is similar in symptoms to cercospora, but in the first case, the tissues inside the spots crack and fall out.
Common beet pests
Among insects, there are enough people who want to feast on juicy leaves and roots. Pests not only weaken the plants, but also spoil the crop - damaged roots are not suitable for storage, as they quickly rot due to infection.
Beetroot flea
Small beetle 1-2 mm long. It hibernates on fallen leaves, and in the spring eats beet leaves. The insect also eats sorrel, lives on weeds. Fleas can destroy the growing point and the plants die. Flea larvae feed on small roots, and beetles feed on leaves.
Signs of defeat:
- leaves curl and wither;
- the surface of the leaf plates is covered with dark spots;
- plant growth slows down.
How to fight:
- insecticide treatment - Confidor or Calypso;
- correct soil preparation and early sowing.
Shieldbreaker
Beetles 6-7 cm long are highly fertile and gluttonous. Young beetles are green, and adults that survived the winter are brown.
Signs of defeat:
- larvae and adult insects eat leaves;
- insects gnaw holes in the leaves without affecting the veins.
How to fight:
- weeding;
- processing with biological products;
- in extreme cases - spraying with insecticides.
Gall nematode
These small parasitic insects are practically invisible to the eye. Their length is no more than 1.3 mm.The root nematode not only parasitizes on root crops, but also is the carrier of all kinds of infections - viral and bacterial. The pest is widespread everywhere and is able to significantly reduce yield. The parasite is especially active during dry periods.
Signs of defeat:
- plant nutrition is disturbed, they cannot normally absorb water;
- the leaves wither, the plant weakens and gradually dies.
How to fight:
- seed dressing;
- planting in the aisles and around the perimeter of marigolds;
- spraying with biological products - Basamil, Fitokhit and others.
Beet Fly
The fly hits the leaves in spring. Laying eggs on the leaves, the fly provokes the death of the beet - the larvae, which will soon appear, suck the juices from the plant.
Signs of defeat:
- the larvae, having infiltrated the leaves, gnaw passages into them;
- vesicular cavities form at the site of moves;
- leaves turn yellow and fade.
How to fight:
- regular spraying with Calypso or Maxi insecticides;
- timely cleaning of weeds;
- processing by Karbofos.
Smooth Dead Eater
The beetles are 1 mm long. Color - black, on the body - hairs. Eats young sprouts. Wintering is on the weeds. Larvae are black, feed on leaves, eating them up to the veins.
How to fight:
- weeding;
- insecticide treatment - Diazol, Ditox, Pirinex and others.
Miner moth
The length of the butterfly is 5 mm. She has gray wings with dark spots. Caterpillars are light green, up to 12 mm long. Butterflies fly out in April-May. Lead a nocturnal lifestyle. Eggs are laid on leaves and petioles.
Signs of defeat:
- caterpillars eat young tops at the very beginning of the growing season;
- gnaw passages in petioles;
- damage the upper parts of root crops.
After harvesting, the caterpillars continue to remain in the stalks, where they live and develop. Rainy weather is favorable for them.
How to fight:
- promptly remove plant residues;
- digging the soil deep in the fall, 2 weeks after harvesting the beets - this ruins the pupae that have prepared for wintering in the soil.
Aphid
This small insect feeds on the juices of a wide variety of crops and wild plants. An adult insect reaches a length of 2 mm. Case color - black, with a green tint. Individuals with wings are shiny, and without wings - matte. Over the summer, 10-12 generations develop. Insects, appearing in April, settle on beet leaves.
Signs of defeat:
- insects settle on the underside of leaves, causing them to curl;
- plants lag behind in growth and lose productivity;
- the pest infects the testes, which reduces the quality of the seed.
How to fight:
- spraying with soapy water, infusion of tobacco or ash;
- spraying with Karbofos;
- destruction of weeds;
- treatment with Spark, Commander and other insecticides.
For an effective fight against aphids, it is necessary to combine chemicals with folk remedies.
Weevil
Beetles reach a length of 1-1.5 cm. They have a shiny gray body, covered with dark spots. The head is tube-shaped. Males are smaller than females. Until the beets have sprouted, the beetles live on the weeds. Beetles hibernate at a depth of 20 cm.
Signs of defeat:
- the larvae eat the roots, gnaw and bite them, gnaw holes in the roots;
- the affected plants wither, and the roots become smaller and deformed.
How to fight:
- loosen the soil;
- dig deep into the area in the fall;
- seed treatment with insecticide and growth stimulant;
- digging of beds along the perimeter with subsequent processing with chemicals;
- in severe cases - spraying with Alatar, Pochin, Karate.
Weevils have natural enemies - birds, ants, ground beetles.
General preventive measures
Preventive measures help prevent many diseases and the spread of insect pests. When the plant gets sick, it is difficult to do without crop losses, and prevention can save 100% of root crops.
Preventive measures:
- Compliance with crop rotation. It is recommended to plant beets only in the field of favorable predecessors. Beets grow best after cereals.
- Soil preparation. The soil is dug up in the fall, removing plant debris and destroying insects.
- Landing in fertile and non-acidic soil. The acidity level is reduced by liming, ash or dolomite flour is added.
- Disinfection of seeds. Seeds are kept in a solution of manganese or in other antiseptics.
- Deadlines. Late planting can lead to the development of many diseases. It is especially dangerous to rush to plant seeds in poorly heated soil.
Timely identification of diseases or pests increases the chances of their successful elimination. And if you take preventive measures, you can prevent most of the problems and achieve maximum yields.
Author of the publication
12
Russia. City Novosibirsk
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