While multiple pathogens can attack sugarbeets, Rhizoctonia is a frequent yield-limiter. It can infect during root stages from emergence through harvest. Rhizoctonia can live for months, even years, undisturbed underground until revived by the right soil conditions and a susceptible plant host.

Rhizoctonia root and crown rot, caused by the fungus, Rhizoctonia solani, can devastate yield and quality. Even low levels of infection can decrease sugar content. As infection increases, sugar content continues to decline.

Trevor Dale, territory account manager for Valent U.S.A., recommends

Excalia^® Fungicide

for being highly effective against Rhizoctonia. An SDHI fungicide, it moves quickly into the plant for powerful, long-lasting disease control. It also has a low use rate for easy in-field handling.

Scouting for root and crown rot

Scouting for disease symptoms multiple times throughout the season helps growers understand risk and manage damage. Because infestation levels can vary, it is critical to scout multiple locations within each field for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Infection can begin as soon as the seed is planted and remains a risk until beets are processed. Preventative measures, including early fungicide applications, can help manage infection risk.

As the season progresses, growers should dig into the soil to assess root health. If Rhizoctonia is present, black or dark brown lesions may be visible on roots. Spotty stands and wilting leaves are also potential symptoms of crown rot, which typically develops at or near the soil line.

After harvest, diseased beets can spread the pathogen throughout the pile, potentially reducing post-harvest quality.

Dale stresses the importance of storing healthy, disease-free beets. “Rhizoctonia is not a direct post-harvest pathogen, but when you start with clean, healthier beets going to storage, they stay healthier. They are not as predisposed to other post-harvest pathogens that may cause problems and reduce the post-harvest life of a storage pile,” Dale says.

Get fast, effective disease control

Excalia is highly effective against the pathogen, Rhizoctonia solari, that causes root and crown rot. As a FRAC Group 7 fungicide, Excalia offers sugarbeet growers a low use rate product and an alternative to FRAC Group 11 fungicides such as azoxystrobin.

In field trials across the upper Midwest, Excalia outperformed both the standard azoxystrobin treatment and the untreated control.

Excalia may be applied in broadcast or banded applications. In broadcast applications, the rate is two fluid ounces per acre. In banded applications, the rate is 0.023–0.027 fluid ounces per 1,000 row feet with six- to seven-inch bands.

“Interestingly, some trials show that Excalia plots resulted in the greatest sugar content, likely because of Rhizoctonia control. This is impactful for co-ops and growers,” says Jill Calabro, Valent U.S.A. product development manager for fungicides.

Optimal disease control is achieved when Excalia is applied in a regularly scheduled spray program prior to infection.

Plan to apply Excalia after emergence, between the two- and eight-leaf stage. It is systemic and quickly absorbed into plant tissue, providing translaminar activity and upward movement through the plant.

Excalia is available through retailers across the region. Contact information for area retailers and your local sales representative is available on Valent.com. To learn more, visit
Valent.com/Excalia or listen to the Field Advice podcast.

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