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The effect of sowing date on infection of sugar beet by Polymyxa betae
Author(s) -
BLUNT S. J.,
ASHER M. J. C.,
GILLIGAN C. A.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
plant pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.928
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1365-3059
pISSN - 0032-0862
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3059.1992.tb02332.x
Subject(s) - sowing , biology , sugar beet , germination , agronomy , sugar , horticulture , biochemistry
The effect of sowing date on the infection of sugar‐beet seedlings by Polymyxa betae was examined in a small‐plot experiment on a naturally infested site. Seed was sown on seven occasions at weekly intervals from late March to early May. From each sowing, plant samples were taken at approximately weekly intervals over a period of 7 weeks. The extent of root infection by P. betae and the dry weight of plants was determined at each sampling date, and the progress of infection and rate of plant growth were examined against time and thermal time. Infection occurred sooner after sowing and the subsequent rate of fungal development was more rapid in late‐sown than in early‐sown plants. Early sowing allowed germination and growth of sugar beet at temperatures too low for fungal infection. The growth of late‐sown plants appeared to be reduced by P. betae infection. The implications of these findings for the development of rhizomania disease are discussed.