Reducing sucrose loss in sugar beet storage with fungicides

Root rots in sugar beet storage can lead to multi-million dollar losses because of reduced sucrose recovery. Thus, studies were conducted to establish better chemical control options and a better understanding of the fungi involved in the rot complex. A water check and three fungicides (Mertect, Propulse, and Stadium) were investigated for their ability to control fungal rot on sugar beet roots held in long term storage during both the 2012 and 2013 storage seasons. At the end of September into October, roots were collected on 5 subsequent weeks, treated, and placed on top of a commercial indoor storage pile until early February. Differences (P <0.0001 to 0.0150) between spray treatments were evident with both Propulse and Stadium reducing fungal growth on roots versus the check by an average of 84 to 100% for roots collected the first three weeks both years. The treatments also reduced (P