Cause The fungus, Pleospora bjoerlingii (syn. P. betae = Phoma betae) can cause leaf spots and root rot of table beet, sugar beet, Swiss chard, and other Beta species. The fungus is seedborne. During the spring time, windblown ascospores are released from sexual fruiting bodies (pseudothecia) which developed the previous season on infected plant debris remaining on the soil surface. Asexual fruiting bodies known as pycnidia develop in the center of leaf spots as well as in lesions on petioles, stems, and upper tap roots. Pycnidiospores (conidia) produced by pycnidia can be moved by water splash, or equipment, tools, or workers moving through infected fields when wet. Temperatures between 57°F and 65°F with high humidity are optimum for disease. Rains close to harvest in infected seed fields will increase the occurrence of infected seeds.
Symptoms Infected seed result in damping-off or seedling blight symptoms. Leaf spots appear as light-brown lesions that may contain concentric rings of small, dark pycnidia. Wilting and dark-brown-to-black spots/rot of the root tissue develop upon infection of the storage root. Infected seed crops may develop grayish lesions or dark streaks on stems that can result in stem breakage; pedicels can also be infected on flower heads.
Cultural control Practices that promote vigorous growth of the plant will minimize the disease.
- Practice 3-year rotations between Beta crops.
- Use pathogen-free seed.
- Hot water seed treatment will control seedborne disease.
- Plow under infected crop residues after harvest.
Chemical control
- Seed treatments can help reduce disease incidence.
- Captan 4F at 12 fl oz/100 lb seed plus a dye.
- 42-S Thiram at 8 fl oz/100 lb seed plus a dye. See label for reentry restrictions.
- Protective fungicide applications can help to reduce disease levels.
- Bravo Weather Stik (Group M5) at 3 pints/A on 7- to 14-day intervals. For Swiss chard seed crops only in Oregon (SLN OR-200014) and Washington only (SLN WA-190001). 12-hr reentry.
- Cannonball WG (Group 12) at 7 oz/A on 7- to 10-day intervals. Preharvest interval is 7 days. 12-hr reentry.
- Endura (Group 7) at 4.5 to 9 fl oz/A. Preharvest interval is 14 days. 12-hr reentry.
- Merivon Xemium (Group 7 + 11) at 4 to 11 fl oz/A on 7- to 14-day intervals. First test on a small portion of crop for phytotoxicity. Preharvest interval is 1 day. 12-hr reentry.
- Proline 480 SC (Group 3) at 5 to 5.7 fl oz/A is labeled for disease suppression for seed crops only in Oregon and Washington only (OR-170011, SLN WA-170011). Preharvest interval is 14 days. 12-hr reentry.
- Switch 62.5WG (Group 9 + 12) at 11 to 14 oz/A on 7- to 10-day intervals. Preharvest interval is 0 days. 12-hr reentry.