The winter with few low temperatures ensured that more green peach aphids survived the winter than last year. In practice, this causes more yellowing disease in the beets and possibly much earlier, the IRS warns.
According to the IRS, aphids can survive the winter at temperatures higher than minus 7 degrees. If the temperature gauge goes further down, only the aphid eggs survive. In early spring, the lice develop quickly from these eggs. Because the temperature was well above average, especially in February, the IRS expects that the aphids will become active early this year and a smooth population build-up will take place.
Check weekly
To control yellowing disease, it is important to check the beet plots weekly for the presence of green aphids and to carry out control if the damage threshold is exceeded. Yellowing disease is caused by viruses, which are transmitted by aphids. These viruses can cause up to 50% damage in sugar beets.
To keep the aphid pressure under control, it is essential that beet heaps and beet storage are cleared in a timely manner, before mid-March. Especially if there are still leaves on beet remains, the population can build up quickly and viruses can survive. If these aphids fly out of these piles, they can infect newly sown plots at an early stage. As far as the measures are concerned, the IRS also refers to the NVWA cultivation regulation ‘yellowing disease in beets’.
Sowing barley
One method to control aphid pressure is to sow barley between the beets, a so-called anti-aphid cover. This barley makes it harder for the winged aphids to discover the beets. This ensures a significant reduction in the number of green peach aphids. In addition, barley provides a barrier for lice. They will move less quickly. The barley must be sprayed dead before the barley leaves are 10 to 15 centimeters long. Other options for controlling aphid pressure include non-inversion tillage, refraining from the use of pyrethroids in beet cultivation and sparing beneficial insects.
Keep counting
Despite all the measures, the IRS urges growers to continue counting the aphids on the beet plants and to intervene if the damage threshold has been exceeded.
2024-03-13 07:00:20
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