Efficacy of Multi-Level Prevention of Rhizoctonia solani Infestation in Beta vulgaris

Rhizoctonia solani (R. solani) is a microscopic, fungal pathogen that bears a parasitic symbiosis with Beta vulgaris (B. vulgaris). R. solani causes over 1 billion dollars in lost revenue each year. It continues to wreak havoc on B. vulgaris and has only increased through the years. Additionally, producers are unsure of the most effective multi-level management guide at preventing R. solani infestation in B. vulgaris. The purpose was to determine the efficacy of multi-level management guides consisting of Beta vulgaris plant breeding mechanisms, temperature regimes, differentiation of type of fungicide treatment (in-furrow v. seed treatment fungicide), and variations within seed treatment and in-furrow fungicide treatments on stand counts, damping off, root rot ratings, and mass in B. vulgaris infested with R. solani. R. solani resistant and susceptible B. vulgaris were grown in independent growth chambers at 20˚C and 25˚C, inoculated with R. solani, applied with a base seed treatment fungicide and either an additional seed treatment fungicide, or an in-furrow fungicide. After eight weeks of growth the dependent variables were collected and recorded. The hypothesis was accepted because the R. solani resistant B. vulgaris grown at 20˚C, and applied with penthiopyrad had the highest emergence percentage, higher stand counts through out the eight weeks, highest final stand percentage, lowest root rot index value, and the highest final biomass. This project provides a practical, economically efficient, yet environmentally responsible guide and analysis for producers to determine the most efficient multi-level management guide at preventing R. solani infestation in B. vulgaris.