Effect of Fungicides on Sugar Beet Yield, Quality, and Postharvest Respiration Rates in the Absence of Disease

Abstract

Five fungicides were each applied on sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) three times at about 14-day intervals beginning in July in 2005 through 2008. No foliar disease occurred in the nontreated control or any fungicide treatment. There were no significant differences in root yield, recoverable sucrose, or sucrose concentration among treatments. In 2007 and 2008, postharvest storage respiration rates were determined after 30 and 90 days in storage. There was no significant difference in respiration rates among treatments. There was no apparent benefit in applying these fungicides in seasons when no foliar disease developed. Accepted for publication 7 September 2009. Published 19 October 2009.