Soil and moisture factors affecting sugarbeet root aphid and its impact on sugarbeet yield

Abstract

The sugar beet root aphid is commonly seen throughout many of the sugar beet growing areas in the United States. Resistant varieties are relied upon as a major aphid management tool; however, sugar beet varieties vary greatly in the level of resistance to root aphid feeding. Other options are required to improve management for the aphid. Irrigation and soil cracking have been identified as possible factors in the establishment and rapid increase of sugar beet root aphid populations. Soil cracking that results from moderate compaction over the row at planting may allow for heavy aphid populations to build up on these roots. Dry conditions or sever water stress has often been identified as a major reason for severe late season aphid infestations. As a result, recommendations call for irrigation management to reduce the potential for infestation and to minimize the impact of root aphids. However, we do not know what factors influence aphid establishment during mid summer or how irrigation may influence aphid populations or yield impact. These relationships need to be much better understood to allow us to develop recommendations that may improve our effectiveness at reducing aphid presence and impact. The objectives fo this study were: 1) to determine the factors that influence mid-season establishment of sugar beet root aphids in sugar beets and 2) to determine the effect of late season watering practices on sugar beet root aphid populations and damage potential.