Nematodes

The beet cyst eelworm Heterodera schachtii is a major pestin almost all intensive beet growing areas which may cause heavy yield losses.

Symptoms:

• Leaf wilt in patches

• Yellowing, dying of outer leaves

• Stunted and shortened main root

• Development of a root beard

• Pinhead-size white females"cysts" at the lateral roots(reliable evidence)

A chemical control is no longer permitted in many countries. The only successful measure for controlling the pest is currently the cultivation of resistant catch crop plants. The use of nematode resistant sugar beet varieties could in the long run lead to a more effective solution of the problem.