Integrated control of Heterodera schachtii Schmidt in Central Europe by trap crop cultivation, sugar beet variety choice and nematicide application
Introduction
The sugar beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii Schmidt is a severe problem for sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) production in Central Europe (Müller, 1999). The nematode is prevalent in many sugar beet growing regions, especially in fields where sugar beet is cultivated in a narrow crop rotation. High nematode population densities may cause substantial sugar yield losses (Heijbroek et al., 2002, Heinrichs, 2011, Kenter et al., 2014). Apart from cultivation of non-host crops, growing of nematode resistant trap crops such as oil radish (Raphanus sativus L. spp. oleiformis Pers.) or mustard (Sinapis alba L.) together with tolerant or resistant sugar beet varieties are possible management strategies to combat H. schachtii. Resistance is defined as the ability of a plant to limit nematode reproduction relative to a plant lacking such resistance (Müller, 1989, Yu and Steele, 1981). Tolerance is related to limited yield suppression compared to a susceptible plant (Müller, 1998), without reducing the nematode reproduction. Growing tolerant sugar beet varieties may help to maintain a high yield for several years, but an increase in the nematode population over time is likely (Daub and Westphal, 2012, Krüssel and Warnecke, 2014). This is problematic because tolerant varieties can also react with decreasing yield at high disease pressure (Hauer et al., 2015). Resistant sugar beet varieties are reported to have a reduced yield potential (Bundessortenamt, 2013) and are thus rarely used by sugar beet growers (Märländer et al., 2003), although they have a high potential to reduce the nematode population (Heijbroek et al., 2002). However, Hauer et al. (2015) showed that resistant and tolerant varieties displayed a similar high yield under varying nematode infestation levels, and the yield of both varieties decreased along with increasing nematode population.
Trap crops are cultivated before sugar beet on more than 40% of the German sugar beet cropping areas (Buhre et al., 2014), often to reduce the nematode population, but also to improve yield. The efficacy of resistant trap crops to control nematodes depends on the development of a trap crop stand producing sufficiently high biomass and rooting density. A prerequisite to establish adequate trap crop stands is an early sowing date immediately after harvest of the previous crop (pre-crop) in late July or early August. However, under conditions typical for Germany or other parts of Central Europe early sowing can be impaired by delayed harvest of winter wheat frequently grown as sugar beet pre-crop. In addition, unfavorable weather conditions in autumn such as dry or cold periods will negatively affect trap crop growth and, therefore, the nematode reduction effect. Under favorable conditions, the reduction of the nematode population can be up to 70% (Heinrichs, 2011). However, great differences can occur depending on the trap crop variety and environmental conditions (Niere, 2009, Smith et al., 2004). Cultivating trap crop mixtures consisting of different plant species is becoming more and more popular due to European policy. Since 2014, direct payments to farmers within the common agricultural policy can be linked to cultivation of catch crops consisting of at least two different species (Schmidt et al., 2014). However, little is known about the effect of crop mixtures on population dynamics of H. schachtii.
Another tool to control nematodes could be the application of nematicides. In Europe, nematicides are not registered for use in sugar beets whereas in several other countries various pests in different crops are controlled by e.g., nematicides containing the active ingredient Abamectin. In a review by Cabrera et al. (2013), the high efficacy of Abamectin in controlling a wide range of plant parasitic nematodes is shown. Furthermore, a nematicide application follows an integrated approach to control the nematode population: if a resistant trap crop fails to reduce the nematode population, an alternative control strategy comprising the application of nematicides will become necessary.
The objectives of this study were to test the effect of (i) trap crop (ii) sugar beet variety and (iii) nematicide application on nematode population dynamics, and (iv) to identify the most favorable combination of these factors with respect to sugar yield and nematode control. Therefore, a series of field experiments was conducted in eight environments located in Northern Germany representative for sugar beet cultivation in Central Europe.
Section snippets
Site description and treatments
Eight field experiments were carried out in environments (site × year) with different initial nematode infestation located in Northern Germany in 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 (Table 1). The pre-crop was either winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) or winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and the straw was left in the field. Two trap crop treatments were established immediately after pre-crop harvest in July or August and straw mulch without trap crop was used as a control. Each treatment was replicated
Effect of trap crop cultivation on population dynamics of H. schachtii
The effect of trap crop cultivation on reproduction factors strongly depended on PiTC (Fig. 1). At PiTC < 500 eggs and juveniles per 100 g soil (E + J), the deviation of the reproduction factors was much higher than at PiTC > 500 E + J. Furthermore, in case of PiTC < 500 E + J, all trap crop treatments increased the nematode population, while at PiTC between 500 and 1000 E + J, the nematode population was suppressed, but no significant differences between trap crop treatments occurred. Above 1000 E + J, the
Discussion
In general, populations dynamics of H. schachtii are highly dependent on Pi (Daub and Westphal, 2012, Niere, 2009). At low Pi, the standard deviation of reproduction factors is very high, while at very high Pi (>2000 E + J), deviations of calculated reproduction factors are usually small (Krüssel and Warnecke, 2014). Thus, statistical differences between treatments – if apparent – can be determined more easily at high infestation levels. H. schachtii appears especially in regions where sugar beet
Conclusions
Establishing an adequate trap crop stand after winter cereal harvest was difficult under Northern German cropping conditions. Thus, a significant reduction of the nematode population by cultivation of resistant mustard compared to a straw mulch control was not achieved in this study. Application of a nematicide before sugar beet sowing did also not affect population dynamics of H. schachtii. Effective nematode control was possible by cultivation of a resistant sugar beet variety with a
Acknowledgements
The financial support for this study was provided by Nordzucker AG and Syngenta Agro GmbH. We also thank the local farm managers for conducting our experiments on their fields and the staff of IfZ for excellent technical assistance.
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