ABSTRACT
In a field trial in 2016 and 2017, the fluctuation of Cercospora beticola conidia was quantified, as well as its relationship with the severity of Cercospora leaf spot in beets. Beet seeds of cultivar Boro were sown in four replicates, resulting in the evaluation of 80 plants. Conidia were collected by a “vane”-type spore trap containing a microscopic slide smeared with petroleum jelly, which was weekly quantified under a microscope. The disease severity was analyzed through a diagrammatic scale to evaluate the percentage of leaf area affected by the disease. The number of conidia and the severity of Cercospora leaf spot of beets were subjected to the calculation of Pearson correlation coefficient (r). In 2016 and 2017, the collection of conidia occurred concomitantly with the manifestation of the disease, probably because there was inoculum concentration in the air. The correlation between the variables fluctuation of conidial population and disease severity was significant, showing r=0.762 and r=0.768 for 2016 and 2017, respectively. The severity of the disease in beets is influenced by the presence of conidia collected from the air.
Keywords
Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris; aerobiology; epidemiology