Extension Network Sites > Pacific Northwest Vegetable Extension Group > Photo Gallery of Vegetable Problems > Beet

Beet

Diseases

Insect/Mite Pests

Abiotic Problems

Diseases

Phoma leaf spot and root rot
Powdery mildew
Ramularia leaf spot

Rhizoctonia basal petiole and crown infection
Rust
Scab

Insect/Mite Pests

Aphids
Beet leafminer
Cutworms

Root aphid
Springtails
Spider mites

Abiotic Problems

Herbicide Injury

(Click on photo to enlarge)

Diseases

Phoma leaf spot and root rot

Disease: Phoma leaf spot and root rot
Pathogens: Phoma betae (Pleospora betae)
Host crops: Table beet, sugar beet, Swiss chard.

Symptoms of Phoma leaf spot on bottom of table beet — Symptoms of Phoma leaf spot on table beet.
**Photo Source:** Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University

A colony of Phoma betae growing on potato dextrose agar. — A colony of *Phoma betae* growing on potato dextrose agar.
**Photo Source:** Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University

Phoma leaf spot and root rot symptoms-2 — Holdfasts typically formed by *Phoma betae* when the fungus is grown on water agar and the hyphae come into contact with the plastic lower surface of the petri plate.
**Photo Source:** Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University

Online Resources:

Plant-disease beet-red-beta-vulgaris-phoma-leaf-spot-and-root-rot.

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Powdery mildew

Disease: Powdery mildew
Pathogens: Erysiphe betae (= E. polygoni or Microsphaera betae)
Host crops: Table beet, sugar beet, Swiss chard

A table beet leaf infected with powdery mildew (left) compared to a non-infected leaf (right) — A table beet leaf infected with powdery mildew (left) compared to a non-infected lead (right).
**Photo Source:** Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University

Online Resources:

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Ramularia leaf spot

Disease: Ramularia leaf spot
Pathogen: Ramularia beticola
Host crops: Most vegetables in the Chenopodiaceae, i.e., sugar beet, table beet, and swiss chard.

symptoms of Ramularia on a Swiss chard leaf — Ramularia leaf spot on Swiss chard leaves.
**Photo Source:** D.A. Inglis, Washington State University

Swiss chard leaves having ramularia spots — Ramularia leaf spot on Swiss chard leaves.
**Photo Source:** D.A. Inglis, Washington State University

discrete, circular, necrotic lesions of Ramularia leaf spot — Typical large, necrotic leaf spots caused by *Ramularia beticola* on a leaf sampled from a Swiss chard seed crop.
**Photo Source:** Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University

Swiss chard seed crop sample having necrotic lesions — Discrete, circular, necrotic lesions of Ramularia leaf spot on a leaf sampled from a Swiss chard seed crop.
**Photo Source:** Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University

two-celled hyaline spores of Ramularia beticola — Two-celled, hyaline spores of *Ramularia beticola* from an infected Swiss chard leaf.
**Photo Source:** Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University

On-Line Resources:

Pacific Northwest Plant Disease Management Handbook: Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris) – Ramularia Leaf Spot.

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Rhizoctonia basal petiole and crown infection

Disease: Rhizoctonia basal petiole and crown infection
Pathogens: Rhizoctonia
Host crops: Many vegetables are susceptible to infection by Rhizoctonia spp., which are common soilborne fungi. In beet and swiss chard, these fungi can infect the base of petioles and the crown or main root at or below the soil surface, particularly in moist soil conditions. During very wet conditions, infection can also occur on the leaves.

Rhizoctonia on Chard seed crop. — Severe root and crown symptoms caused by infection of plants in a Swiss chard seed crop by Rhizoctonia.
**Photo Source:** Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University

Swiss chard Rhizoc lesion. — Lesion at the base of a Swiss chard petiole caused by *Rhizoctonia.*
**Photo Source:** Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University

Rhizoctonia on Chard foliar lesions. — Swiss chard foliar lesions caused byRhizoctonia.
**Photo Source:** Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University

Rhizoctonia on Chard closeup — Severe root, crown, and petiole infection by *Rhizoctonia* on a Swiss chard plant.
**Photo Source:** Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University

Online Resources:

Pacific Northwest Plant Disease Management Handbook.

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Rust

Disease: Rust
Pathogens: Uromyces betae
Host crops: Table beet

Symptoms of rust on table beet leaf — Symptoms of rust on table beet.
**Photo Source:** Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University

Online Resources:

Plantdisease-beet-red-beta-vulgaris-rust.

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Scab

Disease: Scab
Pathogen: Streptomyces scabies

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Insect/Mite Pests

Aphids

Common names: Numerous aphids can infest vegetable crops, e.g., bean aphid, cowpea aphid, green peach aphid, melon aphid, and potato aphid.
Latin binomial: Numerous types of aphids including Aphis fabae (bean aphid), Myzus persicae (green peach aphid), Aphis gossypii (melon aphid), and Acrosiphum euphorbiae (potato aphid).
Host crops: In addition to beet, cucumber, corn seed, melon, potato, tomato, eggplant and pepper, aphids can feed on many other vegetables including broccoli, cabbage, spinach, Swiss chard, squash, pumpkin, as well as many weed species including brassicaceae (cruciferous) weeds.

Aphids-2 — Cowpea aphid infesting a table beet seed crop.
**Photo Source:** Bev Gerdeman, WSU Entomologist

Online Resources:

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Beet leafminer

Common name: Beet leafminer and spinach leafminer
Latin binomial: Pegomya betae and Pegomya hyoscyami
Host crops: Beet, spinach, sugar beet, Swiss chard, and many weeds including lamb’s-quarters, chickweed, and nightshade.

damaged beet plants — Damage from beet leafminer.
**Photo Source:** Kari Saunders

damaged beet leaf — Damage from beet leafminer.
**Photo Source:** Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University

Online Resources:

Pacific Northwest Plant Disease Management Handbook: Beet, table-leafminer.

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Cutworms

Common name: Cutworms
Latin binomial: Various cutworms can feed on beets, e.g., Agrostis ipsilon (black cutworm), Apamea devastator (glassy cutworm), redbacked cutworm (Euxoa ochrogaster), army cutworm (Euxoa auxiliaris), spotted cutworm (Xestica c-nigrum), and variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia).
Host crops: Wide host range, including many vegetables such as beet (sugar beet, table beet, fodder beet), bean, carrot, onion, spinach, potato, etc. Subterranean species feed on plant roots and stems, cutting the plants at the soil surface. Climbing species are nocturnal, i.e., they hide in the soil during the day and cut off plants at the soil surface or feed on new leaves and stems in the crown.

cutworm-1 — A table beet showing feeding injury from cutworms, and a cutworm larva found feeding on the root.
**Photo Source:** Bev Gerdeman, Washington State University Entomologist

cutworm-2 — A cutworm larva found feeding on plants in a table beet crop.
**Photo Source:** Bev Gerdeman, Washington State University Entomologist

cutworm-3 — A cutworm larva feeding on a golden table beet root.
**Photo Source:** Bev Gerdeman, Washington State University Entomologist

Online resources:

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Root aphid

Common name: Root aphid
Latin binomial: Pemphigus betae, Pemphigus populivenae
Host crops: Table beet, sugar beet, swiss chard

Online Resources:

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Springtails

Common name: Springtails (subterranean types)
Latin binomial: Order Collembola. There are numerous types of springtails or collembola, which are divided into two groups – subterranean springtails and surface springtails.
Host crops: Multiple vegetables, but most damage has been reported on spinach and beets, primarily in heavier, organic soils during very wet, cool spring conditions.

A subterranean springtail extracted from soil in a spinach seed crop.
**Photo Source:** Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University

On-Line Resources:

Springtails Springtails in Sugarbeet: Identification, Biology, and Management. North Dakota State University, Fargo.
Control of Subterranean Springtails in Sugarbeet Using Granular, Liquid, and Seed Treatment Insecticides (pdf). North Dakota State University, Fargo.
Springtail feeding on emerging crops (especially sugarbeet) (pdf). Michigan State University.
Pest: Springtail. Pest Spotter, Bayer CropScience.
Also, see Swiss chard: springtails.

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Spider mites

Common name: Spider mites
Latin binomial: Tetranychus spp. including twospotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae), strawberry spider mite (Tetranychus turkestani), and Pacific spider mite (Tetranychus pacificus)
Host crops: Wide host range, including many vegetables such as bean, carrot, spinach, potato, etc.

two-spotted spider mite on a table beet — Severe two-spotted spider mite infestation in a table beet seed crop, with webbing, mites, and eggs on seed stalks.
**Photo Source:** Bev Gerdeman, WSU Entomologist

two-spotted spider mite table beet seed crop — Severe two-spotted spider mite infestation in a table beet seed crop, with webbing, mites, and eggs on seed stalks.
**Photo Source:** Bev Gerdeman, WSU Entomologist

Eggs of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae. — Eggs of the two-spotted spider mite, *Tetranychus urticae.*
**Photo Source:** Silvia Rondon, Oregon State University

two-spotted spider mite and its eggs — Severe two-spotted spider mite infestation in a table beet seed crop, with webbing, mites, and eggs on seed stalks.
**Photo Source:** Bev Gerdeman, WSU Entomologist

spider mite webbing — Lower surface of a beet leaf showing stippling and webbing from two-spotted spider mite infestation.
**Photo Source:** Bev Gerdeman, WSU Entomologist

Online Resources:

Carrot seed – Twospotted spider mite. PNW Insect Management Handbook, Chapter: Vegetable Seed, Section: Carrot Seed.
See Diseases, pests, and other problems common to many vegetables: Spider mites.
Managing spider mites in gardens and landscapes. University of California Online Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program.

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Abiotic Problems

Herbicide Injury

Problem: Injury from application of specific herbicides to certain parent lines in seed crops, higher rates of application of some herbicides, or application of tank mixes (combinations) of some herbicides.
Crops affected: Some table beet and Swiss chard parent lines are more sensitive than others to injury by specific herbicides, even when these products are applied at recommended (labeled) rates; or injury can occur when higher rates of certain herbicides are applied to beet and chard crops; or injury may occur when certain herbicides are applied in tank-mix combinations.

Damage to the new growth of a table beet — Damage to the new growth of a female inbred line in a hybrid table beet seed crop associated with application of a combination of herbicides.
**Photo Source:** Tim Miller, Washington State University

Herbicide injury to beet — Damage to the new growth of a female inbred line in a hybrid table beet seed crop associated with application of a combination of herbicides.
**Photo Source:** Tim Miller, Washington State University

Herbicide Injury to a beet plant — Damage to the new growth of plants in an open-pollinated table beet seed crop observed in May 2016 following application of a high rate of the herbicide Nortron (active ingredient ethofumesate).
**Photo Source:** Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University

Herbicide Injury of a beet plant in a field — Damage to the new growth of plants in an open-pollinated table beet seed crop observed in May 2016 following application of a high rate of the herbicide Nortron (active ingredient ethofumesate).
**Photo Source:** Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University

Herbicide Injury — Damage to the new growth of plants in an open-pollinated table beet seed crop observed in May 2016 following application of a high rate of the herbicide Nortron (active ingredient ethofumesate).
**Photo Source:** Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University

Herbicide Injury problem — Damage to the new growth of plants in an open-pollinated table beet seed crop observed in May 2016 following application of a high rate of the herbicide Nortron (active ingredient ethofumesate).
**Photo Source:** Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University

close up view of Herbicide Injury — Damage to the new growth of plants in an open-pollinated table beet seed crop observed in May 2016 following application of a high rate of the herbicide Nortron (active ingredient ethofumesate).
**Photo Source:** Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University

Online Resources:

Herbicide Symptoms, University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Herbicide Modes and Action and Symptoms on Plants (pdf), Richard Smith, Farm Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension.

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PDF Accessibility

If you need the content provided on this site in an alternate format or for further information on the Vegetable Seed Pathology program,

please contact: Lindsey du Toit at dutoit@wsu.edu or at 360-848-6140.

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