Reducing symptoms of sugar beet yellows with companion plants

Audrey Fabarez (1) , Armand Favrot (2, 3) , Paul Tauvel (1) , David Makowski (3, 4) , Fabienne Maupas (1)

1 ITB - Institut Technique de la Betterave
2 ECOSYS - Ecologie fonctionnelle et écotoxicologie des agroécosystèmes
3 INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement
4 MIA Paris-Saclay - Mathématiques et Informatique Appliquées

The National Research and Innovation Programme (PNRI) aims to identify operational solutions for managing sugar beet yellows. Several trials have been set up in a network of farmers' plots in northern France to assess the value of companion plants. Three species were tested: spring oat, spring barley and spring faba bean. Populations of Myzus persicae aphids, yellows symptoms and yield losses due to competition between companion plants and sugar beet were assessed. Preliminary results are presented in this article for the three variables studied. A Bayesian statistical model was used to estimate the efficiency of companion plants on aphids when used alone or in combination with an aphicide treatment (flonicamide-based Teppeki®). Companion plants can be used to reduce aphid populations on sugar beet, but they are less effective than an aphicide treatment. Their value in combination with an aphicide treatment has not been demonstrated, but this does not rule out the possibility that they could have value in cases where aphicide protection is insufficient. The efficiency of companion plants on yellows symptoms and yield losses due to competition were calculated for each trial and then evaluated graphically. A reduction in yellows symptoms was observed for all three species, but the results varied widely between trials. Finally, a loss of yield was observed, and this was all the greater the later the companion plants were destroyed. The success of this lever depends on a reduction in the number of green aphids, a reduction in the yellows symptoms and the absence of competition with sugar beet. An adjustment of the technical itinerary is envisaged for future PNRI trials.

Mots clés: Competition; Sugar beet; Companion plant; Myzus persicae; Yellow leaf spot

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]

Audrey Fabarez, Armand Favrot, Paul Tauvel, David Makowski, Fabienne Maupas. Reducing symptoms of sugar beet yellows with companion plants. Innovations Agronomiques, 2024, 89, pp.29-39. ⟨10.17180/ciag-2024-vol89-art03-GB⟩. ⟨hal-04563230⟩