Previous greenhouse studies with a noncommercial glyphosate-resistant
sugarbeet variety indicated that susceptibility to Rhizoctonia crown and
root rot could increase after glyphosate was applied. Greenhouse and field
experiments were conducted in 2008 and 2009 to determine if glyphosate
influenced disease severity in potential commercially available varieties of
glyphosate-resistant sugarbeet. In the first greenhouse experiment in 2008,
Hilleshög 9027RR, the most tolerant variety to Rhizoctonia crown and root
rot, exhibited an increase in disease severity when glyphosate was applied.
There were no significant differences between herbicide treatments in
Hilleshög 9028RR, and glyphosate decreased disease severity in Hilleshög
9032RR when compared with the no-herbicide treatment. Experiments conducted
to determine if glyphosate influenced Rhizoctonia solani
growth in vitro indicated that glyphosate did not increase
the radial growth of R. solani, except at 10× (190 µg ae
ml−1) the normal rate of glyphosate plus ammonium sulfate
(AMS). Field and additional greenhouse experiments were conducted using four
commercial varieties. Differences in disease severity were observed when
comparing varieties, but glyphosate did not significantly influence the
severity of Rhizoctonia crown and root rot when compared with the
no-herbicide control. Choosing a glyphosate-resistant sugarbeet variety with
the best demonstrated tolerance to Rhizoctonia crown and root rot is an
important factor in reducing disease severity and maintaining sugarbeet
yield.