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CR+ Varieties
The Power of + -
CR+ Varieties
The Power of +
Stay ahead of Cercospora with CR+
CR+ represents KWS's solution for successfully managing Cercospora in sugarbeet cultivation. CR+ varieties combine high Cercospora protection with high yield performance. Coupled with an Integrated Cercospora Management approach, CR+ can unleash its greatest power: Providing growers with genetic protection and agronomic advices for holistic Cercospora control.
In CR+ varieties, disease progression is slowed down and disease severity is reduced.
Combined with targeted fungicide strategies and best-practice agronomy, CR+ offers strong Cercospora protection and helps to reduce the disease pressure in the long-term by breaking the cycle of infection.
Field trial in The Netherlands (2020): New variety with improved Cercospora protection compared to non CR+ variety, both under disease infestation.
The Main Benefits of CR+
CR+ varieties combine Cercospora Protection Plus Yield Performance
Cercospora Protection
- Disease progression slowed down
- First spots might appear later
- Reduced disease severity
Yield Performance
- High yields in presence and absence of the disease
- Stable and high sugar content
- High yield stability
- Healthy, less stressed beet
How to Optimize CR+ in Your Field
CR+ provides a powerful tool to manage Cercospora, but it does not offer immunity. To maximize its effectiveness, it should be combined with a targeted fungicide strategy and solid cultural practices. This combination is key to keep Cercospora under control and leveraging the full potential of CR+.
Unlocking the full Potential of CR+ through Integrated Cercospora Management
Integrated Cercospora Management is an approach targeting the combination of CR+ varieties with application of fungicides, agronomic measures and monitoring the disease onset in the field. Special attention should be paid to timely application of fungicides , rotation of mode of action to preserve fungicie efficacy and the way how to aply fungicides (right weather conditions, sufficient amount of water). The whole approach of Integrated Cercospora Management aims to slow down disease development, reduce inoculum load in the soil and strengthen the long-term effectiveness of both fungicides and the CR+ genetic.
The Power of Integrated Cercospora Management (ICM)
CR+ varieties provide a significant tool for Cercospora control, though they are not immune. Effective management requires an integrated approach, combining these varieties with targeted fungicides and cultural practices. This strategy reduces inoculum, safeguarding the long-term effectiveness of both fungicides and the CR+ varieties for sustained crop health and yield.
Disease Monitoring
Field check and disease scouting, warning systems and thresholds
Regular field checks are crucial – early detection makes all the difference. Weather conditions matter: High humidity and warm temperatures accelerate disease development.
Use disease warning systems and local recommendations to make informed decisions.
1. Check fields individually
2. Be aware that the first spots might appear later in CR+
3. Utilize warning systems
4. Observe and respect thresholds
Fungicide Application
Application timing and conditions, sprayer set-up
The first fungicide application is the most important – spray on time!
Use the most effective fungicide for the first application to stop the disease before it spreads. Rotate active ingredients in subsequent applications to prevent fungicide resistance.
Never reduce the dosage – fungicides work best at full strength.
Timely application of fungicides
Spray not too late, be on time.
The first spray is the most important one.
How can I improve my fungicide spraying?
- Use the appropriate amount of water (300-400 L/ha).
- Combine and alternate different fungicide actives.
- Apply in appropriate conditions: avoid wind, rain, high temperatures.
- Adapt pressure, nozzle type and speed to reduce drift.
Cultural Practices
Soil tillage and crop rotation
Strenghten your defense with effective cultural agronomic practices.
Soil Tillage: Helps to break the Cercospora infection cycle by decomposing infected residues.
Crop Rotation: Implement a minimum 3-year break from sugarbeet to reduce disease pressure.
Soil Tillage
Soil tillage promotes plant residue decomposition and prevents pathogen overwintering.
Crop Rotation
Diversity is key in your crop rotation. Rotate sugarbeets for 3+ years to break the Cercospora cycle.
Variety
Reduced disease pressure and outstanding performance
Choose a CR+ variety adapted to your local agronomic conditions to ensure the best performance in your region.
Find your CR+ varieties here.
Select a variety that fits your needs.
Take local agronomic conditions and challenges into account.
Opt for CR+ Varieties: a strong tool for your Cercospora control strategy.
Breaking the Cercospora Cycle for Long-Term Control
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
KWS is a leader in successfully developing varieties with healthy leaves. These varieties with strong protection against Cercospora have been continuously improved as a result of intensive breeding efforts. In this process, strong and traditional sources of protection were combined, which offer high level of Cercospora protection. The composition of these different sources of protection is marketed as CR+ varieties.
Disease progression might be slowed down in CR+, but early fungicide application is essential to control the disease.
The first spray is always the most important – be in time. If you don’t stop Cercospora from the beginning, the disease increases exponentially.
Changing disease pressure
2/3 of the global sugarbeet acreage are characterised by a risk of moderate to high Cercospora pressure (i.e. about 3 mha).
Observations show that the disease conquers new territory by spreading from South to North in the long term.
Up to 50% yield losses Cercospora Leaf Spot is by far the most destructive leaf disease.
Furthermore, Cercospora leads to inferior processing quality resulting in a reduced productivity and competivness of the sugarbeet industry.
Efficacy of fungicides
In the future, controlling Cercospora with plant protection products will become more difficult.
Fungicide resistance
spread widely and thus reduce the efficacy of plant protection products.
Rotation of mode of action
is increasingly difficult as their number is being further limited.
Integrated Cercospora Management
is becoming increasingly important - farmers are forced to limits their fungicide use as much as possible.
The advantage of CR+ varieties is the combination of high Cercospora protection and high yield performance. Even if the Cercospora protection of CR+ varieties is high, it is not offering immunity. Fungicide applications as part of Integtrated Cercospora Management help to unlock the full yield potential.
The disease onset might be delayed in CR+ under medium pressure with later appearance of the first spots. Timing and number of fungicide applications depends on Cercospora pressure specifically in each season at each location.
- The first application in CR+ stays the most important one and needs to be spot on to stay ahead of Cercospora.
- Intervals between applications might be prolonged.
- The number of fungicide applications depends on the Cercospora pressure specifically in each season.
Don't forget: Keep an eye on other leaf diseases!
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