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Green manures with BCA resistance prove themselves
Since 2006, infestations by beet cyst nematode (BCA) have been drastically reduced, both in the number of plots and in the degree of contamination. This decrease is due to the integrated approach. It certainly does not mean that we can now sit back and hope that the beet cyst nematode is gone for good.
In recent decades, a new approach has been integrated into the construction plan for beet cyst nematodes. In the main crops, this includes crop rotation and choices for the right nematode-resistant beet varieties. In the subsequent crops, you control BCA with resistant green manures, namely: black radish, yellow mustard and specially formulated mixtures.
Stay alert for beet cyst nematodes
Although the situation looks rosy, we are not facing a future without BCA nematodes. It cannot be ruled out that the resistance of beet varieties will be broken. Propagation continues on weeds, such as goosefoot. And please note: the increase in nematodes is exponential. It is therefore important to keep this in mind, because otherwise the population of BCA nematodes can increase explosively.
BCA-resistant green manures
The unique thing about resistant green manures is that the nematodes are lured from their cysts. Then they starve, because they cannot feed on the green manure. This way they no longer get a chance to be present on the plot if there is a host crop. The effectiveness of the green manures is between 70-90% population reduction for BCA 2 and 90-100% for BCA1 population reduction. Doublet Plus fodder radish en Fox yellow mustard have BCA 1 resistance.
Beet cyst nematodes do the most damage in dry years. The absorption capacity of water is then greatly reduced for beets with infected roots. Traditionally, a lot of beets are grown in the southwest of the Netherlands. The most infections and the highest percentages could therefore be seen within this region.
