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98 POTATO GROWER | JANUARY 2017 Diggin' In Diggin' In Diggin' In Diggin' In Diggin' In Diggin' In FUNGICIDE | By Jenn Piotrowski Root systems may be out of sight, but never out of mind Know Your Roots An estimated 80 percent of plant problems start underground. Soil-borne pathogens, underground insects and nematodes all threaten healthy root structures. Hidden from the human eye, the effects of these pests and pathogens often go unnoticed until the end of the season, when damaged roots can result in significant crop damage and yield loss. The advantages of having an uncompromised root system are many. Stronger, healthier roots take up water and nutrients more efficiently, leading to better crop development. More robust root systems also help produce stronger stems and foliage that can better withstand environmental stresses, especially in geographies where water is scarce and pests are many. Ultimately, healthier roots protect the genetic potential of the crop and lead to improved yield consistency. "Yield starts and ends with a healthy root system," says Dale Ireland, Seedcare technical product lead at Syngenta. "Protecting roots is crucial to reaching higher, more stable yields and overall performance." THE RISE OF RHIZOCTONIA Several of the biggest threats to crop quality and yield begin with root damage caused by underground diseases. Quickly establishing itself as one of the most prominent yield-robbing soil-borne fungal pathogens, Rhizoctonia is capable of causing 20 to 40 percent yield loss and is a common soil disease in major U.S. crops, including cereals, soybeans and canola. It can also devastate yield potential in corn, cotton, potatoes and sugarbeets. Rhizoctonia infects plants in early development stages, attacking both seeds and seedlings. It weakens plants during pre-emergence and post-emergence by infecting the root system and reducing its efficiency, causing slowed growth and damping off. Damaged root hairs reduce the plant's ability to absorb moisture and nutrients, manage stress, and achieve maximum yield. A plant may never regain its rooting potential as a result of the disease's significant impact on early plant vigor and development. The Pacific Northwest is particularly vulnerable to Rhizoctonia because of the region's soil conditions, temperatures and tillage practices, which favor disease development. "Due to soil erosion and the need for improved soil structure and organic matter, growers in the Pacific Northwest often implement direct- seed and minimum tillage practices," says Don Drader, a Syngenta agronomy service representative in Washington State. "Unfortunately, minimum tillage often creates a soil environment where Rhizoctonia thrives." H A R V E S T S O L U T I O N S ® 877-866-5773 @jetharvest www.jetharvest.com We look forward to seeing you at the 2017 Potato Expo in San Francisco Booth #335 We look forward to Happy New Year from ® 163834JetHar13s.indd 1 11/28/16 2:27 PM