According to ADAS, main crop carrots are now at risk from Sclerotinia as well as a range of other foliar diseases.

According to Sclerotinia Monitoring work by ADAS and agricultural chemical company BASF, many main crop carrots are now at the 9 to 10 leaf stage, with first signs of leaf senescence on the oldest leaves. Cotyledons and first leaves become susceptible to Sclerotinia as they senesce and some crops have been damaged by hail.

Carrot sclerotia are germinating in moderately high numbers at monitoring sites in Nottinghamshire and Cambridgeshire. The continuing showery weather and crop canopies with full ground cover favour more germination to come, experts have warned.

The monitoring work has revealed “patterns of sclerotial germination and disease risk [over] a ten week period from June through to August.”

Disease risk will be high where leaf senescence has started and where crops start to lodge, Dr. Peter Gladders from ADAS Boxworth warns. He said, “Carrot crops are vulnerable to infection by Sclerotinia from June through to October, when the resting bodies or sclerotia germinate. Growers should continue checking for foliar disease in forward crops as disease risks could be high this season if showery conditions continue.”

Erratic weather throughout 2012 has resulted in high levels of disease across a range of arable, soft fruit and horticultural crops, causing widespread concern over yields. This year risk the risk of foliar diseases appears to be particularly high and growers are being advised to monitor for Alternaria and Cercospora leaf blights at weekly intervals as well as noting Sclerotinia.

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