Two of the most damaging diseases in sugarbeet production— Rhizoctonia crown and root rot and Cercospora leaf spot—have one thing in common: they quietly erode yield and sugar content until it’s too late. By the time symptoms show up, losses are already in motion.
Rhizoctonia attacks underground, weakening plants with crown and root rot. Stand loss, uneven growth, and rotten roots are the results—none of which show up neatly on the yield monitor. Meanwhile, Cercospora leaf spot starts with small leaf lesions that rapidly multiply, reducing photosynthesis and leading to defoliation. Left unchecked, it causes reduced sugar levels, higher impurities, and lower yields at harvest.
For sugarbeet growers, managing these threats can require more than a single application or a reactionary plan. It takes a season-long, strategic approach with Precision fungicides doing the heavy lifting.
The foundation: AZteroid® FC 3.3 fungicide at-plant
It starts with a strong foundation. AZteroid FC 3.3 fungicide, seamlessly mixed with a growers in-furrow tank mix, delivers preventive protection from early Rhizoctonia pressure and sets sugarbeets up with healthy, vigorous roots.
While this early defense is key, it’s the in-season moves that make or break a sugarbeet crop.
The workhorse: AZterknot® Bio-Enabled fungicide at 4–8 leaf stage
When your sugarbeet canopy begins to close, it’s time to intervene proactively to prevent Rhizoctonia and other foliar diseases (and boost plant growth). That’s where AZterknot steps in.
Why AZterknot? AZterknot delivers dual-action disease control, higher growth efficiency, and increased stress tolerance. With azoxystrobin and Reynoutria sachalinensis extract, it not only targets pathogens—it also stimulates the plant’s own defense mechanisms. That makes it the ideal early-season shield as disease pressure ramps up.
This application timing is crucial. Rhizoctonia infections may not be visible yet, but they’re coming. AZterknot’s Advanced Application Advantage defends the plants from yield-robbing diseases before they begin with an even, uniform foliar application.
Benefits:
- Prevents early season Rhizoctonia establishment
- Boosts natural plant defenses and stress tolerance
- Improves canopy health for optimal photosynthesis
- Enhances early-season yield potential
Think of AZterknot as your go-to option to ward off Rhizoctonia and other harmful diseases, enhance plant growth, and set the tone for a high-sugar yielding crop at the end of the season.
The closer: Phobos® FC fungicide from 8-leaf to preharvest
Even the best early-season fungicide program needs a strong finish. As summer progresses and disease pressure peaks, Phobos FC delivers dependable, broad-spectrum foliar protection. Phobos FC redefines prothioconazole, providing superior protection from Cercospora leaf spot to keep sugarbeets strong until harvest.
Cercospora leaf spot can undo weeks of healthy crops. With Phobos FC’s flexibility, CHS retailers and agronomists can recommend this superior solution anytime from 8-leaf to preharvest, but we highly recommend that you make it your first premium fungicide spray.
Sugarbeets treated with a foliar application of Phobos FC showed significantly less Cercospora leaf spot. This is due to Phobos FC’s Advanced Application Advantage that delivers faster product uptake, more uniform leaf coverage, and increased rainfastness to maximize sugar content & tonnage at harvest compared to Proline®.
Benefits:
- Excellent efficacy against Cercospora leaf spot
- Dries stronger and lasts longer on the leaf surface for durable disease protection
- Maintains green leaf area and sugar content
- Helps ensure a cleaner, healthier, more profitable crop
Smart fungicide strategy = stronger ROI
This in-season foliar one-two punch—AZterknot + Phobos FC—is built for CHS growers looking to:
- Maximize their sugar tonnage
- Reduce disease-related yield losses
- Improve overall yield and profitability!
Paired with AZteroid FC 3.3 at planting, this trio offers full-season protection against the two most yield-damaging sugarbeet diseases. And thanks to Vive’s Allosperse® Delivery Technology, every product offers unmatched mixability, compatibility, and performance so you can apply with confidence knowing you won’t have any clogging or clumping issues.
Work smarter this season
Protect every sugarbeet from below and above with a full season fungicide program. Talk to your CHS Agronomy team or Vive Crop Protection representative about integrating Vive’s solutions—AZteroid FC 3.3, AZterknot, and Phobos FC—into your sugarbeet program this season.
Because when disease doesn’t stand a chance, your ROI does!
