Effects of seed treatments and storage on the incidence of Phoma betae and the viability of infected red beet seeds

Red beet seed clusters retained a high level of germination when stored for 13 years at 10°C and 50% RH in a seed store; seed infection by Phoma betae (black leg) declined from 27–5 to 4–5% over the same period. Seed treatment before storage by soaking in thiram or ethyl mercury phosphate significantly improved germination and reduced mean infection by P. betae from 17% to less than 1%.