The spread of beet yellows and beet mosaic viruses in the sugar-beet root crop. I. Field observations of the virus diseases of sugar beet and their vectors Myzus persicae Sulz. and Aphis fabae Koch

A survey of aphids and virus diseases of sugar‐beet root crops in eastern England was made between 1940 and 1948. Prior to 1943 the observations were made on fertilizer experiments; from 1943 onwards they were made on commercial fields selected for position in relation to beet and mangold seed crops. The incidence of beet yellows increased with increasing numbers of Myzus persicae, but not of Aphis fabae. The relation with M. persicae was sufficiently close to suggest that it is the most important, possibly the only important, vector of beet yellows virus. Beet mosaic virus also increased with increasing numbers of M. persicae, but the relation was not close enough to exclude the possibility of other vectors.

Numbers of A. fabae on sugar beet were slightly, but consistently, depressed by the use of salt as a fertilizer. Other fertilizers had variable effects. Neither aphids nor virus are likely to be greatly affected by fertilizers.

Beet yellows is most prevalent in areas where seed crops are grown, but within these areas nearness to individual seed crops did not appear to increase its incidence. M. persicae were more numerous on sugar beet in seed‐crop areas than elsewhere, and this alone might account for the prevalence of yellows. Beet mosaic virus is more closely associated with seed crops than is beet yellows. It is most prevalent near to seed crops within the seed‐crop areas.