Controlling carrot red leaf virus

Contact: Rosemary Collier

Carrots are an important vegetable crop for the UK as we are close to 100% self- sufficient. They are part of a healthy diet and used in all sorts of ways. Carrots are subject to infection by a number of plant viruses that are vectored by aphids. At present the viruses are managed by attempting to control the vectors and this has become harder since the loss of the neonicotinoid seed treatments.

The aim of this trial is to identify the most effective treatment programme to manage carrot red leaf virus – which can have a major impact on yield/quality if left unchecked. We have 12 treatments (including an untreated control) in a replicated (4 replicates) randomised block trial. Most of the programmes we are evaluating are using products that are approved already. There is one novel product. We are assessing the levels of virus in the foliage of the carrots (samples sent to Fera for analysis) and will assess yield and quality at the end of the trial. The programmes have been triggered using our day- degree forecast for the start of the willow-carrot aphid migration from overwintering sites on willow to carrot and other herbaceous hosts.

The trial is funded by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).