Studies were initiated to find new effective fungicides to use under field conditions to discover novel approaches for optimizing disease management in sugar beet crops. Cercospora leaf spot (CLS), a prevalent foliar disease in sugar beet crops worldwide, is caused by the fungal pathogen Cercospora beticola Sacc. This disease has become the most prevalent pathogen in sugar beet crops across nearly all European growing regions, including Hungary. The epidemic spread of this disease can cause up to 50% yield loss. The use of fungicides has been a cornerstone in managing CLS of sugar beet due to the limited efficacy of non-chemical alternatives. However, the emergence of fungicide-resistant strains of Cercospora beticola Sacc. in recent decades has compromised the effectiveness of certain fungicides, particularly those belonging to the QoI (FRAC Group 11) and DMI (FRAC Group 3) classes. Hungary is among the many countries where resistance to these fungicides has developed due to their frequent application. Picolinamides represent a novel class of fungal respiration inhibitors targeting Complex III within the Quinoine-Inside Inhibitor (QiI) group. Two innovative fungicides from this class, fenpicoxamid and florylpicoxamid (both classified under FRAC Group 21), were evaluated for their efficacy in managing CLS of sugar beet in Hungary during the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons. Both fungicides were applied as formulated products at various application rates and demonstrated superior efficacy in controlling CLS compared to untreated control plots and the reference fungicides difenoconazole and epoxiconazole. The results consistently demonstrated that all tested application rates of fenpicoxamid and florylpicoxamid effectively controlled CLS in sugar beet, exhibiting a clear dose–response relationship. Disease severity, as measured by the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), was significantly correlated with yield reduction but showed no significant association with root sugar content. Moreover, data from both study years indicated that picolinamide fungicides applied at a rate of 75 g ai/ha significantly outperformed difenoconazole (100 g ai/ha) in controlling the CLS of sugar beet. Additionally, higher application rates of picolinamides at 100–150 g ai/ha outperformed epoxiconazole at 125 g ai/ha in disease suppression. Fenpicoxamid is currently registered for use in cereals within Europe, and outside of Europe in Banana against Black Sigatoka (eff. Mycosphaerella fijiensis). Florylpicoxamid, while not yet registered in Europe, is undergoing approval processes in various countries worldwide for a range of crops and is continually being evaluated for potential market introduction. Additional details regarding the efficacy of florylpicoxamid against CLS in sugar beet were presented at ‘The 10th International Conference on Agricultural and Biological Sciences (ABS 2024, Győr-Hungary)’ in 2024.

The goal of this resesrch is to develop cultivation practices that optimize the economical cultivation of sorghum, taking into account current environmental factors., by determining the optimal seeding rate and row spacing for two different maturity groups of sorghum hybrids, RGT Icebergg (early) and RGT Huggo (mid-early). In this context, we examine the maximum achievable yield and quality characteristics. The experiment involved different plant densities: 210,000, 240,000, 270,000, and 300,000 plants/ha, and three different row spacings: 25, 45, and 76 cm. Through conducted experiments, significant differences have been observed in harvest moisture content, hectoliter weight, protein content, head size, and plant height. Significant differences were observed in the average number of head per square meter. Although similar average protein levels were measured for different genotypes, there were differences in their stability. Increasing row spacing decreased hectoliter weight, while increasing seeding rates increased it. Harvest moisture content was significantly higher with wider row spacings, while increasing plant density resulted in a slight decrease in moisture content. Looking at the average of the tested hybrids, the row spacing of 45 cm and the number of seed of 300,000 plants/ha are the most ideal combination to achieve the yield.

Cercospora-leaf spot (CLS) of sugar beet, caused by Cercospora beticola Sacc., is a major foliar disease of sugar beet in all sugar beet growing areas, worldwide, causing up to 50% yield loss. The disease is now dominant in almost all sugar beet growing areas of Europe, including Hungary. The use of fungicides has been being an integral part of the control of CLS of sugar beet. In recent decades, resistance of C. beticola to fungicides belonging to different groups of active substances has been described in many countries worldwide, including Hungary. The picolinamides are a new distinct group of fungal respiration inhibitors (QiI – FRAC Group 21) promise to be a good alternative in the management of fungicide resistance in crops. The florylpicoxamid fungicide were tested and evaluated over two seasons, in vegetation period of 2020 and 2021 for controlling CLS of sugar beet in Hungary. This fungicide was applied as straight formulated product at a range of dose rates, and they showed very effective control of CLS compared to the untreated control check plots and the reference fungicide products difenoconazole and epoxiconazole. All tested dose rates of florylpicoxamid provided effective control of against CLS of sugar beet. The area under the disease progress curve values (AUDPC) was significantly correlated with yield decrease, but AUPDC did not correlated with sugar content of the roots. Additionally, the results showed in two investigated years, the efficacy of florylpicoxamid for the control on CLS of sugar beet crop.

This work aims to compare and statistically analyze Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values provided by GreenSeeker handheld crop sensor measurements and calculate NDVI values derived from the MicaSense RedEdge-MX Dual Camera, to predict in-season winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield, improving a yield prediction model with cumulative growing degree days (CGDD) and days from sowing (DFS) data. The study area was located in Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary. A small-scale field trial in winter wheat was constructed as a randomized block design including Environmental: N-135.3, P2O5-77.5, K2O-0; Balance: N-135.1, P2O5-91, K2O-0; Genezis: N-135, P2O5-75, K2O-45; and Control: N, P, K 0 kg/ha. The crop growth was monitored every second week between April and June 2022 and 2023, respectively. NDVI measurements recorded by GreenSeeker were taken at three pre-defined GPS points for each plot; NDVI values based on the MicaSense camera Red and NIR bands were calculated for the same points. Results showed a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between the Control and treated areas by GreenSeeker measurements and Micasense-based calculated NDVI values throughout the growing season, except for the heading stage. At the heading stage, significant differences could be measured by GreenSeeker. However, remotely sensed images did not show significant differences between the treated and Control parcels. Nevertheless, both sensors were found suitable for yield prediction, and 226 DAS was the most appropriate date for predicting winter wheat’s yield in treated plots based on NDVI values and meteorological data.

Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers is a common and noxious worldwide weed of increasing distribution in many European countries. In the present review, information on the biology, ecology, agricultural, economic and environmental impact of johnsongrass is given, and the current status of this weed in Europe is discussed. Furthermore, special attention is given to the important role of field trials using glyphosate to control weeds in arable and perennial crops in many European countries. Some of the factors which affect control efficacy and should be taken into account are also discussed. Finally, several non-chemical alternative methods (cultural, mechanical, thermal, biological, etc.) for johnsongrass management are also presented. The adoption of integrated weed management (IWM) techniques such as glyphosate use, crop rotation, and deep tillage is strongly recommended to control plant species that originate from both seed and rhizomes.