Arkansas Peanuts: Potential Early, Late Pod Set – What Does It Mean for the Crop?

At present, a lot of the Arkansas peanut crop is pegging and setting pods (Fig. 1). Scorching, dry situations in July triggered some cultivars to stop producing flowers, which can contribute to 2 distinct pod units, early and late.

If this happens, farmers might want to determine how lengthy to attend to dig to seize the late crop with out shedding the early crop to digger loss. Due to this fact, will probably be necessary to verify pod maturity earlier than digging. Most dig when 75% of the pods are brown or black. If farmers determine to attend, late season illnesses could also be problematic.

One of the crucial necessary late season illnesses in Arkansas is late leaf spot brought on by Nothopassalora personata (syn: Cercosporidium personatum). Sometimes, late leaf spot develops in September in Arkansas, and since most are making use of preventative fungicides, it has not been a significant concern.

Late leaf spot is comparatively simple to establish within the discipline as spots on the decrease leaf floor which can be usually black in colour and could also be tough to the contact when spores are being produced (Fig. 2). Black lesions may also be noticed on peanut stems and petioles.

Vital defoliation by late leaf spot causes the plant to “shut down”, which might contribute to weak peg power and contribute to better digger loss. Most peanut fungicide applications finish with chlorothalonil (Bravo, Equus, Echo), however a rain bathe will wash that off the plant. So, contemplate a systemic fungicide like tebuconazole to supply some systemic safety.

At present, the commonest illness on peanut in Arkansas is southern blight or southern stem rot. It’s a soilborne illness brought on by Athelia rolfsii (syn:  Sclerotium rolfsii) (Fig. 3). Nevertheless, it’s not as frequent or extreme as in different peanut producing states like Georgia or Alabama.

The fungicides utilized in July and August goal in opposition to southern blight, and a few farmers are including a “premium” fungicide of their program for the August timing. A “premium” fungicide is one apart from generic tebuconazole, which most select to make use of throughout the cropping season.

Making use of a fungicide earlier than a lightweight rain can distribute the fungicide close to the soil line the place this illness begins. In furrow-irrigated fields, some farmers spray at night time when the peanut leaves are folded collectively and thus don’t impede fungicides into the decrease cover.

In case you have any questions, please contact me on Twitter at @travisfaske or e mail at tfaske@uada.edu.

Determine 2. Late leaf spots on the decrease leaf floor are usually black in colour and could also be tough in texture when spores are produced.

Determine 3. White hyphae of the southern blight pathogen, Athelia rolfsii, colonizing natural matter on the soil floor and close by peanut limb.