Comparative Phenology and Damage of Ground Cherry (Physalis divaricata L.) on Sugar Beet Crop

An expiment was conducted in Lorestan Province to investigate the effect of different densities (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 plant/ m2) of Ground cherry in sugar beet yield. Experimental design was complete randomized design with three replications. In another experiment the effect of single was evaluated on neighbor sugar beet plants. Results indicated that 2 Ground cherry plants can reduce sugar beet yield as much as 34%. A single Ground cherry plant affects sugar beet plants as far as 50 cm away. When planted adjacent to sugar beet Ground cherry reduces the growth of sugar beet plants by 41%. Ground cherry seems to flower in mid May when acquired about 61 to 75 degree days.