Characteristics of the components of sugar-fodder hybrids suitable for biofuel production

Abstract

Purpose. To study the economically valuable signs and bioenergy indices in sterile and fertile breeding samples of sugar and fodder beet and to select the best items for using as components in breeding in order to obtain experimental hybrids of sugar-fodder beet suitable for biofuel production.Methods. Source materials: 6 diploid sterile sugar beet lines of different origin and 23 diploid fodder beet pollinators. An individual analysis of the breeding value of the original genotypes based on the average root weight, dry matter content, affection by cercospora, root colour uniformity, metric characteristics of roots (immersion in the soil, root shape index) was used. Energy yield of the components of sugar and fodder beet hybrids was calculated.Results. It was found that 11 out of 23 samples were stable in terms of root colour, specifically, 6 were orange, 4 yellow and 1white. The root weight ranged between 222 and 907 g, depending on the genotype. The immersion in the soil ranged from 8.0 to 15.3 cm. The root shape index (0.43 to 0.65) testified sack-like shape in most samples. Prospective pollinators of fodder beet were found samples к 13×14 (85.0 GJ/ha), к 41×42 (87.8 GJ/ha), ‘Halytskyi’ (82.3 GJ/ha) and ‘Lvivskyi zhovtyi’ (80.8 GJ/ha). Two promising samples of female parent lines as possible components of sugar-fodder hybrids suitable for biofuel production were selected.Conclusions. Based on the study of the elements of productivity in fodder beet and their conversion into energy indicators, four promising breeding samples of pollinators with an energy yield of over 80.0 GJ/ha have been identified. Among the female parents, the best were two sugar beet pollen sterile lines (Ivanivska Research Breeding Station) with a yield of 58.36 GJ/ha (MS Iv.2484) and 61.51 GJ/ha (MS Iv.24869). The article presents biometric indices of fodder roots (immersion in the soil, heights, width and root shape index), assessment of affection by cercospora, and uniformity in terms of root colour.