Beetroot Plants Research Articles

Nitrated fly ash inhibits root-knot nematode and alleviates biotic stress in beetroot: A novel approach towards soil friendly nematode management

Due to the toxic effects of chemical pesticides on the beneficial soil microbiome, alternative ecofriendly tactics are required for sustainable disease management in crops. To find a cost-effective and comparatively safe management practice, we investigated a novel approach by evaluating the waste fly ash modified as nitrated fly ash to control a notorious pest, Meloidogyne enterolobii, which causes considerable losses to beetroot through root-knot disease. Molecular characterization through SSU rRNA confirmed the identification of the pathogen M. enterolobii, which significantly hampers plant growth, pigment content, and yield of beetroot plants. However, applying optimum nitrated fly ash (15 % fly ash + 150 kg/ha N) significantly reduced disease severity significantly and substantially improved the plant biomass, biochemical attributes, and yield of beetroot plants. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy revealed a significant improvement in nematode stress-induced stomatal closure with the application of nitrated fly ash at 15 % fly ash +150 kg/ha nitrogen amendment to the soil. The nematicidal activities of fly ash were also confirmed through in vitro experiments combined with cell viability methods. Our results suggest that exploiting nitrated fly ash at optimum concentrations can be a promising approach to manage this waste product and control root-knot nematodes (RKNs) in an eco-friendly manner.

Biomorphological Characteristics of Beetroot Depending on Sowing Schemes under Absheron Conditions

The issues of sowing beetroot according to various schemes are considered in order to determine the optimum crop production in the conditions of Absheron. The biomorphological features of beetroot have been studied. In terms of root productivity, the sowing schemes 55+55+70×10 and 45+45+70×10 was superior to other options for sowing beetroot plants. It was revealed that as the density of plants in a row increases, the number of leaves in them decreases, which is quite natural, since the plant tries to create an optimal leaf surface area.

Cercospora beticola causes leaf and stem spots of New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonoides) in Brazil

New Zealand (NZ) spinach (Tetragonia tetragonoides) is an important leafy vegetable crop in Brazil and other countries. This plant is used as a substitute for common spinach because it is rustic and tolerant to tropical and subtropical environmental conditions. It is often affected by a leaf and stem spot disease, which increases in severity during the warm climatic periods. Cercospora tetragoniae has been reported as the cause of this disease, but this is based on an early description of a Cercospora-like species on this host in Argentina, first named Cercosporina tetragoniae but later recombined into Cercospora. In the present study, isolates of Cercospora-like fungi were obtained from NZ spinach and beetroot plants in Brazil, and a multigene molecular study including the act, cal, gapdh, his3, ITS, and tef1-α regions was carried out to identify the causative pathogen. Additionally, morphological and cross inoculation studies were conducted with isolates obtained from diseased plants. The pathogen was confirmed as Cercospora beticola, a common and harmful pathogen of beetroot (Beta vulgaris). Cross-inoculations of isolates obtained from NZ spinach and beetroot showed that the isolates are infective to both hosts. This increases knowledge of epidemiology and management of this important disease. Several attempts to re-collect samples from the type locality in Argentina failed. NZ spinach is no longer grown at La Plata (Argentina), the type locality of C. tetragoniae. Therefore, the task of re-collecting the pathogen is still pending, for epitype designation and for a full clarification of the taxonomic status of C. tetragoniae. The possibility of the pathogen being seed-transmitted has been assessed, and evidence obtained justifies further assessment of this aspect.

Effect of Potash Fertilizers on Changes in Some Physiological Parameters of Beetroot (Beta vulgaris var. esculenta Salisb.) under Absheron Conditions

During the years of research, depending on the norms of fertilizers, the leaf surface area, the content of chlorophyll in the leaves, the photosynthetic potential of the sowing field, the coefficient of economic efficiency of photosynthesis, the specific surface density of the leaves, the total wet and dry biomass were studied plants, and the results were subjected to statistical processing and their level of reliability was assessed. The introduction of organic and mineral fertilizers for beetroot plants has a positive effect on the leaf surface area, the value of photosynthetic potential, the indicators of coefficient of economic efficiency of photosynthesis and specific surface density of the leaves, as well as on the amount of total dry and wet biomass.

IDENTIFICATION OF NEW SNPS IN GENES/LOCI OF RESISTANCE TO FUSARIOSIS AND CHITINASE

The aim of this work is to test specific primers FusA1F/R, 2Ch300F/R, and 7Ch310F/R to study SE2 gene responsible for expression of acid chitinase in stressful situations, and loci that ensure resistance of sugar beetroot breeding material to Fusarium rot. Material for the study was sugar beetroot plants of domestic and foreign selection. To confirm the connection of SE2 gene (localized on chromosome 3)which controlsstable level of acid chitinase with resistance of sugar beetroot to root rot, ten samples of sugar beetroot were typed using molecular genetic marker FusA1. Two 600 b.p. and 400 b.p. DNA fragments in all studied genotypes, except wild beetroot plants (Beta corolliflora Zoss.)were identified. As a result of the studies of SE2 gene, eight single nucleotide substitutions (3 T/C, 2 C/G, A/G, G/A, C/T) and three single nucleotide insertions (nucleotide A) were identified in plants of Shannon foreign hybrid compared to the resistant genotype. As for loci encoding protective proteins (regions of the second and seventh chromosomes) and involved in formation of resistance to Fusarium rot, SNPs were also found in domestic breeding materials and foreign hybrids. The Geneious Prime tool was used to analyze and align the sequenced sequences.

Enhancing bioactive compounds accumulation in red beet (Beta Vulgaris L.) plants by managing N nutrition. The identification of the ‘critical’ zone as a cultivation technique

The increasing interest in natural health-promoting compounds, which are mostly plant secondary metabolites, inspired attempts to stimulate mechanisms strengthening their bioaccumulation in crop plants via abiotic stress while maintaining the yield potential. This study investigates the long-term effects of limiting nitrogen (N) supply on the concentration of total phenolics, free radical activity of natural antioxidants, betacyanin content, biomass production, net photosynthetic rate, total chlorophyll content, and plant water relations in red beetroot plants (Beta vulgaris L.) grown hydroponically. Depending on fertilization, the range of N supply for evaporative demand comprises two contrasted nutrient zones, in which N is limiting (zone-1) or non-limiting (zone-2). Based on the carbon-nutrient-balance hypothesis, at the transition from 1st-zone to 2nd-zone, there is a narrow transition zone in which the plant nutrient status is considered ‘critical’. Herein, to determine the ‘critical’ zone, a modified Michaelis-Menten (M-M) model was used using a piecewise linear regression on two indexes: net photosynthetic rates and free radical-scavenging capacity of phenolic antioxidants. The model showed that the ‘critical’ transition points of net photosynthetic rate and phenolic free radical content are located in a narrow zone ranging between 196.70 ± 8.75 and 271.54 ± 75.50 ppm NO3−, while the cropping season appears to affect slightly the range of ‘critical’ (transition) zone. Thus, supplying N to red beetroot plants to levels ranging within this ‘critical’ zone may be an efficient, profitable and sustainable way to increase the accumulation of health-promoting plant bioactive compounds (total phenolic compounds with radical activity and betacyanins) in hydroponically cultivated reed beetroot plants.

ADAPTABILITY OF BEETROOT VARIETIES IN CONDITIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

According to the results of the research, the influence of water-retaining granules on the biometric parameters of beetroot plants was revealed, in particular, an increase in the assimilation surface area was noted. The highest height of beetroot plants was observed in the Bordo Kharkivskiy variety for the application of water-retaining granules – 33.4 cm, which is 4.9 cm more than in the variant without granules. A positive effect of the use of water-retaining granules was also observed in the Opolskiy variety, where the increase was 3.7 cm compared to the variant without granules. The lowest figure was in the variety Opolskiy without pellets – 22.1 cm. An important indicator in the biometric evaluation of beet varieties is the weight of the root crop. It was the largest in the options for the introduction of water-retaining granules: in the Bordo Kharkivskiy variety growth relative to control was – 6.5 g, in the Opolskiy variety – 7.6 g. Biometric measurements also showed an increase in the mass of the aboveground part of the plants with the introduction of water-retaining granules by 5.4 and 4.9 g, respectively. A higher percentage of the mass of the root in relation to the total mass of the beetroot plant in phase 5 of a pair of true leaves was obtained in the variety Opolskiy – 57.6 – 58.6 %. In the phase of intensive root formation, the highest plant height was recorded in Bordo Kharkivskiy varieties and Opolskiy with the use of water-retaining granules, where the increase was 3.2 cm relative to the control. The same pattern was observed when determining the number of leaves on the plant, where the increase was – 3.5 – 3.2 pieces / plant. An increase in root mass was observed with the introduction of water-retaining granules by 3.3 and 4.0 g, respectively. In the Bordo Kharkivskiy variety the weight of the aboveground part was higher compared to the weight of the root crop, while in the Opolskiy variety the opposite weight of the root crop was observed, the indicator of which was 55.3 – 56. % of the total weight of the plant. Measurements of the area of beet leaves showed that this figure depended on the variety and use of water-retaining granules. In the phase of root moult, the larger leaf area was with the use of water-retaining granules 1.3 – 1.6 thousand m2 / ha, which is more than the control options by 0.3 – 0.4 thousand m2 / ha. The largest leaf area was recorded in the phase of intensive root formation in all studied variants. In the variants where water-retaining granules were used, the increase was 0.5 thousand m2 / ha in the Bordo Kharkivskiy variety, 0.3 thousand m2 / ha in the Opolskiy variety. In the phase of technical maturity of beetroot plants, a decrease in leaf area relative to the phase of intensive root formation was observed. However, the highest figure was in the options with the introduction of water-retaining granules. The use of water-retaining granules provided an increase in yield by 23.0 – 17.5 t / ha relative to controls. The Bordo Kharkivskiy variety was characterized by a larger diameter of the root crop – 7.5 – 8.4 cm, which is 2.9 – 2.6 cm larger than the Opolskiy variety, respectively. However, the plants of the Opolskiy variety showed a longer root length relative to the Bordo Kharkivskiy variety by 4.8 – 6.0 cm, respectively. Water-retaining granules contributed to the increase in root mass, where the increase was in the variety Bordo Kharkivskiy – 83.0 g, in the variety Opolskiy – 63.0 g

Occurrence of Meloidogyne morocciensis parasitizing beetroot in Brazil

Beetroot plants cv. Boro exhibiting multiple root galls similar to those symptoms associated with root-knot nematodes (RKNs) were detected in the municipality of Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. The nematode identification was based on an integrative taxonomy. Perineal patterns of females were similar to Meloidogyne arenaria and M. incognita whereas isoenzymatic phenotypes α-esterase A3 and malate dehydrogenase N1 were typical to M. morocciensis. Measurements of second-stage juveniles and males corresponded to the same species. Beetroot plants inoculated with 2.000 specimens of RKN showed reduction of fresh weight of shoots (37%) and roots (30%). The nematode reproduction factor was 11.9. Our study provides the first evidence that M. morocciensis causes root-knot disease in beetroot cv. Boro in Brazil and elsewhere.

Mineral composition of beetroot treated with potential elicitors and inoculated with Meloidogyne javanica

BackgroundThe root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica can infect beetroots, causing extensive damage to this food crop. As chemical and genetic control tactics have shown limited efficacy, new strategies are needed to improve the integrated management of this parasite. This study assessed the influence of potential defence elicitors and M. javanica infection on the mineral composition of beetroot. Plants were treated with acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), citrus biomass, or a mannanoligosaccharide-based product (MOS) and inoculated with 1000 eggs and second-stage juveniles of M. javanica. At 60 days after inoculation, beetroot plants were harvested and evaluated for nematode population density, vegetative growth, and mineral content.ResultsAll potential elicitors reduced nematode population density in beetroots (p ≤ 0.10) and improved the vegetative parameters of inoculated plants (p ≤ 0.05), except shoot fresh weight. Some minerals were found to be negatively affected by treatments, particularly calcium, whose levels were consistently lower in treated plants. On the other hand, M. javanica inoculation increased magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc, and copper contents in beetroots. However, the latter mineral (Cu content) of inoculated plants was positively influenced by MOS and ASM.ConclusionPotential elicitor treatments did not improve the mineral composition of beetroot, but were effective in reducing nematode population density. Plants inoculated with M. javanica had higher mineral levels. However, gall formation decreases the commercial value of the crop and might render it unsuitable for commercialisation. M. javanica-infected beetroots may be used for nutrient extraction or sold to food processing industries.

Alpha activity emitted from leaves and roots of beetroot plant planted in enhanced soil with fertilizers

This study is to assesses radioactive materials transported to the beetroot plants grow in different fertilized soil. Equivalent weights of fertilizers were added to the soil prior the plantation. The alpha track densities were estimated utilizing solid state nuclear track detector (SSNTDs), CR-39. The obtained results show that alpha track densities in Beetroot plants in the lower and upper sides of plant leaves were varied from 67.62 Tr.cm−2 to 101.83 Tr.cm−2 and from 45.35 Tr.cm−2 to 94.67 Tr.cm−2 with mean values of 89.96 Tr.cm−2 and 68.48 Tr.cm−2, respectively. Alpha track densities were also measured in the samples of the enhanced plantation soil with fertilizers and in the whole parts of the Beetroot plant which were planted in these soils. These values were compared with alpha track densities obtained from fertilizer samples in the previous studies. The lower face of leaves gives higher α-particles activity than that obtained from the upper face. As well as, the alpha activity from the plants planted in soils enhanced with phosphate compost was found greater as contrast with that planted in a soil enhanced with organic fertilizer. The utilization of organic fertilizer don't cause much risks like contrasted with phosphate fertilizers. Therefore, the alpha activity depends on the nature of fertilizers added to the soil.  Â

The effect of bacterial preparations on the growth, development and quality indicators of sugar beet yield

Experimental samples of biological products based on endophytic microorganism strains were tested on sugar beet root plants. The studies were carried out at ZAI Agrofirm LLC, Zay District, the Republic of Tatarstan. The most effective preparations applied at the early stages (3–4 leaf phase) were RECB – 31 B (1.5 l/ha), RECB – 74 B (1.5 l/ha), RECB – 74 B (1.5 l/ha), RECB – 44 B (2.0 l/ha), RECB – 50 B (2.0 l/ha), and RECB – 74 B (2.0 l/ha). Biological preparations applied in the row closing leaf phase have an advantage over chemical preparations when applying RECB – 14 B (1.5 l/ha), RECB – 31 B (1.5 l/ha), RECB – 74 B (1.5 l/ha), RECB – 74 B (2.0 l/ha). At the late vegetation stages, experimental preparations increased the yield. A significant increase was observed when applying RECB – 95 B (1.5 l/ha).

DYNAMICS OF FORMATION OF THE SQUARE OF BEETS PLANTS OF BEETS DEPENDING ON VARIETY SPECIAL FEATURES AND TERMS OF SEEDING UNDER CONDITIONS OF THE RIGHT-FOREST STEPPE OF UKRAINE

The results of studies on the dynamics of the formation of the area of leaves of plants of beetroot canteen depending on varietal characteristics and sowing time in the conditions of the Forest-Steppe of Right-Bank Ukraine are presented. The dependence of the growth and development of beetroot plants on varietal characteristics and sowing dates, as well as on weather conditions that were in the studied time, was revealed. The largest number of leaves in the phase of intensive root formation was formed by plants with a sowing period of I decade of May: 13.3 pcs. / plant – Bordo Kharkivskiy, 13.1 pcs. / plant – Opolskiy. The greatest mass of the root crop in the phase of intensive root formation was planted at a sowing period of the third decade of April: the Bordo Kharkivskiy – 72.4 g, the variety Opolskiy – 43.5 g. The same pattern was observed when taking into account the mass of the aerial part of beetroot. In the Bordo Kharkivskiy variety, it varied from 92.4 g to 87.5 g depending on the sowing time, in the Opolskiy variety from 33.7 g to 31.7 g, that is, the beet plants of the Bordo Kharkivskiy cultivar formed a significantly larger mass of the aerial part in comparison with the Opolskiy variety. Plants were sown with the largest leaf area at a sowing period of the 3rd decade of April: in the Bordo Kharkivskiy – 1.2 – 4.0 thousand m2 / ha, in the Opolskiy variety – 1.0 – 2.3 thousand m2 / ha. According to the results of the crop accounting, it was found that it depended on the variety and sowing period of beetroot. On average, over the years of research, the highest yield was observed with a sowing period of the third decade of April: 63.1 t / ha for the Bordo Kharkivskiy variety, 55.9 t / ha for the Opolskiy variety.

Growth and Betacyanin Content of Beetroots (Beta vulgaris L.) Under Water Deficit in A Tropical Condition

The present study, a part of a series of studies carried out to explore the possibility of beetroot cultivation in the tropics on highlands, was designed to investigate the growth and betacyanin content of beetroot plants in response to water deficit in a tropical condition. The water deficit was executed through varied watering intervals consisting of once three (as control), four, five, six and seven days. A randomized block design with five replicates was used to impose the treatments. The effect of water deficit was found to reduce the leaf water content, the biomass production (total dry weight) and the root yields of beetroot plants. Root dry weight decreased by more than 20% and 50% with the watering interval once four and seven days respectively compared with that once three days. The betacyanin content of roots was not influenced by the water deficit when expressed per unit volume of fresh root extracts (340.5 ± 60.1 mg/l), and increased when expressed per unit root dry weight. It is suggested that an optimal supply of water, for instance watering once three days, is necessary to obtain beetroot plants growing optimally and producing a high root yield and betacyanin content of roots.

Effect of triazoles on pigment and biochemical content of beet root (Beta vulgaris L.)

Propiconazole (PRO) and hexaconazole (HEX), two significant plant growth regulators, were applied on Beet root plants to test their effect on photosynthetic pigments and biochemical concentration. Each plant was treated with 15mg L-1 PRO and 15 mg L-1 HEX by soil drenching on 30, 40 and 50 days after planting (DAP).Chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll content, carotenoid, protein, proline and Starch contents, were analysed from shoot and root on 40, 50 and 60 DAP. PRO and HEX applications increased the chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll, protein, proline and starch contents in beetroot. It can be concluded that, these compounds have beneficial effects on tuber plants other than their fungicidal actions.

Accumulation of macronutrients in beetroot plant

Abstract Nutrient need in each development stage of plant is showed by nutrient accumulation curve; this is an important tool for fertilization recommendation. However, researches on vegetables with the objective to estimate these curves are scarce, mainly in the modern hybrids that show higher productivity potential and, probably, higher nutrient demand. In this study, the authors aimed to determine macronutrient accumulation of beetroot plants, hybrid Boro. The experiment was carried out in São Manuel, São Paulo State, Brazil. Five treatments {seasons of plant collection: 0, 14, 28, 43 and 60 days after transplanting (DAT)}, considering that in each season 16 plants were collected (four replications of four plants each, in a randomized block design). We evaluated dry matter accumulation, and nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sulphur (S) in plant shoot and root. The period of the highest demand for most of macronutrients was from 29 to 43 DAT. The decreasing order of macronutrients exported by the roots of the beetroot was K>N>P>Mg>S>Ca (376, 232, 45, 29, 21 and 13 mg/plant, respectively), and accumulated by the whole plant (shoot + root) was K>N>Mg>Ca>P>S (709, 404, 126, 113, 69 and 50 mg/plant, respectively).

Membrane proteins involved in transport, vesicle traffic and Ca(2+) signaling increase in beetroots grown in saline soils.

By separating plasma membrane proteins according to their hydropathy from beetroots grown in saline soils, several proteins probably involved in salt tolerance were identified by mass spectrometry. Beetroots, as a salt-tolerant crop, have developed mechanisms to cope with stresses associated with saline soils. To observe which plasma membrane (PM) proteins were more abundant in beet roots grown in saline soils, beet root plants were irrigated with water or 0.2M NaCl. PM-enriched membrane preparations were obtained from these plants, and their proteins were separated according to their hydropathy by serial phase partitioning with Triton X-114. Some proteins whose abundance increased visibly in membranes from salt-grown beetroots were identified by mass spectrometry. Among them, there was a V-type H(+)-ATPase (probably from contaminating vacuolar membranes), which increased with salt at all stages of beetroots' development. Proteins involved in solute transport (an H(+)-transporting PPase and annexins), vesicle traffic (clathrin and synaptotagmins), signal perception and transduction (protein kinases and phospholipases, mostly involved in calcium signaling) and metabolism, appeared to increase in salt-grown beetroot PM-enriched membranes. These results suggest that PM and vacuolar proteins involved in transport, metabolism and signal transduction increase in beet roots adapted to saline soils. In addition, these results show that serial phase partitioning with Triton X-114 is a useful method to separate membrane proteins for their identification by mass spectrometry.

Foliar and Radicular Absorption of Boron by Beetroot and Tomato Plants

The isotopic technique was employed to study boron (B) mobility in tomato and beetroot plants under protected cultivation conditions. An experiment was conducted in which both species grew in 10-dm3 vases filled with coconut fiber, under hydroponic conditions. The plants were subjected to four different treatments: (1) no B in the substratum and no foliar fertilization; (2) no B in the substratum, with foliar 10B fertilization; (3) B in the substratum, with foliar 10B fertilization; and (4) 10B in the substratum and no foliar fertilization. The biological growth variables and total B and 10B contents in the plant parts grown after the application of the nutrient were evaluated. For increasing B content in young tissues, the foliar application of this element was not as efficient as application via root system, indicating low mobility of B in the tissues of both beetroot and tomato plants.

English

  The study determined the internal quality (the total phenol, sugar, organic acid contents, antioxidant activity, and mineral components) and physical parameters in the flesh of red beetroots produced in different production systems (conventional, integrated, organic, and control) using established methods. Organic cropping of red beetroot plants significantly reduced the yield by 27% of some macro minerals (P at 23.1, K at 13.1, and Mg at 7.7%) in comparison with conventional cropping but increased the ascorbic acid by 23.3%, antioxidant activity by 30.3%, and some micro minerals (Na at 39.1, Cu at 5.0, Fe at 17.9, Mn at 3.4, and Zn at 2.1%). The organic system can also result in better economic feasibility under assumption that price and expected yield are achieved. The results showed that a decrease in nitrogen supply, which is inherent in organic cropping, enhances the levels of secondary metabolites and micro minerals, which are associated with increased free radical scavengers and antioxidant activity in plant tissue.   Key words: Phenol, sugar, organic acid, antioxidant activity, minerals, economic feasibility.

Effect of surface wax on inhibition of germination of Botrytis cinerea spores on beetroot leaves

Germination of Botrytis cinerea spores was inhibited on beetroot leaf was reformed on glass fibre. Wax was extracted by immersion of leaves in chloroform for periods of 1 to 60 s. There was some inhibition of spore germination on wax deposited for 6 h, and a marked inhibition after 18 h or longer. Inhibition of germination of spores on reformed wax was less than that on beetroot leaves. Inhibition was overcome by the addition of nutrients to spore suspensions on reformed wax. Continuous spraying of beetroot plants with water, or chemical treatment of plants with TCA or EPTC, caused a reduction in contact angles on leaves. Germination of B. cinerea spores was greatly increased on leaves of plants treated with water-spray or chemicals.

Effect of plant age on inhibition of Botrytis cinerea spores by bacteria on beetroot leaves

Inhibition of germination of Botrytis cinerea spores by bacteria occurred in water drops placed on mature (9-week-old or over) beetroot plants but not on younger plants (6-week-old). Numbers of bacteria were higher in water drops on mature plants and species composition changed in relation to plant age. Of 9 isolates of bacteria tested in vitro a pale yellow Pseudomonas group III/IV species caused the most inhibition of germination of B. cinerea spores. Numbers of Pseudomonas group III/IV isolated both from water droplets on leaves and unwetted leaves increased in relation to plant age. On older leaves indirect evidence indicated that the bacterium may have colonized internal parts. Levels of amino acids in droplets increased as plants aged. Of 16 different amino acids the lowest concentrations were recorded on youngest (6-week-old) plants. On 10-, 13- and 16-week-old plants levels of individual amino acids were not so clearly related to plant age. Certain amino acids inhibited, others stimulated growth of Pseudomonas group III/IV in vitro, but on leaves numbers of bacteria could not be correlated with natural levels of specific amino acids.