Sugar Beet Seeds Research Articles

Assessing of sugar beet Seed adaptation under salt and drought stress conditions with coating technology based on Fuzzy inference system

Sustainability in crop production is highly dependent on favorable indicators of germination and seedling establishment. In this research seed coating different treatments data prepared and membership function defined in fuzzy inference system then used rule editor tool for determining parameters weight for achieved the best coating treatment in salinity and drought stress conditions. Seed coating formulations were investigated in laboratory and greenhouse experiments for their potential to increase maximum germination, germination rate, germination uniformity, and seedling growth of sugar beet seeds. Sugar beet seeds were coated with different compounds and combinations, including micro- (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Co, Mo) and macro- (N, P, K) nutrients, humic acid, gibberellic acid, kaolin, and chitosan. Coated and non-coated sugar beet seeds were evaluated for germination and seedling growth after 10 and 21 days, respectively. In total, 30 different treatments were used to assess the effects of seed coating treatments. In laboratory experiments, sugar beet seeds were placed on paper in Petri dishes and maintained in a germinator at 25 °C. Sodium chloride and polyethylene glycol 8000 were used to apply salinity and drought stresses at three levels each and achieve the results of seed coatings on reducing the effects of salinity and drought stresses. To determine the indices related to emergence and establishment, cultivation trays were utilized with four replications for each treatment. The trays were kept inside a greenhouse. Coating treatments significantly improved total germination percentage, germination rate, seedling growth, and uniformity compared with the non-treated controls. In all treatments, polyvinylpyrrolidone was utilized as a binder. The best treatment with respect to germination and seedling growth indices was number 21 (micro and macronutrients, humic acid, gibberellic acid) in salinity and drought stress conditions. The results by fuzzy inference system illustrated that micronutrients, humic acid, and gibberellic acid create the best seed coating for sugar beet seeds, especially when combined at the specified amounts.

Use of pre-sowing soil microbiological analysis to predict the spread of sugar beet root rot

Aphanomyces cochlioides and Rhizoctonia solani are two of the main soil phytopathogens of sugar beet, which lead to substantial losses in yield and quality. Since disease control capabilities are complex and pathogen monitoring is important for predicting risks, it is of great importance in rural production to create available methods for preliminary field assessment. The purpose of the study was to introduce a predictive methodology for assessing the potential of soils for their suitability for growing sugar beet in the system of short-rotation crop rotations. As an indicator plant, sugar beet seeds were used, which are not characterised by genetic resistance against these diseases. The possibility of using the pre-growing disease index (PPDI), which has a gradation from 0 to 100 and covariance with the actual yield, sugar content and gross sugar yield per hectare, is tested. The pre-sowing PPDI value is compared with the actual yield from each specific field to really assess the possibility of using the PPDI index to characterise yield losses on production crops. It is determined that with an increase in the PPDI value, the gross yield of sugar beet, sugar content, and gross sugar yield decreased. The results of studies show that one unit of PPDI causes a loss of gross yield at the level of 0.24 t/ha and a decrease in the sugar harvest by 0.018 t/ha. That is why, to manage the risks of growing sugar beet, it is necessary to assess the phytopathogenic load of the soil. It is established that the most harmful and permanently identified phytopathogens are Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium ssp, which indicates the need to select hybrids that are characterised by resistance or high tolerance to these pathogens. The information obtained can be used for timely identification of infection risks, development of effective management strategies, and improvement of agricultural techniques for growing sugar beet to reduce crop losses and increase the efficiency of agricultural products

Sugar Beet Seed Classification for Production Quality Improvement by Using YOLO and NVIDIA Artificial Intelligence Boards

AbstractAll inputs are required for excellent and proper crop production, especially seed quality. In this way fewer disease and insect issues, increased seedling germination, uniform plant population and maturity, and better responsiveness to fertilizers and nutrients, leading to higher returns per unit area and profitability, and low labor costs could be possible. Because of this reason, NVIDIA Jetson Nano and TX2 artificial intelligence boards were used to test the efficiency of the YOLOv4 and YOLOv4-tiny models for sugar beet monogerm and multigerm seed classification for better production. YOLOv4-tiny outscored the other model based on FPS with 8.25–8.37 at NVIDIA Jetson Nano, 12.11–12.36 at NVIDIA TX2 artificial intelligence boards with accuracy 81–99% for monogerm seeds, and 89–99% for multigerm seeds at NVIDIA Jetson Nano, 88–99% for monogerm seeds, and 90–99% for multigerm at NVIDIA TX2 accuracy, respectively, implying that the YOLOv4 is more accurate but slow with based on FPS with 1.10–1.21 at NVIDIA Jetson Nano, 2.41–2.43 at NVIDIA TX2 artificial intelligence boards with 95–99% for monogerm seeds and 95–100% for multigerm seeds at NVIDIA Jetson Nano, 92–99% for monogerm seeds and 98–100% for multigerm seeds at NVIDIA TX2, respectively. As a result of the evaluations, NVIDIA Artificial Intelligence cards and YOLO deep learning model will be used effectively in classifying monogerm and multigerm sugar beet seeds, thus reducing seed loss with the help of NVIDIA Artificial Intelligence cards classification.

Preparation ofhydrogels based on natural polymers for pelleting of sugar beet seeds

One of humanity`s important problems is the lack of water in arid regions. One of the ways to solve the water shortage problem is the use of seed pelleting technology. The polymer film coating contributes to the effective maintenance of their quality during storage, including humidity regulation. The creation of effective coatings based on biodegradable natural polymers will help preserve natural resources and prevent environmental pollution. The purpose of this work is the radiation synthesis and characterization of hydrogels based on natural and synthetic polymers and the search for optimal conditions for coating the seeds with the resulting polymers. The methodology of the work includes the radiation synthesis of hydrogels, physicochemical characterization by gravimetry, germination, and germination energy study of coated seeds. Results and discussion. Hydrogels based on chitosan, polyvinylpyrrolidone, starch, and agar-agar were obtained using the radiation. The optimal parameters are 25 kGy irradiation dose and 5wt.% starch concentration. The presence of agar-agar in the hydrogel composition and the increase of irradiation dose from 15 to 45 kGy boost the gel fraction yield. The work investigated the water-holding capacity of pelleted seeds and the process of water desorption from the polymer shell. It has been established that the polymer shell around the seed can retain water in the early stages of its development. Seeds coated in two layers retain moisture 7 times longer compared to uncoated samples. Conclusion. These results can be used to manage seed performance potential and subsequent yield, including improving seed quality and nutrient delivery.

Effect of photons of the far red region in the spectrum of LED radiation on the growth and development of sugar beet plants (Beta <i>vulgaris</i> L. ssp. <i>vulgaris</i> var. <i>saccharifera</i> Alef.)

Relevance and methodology. The task of controlling the growth and development of sugar beet plants with the help of lighting devices is of interest from the point of view of identifying biological features of the culture and in breeding practice. The purpose of the research is to determine the response of plants to the effects of low–energy monochrome radiation at the initial stage of ontogenesis (germination of seeds (coplodia) sugar beet). In this regard, the seeds of the hybrid Smena were germinated in the dark (control) and under different variants of continuous illumination with wavelengths of 380 nm, 440 nm, 525 nm, 660 nm and 730 nm.Results. The reaction of sugar beet seeds and sprouts to illumination with monochromatic light depends on the wavelength Germination of seeds when irradiated with monochromatic far-red light leads to a decrease in germination energy by 23%, seed germination by 39%, the height of sprouts and aboveground biomass by 21.8% compared with the control (dark germination). Similar indicators were observed for the negative effect of red light. Exposure to UV-A light (380 nm) led to an increase in germination energy by 4%, but germination, on the contrary, decreased by 12%. The terrestrial biomass of sprouts also decreased (by 9.9%). Irradiation with green and blue light had a positive effect on growth: the terrestrial biomass of sprouts increased by 19.8% with a green spectrum and 7.3% blue. At the same time, there was no decrease in germination energy and germination compared to the control. The germination energy under the influence of blue light even increased by 12%. With dark germination, elongated etiolated plants were formed on the 10th day, whereas in the variants of green, blue and UV-A irradiation, harmoniously developed dark green shoots were formed.

Influence of sowing dates on the biometric parameters formation of cold-resistant plants of sugar beet seeds using the direct method (no-planting method)

The influence of sowing dates on the formation of biometric indicators of cold-resistant sugar beet seed plants in the autumn-winter period was studied using the direct method (non-planting method) under conditions of unstable moisture in the Right Bank Forest-Steppe. The purpose of the study was to determine the biometric indicators of the root crops of sugar beet seeds, which contribute to the formation of cold-resistant plants and their preservation in the autumn-winter period using the direct method (no-seeding method) of growing at different sowing times. The research was conducted during 2021–2023 at the Bila Tserkva Research and Selection Station, Bila Tserkva District, Kyiv region, in conditions of unstable moisture in the Right Bank Forest Steppe. The experiment was carried out in accordance with the methodological requirements for field assessment of seed crops of sugar, fodder beets, methods of field experiment and the methods of the Institute of Bioenergy Crops and Sugar Beet of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine. It was found out that the formation of biometric indicators of roots of sugar beet seeds, which correspond to the indicators of cold-resistant plants, were optimal during the first period of sowing and had higher preservation. In 2021–2022, the preservation of non-emergent seeds of the first sowing period was 71.7 % of the emergency component, 38.0 % of the multi-seeded pollinator, which is quite enough to obtain seeds of the second season, respectively, 64.9 and 35.8 %. In 2022–2023 the survival rate of non-emergent seed plants of the first sowing period was 76.4 % of the component emergency, multi-seeded pollinators – 73.9 %, the second term – the component emergency was 71 %, of the multi-seeded pollinator – 38.4 %. The research results show the prospects of using the direct method (no-planting method) of growing sugar beet seeds in the conditions of the Right Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Key words: biometric indicators, cold resistance parameters, plant growth and development, sugar beet seeds, plant preservation.

Endophytic colonization of sugar beet by Beauveria varroae and Beauveria bassiana reduces performance and host preference in army worm, Spodoptera littoralis

Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Boisduval 1833 is a voracious leaf feeder and major agricultural pest attacking numerous crops. Development of insecticide resistance hampers management efforts for S. littoralis and entomopathogenic fungi represent one possible alternative management tool. Here, we quantified colonization of sugar beet, Beta vulgaris L, with two fungal entomopathogens, Beauveria varroae Vuillemin 1912 and Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin 1912 (Ascomycota: Hypocreales), and examined their endophytic effects on biological and reproductive parameters of S. littoralis. Two methods were used to inoculate sugar beet: soaking seeds in spore suspension and spray application of conidia onto leaves. For both methods, fungal suspensions with concentrations of 1 × 104 and 1 × 108 conidia/ml colonized roots, stems, and leaves of sugar beet. The colonization rate increased over time. Following inoculation of seeds, weight gain of S. littoralis larvae fed on leaves infected with endophytic fungi was reduced compared with controls. Furthermore, protease and lipase activities in the gut of S. littoralis decreased with increasing concentration of fungus applied to plants. An increase in phenol oxidase activity in the gut also indicated increased defense response of larvae feeding on Beauveria-infected leaves. Both B. bassiana and B. varroae decreased the duration of larval and pupal stages, adult emergence, and oviposition by females. Incubation of sugar beet seeds with B. varroae or B. bassiana decreased survival of pupae and egg laying by female moths on endophyte-infested treatments by 30 and 50%, respectively, compared with controls. Furthermore, an initially female biased sex ratio decreased toward 50:50 over time in populations of S. littoralis reared on sugar beet colonized by fungal endophytes as compared with controls, which remained female-biased. Endophyte inoculation increased growth of sugar beet compared with controls. Our results indicate that B. bassiana and B. varroae affect survival of S. littoralis and may be useful for management of this pest.

Phytochemical Analysis and Allelopathic Effects of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Grain Extract M. Kadri, M., N. Salhi and A. Chana (ALGERIA)

Kadri, M., N. Salhi and A. Chana. 2023. Phytochemical Analysis and Allelopathic Effects of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Grain Extract. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 41(3): 246-257. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-41.3.246257 This study aimed to determine the phytochemical composition of Chenopodium quinoa extracts and to show their allelopathic effects on the seed germination of some plants such as wheat (Triticum durum L.), rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) and sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.). The results of the chemical screening revealed that quinoa grains contain flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, reducing compounds, sterols and triterpenes, and they are rich in saponins. polyphenols and flavonoids were determined in both aqueous and methanolic extracts. The results of TLC chromatography showed the presence of flavonoids represented by flavonol and flavanols catechin, quercetin, flavanone or flavone and chalcone. HPLC analysis identified and determined content of catechin, acacetin, tangeretin, caffeic acid and 2,3,4,5,7 Penta hydroxy flavone in methanolic extracts. Nevertheless, aqueous extracts of Chenopodium quinoa Willd. inhibited germination of sugarbeet seeds by 72%, and stimulated root length and peduncle growth in wheat and rapeseed seeds. Keywords: Chenopodium quinoa, allelopathy, HPLC, polyphenol, flavonoid.

Prospects of using chemical and physical methods of raw material protection in sugar beet seed-growing

Necessity to provide beet-growing farms with high-quality planting material determines the main vector of domestic sugar beet seed-growing development. And a special role in the crop seed-growing is assigned to improvement of the main methods including development of promising raw material storage technique. Aim of the investigations is to reveal influence of physical and chemical methods of raw material storage, both separately and in combination, on planting material safety as well as productivity of sugar beet seed-bearing plants. The investigations have been carried out by Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution «The A. L. Mazlumov All- Russian Research Institute of Sugar Beet and Sugar» in 2019-2021. Objects of the studies are beet mother roots and seed-bearing plants of the domestic hybrid (RMS-127) male sterile form. The experiments have been performed in a beet root storehouse and isolated plots according to methodological recommendations and instructions for sugar beet seed-growing. The experiment scheme is: 1) control (without treatment); 2) treatment of beet roots mother with infra-red radiation (30 sec.) using the Minin reflector (blue lamp); 3) spraying of beet mother roots with the fungicide of «Kagatnik, VRK» (0.10 l/t); treatment with «Kagatnik, VRK» (0.10 l/t) + infra-red radiation (30 sec.); 5) treatment with «Kagatnik, VRK» (0.10 l/t) + the surfactant of «Allure, Zh» (0.003 l/t). As a result, treatment of sugar beet mother roots with the fungicide of «Kagatnik, VRK» together with infrared radiation as well as in a tank mixture with the surfactant of «Allure, Zh» makes it possible to reduce mass losses by 1.6-2.3 absolute % and proliferation by 21.4-23.3 absolute % during storage, and to increase the yield of suitable for planting beet roots by 6-7 absolute %. Positive dynamics of beet mother roots’ storage technique aftereffect on development and productivity of sugar beet seed-bearing plants has been determined. The yield increase of the obtained sugar beet seeds is 0.5 t / ha, and high quality of seed sowing fractions (3.5-4.5 mm and 4.5-5.5 mm) is 96-98 %.

Justification of the parameters of the rotary vane device for the orientation of beetroot during their planting

The existing market of sugar beet seeds shows a significant dependence of Russian agricultural entities engaged in the cultivation of sugar beet on the supply of hybrids of foreign agricultural firms, mainly from the European Union. First of all, this is due to the fact that over the past decades, capital investments in the material and technical base of breeding and seed production on the part of the state were insignificant, which led to the aging of the seed technology used. As is known, the most labor-intensive operation of the technological process associated with the production of sugar and fodder beet seeds is their planting, which is least mechanized and requires a lot of human labor spent on the selection, orientation of root crops and supply them into the planted cones of planting machines with subsequent embedding in the soil with the sharp end down. Currently, a planting machine MV-2.8 is used for planting sugar beet root crops, which is serviced by four people. Consequently, research related to the mechanization of orientation and feeding of root crops into planting cones without the participation of planters is relevant. The article presents a 3D model of a rotary vane device of a planting machine for orienting conical root crops and feeding them into the planting cones of the planting apparatus. At the same time, with a vane length of 280 mm, its thickness will be 11.9 mm, and the greatest deflection is no more than 3 mm, which will ensure the orientation of root crops and their supply to the planting cones of the planting apparatus.

Sugarbeet Seed Germination Prediction Using Hyperspectral Imaging Information Fusion.

Germination rate is important for seed selection and planting and quality. In this study, hyperspectral image technology integrated with germination tests was applied for feature association analysis and germination performance prediction of sugarbeet seeds. In this study, we proposed a nondestructive prediction method for sugarbeet seed germination. Sugarbeet seed was studied, and hyperspectral imaging (HIS) performed by binarization, morphology, and contour extraction was applied as a nondestructive and accurate technique to achieve single seed image segmentation. Comparative analysis of nine spectral pretreatment methods, SNV + 1D was used to process the average spectrum of sugarbeet seeds. Fourteen characteristic wavelengths were obtained by the Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence, as the spectral characteristics of sugarbeet seeds. Principal component analysis (PCA) and material properties verified the validity of the extracted characteristic wavelengths. It was extracted of six image features of the hyperspectral image of a single seed obtained based on the gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM). The spectral features, image features, and fusion features were used to establish partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), CatBoost, and support vector machine radial-basis function (SVM-RBF) models respectively to predict the germination. The results showed that the prediction effect of fusion features was better than spectral features and image features. By comparing other models, the prediction results of the CatBoost model accuracy were up to 93.52%. The results indicated that, based on HSI and fusion features, the prediction of germinating sugarbeet seeds was more accurate and nondestructive.

Influence of physical properties of sugar beet seeds on the work quality of the seeding mechanism

1. Alimohammadi F., Rasekh M., Afkari Sayyah A.H., Abbaspour-Gilandeh Y., Karami H., Rasooli Sharabiani V., Fioravanti A., Gancarz M., Findura P., and Kwaśniewski D., 2022. Hyperspectral imaging coupled with multivariate analysis and artificial intelligence to the classification of maize kernels. Int. Agrophys., 36(2), 83-91, https://doi.org/10.31545/intag.... CrossRef Google Scholar

Potential Risk of Residues From Neonicotinoid-Treated Sugar Beet Flowering Weeds to Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.).

In 2018 the European Union (EU) banned the three neonicotinoid insecticides imidacloprid, clothianidin (CLO), and thiamethoxam (TMX), but they can still be used if an EU Member State issues an emergency approval. Such an approval went into effect in 2021 for TMX-coated sugar beet seeds in Germany. Usually, this crop is harvested before flowering without exposing non-target organisms to the active ingredient or its metabolites. In addition to the approval, strict mitigation measures were imposed by the EU and the German federal states. One of the measures was to monitor the drilling of sugar beet and its impact on the environment. Hence we took residue samples from different bee and plant matrices and at different dates to fully map beet growth in the German states of Lower Saxony, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg. A total of four treated and three untreated plots were surveyed, resulting in 189 samples. Residue data were evaluated using the US Environmental Protection Agency BeeREX model to assess acute and chronic risk to honey bees from the samples, because oral toxicity data are widely available for both TMX and CLO. Within treated plots, we found no residues either in pools of nectar and honey crop samples (n = 24) or dead bee samples (n = 21). Although 13% of beebread and pollen samples and 88% of weed and sugar beet shoot samples were positive, the BeeREX model found no evidence of acute or chronic risk. We also detected neonicotinoid residues in the nesting material of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis, probably from contaminated soil of a treated plot. All control plots were free of residues. Currently, there are insufficient data on wild bee species to allow for an individual risk assessment. In terms of the future use of these highly potent insecticides, therefore, it must be ensured that all regulatory requirements are complied with to mitigate any unintentional exposure. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;00:1-11. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Effects of filter mud applications on growth, physiological characteristics, and nutrient transfer pattern of sugar beet seedlings

Filter mud is an industrial waste produced by sugar crops during the sugar production process, which contains N, P, K, organic matter, and a variety of trace elements required for plant growth. Therefore, a soil cultivation experiment was devised to verify the effects of applying diverse proportions of filter mud on the growth and physiological variations of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris) seedlings. For this study, sugar mill filter mud equivalent to 1%, 3%, 5%, 7%, 9%, 11%, and 13% of the dry weight of neutral black soil was used. Sugar beet seeds were planted in soil with filter mud and their growth, nutrient, and physiological indexes are measured after they grew into sugar beet seedlings. After the application of filter mud, the growth status of sugar beet seedlings increased significantly compared to the non-application of filter mud. Soil application of filter mud increases the content of inorganic N, available P, available K, and organic matter in the soil. And the most pronounced growth of sugar beet seedlings was achieved at 7% of the applied filter mud. In addition, the content of chlorophyll, transpiration rate, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity all increased significantly. As a result, it was determined that filter mud from sugar beet waste was an effective soil improver material, a certain percentage of filter mud can promote the growth of sugar beet seedlings. This has important implications for the improvement of sugar beet yields and the recycling of agricultural wastes.

Features of microorganisms of zoned varieties from sugar beet seed

Quantitative accounting of microorganisms was carried out by seeding on nutrient media selected in accordance with their type. Thus, we have explored some features of development of pathogenic complex of microscopic fungi in soils of beet-growing farms in Almaty and Zhambyl regions. Soil microbial communities in two areas are represented by microorganisms such as bacteria genera: Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Mycobacterium, Mycococcus, Pseudobacterium, Lactobacterium. It is shown that Bacillus and Pseudomona prevail in soil samples. It is established that the dominant species of microorganisms are fungi genera: Fusarium, Alternaria, Penicillium which are a part of pathogenic complex that cause root decay. On the basis of the obtained data, a protective and stimulating composition for reducing the incidence of sugar beet seeds before sowing will be developed in soil samples No. 1-No. 4 of Almaty. The Fusarium genus prevailed in the Almaty Region, and Botrytis prevailed in the Zhambyl Region.

Forming an elliptical directional diagram of the sectoral horn antenna for flow irradiation of sugar beet seeds by electromagnetic field

The object of research is the process that forms an elliptical directional diagram of the H-sector horn antenna for flow irradiation of seeds with the electromagnetic field. The emitter of electromagnetic energy is presented as one of the main elements of installations for irradiating seeds with an electromagnetic field before sowing. This parameter was investigated by taking into account the values of the biotropic parameters of the low-energy electromagnetic field under the conditions of flow processing. This paper reports a study into the parameters of the H-sector horn emitter for irradiation of sugar beet seeds with a low-energy electromagnetic field at a frequency of 73...75 GHz in continuous flow. Thus, one should use the H-sectoral horn emitter with the following parameters: aperture width aa=20 mm; horn length RH=35 mm; b=1.8 mm. It is determined that in order to irradiate sugar beet seeds on the conveyor plane with a power flow density of P=100 μW/cm2, it is necessary to place two horns 1200 mm above the conveyor at a distance of 2540 mm from each other. It was checked that the treatment of sugar beet seeds with electromagnetic radiation in a continuous flow with a capacity of 300 kg/h is possible with a power of up to 2 W supplied to two horn antennas; the speed of the conveyor is 15 cm/s. The parameters of the sectoral horn for an elliptical directional diagram were studied by dividing the main task into internal and external. According to the results of the research, it is possible to build a base of geometric presets for adjusting installations for different types of seeds, the desired performance, the structural features of installations, as well as existing emitters

Biological control of diseases caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-2-2 in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) using plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)

The soil-borne pathogen Rhizoctonia solani AG-2-2 induces both root and crown rot (RCR) and damping-off in sugar beet, which considerably reduces the productivity of this industrial crop. Most often, synthetic fungicides are commonly used to control this fungus. Biological control agents have attracted interest as an alternative to chemical fungicides for controlling several plant diseases. The current study aimed at finding antagonistic bacteria that could be used for biological control against this pathogen. A set of 198 bacterial strains were screened using an in vitro dual culture test with R. solani AG-2-2. Out of these, eleven isolates with important antifungal activity against the pathogen were chosen and characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Molecular characterization demonstrated that all selected isolates clustered under the genus Bacillus (B. velezensis B. amyloliquefaciens and B. subtilis). In addition, chosen isolates of bacteria were also characterized for their potential to synthesize antifungal metabolites and for their abilities as plant growth-stimulators. Bacterial isolates differed substantially in their capability to synthesize antifungal metabolites and for their abilities as plant growth-stimulators. Bacterial isolates differed substantially in their capability to synthesize antifungal metabolites and for their abilities as plant growth-stimulators. Bacterial isolates differed substantially in their capability to synthesize lipopeptide antibiotics. A test under greenhouse conditions revealed that sugar beet seeds soaked in an individual bacterial isolate significantly decreased Rhizoctonia damping-off. Additionally, seedlings grown from soaked seeds exhibited significant increase in assessed growth parameters. Likewise, selected bacterial isolates exhibited an antagonistic effect on this pathogen, and considerably decreased the severity of RCR caused by Rhizoctonia. For sustainable agriculture, B. velezensis SS2 seems more promising as a fungal biocontrol agent against Rhizoctonia RCR and B. velezensis BM2 can be used as a bio-fertilizer.

FORMATION OF YIELD AND QUALITY OF SUGAR BEET SEEDS DEPENDING ON THE USE OF ABSORBENT

Implementation of intensive sugar beet cultivation technologies is impossible without high-quality seeds. The quality of sugar beet seeds is determined by a complex of genetic factors controlled by breeders, as well as by environmental and agronomic conditions of their cultivation and methods of post-harvest and pre-sowing seed preparation using modern technologies. That is why the study of the effect of the use of absorbent granules for growing sugar beet seeds on the formation of their yield is particularly relevant. The aim of the study was to find out the effect of the use of absorbent granules when applied to the soil before planting on the growth and development of seedlings, as well as the yield and quality of sugar beet seeds. It was found that the introduction of MaxiMarin absorbent granules into the soil before planting sugar beet uterine roots contributed to better moisture supply to the plants. In all phases of growth and development of seeds, the soil moisture content with the absorbent was significantly higher than in the control - without its application. Absolute soil moisture in the phase of rosette formation was 4.8%, in the phase of stemming and formation of ground vegetative mass - 9.9%, in the flowering phase - 4.5%, and in the phase of seed maturation - 5.4% higher compared to the control. Similar results were obtained over the years of research. Soil moisture in all phases of growth and development of seedlings was significantly higher when the absorbent was applied to the soil before planting root crops compared to the control. Optimal moisture supply contributed to better use of mineral nutrients. For example, when the absorbent was applied before planting the seeds, the content of mobile forms of phosphorus and potassium in the soil at the end of the growing season was lower, respectively, by 13 and 20 mg/1 kg of soil. The application of the absorbent influenced the biometric parameters of the seed heads. On average, over three years, the seedlings were 58.2 cm taller with the MaxiMarin absorbent, there were 1.2 times more first-order shoots on which seeds of sowing fractions were formed, and the density of fruit placement on the seedlings was higher - for every 10 cm of shoots, 9.0 more fruits were formed. The increase in biometric parameters after the introduction of absorbent granules into the soil and, especially, the number of first-order shoots on which seeds of sowing fractions are formed and the density of fruit placement on the shoots provided an increase in seed yield in combination with soil, climatic and agrotechnical conditions provided a significant increase in seed yield - by 0.15 t/ha compared to the control. Seed germination was 4% (NIR0.05 = 1.4%) higher compared to the control. The analysis of the seed fractional composition showed that when the absorbent was applied to the soil, fewer small seeds of the 2.5-3.5 mm diameter fraction were formed, which, according to the national standard for harvested seeds, do not belong to conditioned seeds and are wasted during post-harvest cleaning, and more - seeds with a diameter of more than 5.5 mm, which, as a rule, have higher germination and in the process of pre-sowing preparation at seed plants after grinding are converted into the sowing fraction of seeds with a diameter of 4.5-5.5 mm. Thus, according to preliminary data, it can be concluded that the introduction of an absorbent into the soil before planting seeds contributes to the creation of a better water regime - providing seeds with moisture throughout the entire period of their vegetation, more complete use of mineral nutrients, which ultimately leads to an increase in yield and seed quality.

Использование физиологически активных веществ для увеличения ростовой активности сельскохозяйственных и декоративных растений

The effect of organic compounds synthesized at the Department of Organic Chemistry of Voronezh State University on the sowing qualities and growth performance of the deciduous shrub Rhododendron yellow (Rhododendron luteum Sweet) and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) was studied. The purpose of the work was to identify the effects of 6-hydroxy‑2,2,4-trimethyl‑1,2- dihydroquinoline and its derivatives on the growth activity of Rhododendron yellow and sugar beet. Treatment of uncoated sugar beet seeds with an aqueous solution of 6-hydroxy‑2,2,4- trimethyl‑1,2-dihydroquinoline increased the seed germination energy by 37–46%, the seed germination by 32–40%, average seedling length by 53–94%, and the weight of 100 seedlings by 69–125% compared to the control. Dihydroquinolines and, to a lesser extent, tetrahydroquinolines may be considered more effective substances in the early stages of development of Rhododendron luteum. The compound 6-hydroxy‑2,2,4-trimethyl‑1,2-dihydroquinoline had a positive effect on the growth activity of Rhododendron yellow and sugar beet. The sowing qualities and growth traits of the plants studied significantly improved under the effect of synthesized organic compounds.

Analysis of active seedcare substances in pelleted sugar beet seeds – method development and validation in a round-robin study

A method by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV-detection was developed for the determination of the active substances hymexazol, tefluthrin, sedaxane, fludioxonil, metalaxyl-M, thiamethoxam, imidacloprid, clothianidin and β-cyfluthrin in pelleted sugar beet seed. The method performance was investigated in a round-robin study in 2021. In this study, ten laboratories analyzed 15 different seed samples, provided by five manufacturers. For each sample, two representative portions of 100 pelleted seeds were analyzed. In general, the highest recovery rates were obtained using an extraction solvent consisting of 95% acetone, 4% water and 1% phosphoric acid and this solvent was therefore selected as the preferred solvent for the simultaneous extraction of the different active substances from the pelleted seeds. However, slightly higher recovery rates for hymexazol were obtained using a mixture of 80% acetone, 19% water and 1% phosphoric acid. This solvent remains an alternative for the analysis of hymexazol. The presented and validated method may serve as an internationally recognized reference method for the analysis of different fungicides and insecticides in pelleted sugar beet seeds from different origin.