Sugar Beet Cultivation Research Articles

Somaclonal variation of sugar beet resistant to pathogenic root rot Fusarium oxysporum var. orthoceras

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) - one of the most important crop in the world. In Kazakhstan, it is a traditional and major source of domestic sugar. The industry of cultivation and production of sugar beet is one of the priority areas of agricultural development of the country. In this paper, we studied the regeneration ability of different genotypes of sugar beet explants on selective media with the culture filtrate of the pathogen fungus F. oxysporum var. orthoceras. From the roots and shoots of sugar beet the pathogen Fusarium root rot was isolated. Was obtained pure cultures of the isolated pathogen. As a result, of morphological and cultural descriptions, as well as microbiological analysis it was revealed that the isolated pathogen is Fusarium Oxysporum. The results showed the pathogenicity of the fungus. For regeneration in vitro of the sugar beet genotypes resistant to the pathogen the culture media was optimized to the culture filtrate of the fungus F. oxysporum var. orthoceras. The frequency of shoot regeneration, depending on the genotype, was 1,0-12,5 %. On these explants the multiple shoot formations were observed.

Occurrence of Heterodera schachtii in the sugar beet growing areas of Vojvodina, Serbia

The survey on the occurrence of the sugar beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii Schmidt 1871 was performed from November 2006 until June 2012 in the sugar beet growing areas of the Serbian northern Province of Vojvodina. The soil samples were taken from 55 beet fields and analyzed for number of viable eggs or juveniles in the soil. In total, 1387 soil samples were collected from 20 sugar beet producers and 3 seed fodder beet producers. Fenwick can and electric device for crushing cysts were used in order to determine the presence of cysts and population density. Heterodera schachtii occurred in 36.36 % of beet fields with population density ranging from 13 to 1591 eggs and second-stage juveniles in 100 cm3 of soil. The area with the most infected fields was the district of Backa. Only in the district of Banat H. schachtii was not detected. Current occurrence of H. schachtii in the sugar beet growing areas of Vojvodina indicates that this pest is most frequently found near old sugar beet factories in the districts of Backa and Srem as a result of intensive sugar beet cultivation with narrow crop rotation.

Yield of glyphosate-resistant sugar beets and efficiency of weed management systems with glyphosate and conventional herbicides under German and Polish crop production

In sugar beet production, weed control is one of the most important and most expensive practices to ensure yield. Since glyphosate-resistant sugar beets are not yet approved for cultivation in the EU, little commercial experience exists with these sugar beets in Europe. Experimental field trials were conducted at five environments (Germany, Poland, 2010, 2011) to compare the effects of glyphosate with the effects of conventional weed control programs on the development of weeds, weed control efficiency and yield. The results show that the glyphosate weed control programs compared to the conventional methods decreased not only the number of herbicide applications but equally in magnitude decreased the dosage of active ingredients. The results also showed effective weed control with glyphosate when the weed covering was greater and sugar beets had a later growth stage of four true leaves. Glyphosate-resistant sugar beets applied with the glyphosate herbicide two or three times had an increase in white sugar yield from 4 to 18% in comparison to the high dosage conventional herbicide systems. In summary, under glyphosate management sugar beets can positively contribute to the increasingly demanding requirements regarding efficient sugar beet cultivation and to the demands by society and politics to reduce the use of chemical plant protection products in the environment.

Analysing the energy balances of sugar beet cultivation in commercial farms in Germany

Energy balances are increasingly used to assess the energy efficiency and productivity of agricultural production. In this study, energy balances for sugar beet cultivation in commercial farms in Germany were calculated. 109 farmers with 285 fields were interviewed about the sugar beet cultivation 2004. The energy input and the energy output were calculated with standardised balance-sheet approaches and energy equivalents. Calculated energy balance parameters were the energy gain (energy output less input), the output–input ratio (energy output versus input) and the energy intensity (energy input versus natural yield measured in Grain Equivalents). A factor analysis was performed to explain the variation of the energy balance parameters between the fields by crucial factors for energetic efficiency and productivity. Fields with similarly valued factors were grouped into common clusters by a cluster analysis and a discriminant analysis. The influence of specific growing conditions and cultivation methods on the energy balances were examined for the clusters.Total energy input (median: 17.3GJha−1), energy output (261.7GJha−1), energy gain (244.6GJha−1), output–input ratio (15.4) and energy intensity (87.4MJGE−1) revealed a significant variation. The total energy input was significantly lower and the energy yield was significantly higher than in previous studies. Thus, the energy gain and the output–input ratio have clearly risen compared to earlier studies. Today, sugar beet cultivation is energetically more productive and efficient than the cultivation of many other arable crops in Middle Europe.The intensity of the cultivation measures irrigation, catch crop cultivation, tillage and N fertilisation as well as the management of all cultivation measures and the site were determined as crucial factors for energy efficiency and productivity. The intensity of the different cultivation measures influenced the total energy input significantly, but no influence on the energy output was determined. In contrast, the cultivation management (quality and adaptation of cultivation measures) was mainly responsible for the energy output. Whereas the cultivation management mostly explained the energy gain, the factor cultivation management and the factors representing cultivation intensity together were responsible for the output–input ratio.Cluster and discriminant analysis resulted in the formation of 13 clusters. For clusters with an above-average energy gain and output–input ratio, the intensity and in particular the management of cultivation measures were essential for optimising the energy balance.

Seed drilling distance applications in sugar beet cultivation

This research was conducted with the Leila sugar beet variety between 2007 and 2009 at the Sugar Institute Etimesgut and IlgA±n experimental stations, and the aim of this research was to determine the most suitable seed distance in rows for sugar beet cultivation. Both experimental stations were located in the Central Anatolia region. Six different sowing distances were specified as the following methods: 8 (T1), 10 (T2), 12 (T3), 17 (T4), 19 (T5) and 21 cm (T6). Thinning and singling were applied only in the T1, T2 and T3 distances. The average germination was 65%, and there were no differences observed among the methods. The highest beet yield was found in T1, with a value of 57.61 t ha-1, and T1 had the highest sugar content, refined sugar content and refined sugar yield with values of 18.27, 15.81%, and 9.08 t ha-1,respectively. The lowest values for beet yield, sugar content, refined sugar content and refined sugar yield were found in T6 with values of 47.08 t ha-1, 17.83%, 15.19% and 7.35 t ha-1, respectively. Determined differences among the methods were significant at a level of 1%. The highest farmer income was obtained in T1, T2 and T4. If the soil preparation and sowing are fulfilled in favorable conditions, the T1, T2 and T3 methods are applicable in Central Anatolia. T4 is also more beneficial method in areas where there is a problem to meet labor demands. The T5 and T6 methods should be used with caution in fields with insufficient climate and soil conditions because differences in yield and quality may exist. Key words: Precision drilling, seed distance in row, mechanical precision drilling machine, sugar beet, yield and quality.

IMPACT OF CONTINUOUS SUGAR BEET CROPPING ON POTASSIUM QUANTITY-INTENSITY PARAMETERS IN CALCAREOUS SOILS

One hundred-eighteen surface soil samples (59 samples from cultivated areas and 59 samples from virgin soils) were studied to ascertain if potassium (K) quantity-intensity (Q/I) parameters of the soils are being changed by long-term sugar beet cropping. Long-term cultivation resulted in a significant decline in the equilibrium activity ratio (ARe K) values from 0.012 to 0.0047 (moles/L)1/2 (a drop of 61%) and from 0.013 to 0.008 (a drop of 38%) in Typic calcixerpts and Typic endoaquepts, respectively. Paired t-test revealed that continuous sugar beet cultivation led to significant changes in the easily exchangeable K (ΔK0) values from −0.69 to −0.28 cmolc/kg (a rise of 59%) the Typic calcixerepts soils. The highest values for PBCK were associated with the soil types which had the greatest clay contents and smectite clay minerals. Results suggest that continuous sugar beet cropping caused a great decline in K supplying power of the soils.

Morphometrical structure evaluation of long-term manured Ukrainian chernozem

Morphometrical structure evaluation of long-term manured Ukrainian chernozem There was performed an image analysis of the structure of Ukrainian chernozem, which (I) by standard crop rotation was fertilized for 78 years with farm yard manure and (II) by continuous cultivation of sugar beet was not organically fertilized. For the both soils the largest differences were stated in the values of morphometrical parameters related to the soil solid phase element cross-sections. The differences in the parameters for pore cross-sections were much smaller. The soil I was characterized on average with larger macroporosity, larger relative and absolute number of solid phase element cross-sections, and larger relative length of border line between pore and solid phase element cross-sections than the soil II. For the both pedons the pore and solid phase element cross-sections were in general randomly oriented in the soil body. Due to the kneading the pore cross-sections in the superficial layer of the soil after monoculture of sugar beet were oriented horizontally. The soil structure in the corresponding layers of both pedons was to a high degree dissimilar. The largest differences in the arrangement of the soil solid phase and void space occurred in the upper layers.

Yield Prediction of Sugar Beet through Combined Use of Satellite Data and Meteorological Data

This study was carried out for the following two purposes through analysis of satellite data and meteorological data. One is to assess the feasibility of developing an efficient cultivation support system for effective reduction of costs relating to sugar beet cultivation. The other is to predict the root yield before the harvesting season. The cumulative temperature, cumulative precipitation and cumulative solar radiation from the end of April to the middle of July were selected as the predictors of the root yield prediction formula. The predictive error was 3.8t/ha, that was a result calculated by the farmers group, after weighted to the predicted root yield using NDVI. The results suggest that it is possible to predict the root yield before three months of the harvesting season. For providing such results to sugar companies in much earlier before the harvesting, the efficiency of sugar beet collection and sugar production will increase substantially.

RESPONSE OF SUGAR BEET TO NITROGEN AND POTASSIUM FERTILIZATION UNDER TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS

The present study was carried out under two locations of different conditions i.e at North Sinai region (sandy soil) and El- Sharkia Governorate (Sandy loam) during 2009/2010and 2010/2011 seasons to study response of four sugar beet cultivars (Pleno, Sultan, Toro and Invermono) to four fertilizer formula (80kg N, 80kg N +24kg K2O, 100kg N + 48kg K2O/fed and 120kg N + 48kg K2O/fed). Results revealed that root and sugar yields and root quality could be maximized with the use Toro variety when fertilized with both N and K at the level of 100 Kg N/fed in Sharkia or 120 Kg N/fed in North Sinai with the addition 48kg K2O/fed in the two location. Meantime, the other varieties also gave adequate yield and quality. The two irrigation systems (surface and sprinkler) gave good results, but irrigation systems need to be investigated with special emphasis to water use efficiency and water requirements. These results give clear indication to the success of beet cultivation under North Sinai conditions. Therefore, expanding sugar beet cultivation under this virgin area and establishment beet of a factory might contribute greatly to the development of this area.

The Product Carbon Footprint of EU beet sugar (Part II)

With regard to farming operations, all N-fertilizer was assumed to be in the form of mineral fertilizer, as there is no publicly available figure known for the average use of organic fertilizer (e.g. manure) in sugar beet cultivation in Europe. All the basic inputs to sugar beet cultivation were included, that is, seed, fertilisers, pesticides and diesel consumption for field work. Nitrous oxide, soil emissions (N2O, commonly known as laughing gas) from farming were included according to Biograce (i.e. 2.7% of applied N is emitted as N2O). Transport of sugar beet and adherent soil was also accounted for, and it was assumed that all transports are by 40-t truck. The emissions related to the return of empty trucks delivering beet to the factories were also accounted for in the Biograce data. GHG emissions linked to LUC (land use change, direct or indirect) were estimated to be negligible because all land used to grow beet, at least in the EU, is already arable land. With regard to factories, very small inputs were excluded. Specifically, most process chemicals used in sugar production such as NaOH or HCl for pH correction or antifoaming agents were assumed not to be significant for the overall result because they were used only in small quantities. However, as limestone is a processing aid used in larger amounts (approx. 2% per tonne of beet processed), it therefore was included.7 For surplus steam, which some factories co-produce, substitutes were difficult to establish, because they depend on the local situation. Since the resulting GHG credit for surplus steam was expected to be small as an EU average, no GHG credit for surplus steam was calculated. Potential emissions from water treatment systems were, on the other hand, not taken into account because there is insufficient data available about the different types of water treatment systems in operation in EU beet sugar factories. The emission factors of the process inputs used in the calculations are listed in Table 9.

Suppression of Common Scab of Potato Caused by Streptomyces turgidiscabies Using Lopsided Oat Green Manure.

Field experiments were conducted to determine the effect of green manure as fallow on common scab of potato caused by Streptomyces turgidiscabies. Significantly fewer diseased tubers were harvested from soil incorporated with lopsided oat or woolly pod vetch compared with those from oat and continuous potato cultivation in a planter experiment. Each field experiment consisted of lopsided oat cultivated during the spring and summer prior to the potato planting. Comparisons were also made with several other treatments, including cultivation of woolly pod vetch, oat, soybean, sugar beet, and potato ('Yukirasya', which is resistant to potato common potato scab) and soil application of Ferosand (Fe, mainly FeSO4, to decrease the soil pH). In field experiments conducted during 1999-2000, treatment with lopsided oat followed by lopsided oat or woolly pod vetch was significantly more effective at suppressing the disease severity than oat and continuous potato cultivation (P < 0.001). An increase in the marketable tuber ratio was also more significant than for oat and continuous potato cultivation (P < 0.001). In field experiments conducted during 2000-01, lopsided oat cultivation alone and with the application of Ferosand (1.8 t/ha) or resistant potato cultivar treatment were significantly more effective at suppressing the disease severity and incidence than sugar beet cultivation (P < 0.001), even under high disease intensity in the field. However, potato yield had a tendency to reduce after lopsided oat treatment with an application of Ferosand (1.8 t/ha) compared with lopsided oat alone or the application of Ferosand at 600 kg/ha, due to low pH conditions. In field experiments conducted during 2001-02, the lowest severity and incidence of common scab of potato were observed in soil treated with lopsided oat than with other treatments (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). These findings suggest that lopsided oat used as fallow green manure can reduce the severity of common scab and increase potato yield.

Investigation of the Effects of Phosphate Fertilizer Application on the Heavy Metal Content in Agricultural Soils with Different Cultivation Patterns

The use of phosphate fertilizers is essential in agriculture, because they supply farmland with nutrients for growing plants. However, heavy metals might be included as impurities in natural materials and minerals, so heavy metals can also be present in phosphate fertilizers or other chemical fertilizers. The aim of this work was to assess the heavy metal content and contamination status of agricultural soils in the Hamadan province of Iran used for the cultivation of different crops, including cucumber, potatoes, and sugar beet. Surface soil samples were collected and analyzed to determine the total concentration of specific elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn), before the pollution index was calculated for each element. Soils used for the cultivation of the three types of crop were not contaminated with As, Cr, Cu, Pb, or Zn. However, the pollution indices for Cd were 1.1, 4.4, and 3.8 in cucumber, potato, and sugar beet fields, respectively, which indicated moderate, high, and high levels of contamination, respectively. Soils from potato and sugar beet fields were heavily contaminated with Cd, which may have resulted from long-term overuse of phosphate fertilizers.

Produção de beterraba fertilizada com jitirana em diferentes doses e tempos de incorporação ao solo

Este trabalho foi conduzido no período de julho a novembro de 2009, na Fazenda Experimental Rafael Fernandes, da Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido UFERSA, Brasil, objetivando-se avaliar a produção da beterraba (Beta vulgaris L.) fertilizada com jitirana (Merremia aegyptia L.) sob diferentes doses e tempos de sua incorporação ao solo. O delineamento experimental adotado foi em blocos completamente casualizados e os tratamentos arranjados em esquema fatorial 4 x 4 + 1 com 3 repetições, com 72 plantas por parcela, sendo o primeiro fator constituído pelas doses de jitirana (5,4; 8,8; 12,2 e 15,6 t ha-1 em base seca), o segundo pelos tempos de sua incorporação ao solo (0, 10, 20 e 30 dias após a semeadura - DAS) e o tratamento adicional com adubação de 80 t ha-1 de esterco bovino. A cultivar de beterraba plantada foi a Early Wonder. A melhor performance produtiva da beterraba foi obtida na dose de 15,6 t ha-1 de jitirana incorporada ao solo, no tempo 0 dia. Os indicadores econômicos na dose de 15,6 t ha-1 no tempo de 0 dia foram superiores aos obtidos com o uso de 80 t ha-1 de esterco bovino. O cultivo da beterraba é viável agroeconomicamente com o uso da jitirana como adubo verde.

Identification of Beet necrotic yellow vein virus in Lakes District: A Major Beet Growing Area in Turkey

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) causal agent of rhizomania, in sugar beet cultivation areas in the Lakes District of Turkey, in 2006-2007. During surveys BNYVV suspected leaf, root, and soil samples were collected. Total of 203 soil samples were collected from different locations in the region. Sugar beet cultivar Kasandra plants were grown in these soil samples using bait plant techniques. In order to detect the structures of the vector protozoa Polymyxa betae Keskin in the root tissue of the bait plants, roots were stained with lactofuchsin and examined for the fungal cystosori under a light microscope. Presence of BNYVV was investigated using Double antibody sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA). ELISA test results showed that 85 samples were infected with BNYVV (41.87%). ELISA-positive samples for BNYVV were used in the mechanical inoculation studies. Test plants produced typical BNYVV symptoms. Fifty ELISA negative samples when tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), BNYVV could be detected in 50% of these samples. The present study provides evidence for occurrence of BNYVV in a major beet growing area in Turkey based on biological, serological and molecular detection of the virus. RT-PCR method was found more suitable and sensitive than DAS-ELISA for the detection of BNYVV.

La adopción de una innovación agraria en España: los orígenes del cultivo de la remolacha azucarera. Experiencias pioneras y su repercusión económica y territorial

The present paper studies the beginnings of the adoption process of the cultivation of sugar beet in Spain, to be introduced in our country as an agricultural innovation in the late nineteenth century. A culture whose adoption-diffusion through the national territory has been very fast since its inception and especially intense over the years, currently occupying a clearly relevant role in the national socio-economic scene, both by the agricultural area it occupies as by the wealth it generates. We analyze the two pioneering experiences conducted in our country, which were carried out simultaneously but independently and with an ignorance of one another. They had a very different socio-economic approaches although they were conducted at two very close spaces in Andalusia: the fertile lowland of Granada and the irrigated land of Cordoba. This difference of approach decisively conditioned the influence each exerted in the early stages of the spread of farming to other agricultural areas of our country.

Assessment of inceptisols soil quality following long-term cropping in a calcareous environment

The combination of morphological, clay mineralogy, physicochemical, and fertilitical properties of inceptisols were compared for monitoring soil quality response following long-term agricultural activities. For this target, fifty-nine paired surface soils belonging to five subgroups of inceptisols from the major sugar beet growing area and the adjoining virgin lands were described, sampled, and analyzed. The soils were alkaline and calcareous as characterized by high pH, ranging from 7.2 to 8, and calcium carbonate equivalent, ranging from 60 to 300 g kg(-1). Following long-term sugar beet cultivation, morphological properties modifications were reflected as weakening of structure, hardening of consistency, and brightening of soil color. Although, the quantity of clay minerals did not significantly change through long-term cropping, some modifications in the XRD pattern of illite and smectite were observed in the cultivated soils compared to the adjoining virgin lands mainly as a result of potassium depletion. Without significant variation, sand content decreased by 4-55% and silt and clay increased by 3-22% and 2-15%, respectively, in the cultivated soils than to that of the virgin lands. Both negative and positive aspects of soil quality were reflected regarding soil chemical and fertilitical properties and the role of negative effects far exceeded the role of positive effects. Typic calcixerepts was known to be more degraded through a significant decrease (P ≤ 0.001) in mean value of soil organic carbon (a drop of 24%), total N (a drop of 23%), available K (a drop of 42%), exchangeable K (a drop of 45%), potassium adsorption ratio and potassium saturation ratio (a drop of 44% and 42%, respectively) and a significant increase (P ≤ 0.001) in EC (a rise of 53%). Soil quality index, calculated based on nine soil properties [coarse fragments, pH, SOC, total N, ESP, exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, and K), and available phosphorus], indicated that 60% of the all soil types studied had negative changes, 20% had positive changes, and 20% produced no changes in soil heath.

Efficiency of Rz1-based rhizomania resistance and molecular studies on BNYVV isolates from sugar beet cultivation in Greece

A survey was carried out to investigate the current situation concerning rhizomania disease incidence in sugar beet cultivation of Greece. A systematic field evaluation over locations and years revealed a consistent disease severity pattern according to favourable agroclimatic conditions and pointed to the so far effectiveness of the Rz1 gene-based resistance, as no major disease outbreaks were observed. Molecular analyses aiming at the characterization of the type and genetic diversity of the virus further confirmed the widespread occurrence of BNYVV in the country, as evidenced by RT-PCR amplification of all five known genomic molecules and nested-PCR assays. None of the isolates contained an RNA 5, typically found in pathotype P. On the basis of RFLP patterns, all BNYVV isolates analysed were classified as pathotype A. Sequence determination of the full-length RNA 3-encoded p25 protein, responsible for symptom development, revealed amino acid motifs ACHG/VCHG in the hypervariable region aa67–70. The presence of valine in position 67 did not appear associated with increased pathogenicity and resistance breaking properties, as earlier reported.

Assessing the contribution of alternative agriculture to poverty reduction and employment creation: A case study of sugar beet cultivation in Kenya

In Kenya, the government is promoting high-value and drought resistant crop varieties in an effort to reduce poverty in rural areas. Sugar beet is one such crop. This study was conducted with two objectives: 1) to assess the opportunities and challenges for sugar beet cultivation and adoption in the Nyandarua district of Kenya and 2) to assess whether sugar beet adoption can offer an opportunity for escaping poverty for smallholder farmers in the district. The factors favoring sugar beet cultivation and adoption in the district include: adequate land area suitable for sugar beet cultivation and the high sugar beet yield that can be attained per unit suitable land area, farmers' awareness of the positive aspects of sugar beet cultivation, and the willingness of many farmers to grow the sugar beet crop. Notwithstanding these favorable conditions, some socio-economic factors-mainly the affordability of sugar beet production and possible lack of appropriate farming technologies, will present challenges to widespread sugar beet adoption, particularly to those farmers in the low-and medium-income categories. The sugar beet profit analysis showed that depending on the market price, sugar beet can potentially increase household net income. However, since the majority of households are in the low-and medium-income categories, for sugar beet to pull the smallholder farmers out of poverty, interventions from government and other stakeholders is of vital necessity. The impact of sugar beet adoption and cultivation will vary from household to household. Those households within the high-income category who can raise the required start up capital are likely to benefit, while the low-and medium-income households may not, which is true for any new crop with high start up costs. Alternative agriculture alone is therefore not a sufficient strategy to address the problems of poverty and unemployment. Any successful strategy to address these issues must be broad-based, and include alternative agriculture and other growth and development strategies. Provision for the entire necessary infrastructure should precede or accompany all of these strategies in order to optimize implementation benefits.

Comparative advantages of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa in sugar manufacturing over other parts of Pakistan

This paper seeks to identify and estimate the comparative advantages of the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa of Pakistan in sugar manufacturing over other parts of the country. The study shows that the Domestic Resource Cost, Nominal Protection Coefficient, and the cost of sugarcane for the cane sugar production of the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa are lower than that in the Punjab and Sindh Provinces�. The sugar industry in the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa is unique in a sense that this is the only province of the country where both sugarcane and sugar beet are cultivated and processed in the same Sugar Mills. As a result the overhead cost per unit of sugar out put is reduced which increases the profit margin of the sugar producer. Cultivation of sugar beet has not only benefited growers, who can use their land to grow sugarcane in a given year or sugar beet with other Kharif crops and get the benefits of these harvesting but also the sugar producers, who utilize their installed capacity for cane sugar production in winter and beet sugar production in summer. The encouragement of sugar manufacturing in the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa would be helpful for all the concerned and will also help in the increase in the supply of sugar and government revenue.

Plant Nematode Control

The cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii belongs to the most important biotic stress factors in sugar beet cultivation. Nematodes can be controlled by crop rotation, by fumigation with nematicides or by growing resistant crops. However, nematicides are no longer admitted to be used because of their toxic environmental impacts, the crop rotation system is often agronomically impracticable and the genetic resistance is so far not available in sugar beet germplasms. Thus, alternative strategies for nematode control have been applied in the past years. For instance, genetic resistance from wild beet species were identified and transferred into the elite breeding materials. Today several nematode tolerant varieties of sugar beet are commercially available. In addition, different approaches based on genetic engineering have been developed to improve plant nematode resistance. Nevertheless, an effective control of nematodes in sugar beet cultivation still remains a great challenge.