Sugar Beet Varieties Research Articles

Assessment of Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Exotic Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Varieties Using Three Molecular Markers

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is a biennial herb belonging to the Amaranthaceae family. It contributes to approximately 30% of the world’s total sucrose production and is an economically important crop. In this study, we analyzed the genetic diversity and population structure of 132 exotic sugar beet varieties using three molecular makers: four pairs of simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers, three pairs of insertion–deletion sequence (InDel) primers, and 20 cis-element amplification polymorphism (CEAP) primers. The results indicated that the number of alleles (Na) was 298, among which the number of effective alleles (Ne) was 182.426 (accounting for approximately 61.2%). The mean value of the genetic diversity index was 0.836. The polymorphic information content (PIC) was 0.639–0.907 (mean = 0.819), indicating a high level of polymorphism. These sugar beet varieties were classified into six clusters using the UPGMA method of cluster analysis. Population structure analysis revealed that the most ideal K value was 6. This indicated that the test materials could be divided into six categories, consistent with the clustering results. The clustering results indicated that most sugar beet varieties from the same breeding company clustered together, and the genetic distance between them was small, indicating that they may share the same male and/or female parent. Some varieties from different companies clustered together, indicating a narrow genetic base and potential exchange of germplasm resources between breeding companies. This study revealed the genetic differences among exotic sugar beet varieties and characteristics of the population structure. It provided a scientific basis for the identification of sugar beet varieties and markers-assisted breeding in China in the future.

Influence of Sowing Method and Potassium Fertilization on Yield and Technological Traits of Some Sugar Beet Varieties

Influence of Sowing Method and Potassium Fertilization on Yield and Technological Traits of Some Sugar Beet Varieties

PREPs: An Open-Source Software for High-Throughput Field Plant Phenotyping.

An open-source software for field-based plant phenotyping, Precision Plots Analyzer (PREPs), was developed using Window.NET. The software runs on 64-bit Windows computers. This software allows the extraction of phenotypic traits on a per-microplot basis from orthomosaic and digital surface model (DSM) images generated by Structure-from-Motion/Multi-View-Stereo (SfM-MVS) tools. Moreover, there is no need to acquire skills in geographical information system (GIS) or programming languages for image analysis. Three use cases illustrated the software's functionality. The first involved monitoring the growth of sugar beet varieties in an experimental field using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), where differences among varieties were detected through estimates of crop height, coverage, and volume index. Second, mixed varieties of potato crops were estimated using a UAV and varietal differences were observed from the estimated phenotypic traits. A strong correlation was observed between the manually measured crop height and UAV-estimated crop height. Finally, using a multicamera array attached to a tractor, the height, coverage, and volume index of the 3 potato varieties were precisely estimated. PREPs software is poised to be a useful tool that allows anyone without prior knowledge of programming to extract crop traits for phenotyping.

Physiological Mechanisms of BvCPD Regulation in Sugar Beet Growth

Sugar beet is an important sugar crop, and its roots are mainly used for processing raw materials to produce products such as sugar, molasses, and saccharin, as well as being used as fodder for livestock. BvCPD, a key enzyme gene for brassinosteroid (BR) synthesis, regulates the development of parenchyma cells and vascular bundles by promoting BR synthesis, which promotes the expansion of the sugar beet taproot and influences the growth, development, and yield of sugar beets. This study investigated the impact of BvCPD on the physiological metabolism of sugar beet utilizing BvCPD overexpression, silent, and wild-type (WT) lines. BvCPD increased the chlorophyll content and maximum photochemical efficiency and improved the photosynthetic characteristics of sugar beet leaves. Simultaneously, BvCPD increased the rate of sugar beet taproot respiration and ATP content by enhancing the activities of phosphoglycerate kinase, alcohol dehydrogenase, sucrose synthase, and sucrose synthase catabolism. Moreover, BvCPD induced changes in the sugar fraction content, which increased the sugar yield of a single plant. In addition, BvCPD promoted water absorption, nitrogen accumulation, and lignin/cellulose synthesis activities, facilitated by increased activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, cellulose synthase, and protein serine/threonine phosphatases, providing the requisite energy and materials for sugar beet growth. These findings not only provide a new perspective for understanding the physiological mechanisms regulating the growth of sugar beets but also provide a theoretical basis for the future improvement of sugar beet varieties through molecular breeding techniques.

Optimizing an Organic Method of Sugar Beet Cultivation and Yield Gap Decrease in Northern Poland

In the period of 2016–2018, two series of field studies on organic sugar beet growing (Beta vulgaris L.) were carried out in northern Poland on Luvisol loamy soil (medium–heavy) soil in Bałcyny and Płonne. The aim of this study was to decrease the yield gap between organic and conventional beets. Factors to increase the yield of organic beet were differentiated fertilization (cattle farmyard manure (FYM), compost, and Bioilsa) and choice of varieties (Eliska, Jampol, and Sobieski). The reference point was the conventional cultivation of the same sugar beet varieties, fertilized with manure and NPK mineral fertilizers, the prevailing standard of sugar beet cultivation in Poland. High sugar beet root yields exceeding the average yield in Poland by 25–30% were obtained in both studies, both in conventional and organic cultivation. Higher root and white sugar yields were obtained in the study conducted at Płonne (with similar soil conditions to those at Bałcyny), but they were characterized by higher temperatures during the growing season. The lowest root yields in both experiments were obtained by fertilizing the organic beet with compost (66.1 t per ha in Bałcyny and 78.13 t per ha in Płonne), which were 10.8% and 8.5% lower than the conventional crop, respectively. Higher root yields in organic cultivation were obtained by fertilizing the sugar beet with FYM, which reduced the differences from conventional beet to 7.7% in the study in Bałcyny and 2.1% in the study in Płonne. Thus, the results showed no need to convert cattle FYM to compost. The highest root yields in organic cultivation were obtained by fertilizing the sugar beet with Bioilsa N 12.5 supplemented with mineral fertilization of K, Mg, and S (Patentkali). This fertilization provided a yield of 78.1 t of roots per ha in Bałcyny, which is a reduction in the yield gap to 1.4%, a statistically insignificant value. Moreover, in the study at Płonne, organic sugar beet fertilized with Bioilsa and Patentkali yielded 86.7 t of roots per ha, compared to 85.6 t per ha of conventional beet, so a yield gap was not seen here. The choice of varieties was also of great importance for root and pure sugar yields in both farming systems. The lowest yields were obtained from the Eliska variety, and at Bałcyny, a change of beet cultivar to Jampol increased the organic root yield from 68.8 t per ha to 76.0 t per ha, while reducing the yield gap from 10.1% to 2.2%. At Płonne, replacing the Eliska variety with Jampol reduced the yield gap between organic and conventional roots from 6.6% to 0.3%.

Biplot analysis for yield and quality traits and comprehensive evaluation of sugar beet varieties treated by abscisic acid under water deficit stress

Biplot analysis for yield and quality traits and comprehensive evaluation of sugar beet varieties treated by abscisic acid under water deficit stress

Enumeration, Identification and characterization of endophytic bacteria isolated from sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) root for ethanol production

The bioethanol production from sugar beet is regulated by endophytic bacteria. Thus, the present investigation is aimed to isolate, identify and characterize endophytic bacteria from different varieties of sugar beet roots. The presence of specific bacteria in sugar beet roots plays vital role in bioethanol production. The ability to produce bioethanol through fermentation with the help of various microbes present in roots was studied in different varieties of sugar beet at Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow sub tropical regions of India. A total of 16 microbial isolates comprising of 12 bacterial and 4 fungal strains were studied for their potential to produce bioethanol from sugar beet root. Among them only 2 bacteria were more effective as fermenting agents. These isolated endophytic bacteria were characterised by molecular sequencing and were identified as Enterobacter hormaechei and Enterobacter cloacae. These isolates may also act as a good alternative agent for the bioethanol production.

Effect of some weed control treatments on productivity and quality of some sugar beet varieties (Beta vulgaris L.)

Effect of some weed control treatments on productivity and quality of some sugar beet varieties (Beta vulgaris L.)

Response of some sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L) varieties to different harvest dates under Middle Egypt conditions.

Response of some sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L) varieties to different harvest dates under Middle Egypt conditions.

AMMI and GGE biplot analysis for genotype × environment interactions affecting the yield and quality characteristics of sugar beet.

Sugar beet, an important sugar crop, contributes significantly to the world's sugar production. However, genotype-environment interactions (GEI) often affect the quality characteristics of sugar beet. Hence, understanding the effects of GEI on sugar beet quality can aid in identifying high-quality genotypes that can adapt to different environments. Traditional variance analysis can only be used to examine the yield of a variety and not its specific adaptability to specific conditions. Therefore, more comprehensive analytical methods are required to evaluate the characteristics of the variety under specific environments. Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and genotype main effect and genotype × environment interaction (GGE) biplot models can be employed to comprehensively evaluate different varieties and address the drawbacks associated with a single evaluation method. Moreover, these models also allow us to explore new varieties more objectively and comprehensively. In this study, the adaptability and stability of 16 sugar beet varieties, in terms of yield and sugar content, were evaluated using AMMI and GGE biplot analysis in seven pilot projects undertaken in 2022. In the assessment of a small but significant proportion of the total GEI variance for the two qualitative traits (yield and sugar content), 80.58% of the variance was explained by the cumulative contribution of IPC1, IPC2, and IPC3. AMMI and GGE biplots clearly highlighted that KWS4207 (G3) exhibited high and stable quality. They also demonstrated that the experiments in Jalaid Banner (Inner Mongolia) (E7) were the most representative. Together, the results suggested that the comprehensive application of AMMI and GGE biplot analysis allowed for a more comprehensive, scientific, and effective evaluation of sugar beet varieties across different regions. The findings offer a theoretical basis for sugar beet breeding and could guide the rational design of experiments for testing new varieties of sugar beet.

Variations in rhizosphere soil dominant and pathogenic flora improve boron-efficient Beta vulgaris L. yield under boron deficit

Boron (B)-efficient sugarbeet can potentially adapt better to the B deficient soil environments, however the characteristics of root yield or quality and rhizosphere soil microbial dynamics associated with B-efficient beet roots are extremely understudied. This study aimed to clarify the root yield characteristics and rhizosphere microbial response of B-efficient sugarbeet variety under B deficiency. Pertinently, the findings of this study will contribute to the reduction of B resource consumption and cleaner production in sugarbeet planting management. The study utilized two sugarbeet varieties with different B utilization propensities and subjected them to normal and B deficient field conditions. Results demonstrated a reduction in the yield quality of both varieties under B deficiency, but the B-efficient variety exhibited a smaller reduction. Boron deficiency reduced the species richness and diversity of the rhizospheric microbial community, decreasing the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota, Acidobacteria, while increasing that of Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi and the pathogenic fungus Fusarium. The proportion of dominant bacterial was severely reduced in B-inefficient varieties (0.86%) compared to B-efficient varieties (0.14%). The efficient variety displayed higher species richness of rhizospheric soil fungi and a higher abundance and proportion of dominant flora, i.e., Bacillus and Actinobacteria, albeit lower abundance of the pathogenic fungi Mortierellomycota and Rhizoctonia. These advantages allowed B-efficient sugarbeet variety to maintain higher yield levels under B deficit. Overall, under B-deficient conditions, B-efficient variety of sugarbeet was less limited than B-inefficient one, and its rhizosphere microbial communities were more conducive to sugarbeet yield in terms of composition and function. Succinctly, this study revealed the advantages of rhizosphere soil microorganisms associated with B-efficient beet under B-deficient environments and provided the theoretical basis for reducing boron fertilizer application to protect the ecosystem and realize green and clean agricultural production, particularly of sugar beet.

Categorization of Sugar Beet Varieties for Water Saving in Sandy Soils Using Factor Analysis Scores

AbstractWater shortage in dry and semi-arid regions is a major agricultural challenge. This study investigated the performance of ten imported monogerm sugar beet varieties under continuous deficiency irrigation using a drip system on a private farm in the Wadi El-Natrun region, El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt, during two growing seasons, 2021/2022 and 2022/2023. The study utilized a novel method, a crossbar graph, to effectively visualize statistical data. The results showed significant interaction effects between sugar beet varieties and water deficit levels for all traits, indicating varying responses of the varieties to different levels of drought stress (75% and 55%). Drought stress levels (75% and 55%) had an adverse effect on the root yield of the ten varieties of sugar beet that were investigated. The exploratory factor analysis was applied to investigate and describe the relationship between ten different varieties of sugar beet and water stress treatments. Varieties Symbol, Stikhiyn, Volua, and Klara were characterized as moderate and tolerant with high performance, and they received the highest score in factor analysis. These varieties are recommended for cultivation under moderate and severe stress conditions. Factor analysis scores can be used as selection criteria for sugar beet varieties.

Identification and Characterization of Pythium deliense Causing Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris) Root Rot in Grand Forks, North Dakota

Damping-off disease caused by multiple species of soilborne pathogens causes severe economic losses to sugar beet production. Thus, identifying the causal agent is important to formulating effective disease management. During a July 2021 disease survey in a sugar beet field at Grand Forks, North Dakota, we observed that approximately 15% of plants located in low areas of a commercial field showed wilting leaves that were pale green and slightly blighted in color, and the roots were dark brown to black, along with irregular necrotic lesions. The isolated pathogen had the characteristic morphology of Pythium deliense. The sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 mitochondrial ( cox1) genes were 100% homologous to corresponding sequences in the NCBI database, which confirmed its P. deliense identity. Moreover, the ITS phylogeny confirmed its identity as P. deliense and its close relationship with P. aphanidermatum. A disease screening trial with four sugar beet varieties was done. Growers and breeders could benefit from accurate information about the sugar beet pathogen in a given field to formulate effective disease management practices.

Simultaneous evaluation of yield and stability of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) varieties under Egyptian conditions using AMMI and GGE biplot approaches

An experiment was conducted on stability analysis of seven diverse monogram sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) varieties for root and sugar yields and their attributes grown under three harvesting dates after sowing during 2021-22 and 2022-23. The data generated from eighteen environments representing the combinations among harvesting dates, locations, and seasons were subjected to additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) genotype main effect and genotype x environment interaction (GGE Biplot) analysis. Results obtained from AMMI combined analysis of variance showed that the main effects of sugar beet varieties, environments, and their interaction were highly significant for all studied traits. It is observed that sugar beet plants grown in the Nubaria region and harvested after 210 days, gave the best results for most root and sugar quality traits. The analysis further revealed that Volna and Klara varieties were the elite ones regarding root and sugar yields, and juice quality parameters as an overall mean across the environments. AMMI stability analysis indicated the variety Vangelis was broadly or narrowly stable under different environments and reflected somewhat good performance for most studied traits, while Klara and Volna were considered very promising as above stable ones using GGE Biplot graphs. The findings indicated that GGE Biplot graphs are more accurate and more informative as compared to AMMI stability analysis.

Plant Biostimulants as an Effective Tool for Increasing Physiological Activity and Productivity of Different Sugar Beet Varieties

Drought and high temperatures are among most dangerous attributes of climate change, which negatively affects the quantity and quality of sugar beet production. One of the most effective tools for eliminating unwanted effects is the application of biostimulants during the growing season. In this study, a 4 × 3 factorial scheme was adopted: Two biostimulant treatments, namely (i) pure extract from brown seaweed Ascophylum nodosum (B1) and (ii) concentrate from the seaweed Ascophylum nodosum and humus substances (B2), were compared to a control treatment (B0) in an experiment with four sugar beet varieties (Fischer, Fabius, Nicolaus, Lucius). The two-year research proved the significant influence of biostimulants on all monitored physiological and production parameters of sugar beet, with the exception of potassium content. Biostimulants positively influenced the results of root yield, polarized and white sugar yield, and the values of LAI (leaf area index), NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index), and PRI (photochemical reflectance index), while the positive effect on sugar content was only in the case of B1 treatment. The production potential fluctuated significantly depending on the observed interaction, but it can be concluded that the most limiting factor of production is the course of weather conditions. However, after treatment with biostimulants, an increased root yield (B2) and sugar content (B1) were found. Moreover, in this experiment, a strong positive relationship between root yield and physiological parameters (NDVI and PRI) and LAI was proven, while the relationship of sugar content to these parameters was weak. Monitoring of the physiological response to biostimulant application shows a high potential from the sustainability perspective in the context of sugar beet production. In addition, the impact on the height and quality of production was evident.

Impact of delaying harvesting dates for sugar beet varieties under recent environmental changes

The present study was conducted at Experimental Sennuris District in Fayoum Governorate, Egypt (latitude of 29024/26//N and longitude of 30052/00//E) to investigate the effect of harvest dates on some sugar beet varieties concerning their yield and quality. Two successive field experiments were carried out in the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022. A randomized complete block split plots were assigned for the four harvesting dates (mid-February, 1st week of March, mid-March and 1st week of April), i.e. at the age of 180, 195, 210 and 225 days after sowing. The sub-plots were occupied by the four sugar beet varieties i.e. (Faraida, Jampol, Fantazja and Melodia). The obtained results revealed that there were significant differences among the four studied harvesting dates concerning root length, diameter and weight as well as root yield in both seasons. The highest values were obtained by delaying the harvesting up to 225 days from sowing. Concerning the quality traits, neither the harvesting date nor the varieties affected sucrose, purity (QZ), sodium, potassium, α-amino N and sugar recovery percentages in both seasons. However, the upper mid-harvesting date i.e. age of 195 days from sowing recorded the lower significant impurities and SLM percentages in the 1st season only.

Enhancing sugar beet yield and quality in Northeast China: Investigating the synergistic impact of sugar mill filter mud and biochar on black soil

In this study, different ratios of sugar beet sugar factory filter mud and biochar in different proportions were used to assess the effect of incorporating filter mud into the field on soil quality and its influence on two distinct sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) varieties: high-yielding KWS9147 and high-sugar KWS1176. The experiment was conducted in 2022 at the Hulan Campus of Heilongjiang University in Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province, China. Eight treatments were employed, including CK1 (no filter mud or biochar application), CK2 (20 t/ha biochar), T1 (16.67kg/ha filter mud), T2 (16.67 t/ha filter mud + 20 t/ha biochar), T3 (33.33 t/ha filter mud), T4 (33.33 t/ha filter mud + 20 t/ha biochar), and T5 (50kg/ha filter mud). For sugar beets, parameters such as the SPAD value(Soil and Plant Analyzer Development, represents the relative content of chlorophyll), disease resistance (root rot and brown spot), tuber yield, and sugar content were evaluated. Soil analysis included nitrogen content, available potassium content, available phosphorus content, and soil sucrase, urease, and phosphatase activities. Results indicated that the combined application of 16.67 t/ha filter mud and 20 t/ha biochar had a positive impact on the growth indices, tuber yield, sugar content, effective phosphorus, and quick-acting potassium content in KWS1176. In contrast, for KWS9147, the most favorable effect was achieved with the application of 16.67 t/ha filter mud. This treatment improved plant leaf growth, increased tuber yield and sugar content, reduced root rot incidence, elevated alkaline dissolved nitrogen content in the inter-root soil, and enhanced soil phosphatase activity. Biochar application did not contribute significantly to these improvements. Therefore, returning sugar mill sludge to the field demonstrated its potential to enhance soil quality, promote the yield of sugar beet varieties, and improve resistance to root rot while also providing an eco-friendly solution for managing environmental issues related to sludge accumulation.

Histopathological Investigation of Varietal Responses to Cercospora beticola Infection Process on Sugar Beet Leaves.

Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) is the most destructive foliar disease in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris). It is caused by Cercospora beticola Sacc., a fungal pathogen that produces toxins and enzymes which affect membrane permeability and cause cell death during infection. In spite of its importance, little is known about the initial stages of leaf infection by C. beticola. Therefore, we investigated the progression of C. beticola on leaf tissues of susceptible and resistant sugar beet varieties at 12-h intervals during the first 5 days after inoculation using confocal microscopy. Inoculated leaf samples were collected and stored in DAB (3,3'-diaminobenzidine) solution until processed. Samples were stained with Alexa Fluor-488-WGA dye to visualize fungal structures. Fungal biomass accumulation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and the area under the disease progress curve were evaluated and compared. ROS production was not detected on any variety before 36 h postinoculation (hpi). C. beticola biomass accumulation, percentage leaf cell death, and disease severity were all significantly greater in the susceptible variety compared with the resistant variety (P < 0.05). Conidia penetrated directly through stomata between 48 to 60 hpi and produced appressoria on stomatal guard cells at 60 to 72 hpi in susceptible and resistant varieties, respectively. Penetration of hyphae inside the parenchymatous tissues varied in accordance with time postinoculation and varietal genotypes. Overall, this study provides a detailed account to date of events leading to CLS disease development in two contrasting varieties.

Advancements and prospects of CRISPR/Cas9 technologies for abiotic and biotic stresses in sugar beet.

Sugar beet is a crop with high sucrose content, known for sugar production and recently being considered as an emerging raw material for bioethanol production. This crop is also utilized as cattle feed, mainly when animal green fodder is scarce. Bioethanol and hydrogen gas production from this crop is an essential source of clean energy. Environmental stresses (abiotic/biotic) severely affect the productivity of this crop. Over the past few decades, the molecular mechanisms of biotic and abiotic stress responses in sugar beet have been investigated using next-generation sequencing, gene editing/silencing, and over-expression approaches. This information can be efficiently utilized through CRISPR/Cas 9 technology to mitigate the effects of abiotic and biotic stresses in sugar beet cultivation. This review highlights the potential use of CRISPR/Cas 9 technology for abiotic and biotic stress management in sugar beet. Beet genes known to be involved in response to alkaline, cold, and heavy metal stresses can be precisely modified via CRISPR/Cas 9 technology for enhancing sugar beet's resilience to abiotic stresses with minimal off-target effects. Similarly, CRISPR/Cas 9 technology can help generate insect-resistant sugar beet varieties by targeting susceptibility-related genes, whereas incorporating Cry1Ab and Cry1C genes may provide defense against lepidopteron insects. Overall, CRISPR/Cas 9 technology may help enhance sugar beet's adaptability to challenging environments, ensuring sustainable, high-yield production.

Temporal and species-specific resistance of sugar beet to green peach aphid and black bean aphid: mechanisms and implications for breeding.

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris), a key crop for sugar production, faces significant yield losses caused by the black bean aphid Aphis fabae (Scop.) and the green peach aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer), which also transmits viruses. The restriction on neonicotinoid usage in Europe has intensified this problem, emphasizing the urgent need for breeding resistant crop varieties. This study evaluated 26 sugar beet germplasms for resistance against both aphid species by using performance and feeding behavior assays. Additionally, whole plant bioassays and semi-field experiments were carried out with Myzus persicae. Our findings demonstrate the presence of temporal resistance against both aphid species in the primary sugar beet gene pool. Beet yellows virus (BYV) carrying aphids showed enhanced performance. Different levels of plant defense mechanisms were involved including resistance against Myzus persicae before reaching the phloem, particularly in sugar beet line G3. In contrast, resistance against Aphis fabae turned out to be predominately phloem-located. Furthermore, a high incidence of black inclusion bodies inside the stomach of Myzus persicae was observed for approximately 85% of the plant genotypes tested, indicating a general and strong incompatibility between sugar beet and Myzus persicae in an initial phase of interaction. Sugar beet resistance against aphids involved different mechanisms and is species-specific. The identification of these mechanisms and interactions represents a crucial milestone in advancing the breeding of sugar beet varieties with improved resistance. © 2023 Julius Kühn-Institut and The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.