Abstract: Bacteria that inhibited growth of the sugarbeet fungal pathogens Phoma betae and Rhizoctonia solani were isolated from sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris) seeds and roots. These bacteria include fluorescent pseudo monads, and species of Serratia, Enterobacter, and Bacillus. Inhibition of growth of P. betae and R. solani on solid medium was dependent upon growth medium. inhibition under both low-iron and iron-sufficient conditions suggests that siderophore production by the fluorescent pseudo monads was not a major factor. Inhibition was not correlated with hydrogen cyanide production by the bacteria. Growth jnhibition was associated with production of phena­ zine-l-carboxylic acid by certain fluorescent pseudo­ monads. In greenhouse trials, some of the bacteria that displayed the strongest level of in vitro antagonism sup­ pressed sugarbeet seedling disease caused by P. betae or R. solani. Certain pseudomonads and strains of Serratia and Enterobacter suppressed both diseases.

Abstract: Economic improvement of sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris) field production and processing can be enhanced if traditional architecture of the sugarbeet is modified to a smooth root (SR) beet. Root shape of sugarbeet is a multigenic character and several generations of breeding are needed to reach any degree of homozygosity. In recent years conical-shaped SR beets have been developed in the eastern U.S. and in the Netherlands globe-shaped beets have been deveioped by crossing table beet with sugarbeet foll owed by phenotypic recurrent selection. SR beets tend to have fewer fibrous rootlets near the soil surface than traditional grooved-root beets but rootlets still proliferate mainly along two vertical planes. SR testcross progenies have shown less taproot tip breakage than a commercial hybrid cultivar. Root yield of current SR genotypes and experimental hybrids has been equal or superior to that of commercial cultivars, but sucrose content has been 1-3 percentage points less. Soil tare for SR genotypes has ranged from 30070 to 70070 less than for current commercial cultivars with traditional architecture. Globe-shaped beets have lower soil tare than conical-shaped SR beets. However, SR beets bred with conical-shape are more desirable than globe-shaped roots for harvesting by current sugarbeet equipment, because globe-shaped beets grow more out of the soil, often are dislodged from the row when tops are flailed, and may not be picked up by the harvester.

Abstract: This review outlines the way measurements of carbon diox­ ide exchange have provided the basis for the analysis of the effi­ ciency with which sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) exploits the English environment. It then examines the influence of seasonal weather patterns on crop productivity, and the role of fertilizer nitrogen and plant population in aiding the crop to realize its potential. Finally, the theoretical basis and practical operation of a system for yield forecasting is described. To make the analysis, it was necessary to develop methods of measuring the minute by minute responses of crops to short term changes in weather, and for this measurement to continue throughout the growing season. The equipment had to be suffi­ ciently robust to operate outdoors for a whole season and it had. to operate w ithou t d istorting the environment or the crop's response.

Abstract: A number of crown and root rot diseases reduce yield in sugarbeet. Many of t hese diseases are limited to small geographic areas a nd their incidence is often sporadic. Hence, development of resistant cultivars has not been a high priority. Rhizoctonia, Aphanomyces, and Erwinia root rots are exceptions. Commerci all y useful resistance to Rhizoctonia and Aphanomyces originated from only a few sources. Erwinia resistance is available from numerous sources and is relatively easy to select for. Selection for resistance to prevalent storage rot fungi is possible but has not received much attention from commercial sugarbeet breeders. Knowledge of the inheritance of root or storage rots is frequently incomplete and sometimes inconsistent. Results of systematic screenings of the USDA Beta collection confirm the scarcity of resistance to Rhizoctonia and Aphanomyces and the diffic ulty of broadening the currently narrow genetic base of sugarbeet. Genetic engineering techniques probably will not make a contribution to the development of root rot resistant germplasm in the near future. Understanding the biochemical basis of resistance will eventually improve selection efficiency and hasten the application of genetic engineering technologies to the problems of host plant resistance.

Abstract: Since 1990 Maribo Seed has conducted field trials with transgenic sugarbeet. Glyphosate tolerance has been the main objective. Trials are performed in Denmark, France, England, and Belgium, and in 1993 for the first time in USA. As sugarbeet varieties are hybrids, the transformation can be made on either multigerm, diploid fatherJines or monogerm, diploid motherJines (CMS-lines). Our development work has involved a range of different genetical constructs from Monsanto. The Agrobacterium vector transfers the insert into random chromosomal positions in single or multiple copies. Transformed plants are cloned to about 10 copies each and tested. If the GUS­ gene is present, GUS analysis on pollen can distinguish between plants which are homozygous and heterozygous for the introduced traits. Transgenic beets, but also progenies of transgenic beets, show considerable variation in the expression of the genes inserted (position effects). We have seen indications of interactions between transgenes and native genes. In most cases transgenes segregate according to Mendel's laws. The occurrence of meiotic irregularities, chimerics and multi-copy inserts can add to the complexity of developing transgenic lines, but classical breeding techniques are able to select Jines which are identical to the parental line except for the introduced trait.

Abstract: Beta vulgaris is notoriously recalcitrant concerning biotechnological techniques. However, recently we have been able, for the first time, to report on the obtention of normal, diploid regenerants from mesophyll protoplasts of sugarbeet. This encouraging breakthrough lead to consideration of the application of somatic hybridization techniques to beet. The ability to exchange cytoplasm between genotypes could prove of great benefit in this species, where CMS is routinely expioited for plant breeding and seed production purposes. Detailed experiments have thus been carried out to determine the most appropriate techniques to use to this aim. Different protocols for protoplast pretreatments, fusion, culture, regeneration and DNA analysis have been tested and optimum conditions for each determined. The applicability of the chosen protocols for the production of asymmetric beet hybrids has been investigated. The results of this research will be presented and discussed in the context of other work being carried out in this field on Beta and on other species.

Abstract: Tetrasomic inheritance has been detected in Beta corol/jf/ora by use of isozymes; this finding supporrs autotetraploid origin of this species. In triploid hybrids consisting of two genomes of B. corolJif/ora and one genome ofB. vulgaris (CCV), segregation at Lap-l in both species could be analyzed separately. Not only tetrasomic segregation has been found in the gametes formed by the B. corolliflora plant which served as the male parent but double reduction products as well.

Abstract: CMS plants originating from natural populations on stony beaches of the Brittany Peninsula in France we re crossed with sugar beet O-type plants in order to incorporate the sterile cytoplasm from wild subspecies to sugar beet. F 1 , B 1 , B 2 , and B3 generations have been obtained. Pollen sterility from these hybrids has been found to be induced by both cytoplasmic and genetic factors. Studies of meiosis have shown that meiotic divisions proceeded normally with only small deviations until the tetrad stage, followed by the degeneration of the pollen grain. In the F I and B ~ generations, all plants were self-sterile with white stamens lacking viable pollen, suggesting dominance of the wild morphological features. A great variation in degree of pollen sterility and morphological features were found in the B2 generations. Full sterility was found in some of the analyzed progenies. It can be assumed that the variation is due to the degree of recombination with nuclear genes from wild subspecies, and that the maintainer nuclear genes from sugar beet O-type are similar but not the same as in Beta maritima.

Abstract: A greenhouse experiment with controlled lighting, temperature, moisture, and nutrients was conducted to compare the development of the fibrous root system for a smooth root (SR) sugarbeet genotype with that of four other diverse variety/ genotypes having standard grooved root architecture. Comparisons also included partition­ ing of photosynthate to leaf blade, petiole, taproot, and fibrous root for the five variety/ genotypes studied, and for their agronomic performance in a replicated field trial. The SR genotype produced the same ratio of taproot to fibrous roots as did the commercial hybrid variety 'Mono­ Hy E4.' There was a trend for fibrous roots of the SR line to develop lower on the taproot, farther from the crown, than in standard root types. The SR type had simHar leaf area, tap root/ leaf blade fresh weight ratio (TLWR), and. partitioning of photosynthate to leaf blades, petioles, taproots and fibrous roots as did the commercial varieties. The SR line was more closely aligned with the commer­ cial varieties in fibrous root growth and partitioning of photosynthate to plant parts than were the two other stan­ dard root type genotypes. From these greenhouse ex­ periments on fibrous root yield and partitioning, supported by agronomic field data, I conclude that the SR root type can produce enough fibrous roots to transport the required nutrients and water to allow yield comparable to standard root type sugarbeets.

Abstract: SBSI activities in sugar beet breeding and production date back to 1941. It is the only institute in Iran that deals with breeding and sugar beet seed production. Since its inception, it has met the needs for sugar beet seed in Iran. The headquarters of the SBSI is located in Karaj and consists of the following research departments and laboratories: Plant Breeding Agronomy Sugar Beet Technology Cytology and Beta Gene Bank Tissue Culture Seed Technology Plant Nutrition Computer and Statistics In addition, the SBSI supervises several regional research stations. Additional

Abstract: Accurate detection of a genetic or biochemical marker introduced into sugarbeet (Beta vulgarjs L.) is based on the absence of native sequences or activities in the plant that could confound the analysis of expression of the introduced marke r. During the course of experiments designed to optimize DNA transfer from Agrobacterjum tumef aciens to sugarbeet leaf disc cells, an endogenous enzyme activity was discovered which utilizes all the common substrates recognized by the marker enzyme l3,-glucuronidase (GUS) from E. coli. This native sugarbeet enzyme (SB-GUS) was characterized immunologically and biochemically. GUS and SB-GUS were found to be distinct with regard to pH optima, thermal inactivation, reaction to denaturants and protein modifying reagents, inhibition by metals and saccharo-Iactone, and molecular mass. The two activities are not immunologically related, as judged by Western blot and immunoprecipitation analyses. A protocol was developed to accurately quantitate introduced GUS in the presence of SB-GUS, by utilizing selective inhibition of GUS at pH 7.0 by saccharic acid l,4-lactone. Under these conditions GUS activity is completely eliminated, while SB­ GUS activity was unaffected.

Abstract: The use of methanolic CaCl 2 for the non-aqueous extraction of sucrose from dried sugar beet (Beta vul­ garis L.) cossettes was investigated, with emphasis on the effects of CaCl 2 concentration, time of extraction, and operating temperature. Solubility of sucrose from dried cossettes was optimal in range of 10-15% CaCl 2 in methanol and increased by a factor of four as the temperature was raised from lC to 60C. Nearly complete extraction (98%) was achieved in batch experiments with four successive extractions. The methanolic CaCl2 extract was found to have both higher purity and greater sucrose stability compared with aqueous diffusion juice. The sucrose could be precipitated completely from the solution by the addition of 5 volumes of acetone at 20C, leaving 9~/o of the CaCl 2 in solution. Steady state conditions could not be reached in simulated continuous column experiments, probably because of calcium exchange with other cations in the beet pectin. Pure sucrose was precipitated from these effluent solutions on cooling. The amount of sucrose recovered was pro­ portional to the decrease in calcium content on pas­ sage through the column. From this, the molar ratio of calcium to sucrose in the methanolic CaCI 2 ­ sucrose complex was calculated to be 2:1.

Abstract: RAPD data have been analysed using multivatiate techniques in order to discriminate between sugar beet varieties. While it was not possible to do so using small numbers of plants per variety, with a larger number discrimination was possible.

Abstract: Population changes and their dependent gene frequencies are affected by mutation, selection, random fluctuations, meiotic drive, and migration. The effects of selection pressure on relatively small populations can have dramatic effects on gene frequency and hence on breeding progress: This selection, driven by necessity, has resulted in "narrow base" sugarbeet populations. This paper presents examples of population changes which can occur (have occurred in sugarbeet) in populations subject to intense selection. The utility of gene frequency analysis and its use as a predictive tool is outlined. Sugarbeet breeders, geneticists, and agronomists now attempting to collect and introgress wild germ plasm into breeding populations will be aided by attention to principles presented in this paper.

Abstract: Unplanted field plots at East Lansing, MI were covered with clear plastic sheeting (soil solarization), black plastic sheeting, or maintained in barren fallow during the sum­ mers of 1988, 1989 and 1990. Temperatures were monitored at various depths within plots during the treatments. Sugarbeets (Beta vulgaris L.) were grown in the plots in the year following treatment, and evaluated for stand establishment, yield, sugar percentage, and gross sugar yield. Temperatures in solarized plots were higher during treatment at all depths to 20 cm than in barren fallow plots. Temperatures in plots covered with black plastic were intermediate between the other treatments. Stand establishment was increased significantly (P = 0.05). in solarized plots, but not in those that had been covered by black plastic. There were no significant differences in sugar percentages among the treatments. Yields of sugarbeets and gross sugar from solarized plots were 18070 and 20070 greater, respectively, than those from the bar­ ren fallow-treated plots; yields from black plastic-treated plots were intermediate. Although not presently practical for sugarbeet production, solarization may be adaptable for some sugarbeet production environments, and for assessment of sugarbeet yield potentials.