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Submitted to: Annual Beet Sugar Development Foundation Research Report
Publication Type: Other Publication Acceptance Date: 6/25/2002 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Disease and pest problems are responsible for decreases in production of sugar from sugar beet. To combat these problems, genetic engineering approaches were investigated to enhance resistance to diseases and pests in sugar beet. This progress report summarizes work in which genes from other living organisms increased disease and pest resistance when transferred to plants. Progress was made in the development of improved technology for transfer of genes to sugar beet and in the modification of candidate beneficial genes for their eventual transfer to sugar beet. The progress described in this report will be of benefit to scientists interested in employing genetic engineering approaches for increasing sugar yields from sugar beet. Technical Abstract: Disease and pest problems, as well as, decreasing sugar levels in sugar beet taproots are largely responsible for lack of increased sugar production in the US. Sugar beet and many other crops lack natural resistance to bacterial and fungal pathogens and insect pests and, therefore, chemical pesticides are routinely used to combat disease and insect problems. We are investigating the use of genetic engineering approaches with sugar beet to enhance disease resistance and increase sugar levels. We report on the progress made to develop improved technology for transferring genes to sugar beet and in the modification of candidate beneficial genes for their eventual transfer to sugar beet. Generation of disease and insect resistant sugar beet will improve sugar yields and reduce the usage of chemical pesticides that pollute our environment. The progress described in this report will be of benefit to scientists and commercial companies interested in increasing sugar yields from sugar beet. |
