ARS | Publication request: Breeding Perspectives and Programs at East Lansing

Submitted to: Annual Beet Sugar Development Foundation Research Report
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: May 15, 2009
Publication Date: June 1, 2009
Citation: McGrath, J.M., Hanson, L.E., Naegele, R.P. 2009. Breeding Perspectives and Programs at East Lansing [CD-ROM]. 2009 Annual Beet Sugar Development Foundation Research Report. Denver, Colorado: Beet Sugar Development Foundation.

Technical Abstract: USDA-ARS sugar beet breeding activities for both Aphanomyces resistance and CMS/O-type conversion at East Lansing reach back to the 1940’s, with variety testing activities at Michigan State University reaching back to circa 1911. Many of those contributions are well known in the sugar beet breeding community, and this contribution serves to update this community on the current breeding activities at East Lansing. The overall goal is to produce germplasm enhanced in one or more traits for release to the seed industry for ultimate incorporation into modern hybrids. Along this trajectory, germplasm is being developed for genetic analyses of traits important to the Great Lakes and Eastern U.S. growing regions. Two broad breeding methods are being deployed, each with multiple components. Open pollinated methods are being used to recombine existing germplasm releases to effect genetic progress through selection in the Eastern agro-environment. Selfing is being employed to create inbreds for genetic analyses. Both approaches result in populations that form one of the three essential legs of modern sugar beet breeding. The other two legs, phenotyping and markers, are also being developed. The relative efforts applied to these three legs needs to be balanced against available resources.