ARS | Publication request: Experimental sugar beet cultivars evaluated for rhizomania resistance and storability in Idaho, 2008

Submitted to: Plant Disease Management Reports
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: June 5, 2009
Publication Date: August 19, 2009
Citation: Strausbaugh, C.A., Eujayl, I.A., Rearick, E., Foote, P. 2009. Experimental sugar beet cultivars evaluated for rhizomania resistance and storability in Idaho, 2008. Plant Disease Management Reports. 3:FC107.

Interpretive Summary: Preventing sucrose losses in storage is important to the economic viability of the sugar beet industry. Rhizomania, caused by Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), is an important viral disease problem worldwide, leading to significant yield loss in the field but also in storage. The primary means of controlling this disease is through host resistance. Thus, 35 experimental sugar beet cultivars were screened to characterize them for both resistance to rhizomania and storability. Only six experimental cultivars did not possess an acceptable level of rhizomania resistance. Sucrose reduction in storage ranged from 43 to 76%, indicating there is considerable room for improving storability with most cultivars. These data will aid the sugar beet industry in improving cultivar performance in the field and storage.

Technical Abstract: Rhizomania caused by Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) and storage losses are serious sugar beet production problems. To identify sugar beet cultivars with resistance to BNYVV and evaluate storability, 35 experimental and four commercial check cultivars were screened by growing them in a commercial sugar beet field naturally infested with BNYVV in Jerome, ID during the 2008 growing season in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications. At harvest on 9 October 2008, roots were dug and evaluated for symptoms of rhizomania and also placed in an indoor commercial sugar beet storage building. Storage samples were evaluated for fungal growth known to correlate with sucrose loss. Fourteen of the cultivars had less than 20% of their surface area covered with fungal growth by 29 January 2009. Overall, experimental cultivars had an average sucrose reduction of 58% after 115 days in storage. Improving cultivar performance for resistance to sucrose reduction in storage and rhizomania has the potential to lead to considerable economic benefit to the sugar beet industry.