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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sugarbeet Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #420863
Research Project: Improving Sugarbeet Productivity and Sustainability through Genetic, Genomic, Physiological, and Phytopathological Approaches

Location: Sugarbeet Research

Title: Evaluation of 26 NPGS germplasm lines for sugar beet root maggot resistance, 2024

Author
item Chu, Chenggen
item Cornwall, Alexander
item TEHSEEN, MUHAMMAD - North Dakota State University
item Preister, Lisa
item BOETEL, MARK - North Dakota State University
item LI, XUEHUI - North Dakota State University
item Dorn, Kevin

Submitted to: Arthropod Management Tests
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/22/2025
Publication Date: 3/24/2025
Citation: Chu, C.N., Cornwall, A.M., Tehseen, M., Preister, L.S., Boetel, M., Li, X., Dorn, K.M. 2025. Evaluation of 26 NPGS germplasm lines for sugar beet root maggot resistance, 2024. Arthropod Management Tests. https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/tsaf017.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/tsaf017

Interpretive Summary: Sugar beet root maggot (SBRM) is an insect pest of sugar beet causing significant yield loss in the upper Midwest and western United States as well as adjacent Canadian provinces. Resistance in sugar beet germplasm is an efficient way to control root injuries caused by insect feeding. This study evaluated a set of beet germplasm lines from the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) for their resistance to SBRM. One sea beet accession and one sugar beet line exhibited an elevated level of resistance and are promising for use in breeding. These two resistant germplasm lines will be re-evaluated to confirm their SBRM resistance to promote their utilization in USDA-ARS germplasm enhancement.

Technical Abstract: Sugar beet root maggot (SBRM, Tetanops myopaeformis) is an insect pest of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris) causing significant yield loss in the upper Midwest and western United States and adjacent Canadian provinces. This study evaluated 26 Beta vulgaris germplasm lines, combined with one susceptible and two resistant checks, for their resistance under natural infestation in a SBRM nursery near St. Thomas, ND, a location that has consistently exhibited high SBRM pressure across years. A randomized complete block design with two replications was used for evaluating root injuries due to SBRM feeding. Plant stand loss and root injury due to SBRM were evaluated in July and August 2024, respectively. Lines with stand loss less than 10% and damage rating less than 3 were considered resistant. Two lines, W6 45827 (an accession of sea beet [Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima (L.) Arcang]) and Ames 4376 (a sugar beet line) showed an average root damage rating of 1.5 and less than 10% plant stand loss, suggesting they may harbor valuable sources of resistance to SBRM. Further evaluation of the two germplasm lines will be conducted to confirm their resistance and facilitate their utilization in USDA-ARS germplasm enhancement.