Major genes for resistance to beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) in Beta vulgaris

Summary Inheritance of resistance to beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) was studied in segregating F2 and backcross families obtained from crosses between resistant plants of the sugar beet selection Holly-1-4 or the wild beet accession Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima WB42 and susceptible parents. Greenhouse tests were carried out, in which seedlings were grown in a mixture of sand and infested soil. Virus concentrations of BNYVV in the rootlets were estimated by ELISA. To discriminate resistant and susceptible plants, mixtures of normal distributions were fitted to log₁₀ virus concentrations, estimated for segregating F1, F2 and BC populations of both accessions. The hypothesis that Holly-1-4 contained one single dominant major gene was accepted. For WB42, results fitted with the hypotheses that resistance was based on either one (or more) dominant major gene(s) showing distorted segregation, or two complementary dominant genes, which are both required for resistance. Resistance from WB42 appeared to be more effective against BNYVV than resistance from Holly-1-4.This research was carried out as part of a PhD study at the Graduate School Experimental Plant Sciences (EPS), Department of Virology, Wageningen, The Netherlands     

New Genetic Markers in a Wild Species of Beet (Beta nana Boiss. et Heldr.): Prospects for Utilization

In a study of variation in 13 enzymes occurring in B. nana, unique and invariant phenotypes were found for five of these enzymes, when compared with a range of other wild and cultivated beets. In similar comparisons unique alleles were found in B. nana for two other enzyme loci. For the remaining six enzymes B. nana was found to have variation and alleles which were common to other forms of beet. It is concluded that reliable markers for B. nana exist, and that this species represents a source of novel genes for sugar beet breeding.     

Genetic study of bolting and stem length in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) using a factorial cross design

Summary The objective was to study the genetic basis of bolting and stem length in sugar beet full-sibs, developed by a factorial mating design (N.C. design II). The extent to which the inheritance of these characters can be attributed to the additive and non-dominance variation was investigated. The genetic analysis consisted of three sets (4×10, 4×8, and 3×8) of progenies. Estimates of additive genetic variance (² _A) and variance due to dominance deviations with some fractions of epistatic variance (² _D) were obtained for both characters. Bolting had a relatively large proportion of total genetic variance accounted for by ² _A. In most cases, non-additive effects were also important in determining the type of gene action in bolting. Stem length showed similar genetic variation to bolting susceptibility. Bolting resistance seemed to be dominant to the bolting susceptibility in most cases. Narrow sense heritability estimated for bolting was generally very large (0.93 to 0.96), which suggests that early generation selection for bolting resistance in a sugar beet population would be successful.     

甜菜子叶期幼苗硝态氮吸收特性及其与硝酸还原酶活性的关系

６个有代表性的甜菜品种在人工气候室的营养液培养试验表明，甜菜子叶期幼苗对ＮＯ３＾－的吸收要经最初２ｈ的适应阶段后才可均匀进行。均匀吸收后，观察到多倍体的吸收量〉２倍体，倍性相同品种中Ｅ型〉ＮＥ型〉ＮＺ型〉Ｚ型的初步结果。不同类型品种间ＮＯ３＾－吸收的表观米氏常数（Ｋｍ，ａｐｐ）、最大吸收速率（Ｉｍ）有明显差异，除多倍体ＮＺ型品种甜研３０１的Ｋｍ，ａｐｐ较低而Ｉｍ较高外，其余品种的Ｋｍ，ａｐｐ和Ｉｍ     

Chromosome localisation of genes for resistance to Heterodera schachtii, Cercospora beticola and Polymyxa betae using sets of Beta procumbens and B. patellaris derived monosomic additions in B. vulgaris

Beet cyst nematodes (BCN, Heterodera schachtii), Cercospora beticola, and rhizomania, caused by the beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) and vectored by the soil-borne fungus Polymyxa betae, are the most serious diseases of sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris). The wild Beta species of section Procumbentes are known to be completely resistant to H. schachtii, C. beticola and P. betae. Alien monosomic additions (2n=19), plants of cultivated beet (2n=18) carrying different individual chromosomes of B. procumbens (2n=18) or B. patellaris (2n=36), were tested in greenhouse experiments for resistance to these pathogens. Gene(s) conferring full resistance to the beet cyst nematode in B. patellaris are located on chromosome 1.1, and the other tested chromosomes of B. patellaris are not involved in the expression of resistance. Artificial inoculation under greenhouse conditions, with in vitro produced inoculum of C. beticola and spot-percentage rating of the disease intensity, showed that the high level of resistance that was observed in the wild species B. procumbens and B. patellaris was not found in any of the monosomic additions tested. It was suggested that genes on various chromosomes of the wild species are needed to express full resistance, and that the chromosomes of group 7 of B. patellaris and chromosome 7 of B. procumbens have the largest effect. The greenhouse tests for resistance to P. betae in B. patellaris derived monosomic additions showed that the addition families of group 4.1 have a strong partial resistance, while the addition families of group 8.1 appeared to be completely resistant to the pathogen. Resistance to P. betae in the two wild species as well as in the two resistant addition types did not exclude infection with BNYVV, but resulted in a considerable reduction of the virus concentration. It was concluded that resistance to the vector would complement virus resistance, and may provide a more effective and durable control of rhizomania. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Natural variation within the genus Beta and its possible use for breeding sugar beet: A review

Summary Sugar beet is a relatively young crop, which supposedly has a narrow genetic base. Natural variation occurring in primitive beet varieties and in wild Beta species has been used for breeding sugar beet. This paper reviews information on desirable characteristics in Beta germplasm and the attempts made for the introgression of such characters into commercial breeding material. After an introduction on the availability of germplasm and the possibilities of hybridisation, attention is focussed on the mating system (especially male sterility), on morphological and physiological characteristics, including yield and sugar content, and on resistances to diseases and pests.     

The development of Raparadish (x Brassicoraphanus, 2n=38), a new crop in agriculture

Summary Raparadish, x Brassicoraphanus, the amphidiploid hybrid between Brassica rapa (syn. B.campestris) and Raphanus sativus (fodder radish) was made by Dolstra (1982). Primary hybrid plants grew vigorously, suggesting that the amphidiploid AARR might be useful as a fodder crop. Three populations of this new material were studied, with special attention to improvement of fertility and resistance to beet cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii), whilst preserving genetic variability. For lack of progress one of the populations was abandoned after the fourth generation. The other two populations were observed through nine or ten generations. Apart from the last two generations mass selection for seed set was carried out on the basis of single plants. This led to a considerable increase in average seed production, without losing a wide variation for this trait. Thus more progress is being expected. Five cycles of mass selection for resistance to beet cyst nematodes led to a considerable increase of the level of resistance of both populations. The prospects of this new agricultural crop are discussed.     

不同浓度盐胁迫对转基因饲用甜菜种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响

通过不同浓度NaCl溶液处理转基因饲用甜菜种子及其幼苗试验，研究了盐胁迫下种子萌发、幼苗生长及胁迫解除后种子的效应，为盐土农业生产提供理论依据。结果表明，转基因饲用甜菜种子萌发的适宜Nacl浓度为50。150mmol/L，其中100mmoL／LNaCl胁迫下，种子发芽率最高，与对照相比高6．78％。随着盐胁迫浓度的升高，种子萌发延迟，萌发率也呈不同程度的降低。盐胁迫解除后，种子萌芽迅速，萌芽率提高，整齐度增加。转基因饲用甜菜幼苗在不同NaCl浓度胁迫下表现出的反应不同，高盐胁迫对抑制幼根生长影响较大。     

Diagnosis of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) nutrient imbalance by DRIS and CND-clr methods at two stages during early growth

High yield of sugar beet require adequate mineral nutrition. To be diagnosed across interacting nutrients using appropriate interpretation models, the plant must be sampled at a critical physiological stage. This study aimed to develop and validate norms at the 7-leaf and well-developed rosette stages, for diagnostic purposes using the Diagnosis and Recommended Integrated System (DRIS) and Compositional Nutrient Diagnosis based on centered log ratios (CND-clr). Data on nutrient concentrations and plant performance were obtained from 409 plots in West-Central Poland. With respect to the growth stages, for physiological and practical reasons, the 7-leaf stage is preferable for diagnostic purposes. At this growth stage, the high-yield subpopulation characterized by higher concentration of potassium and sodium compared to other nutrients. CND-clr indices were closely related to DRIS indices (R² > 0.93). The CND-clr indices, however, better explained the differences in the white sugar yield within the validated dataset than the DRIS indices.     

Analysis of morphological variation in wild beet (Beta vulgaris L.) from Sicily

Summary In this paper the variation pattern of the Sicilian Beta germplasm collection is analysed. Accessions from Sicily were grown under controlled conditions and were evaluated morphometrically. Geographical distribution patterns of morphological characters are identified and the putative classification of the collection into coastal and inland populations is reassessed. Between adjacent populations significant variation was found for Petiole length, Leaf length, Leaf width and Biomass, however no one variable unambiguously reflected a geographical pattern. Overall differences between coastal and inland populations were small. Petiole length and rate of generative development were found to be important for distinguishing between these groups. Interferences are drawn on how the collection from Sicily could be rationalized to avoid excessive duplication.