Molecular progress in sugar beet breeding for resistance to biotic stresses in sub-arid conditions-current status and perspectives

The yield of sugar beet depends mainly on the effective protection to a number of pests and diseases affecting the crop. In the absence of actual methods of management, as in the case of viral diseases, the availability of genetic resistance sometimes allows the survival of the crop in the affected areas. Integration of molecular markers in conventional breeding procedures has provided a reliable means for improving the efficiency of selection methods. The present review summarizes the evolution, thanks to the application of molecular techniques, of traditional breeding for resistance to some biotic stresses in sub-arid environments.