Author
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McGrath, Jon |
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Submitted to: Annual Beet Sugar Development Foundation Executive Report
Publication Type: Other Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2004 Publication Date: 6/30/2004 Citation: McGrath, J.M. 2004. Sugar beet breeding. 2003 Annual Beet Sugar Development Foundation Executive Report. p. 18. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Sugar beet growers in Michigan and the Great Lakes region face a unique set of disease and abiotic stresses that in combination are not experienced on a regular basis in other sugar beet growing areas. Some of these stresses include a seedling disease caused by the fungus Aphanomyces cochlioides, a root rot disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani, a leaf spot disease caused by Cercospora beticola, and a suite of weather-related stresses that create problems obtaining adequate stands of sugar beets. The breeding program at East Lansing is geared towards releasing improved germplasm with tolerance or resistance to these stresses. The East Lansing breeding program continues to release improved germplasm to the United States sugar beet industry, as well as provide new knowledge regarding the measurement and selection of better varieties for the growing region. Additional program benefits will come in the future in the form of improved understanding of the number, action, identity, and location of genes controlling agronomic and economic traits and their application in integrated breeding approaches. |
