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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sugarbeet and Potato Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #360138
Research Project: Increasing Sugar Beet Productivity and Sustainability through Genetic and Physiological Approaches

Location: Sugarbeet and Potato Research

Title: Effect of methyl jasmonate and Headline on root and sucrose yield

Author
item Fugate, Karen
item METZGER, MIKE - Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative
item Eide, John
item LARSON, EMMA - Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative
item LAFTA, ABBAS - North Dakota State University
item KHAN, MOHAMED - North Dakota State University

Submitted to: Extension Reports
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/2019
Publication Date: 1/10/2019
Citation: Fugate, K.K., Metzger, M., Eide, J.D., Larson, E., Lafta, A., Khan, M. 2019. Effect of methyl jasmonate and Headline on root and sucrose yield. Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports. 49: 93-97.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Application of the plant hormone, methyl jasmonate (MeJA), improves plant resistance against pathogens and insect pests, provides protection against environmental stresses, and enhances yield for many crop species and plant products. The effect of this compound on sugarbeet production and storage, however, is unknown. Research was conducted in 2017 and 2018 to investigate the effects of a mid-June or mid-July MeJA treatment on sugarbeet root yield, sucrose content, and storage properties including root respiration rate, sucrose loss, and invert sugar accumulation. MeJA treatments were applied at two rates (0.01 or 10 µM), and all treatments were applied singly or in combination with a late season treatment of pyraclostrobin (Headline), a fungicide with purported hormone-like attributes that has been used for Cercospora leaf spot control. In 2017 and 2018, MeJA applications had no effect on root yield, sucrose content, or recoverable sugar per ton at time of harvest, although an 1149 lbs/acre increase in recoverable sugar was obtained from plants that received a 0.01 µM MeJA treatment in June and a Headline treatment in August in 2017. Storage traits in 2017 were largely unaffected by MeJA treatments except for a small decrease in root respiration rate after 30 days in storage for roots that received a mid-July MeJA application at the 0.01 µM rate. In 2018, MeJA treatments had no effect on root yield or sucrose content at harvest. Further evaluation of samples collected from the 2018 field study is ongoing.