Journal of Sugar Beet
Year:2012 | Volume:28 | Issue:1|Papers Count:10

In order to study the trend of BNYVV concentrations during growing season, 6 cultivars including Dorohtea, Laetitia (as resistant cultivars), Zarghan (as a tolerant cultivar), Shirin (as a susceptible cultivar), F2-93 (an F2 population with 75 % Rz2 gene) and BC1-261-99 (a population with 25% Rz2 gene) were used. The cultivars were planted in split plot based on a randomized complete block design with 4 replications. Main plots were four different dates of sampling (2, 3 and 4 months after planting and harvesting time) for ELISA. In each sampling date, 12 plants were selected randomly from each plot for DAS-ELISA. The experiment was repeated for two years in a naturally rhizomania infested field. Mean of ELISA values was increased in the initial sampling dates and then decreased gradually up to the end of the season. Based on the trend of ELISA values, logical grouping of the genotypes was happened in the second and third sampling dates in the first and second years, respectively. The results showed that reaction of sugar beet genotypes to the disease could be identified 3-4 months after planting and that detecting infested fields in this period would be reliable.

In a faunistic survey conducted on Auchenorrhyncha in sugar beet fields of Mashhad and Chenaran regions during 2008-2010, a total of 2741specimens belonging to 5 families were collected. As a result, 10 species were added to the fauna of the study area including: Family Cicadellidae: Rhytidodus decimusquartus (Schrank 1776), Viridicerus malicola (Dubovxdy 1966); Handianus procerus (Herrich-Schaffer l835), Euscelidius mundus (Haupt 1927), Doraturopsis sp., Agallia sp.; Platymetopius sp., Family Tettigometridae: Tettigometra sordida (Fieber 1865); Family Aphrophoridae: Aphrophora salicina (Goeze 1778); Family Cixiidae: Reptalus bitinctus (Dlabola 1961). Empoasca meridiana (Zachvatkin 1946) and Circulifer haematoceps (Mulsant and Rey 1855), with 23.7 and 11.2 percent respectively, were the most abundant species in the study sites. The maximum and minimum values calculated for Shannon-Wiener index of diversity, based on data collected fortnightly from the selected fields in Mashhad region were observed in August and November, respectively. At mid-summer, when the index of biodiversity was the highest, the relative abundance of most species was high and there was more uniformity among the collected species.

As water is the most restrictive factor in national agricultural production, it is necessary to take decreased water consumption and increased water us efficiency in crop production into consideration. Nowadays, spring sugar beet production areas are concentrated in the region with water limitation and hence, the increase in spring production area contradicts the principle of water and soil conservation. Using new regions for autumn sugar beet sowing allows the increase in warm and semi-warm beet production areas. To develop sugar beet production in Province of Kerman and to find new climates, the study was conducted in Jiroft area in strip split split plots based on Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications during 2007-2008. Three sowing dates (September 6, October 7 and November 6), five cultivars (Rasoul, Monatuna, 9597, SBSI002 and SBSI003) and three harvesting dates (April 4, May 5 and June 5) were evaluated. Results showed significant effects of sowing and harvesting dates on white sugar yield. The effects of sowing date variations were greater than those of harvesting date so that growth period shortened by two months (due to delayed sowing date) decreased white sugar yield by 72.5% whereas and growth period prolonged by the same amount (due to delayed harvesting date) increased the white sugar yield by 55.1%. The highest white sugar yield (13.71 ton.ha-1) was obtained by early sowing (September 6) of SBSI002 and harvesting in May 5(with 240 days growth period). Considering favorable agro-climatic conditions in Jiroft region belonging to warm zone of Province of Kerman, it seems that the region has the potential for fall cultivation of sugar beet.

In order to study the effects of different irrigation system and different amounts of nitrogen fertilizer on yield and quality of sugar beet, an experiment was conducted at Ekbatan Research Station, Hamedan during 2005-2006 as split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications. The main plots were irrigation systems (furrow, sprinkler and drip irrigation) and subplots were nitrogen fertilizer, (0, 120, 180 and 240 kgha-1). The results showed that, interaction of irrigation system and nitrogen fertilizers was significant for all traits except sugar content, white sugar yield and mollases sugar. Results of means comparison showed that the highest root yield (101.61 ton.ha-1) was obtained in sprinkler irrigation with application of 240 kgha-1 nitrogen fertilizer. The highest value of this trait in furrow irrigation was obtained with 180 to 240 and in drip irrigation with 180 kgha-1 nitrogen fertilizer. The amount of nitrogen required in sprinkler, furrow and drip irrigation was 240, 180 and 180 kgha-1, respectively. In drip irrigation, rate of water use was 50 percent less than that of furrow irrigation, however the root yield was not significantly different in the two systems. Therefore, drip irrigation system in areas with limitation of water is recommended.

In order to study the effect of genotype × environment interaction and stability of sugar beet varieties, four cultivars, including Shrine, Zarghan, Laetitia and 7112 hybrid were planted in five major areas near to sugar beet factory of Biseton as Kangavar, Sahneh, Chamchamal, Dinavar and Ravansar for three years (2006-2008) using a randomized complete block designs, with three replications. Analysis of variance for root yield, sugar yield and sugar content showed that the environment and genotype main effects and genotype × environment interaction were significant. AMMI model with the first two principal components explanied most of the genotype × environment interaction (99.9%, 99.3 % and 99.4 %) for root yield, sugar yield and sugar content, respectively. Laetitia was the best genotype based on the biplots, but had the least general adaptation to the environments and showed specific adaptation to Sahneh location. Zarghan had the highest general adaptation to the locations, but had the average value for the traits studied. 7112 hybrid had the specific adaptation to Kangavar location. Among the locations, Sahneh was the best location, and was more similar to Chamchamal. Based on means and the first two interaction components, Dinavar was the poorest location. Therefore, Sahneh and Ravansar are recommended as suitable places for planting of sugar beet and Laetitia is suggested as the best genotype for these locations.

This study was carried out in the General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR) at Der Ez Zour Agricultural Research Center, during 2009- 2010 growing seasons. The role of Na+, K+, Na+/K+, carbohydrates accumulation of leaves, and sugar content of roots on the osmotic adjustment was studied in 10 sugar beet genotypes (five were monogerms and five were multigerms), under salinity stress. Sugar beet plants were irrigated with saline water, with the electrical conductivity (EC) ranging from 8.6-10 dS.m-1 in the first year and 8.4-10.4 dS.m-1 in the second year. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates was used. The results showed that Na+ content in leaves and roots of all genotypes was increased in salinity stress, but the increment in leaves was higher than in roots. K+ contents in leaves and roots were decreased in all genotypes, but this reduction was lower in roots as compared with leaves. This may be due to the substitution of Na+ with K+ in such condition. However, under salinity stress concentrations of inorganic solutes (Na+, and K+) in leaves was higher than those in roots. Kawimera (multigerm) was considered the most tolerant genotype because of high Na+ content in its leaves and roots, whereas the most sensitive genotype was Tigris (multigerm), which had the lowest content of Na+ in leaves and roots. Generally, the accumulation of soluble sugars in leaves was higher in tolerant genotypes as compared with non-tolerant ones. The results exhibited no correlation between sugar content in roots and salinity stress. Correlation analysis showed Na+ content followed by soluble sugars as the main solutes for osmotic adjustment in sugar beet leaves under salinity conditions. Moreover, both sucrose and Na+ contents in beet root could be considered the main solutes for osmotic adjustment.

The main objective of this study is to investigate the comparative advantage for Sugar beet production in Iran. Sugar beet is one of the main crops which is considered as an important resource for energy supply. The importance of sugar beet (as a sugar source) in Iranian household food basket, price fluctuation and consumers' demand for sugar beet, social profitability and the impact of government polices and national market limitations on sugar beet growers was investigated using Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) method in Iran for 2006-2007 growing season. The data of the study was obtained from documentary studies. The results of the Policy Analysis Matrix showed comparative advantage in sugar beet production in Iran (DRC=0.55). The nominal protection coefficient of the product also showed an indirect tax on sugar beet production (NPC=0.77), while Nominal protection coefficient of input indicates an indirect tax for inputs (NPI=2.55). However, effective protection coefficient proves that the indirect tax for sugar beet crop exceeds the corresponding subsidies paid by government to inputs. Therefore, government should plan to reform and to improve the inputs subsidy system to raise the efficiency.

In this study, total factor productivity (TFP) growth of sugar beet in Iran during 1989-1990 through 2007-2008 was analyzed, using Nonparametric Malmquist approach. So, amounts of inputs usage including seeds, fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, labor, water use and acreage in one hand and output of sugar beet production on the hand were taken into account. Results showed that sugar beet production acquired good TFP growth (6 percent) in the study period.