Sugarbeet pre-breeding in India

Abstract

Sugarbeet is primarily a crop of temperate climates, but in the last two decades its culture has spread to sub-tropical climates. Sugarbeet was introduced in India in 1971 as a supplementary sugar crop to augment cane sugar production in the hot summer months. Initially, sugarbeet varieties were introduced from Europe, USSR, and the USA. Work was initiated in 1971 to develop breeding material and varieties suitable to our climatic conditions. Since sugarbeet does not flower in the plains of India due to a lack of proper temperatures, breeding and seed production work is done at elevations above 5,000 feet above sea level. There are four main breeding objectives : higher sugar yield, resistance to diseases, tolerance to high temperature conditions at harvest, and tolerance to saline-alkaline conditions. Achievements outlined include development of basic breeding material, selection of populations that may be used as commercial varieties, development of experimental hybrids, and induction and development of tetraploids. Also described is the screening of materials for tolerance to disease, high temperature, and salinity.