Biotechnological Approaches in Sugar Beet Development

Abstract

Sugar beet provides looming potential for sugar production globally supplementing sugarcane in the current scenario. The crop with the efficacy for bioethanol production from its pulp and molasses, minimal water requirement for its growth and shorter life cycle as compared to sugarcane is gaining importance. Its performance is influenced by various environmental and agronomic factors that ultimately decide the sugar yield. Genetic erosion of sugar beet is evident from the vast and prolonged use of varieties derived from similar parents. This hinders the selection process and renders it non-rewarding. The genetic diversity of the crop can be increased by the introgression of new alleles from its wild ancestors and wild relatives. Biotechnological tools like transgenics can help transfer the foreign gene even between two non-cross incompatible species. Effective genetic and genomic tools to screen and identify molecular tags conferring for important traits will help in the development of useful breeding material of sugar beet. Efforts to develop tolerance to biotic and non-biotic stress especially drought and cold is palpable. Genome sequencing through NGS and SMRT approaches helps in annotation of individual genes and deciphering phylogenic relationships among individuals. Incorporation of genetic transformation and in vitro technologies have been pertinent in producing salt-tolerant, herbicide-tolerant, disease-resistant, and pest-resistant cultivars.