The investigation of sugar beet responses to drought at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad

Abstract

Drought is the prime abiotic factor that limits sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) production in Serbia and other regions where the crop is not usually irrigated. As increased irrigation is not an economically viable solution, the most effective one is development of varieties adapted for successful growth in drought-prone environments. Within the framework of ongoing projects, in Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops Novi Sad (IFVCNS) research was performed with the aim to select drought tolerant sugar beet genotypes, improve production under water deficit conditions, and clarify the physiological processes of drought tolerance in sugar beet. Genotypic diversity for drought-related tolerance indices were assessed in the field trials and the strength of association between them and crop performance was measured. As the drought tolerance is a complex trait, very difficult to evaluate in the field, the study was also conducted through the greenhouse experiments and in vitro screening. The plant material was studied for morphological and physiological parameters of water regime and the expression of genes that are known to respond to osmotic stress.