Field trial evaluation to RTD susceptibility/tolerance to RTD in Serbia: Is there a tolerance to RTD in current varieties?

Abstract

Sugar beet is the second most important source for the sugar industry, particularly important in temperate climate zones of Central, West, and East Europe. However, its production has declined recently due to various factors of which the most important are subsidy cuts and the spread of various plant diseases. In the Pannonian Plain (Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Serbia), a disease called rubbery taproot disease (RTD) has been observed for along time. The variability in RTD symptoms and the extent of damage it causes have made its detection quite challenging, often leading to misdiagnoses as other diseases. However, the identification of Candidatus Phytoplasma solani as the cause of RTD has resolved the issue of its diagnosis. The latest outbreak in Serbia has had a significant economic impact on sugar beet production, prompting an urgent response to aid the industry and growers. In our study, conducted during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, we assessed the susceptibility/tolerance of thirty registered sugar beet hybrids in Serbia, evaluating their impact on root yield and quality in naturally infected experimental fields.