Development of diploid pollinator for resistance to powdery mildew disease in sugar beet

Abstract

Pycnocycla spinosa plant is of the Apiaceae family which germinates mostly in mountainous areas in Isfahan, Yazd, and Fars prov-inces. There is a significant amount of sucrose in the roots of this plant. To determine the best time for harvest, from the begin-ning of the growing season, roots were collected and the sucrose content was measured using polarimetric device. The results showed that the sucrose content of pycnocycla spinosa had an increasing trend from the first week of harvest until the tenth week and then decreased back to the seventeenth week level. The lowest rate was recorded in the second week of harvest (5th May) by 8.5% and the highest rate was in the tenth week of harvest (30th June) by 17.0% of root dry weight. Also, the minimum sugar con-tent was 2.6% and the maximum was 5.3% of the roots fresh weight. According to the results, the best time for root harvest was from early July to early August for achieving the maximum rate of sucrose in extraction process from the roots. Considering that the approximate percentage of sucrose in sugarcane stem is between 12-17 and in sugar beet root is between 14-18% of the plant fresh weight and both plants, as major sources of sugar production have their own suitable climate, it seems that if the root of pycnocycla spinosa lacks harmful toxic compounds, it can be considered as an ideal crop for sugar production in undesirable land areas. It is suggested that this plant to be studied as a natural source of plant sweetener containing sucrose.

Keywords

• sugar beet