Written by cpm
Download PDF The sugar beet industry is looking to plant breeders to find genetic solutions to emerging threats to productivity. CPM gets a breeder’s perspective and finds out how a grower has been getting on with ALS-herbicide tolerant beet. There’s a clamour for a genetic solution to virus yellows. By Rob Jones and Lucy de la Pasture Sugar beet has been one of plant breeders’ biggest success stories. Recent times have seen Britain’s sugar beet crop constantly deliver improved yields as new varieties come along, while other mainstream arable crops have at best been stuck in a yield plateau. That improvement is set to continue as a result of advances on several fronts, including an improved understanding of genetics, big data and seed technology, believes SESVanderhave’s managing director, Ian Munnery. Britain’s maritime climate is well-suited to the basic needs of the sugar beet crop and increasingly the cropped area has become concentrated in the hands of professional growers, experienced in producing the crop efficiently. But getting the most from a good climate and proficient growers requires suitable varieties, says Ian. The company’s UK team are focused on extensive testing of varieties over a series of years, he explains, to ensure…
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