Evaluating and incorporating resistance to important diseases and pests of sugar beet from crop wild relatives -- increased host-plant resistant sources or alternative sources of resistance are needed…

The Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service awarded a $199,725.29 cooperative agreement to the Beet Sugar Development Foundation on May 1, 2026, under the Agricultural Research Basic and Applied Research program (CFDA 10.001).

The recipient will screen cultivated beets and crop wild relatives from the USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System for resistance to sugar beet diseases and pests, including sugar beet root maggot, root aphid, sugar beet cyst nematode, rhizomania, rhizoctonia crown and root rot, beet curly top virus, alternaria leaf spot, and cercospora leaf spot. The screened germplasm will be incorporated into enhanced germplasm for use in commercial sugar beet varieties.

Performance occurs at Fort Collins, Colorado, through April 30, 2030.

Evaluating and incorporating resistance to important diseases and pests of sugar beet from crop wild relatives -- increased host-plant resistant sources or alternative sources of resistance are needed against important sugar beet diseases including sugar beet root maggot (sbrm), root aphid, sugar beet cyst nematode (sbcn), rhizomania, rhizoctonia crown and root ROT (rcrr), beet curly top virus (bctv), alternaria leaf spot (ALS), and cercospora leaf spot (CLS). The sugar beet crop germplasm committee (CGC) has coordinated evaluations in these areas in the past, and is currently annually evaluating 20-30 placcessions with funding from USDA-ARS national plant germplasm system (npgs), which was received last year. If the U.S. Sugar industry is going to remain competitive in the face of global competition, IT is paramount that the genetic resources available in our USDA-ARS npgs be exploited for resistance to these pests and diseases and used to form an expanded germplasm base in commercial varieties. Cultivated beets and crop wild relatives from the USDA-ARS national plant germplasm system npgs will be screened and incorporated into germplasm enhanced for resistance to important sugar beet diseases.