2007 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) The objective of this project is to provide an objective, time-tested evaluation of germplasm and variety performance under moderate to severe conditions of Rhizomania, Rhizoctonia, Cercospora Leaf Spot and Curly Top Virus. A second objective of the project is to allow the breeders to select breeding material for resistance to the above-mentioned diseases. Formerly 5368-21220-001-01G (July 2006). 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Long-term ARS Research at Kimberly will be directed toward the development of improved germplasm lines of sugar beet with improved disease and pest resistance and nutrient utilization. Collaborative efforts with an ARS Plant Geneticist and Plant Pathologist/Virologist will utilize new technologies to improve sugar beet germplasm. To ensure adaptability across a wide range of environments, evaluations of new material must be assessed at sugar beet growing regions other than Kimberly. The Beet Sugar Development Foundation because of its unique relationship with growers, state cooperative extension, and other ARS federal locations, is in a unique position to serve ARS in this agreement. The field evaluations will be done in the appropriate area of the country where each individual disease is prevalent. In the case of Rhizomania, a location that is known to be infected will be the site of the test. In the case of Rhizoctonia and Cercospora Leaf Spot inoculation will be used to ensure the presence of the diseases. And in the case of Curly Top Virus, leafhoppers carrying the virus will be introduced to the trial. Depending on the particular disease, the approved rating system will be used to evaluate such things as leaf damage, root damage and death of plants. In appropriate cases, some trials will be harvested and of root yield and sucrose content will be determined. Documents Grant with Beet Sugar Development Foundation. Formerly 5368-21220-001-01G (7/06). 3.Progress Report This report documents research conducted under a Grant between ARS and the Beet Sugar Development Foundation (BSDF), of Denver, CO. Additional research details are in the report for the parent project 5368-21220-002-00D Developing Enhanced Sugarbeet Germplasm and Management Approaches to Increase Yield and Reduce Losses Caused by Pathogens. This project involves cooperative research between a BSDF scientist and ARS scientists at the Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Laboratory (NWISRL) in Kimberly, ID. The four major diseases of sugarbeet, Rhizomania, Rhizoctonia root rot, Cercospora leaf spot, and Curly Top cause the greatest economic losses to U.S. sugarbeet producers apart from weather, with annual losses in the tens of millions of dollars. Existing chemical controls are limited, costly, not entirely effective and more environmentally harmful than resistance acquired via breeding. This project provides an objective, time-tested evaluation of germplasm and variety performance under moderate to severe conditions of Rhizomania, Rhizoctonia root rot, Cercospora leaf spot, and Curly Top. It also allows cooperating breeders from ARS locations across the U.S. and Kimberly’s sugarbeet pathologist and molecular biologist to select breeding material for resistance to these diseases. The pathologist and molecular biologist have initiated a program to utilize these data in concert with colleagues and cooperators in ARS, at universities and in industry. In 2007, disease resistance nurseries were conducted at several locations across the U.S. beet growing regions to test for Rhizomania, Rhizoctonia root rot, Cercospora leaf spot, and Curly Top resistance, providing comprehensive growth and yield assessments and disease scoring from each location. Seed was collected and stored for the biennial sequence of evaluations. Information from the cooperative trials conducted under this agreement are being incorporated into planning of future sugarbeet pathology and breeding field trials at the ARS NWISRL in Kimberly, ID. In Idaho Curly Top and Rhizomania nurseries have been successfully established and trials are continuing; 2007 entries were based in part on results itemized in the annual report from this project. Data from the nurseries were utilized by grower seed committees to recommend commercial hybrids for Northwest growers. Results from the BSDF nurseries are used in providing direction for development of the Kimberly Sugarbeet program. Active projects in the laboratory, greenhouse, and field are underway and making progress. The pathologist and molecular biologist are helping manage and evaluate the BSDF farm and the 2007 Curly Top Nurseries, as well as helping evaluate the Rhizomania variety trial. The project is tracked and monitored through almost daily email and telephone contacts between active principles and several site visits annually among all involved parties. An extensive hard copy annual report has been provided to ARS by the BSDF each year of the project.