Project Number: 3635-21000-011-03
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: May 11, 2004
End Date: Feb 28, 2009

Objective:
To provide for cooperation on production, breeding, diseases, and quality of sugarbeets.

Approach:
Conventional, complex and original methods of testing, selecting and breeding will be used in the development of improved sugarbeet germplasm that is disease resistant and adapted to cultural conditions in Michigan. The work will include studies on new techniques and procedures in breeding, selecting, and testing, on the application of statistical interpretation of data and on genetic, molecular, and cytological analyses of breeding material to determine mode of inheritance of morphological, physiological and chemical characteristics. Pathological investigations on sugarbeet diseases will emphasize problems related to breeding for disease resistance. Conventional and original methods will be used in physiological investigations as related to growth and development, nutrition, and agronomic practices for efficient production of sugarbeets of high quality. The work will involve sutdies on environment and development in relation to growth and chemical constituents of the roots. Studies on quality of seed including seedling vigor will be directed primarily to improving germination under stress conditions.