Screening of sugar beet pre-breeding populations and breeding lines for resistance to Ditylenchus dipsaci penetration and reproduction

Abstract Ditylenchus dipsaci is an economically important plant-parasitic nematode affecting European sugar beets. To date, no beet cultivars carrying resistance against D. are available to farmers. find potentially resistant lines restricting reproduction and penetration of , three consecutive in vivo bioassays were carried out. The first experiment determined the rate 79 breeding 14 pre-breeding populations. Based on these results, eight genotypes was intensively investigated. It could be demonstrated that none showed towards . However, a high variation by observed among genotypes. line ‘DIT_119’ effectively reduced (34.4 ± 8.8 nematodes/plant at 22 days post-planting) compared susceptible control (109.0 16.9) while ensuring yield comparable non-inoculated plants. did not reduce reproduction. paternal cultivar BERETTA KWS, demonstrating tolerance crown rot symptoms, Thus, correlation can established between rates, reproduction, This study provides essential basis for development variations now need confirmed with larger-scale screenings.