Evaluation of some drought tolerance genes expressions and enzymatic changes in sugar beet monogerm cultivars under drought stress conditions

Sugar beet is a strategic and industrial crop and important in sugar production. Drought is a limited factor in sugar beet yield. Base on this, an experiment carried out using a split-plot format in the randomized complete block design with 4 replications in 1394-5 at Chenaran area (Bahman Jan village). The main plot included three drop irrigation regimes: 7, 14 and 21 days interval as normal, mild and intensive stress, subplot included four cultivars: Iranian cultivars, Paya and Shukufa and foreign cultivars Sementa and Pirola from German company KWS. The results showed, drought treatments decreased total yield. Also, drought stress increased chlorophyll (a and b) and TBARM as cellular oxidative index. It seems increased in chlorophyll is a mechanism for increasing drought tolerant. The maximum amount of catalase (119 unit) and superoxide (1481 unit) enzymes were obtained in mild and intensive drought treatment respectively. The expression of all three genes (CPX1, CPX2 and NDP) were increased by drought treatment, indicating the important role of these genes in drought tolerant.