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BACKGROUND: Optimizing biochar application is vital for enhancing crop production and ensuring sustainable agricultural production. A 3‐year field experiment was established to explore the effects of varying the biochar application rate (BAR) on crop growth, quality, productivity and yields. BAR was set at 0, 10, 50 and 100 t ha−1 in 2018; 0, 10, 25, 50 and 100 t ha−1 in 2019; and 0, 10, 25 and 30 t ha−1 in 2020. Crop quality and growth status and production were evaluated using the dynamic technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution with the entropy weighted method (DTOPSIS‐EW), principal component analysis (PCA), membership function analysis (MFA), gray relation analysis (GRA) and the fuzzy Borda combination evaluation method. RESULTS: Low‐dose BAR (≤ 25 t ha−1 for cotton; ≤ 50 t ha−1 for sugar beet) effectively increased biomass, plant height, leaf area index (LAI), water and fertility (N, P and K) productivities, and yield. Biochar application increased the salt absorption and sugar content in sugar beet, with the most notable increases being 116.45% and 20.35%, respectively. Conversely, BAR had no significant effect on cotton fiber quality. The GRA method was the most appropriate for assessing crop growth and quality. The most indicative parameters for reflecting cotton and sugarbeet growth and quality status were biomass and LAI. The 10 t ha−1 BAR consistently produced the highest scores and was the most economically viable option, as evaluated by DTOPSIS‐EW. CONCLUSION: The optimal biochar application strategy for improving cotton and sugar beet cultivation in Xinjiang, China, is 10 t ha−1 biochar applied continuously. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finely divided carbon char products offer a cost-effective method for the safening of herbicides in soil. In this investigation, two contrasting carbon char sources: Virgin Activated Charcoal (VAC) and Recovered Carbon Black (RCB) products were evaluated for safening of metsulfuron, sulfentrazone and pyroxasulfone herbicides in soil using sugar beet bioassay, and of rimsulfuron using perennial ryegrass bioassay. Plants were grown for seven days in WhirlPack® bags in soil with added carbon char product and added herbicide, and the root or shoot lengths were measured. The VAC was more efficacious in herbicide safening than the RCB. For the VAC, concentrations in soil (wt/wt) as low as 0.375% fully deactivated metsulfuron, sulfentrazone and pyroxasulfone, while for the RCB product a gradual degree of safening was observed, except for pyroxasulfone that was completely deactivated by both VAC and RCB. The VAC at concentrations of 3% and above fully deactivated rimsulfuron, while RCB did not. The two carbon char products examined in this study had different physical properties, of which the specific surface area (91 and 515 m2 g−1 for the RCB and VAC, respectively) and specific surface area of pores (75 and 247 m2 g−1 for RCB and VAC, respectively) showed the greatest difference. Higher surface area promoting greater sorption may explain more effective deactivation of herbicides by the VAC. To obtain the same degree of herbicide safening, more RCB would be required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is one of the most important sugar crops, accounting for nearly 30% of the world's annual sugar production. And it is mainly distributed in the northwestern, northern, and northeastern regions of China. However, Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) is the most serious and destructive foliar disease during the cultivation of sugar beet. In plants, the bZIP gene family is one of important family of transcription factors that regulate many biological processes, including cell and tissue differentiation, pathogen defense, light response, and abiotic stress signaling. Although the bZIP gene family has been mentioned in previous studies as playing a crucial role in plant defense against diseases, there has been no comprehensive study or functional analysis of the bZIP gene family in sugar beet with respect to biotic stresses. In this study, we performed a genomewide analysis of bZIP family genes (BvbZIPs) in sugar beet to investigate their phylogenetic relationships, gene structure and chromosomal localization. At the same time, we observed the stomatal and cell ultrastructure of sugar beet leaf surface during the period of infestation by Cercospora beticola Sacc (C. beticola). And identified the genes with significant differential expression in the bZIP gene family of sugar beet by qRT-PCR. Finally we determined the concentrations of SA and JA and verified the associated genes by qRT-PCR. The results showed that 48 genes were identified and gene expression analysis indicated that 6 BvbZIPs were significantly differential expressed in C. beticola infection. It is speculated that these BvbZIPs are candidate genes for regulating the response of sugar beet to CLS infection. Meanwhile, the observation stomata of sugar beet leaves infected with C. beticola revealed that there were also differences in the surface stomata of the leaves at different periods of infection. In addition, we further confirmed that the protein encoded by the SA signaling pathway-related gene BVRB_ 9g222570 in high-resistant varieties was PR1, which is closely related to systemic acquired resistance. One of the protein interaction modes of JA signal transduction pathway is the response of MYC2 transcription factor caused by JAZ protein degradation, and there is a molecular interaction between JA signal transduction pathway and auxin. Despite previous reports on abiotic stresses in sugar beet, this study provides very useful information for further research on the role of the sugar beet bZIP gene family in sugar beet through experiments. The above research findings can promote the development of sugar beet disease resistance breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial information about plant health and productivity are essential when assessing the progress towards Sustainable Development Goals such as life on land and zero hunger. Plant health and productivity are strongly linked to a plant's phenological progress. Remote sensing, and since the launch of Sentinel-1 (S1), specifically, radar-based frameworks have been studied for the purpose of monitoring phenological development. This study produces insights into how crop phenology shapes S1 signatures of PolSAR features and InSAR coherence of wheat, canola, sugar beet. and potato across multiple years and orbits. Hereby, differently smoothed time series and a base line of growing degree days are stacked to estimate the patterns of occurrence of extreme values and break points. These patterns are then linked to in situ observations of phenological developments. The comparison of patterns across multiple orbits and years reveals that a single optimized fit hampers the tracking capacities of an entire season monitoring framework, as does the sole reliance on extreme values. VV and VH backscatter intensities outperform all other features, but certain combinations of phenological stage and crop type are better covered by a complementary set of PolSAR features and coherence. With regard to PolSAR features, alpha and entropy can be replaced by the cross-polarization ratio for tracking certain stages. Moreover, a range of moderate incidence angles is better suited for monitoring crop phenology. Also, wheat and canola are favored by a late afternoon overpass. In sum, this study provides insights into phenological developments at the landscape level that can be of further use when investigating spatial and temporal variations within the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the efficacy of an enzymatic preparation primarily with α-galactosidase activity for improving the quality of white sugar from poor-quality sugar beets. Focused on overcoming raffinose accumulation challenges in sugar beets, especially those harvested prematurely or stored for extended periods, an innovative exploration of enzymatic application in an industrial setting for the first time was conducted. By integrating theoretical calculations and experimental data, the findings reveal that α-galactosidase preparation notably diminishes raffinose content in beet juice, thus enhancing the sucrose yield and overall sugar quality. A reliable method to process lower-quality beets, promising enhanced efficiency in sugar production, was presented. The study also highlights the economic benefits of incorporating enzyme preparation into the production process, demonstrating a notable return on investment and underscoring the potential of enzymatic treatments to address industry challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Crop rotation can effectively alleviate the obstacles of continuous cropping and restore the agroecological balance, and then determining the optimal length of crop rotation is the cornerstone of effective crop rotation. To delve into this issue, we conducted a six-year rotation experiment aimed at exploring how different rotation lengths impact sugar beet yield, soil properties, and microbial communities. Methods: Conduct field experiments to gather rhizosphere soil samples from treatments with different rotation lengths of sugar beet and analyze their physicochemical properties and microbial characteristics. Subsequently, establish a model linking sugar yield with the physicochemical properties and microbial characteristics of the rhizosphere soil. Results: Sugar beet, sugar content, and sugar yield significantly increased while decreasing disease symptoms, with increases in crop rotation length. Longer rotations significantly ameliorated soil acidification and improved soil fertility. On the other hand, extending the crop rotation length significantly altered the community structure of microbial sub-communities with varying abundances. Additionally, the fungal diversity increased and ecological network became more complex, and a multitude of potentially beneficial microbiota were enriched in the rhizosphere soil with rotation length. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that extending the crop rotation length improved soil conditions, and increased sugar beet yield. In addition, we recommend that sugar beet rotation length should be at least three years or more. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarbeets are largely produced without irrigation, making drought stress inevitable when rainfall is insufficient. Whether drought stress impacts root storage, however, is currently unknown. Research was conducted to determine the effect of preharvest water stress on postharvest sugarbeet root respiration rate and susceptibility to storage rots as these traits are the primary determinants for sucrose loss and quality deterioration. Greenhouse‐grown plants were subjected to four levels of water deficit by discontinuing watering for 0, 7, 14 or 21 days prior to harvest. Plants receiving water‐restrictive treatments displayed physiological stress by leaf epinasty, reductions in net photosynthetic rate and leaf relative water content and increases in leaf temperature, whereas the water content of roots harvested from these plants progressively decreased with the severity of the preharvest water‐deficit treatment. Harvested roots from all watering treatments were stored at 10°C and 95% relative humidity for up to 12 weeks and evaluated for respiration rate and susceptibility to storage rot. Root respiration rate during storage was inversely related to root water content at harvest by second‐order equations, such that respiration was not significantly affected by minor reductions in root water content but increased exponentially for roots obtained from severely drought‐stressed plants with water contents at harvest of ≤75%. Similarly, roots with water contents ≤75% had elevated levels of electrolyte leakage, a measure of cellular membrane damage, and were more susceptible to dehydration and fungal infection during storage. In separate experiments, roots harvested from water‐stressed plants were inoculated with Botrytis cinerea or Penicillium vulpinum, two causal agents for storage rots. In these experiments, preharvest water stress quantitatively increased root rot and qualitatively altered symptoms of their infection. Overall, these results demonstrate that severe preharvest drought stress is likely to significantly increase sugarbeet root storage losses caused by root respiration and storage rots and that storage losses are likely to accelerate with time in storage. However, mild‐to‐moderate drought conditions prior to harvest are expected to have no or minimal effect on storage losses from root respiration or storage rots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs) are important for mRNA translation but also pivotal for plant‐virus interaction. Most of these plant‐virus interactions were found between plant eIFs and the viral protein genome‐linked (VPg) of potyviruses. In case of lost interaction due to mutation or deletion of eIFs, the viral translation and subsequent replication within its host is negatively affected, resulting in a recessive resistance. Here we report the identification of the Beta vulgaris Bv‐eIF(iso)4E as a susceptibility factor towards the VPg‐carrying beet chlorosis virus (genus Polerovirus). Using yeast two‐hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays, the physical interaction between Bv‐eIF(iso)4E and the putative BChV‐VPg was detected, while the VPg of the closely related beet mild yellowing virus (BMYV) was found to interact with the two isoforms Bv‐eIF4E and Bv‐eIF(iso)4E. These VPg‐eIF interactions within the polerovirus‐beet pathosystem were demonstrated to be highly specific, as single mutations within the predicted cap‐binding pocket of Bv‐eIF(iso)4E resulted in a loss of interaction. To investigate the suitability of eIFs as a resistance resource against beet infecting poleroviruses, B. vulgaris plants were genome edited by CRISPR/Cas9 resulting in knockouts of different eIFs. A simultaneous knockout of the identified BMYV‐interaction partners Bv‐eIF4E and Bv‐eIF(iso)4E was not achieved, but Bv‐eIF(iso)4EKO plants showed a significantly lowered BChV accumulation and decrease in infection rate from 100% to 28.86%, while no influence on BMYV accumulation was observed. Still, these observations support that eIFs are promising candidate genes for polerovirus resistance breeding in sugar beet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yellowing viruses are an increasing threat to sugar beet cultivation, due to limitations on insecticide usage and climate change. Virus detection, monitoring and resistance breeding are key to secure high sugar beet yields in the future. For this research, a one‐step multiplex reverse transcription (mRT)‐PCR method was designed to detect simultaneously beet mild yellowing virus, beet chlorosis virus, beet yellows virus (BYV), beet mosaic virus and turnip yellows virus. The addition of Luminex xTAG array technology was used as a follow‐up method to increase assay specificity. The one‐step mRT‐PCR was evaluated on 22 field samples with single and mixed virus infections. The xTAG assay works as expected both in a simplex and multiplex setting, except that BYV detection needs optimization in the multiplex setting. In the future, the Luminex xTAG assay would be an excellent method for the detection of beet yellowing viruses due to its high specificity and the potential to increase the number of targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey authentication is a complex process which traditionally requires costly and time-consuming analytical techniques not readily available to the producers. This study aimed to develop non-invasive sensor methods coupled with a multivariate data analysis to detect the type and percentage of exogenous sugar adulteration in UK honeys. Through-container spatial offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) was employed on 17 different types of natural honeys produced in the UK over a season. These samples were then spiked with rice and sugar beet syrups at the levels of 10%, 20%, 30%, and 50% w/w. The data acquired were used to construct prediction models for 14 types of honey with similar Raman fingerprints using different algorithms, namely PLS-DA, XGBoost, and Random Forest, with the aim to detect the level of adulteration per type of sugar syrup. The best-performing algorithm for classification was Random Forest, with only 1% of the pure honeys misclassified as adulterated and <3.5% of adulterated honey samples misclassified as pure. Random Forest was further employed to create a classification model which successfully classified samples according to the type of adulterant (rice or sugar beet) and the adulteration level. In addition, SORS spectra were collected from 27 samples of heather honey (24 Calluna vulgaris and 3 Erica cinerea) produced in the UK and corresponding subsamples spiked with high fructose sugar cane syrup, and an exploratory data analysis with PCA and a classification with Random Forest were performed, both showing clear separation between the pure and adulterated samples at medium (40%) and high (60%) adulteration levels and a 90% success at low adulteration levels (20%). The results of this study demonstrate the potential of SORS in combination with machine learning to be applied for the authentication of honey samples and the detection of exogenous sugars in the form of sugar syrups. A major advantage of the SORS technique is that it is a rapid, non-invasive method deployable in the field with potential application at all stages of the supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION The unintended co‐extraction of chlorophylls during the recovery of polyphenols from plant sources yields green‐coloured phenolic extracts with limited use in colour‐sensitive foods. This study aimed at decolourizing the ethanolic extracts of sugar beet leaves using a UV‐A treatment (390 nm).Exposure of the phenolic extracts to 30 UV‐A LEDs at 8.64 J m−2 radiation dose decreased the total chlorophyll content by 69.23% and reduced the greenness parameter (−a*) significantly (P < 0.05) from 27.33 ± 0.32 to 8.64 ± 0.16. Additionally, UV‐A treatment increased the content of most individual phenolic compounds (e.g. gallic acid, ferulic acid, etc.) significantly, resulting in an increase in the overall phenolic content in the extracts from 900.56 ± 14.11 μg g−1 fresh weight (FW) to a maximum of 975.09 ± 9.62 μg g−1 FW at 0.67 J m−2. However, rutin content had a significant decrease at the highest radiation dose (8.64 J m−2). The soluble sugar content (i.e. glucose and fructose) increased simultaneously with phenolic compounds after the UV‐A treatment. Although the UV treatment reduced the 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity, it had no significant effect on the ferrous chelating activity and the extract's ability to delay lipid oxidation in corn oil. The antioxidant activity index of the treated extract was comparable to that of butylated hydroxytoluene, a synthetic antioxidant.Key findings of this study include successful decolourization of the extract, decomposition of bound polyphenols to their free form, and maintaining the antioxidant activity of the extract in the oil system after UV‐A exposure. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights Sugar beet residues (SBR) were converted into thermomechanical pulp (sugar beet pulp, SBP) and compounded with either polylactic acid (PLA) or high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) as matrix. Pressed, thin sheets made with the compounds were placed on soil for 16 weeks outdoors and changes in material properties, including weight losses, monitored. Chloroform extraction showed that proportionally more SBP than PLA was degraded after biodegradation. A reduction in molecular weight of the PLA in composites during processing was determined, which was attributed to moisture in SBP and led to PLA hydrolysis. No further significant reduction in molecular weight of the PLA in composites occurred during outdoor exposure. In case of the HDPE‐SBP composites, results of acid hydrolysis indicated that primarily, the SBP component was degraded. Tensile strength tests, microscopy, FT‐IR spectroscopy and thermal analyses were also performed with the composites. Under the conditions of this study, it was shown that PLA composites with 70% (wt.) of SBP were completely disintegrated before completion of 12 weeks exposure. The addition of SBP to PLA accelerates biodegradation significantly which is an asset for agricultural (mulch films), forestry, horticulture and packaging applications. Degradation of composites based on SBP with PLA or HDPE matrix was evaluated on soil Addition of SBP increased weight loss, irrespective of the matrix type during the degradation tests Differences in material composition over exposure time were analyzed Combination of SBP with PLA enhances biodegradability of composites SBP offers huge potential as filler in biodegradable polymer composites [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bifidobacterium adolescentis gene BAD_1527 has previously been suggested to code for a β-xylosidase (Kobayashi et al., Mar Drugs 18:174, 2020). Our detailed investigation of the substrate specificity of the GH43_22 protein using a wide spectrum of natural and artificial substrates showed that the enzyme hydrolyzed neither linear xylooligosaccharides nor glucuronoxylan. Xylose was released only from the artificial 4-nitrophenyl β-D-xylopyranoside (1.58 mU/mg). The corresponding α-L-arabinofuranoside was by three orders of magnitude better substrate (2.17 U/mg). Arabinose was the only monosaccharide liberated from arabinoxylan and α-1,3- or α-1,2-singly arabinosylated xylooligosaccharides. Moreover, the enzyme efficiently debranched sugar beet arabinan and singly arabinosylated α-1,5-L-arabinooligosaccharides, although short linear α-1,5-L-arabinooligosaccharides were also slowly degraded. On the other hand, debranched arabinan, arabinogalactan as well as 2,3-doubly arabinosylated main chain residues of arabinan and arabinoxylan did not serve as substrates. Thus, the enzyme encoded by the BAD_1527 gene is a typical α-L-arabinofuranosidase of AXH-m specificity. Key points: BAD_1527 gene encodes a protein releasing xylose from NPX, but not natural substrates L-Arabinose is released from natural substrates, similarly to other GH43_22 members The enzyme debranches arabinoxylan, branched arabinan and derived oligosaccharides [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the potential of high‐resolution (<0.5 cm/pixel) aerial imagery and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for disease incidence scoring in sugar beet, focusing on two important aphid‐transmitted viruses, beet mild yellowing virus (BMYV) and beet chlorosis virus (BChV). The development of tolerant sugar beet cultivars is imperative in the context of increased disease management concerns due to the ban on neonicotinoids in the European Union. However, traditional methods of disease phenotyping, which rely on visual assessment by human experts, are both time‐consuming and subjective. Therefore, this study assessed whether aerial multispectral and RGB images could be harnessed to perform automated disease ratings comparable to those performed by trained experts. To this end, two variety trials were conducted in 2021 and 2022. The 2021 dataset was used to train and validate a CNN model on five cultivars, while the 2022 dataset was used to test the model on two cultivars different from those used in 2021. Additionally, this study tests the use of transformed features instead of raw spectral bands to improve the generalization of CNN models. The results showed that the best CNN model was the one trained for BMYV on RGB images using transformed features instead of conventional raw bands. This model achieved a root mean square error score of 11.45% between the model and expert scores. These results indicate that while high‐resolution aerial imagery and CNNs hold great promise, a complete replacement of human expertise is not yet possible. This research contributes to an innovative approach to disease phenotyping, driving advances in sustainable agriculture and crop breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research assessed the quantitative and qualitative reactions of commercially grown sugar beets to four different harvest dates and their yield stability. The study followed a split-plot design within a randomized complete block design over 3 years. The main plot involved 10 sugar beet cultivars, while the subplot involved four harvest dates: August 13 (HD1), September 7 (HD2), October 3 (HD3), and November 12 (HD4). The study found that environmental conditions, genotypes, and harvest dates significantly affected various traits of sugar beet. Yearly environmental variations and their interactions with genotypes and harvest dates had substantial impacts on all measured traits at the 1% probability level. Additive main effect and multiplicative interaction analysis based on white sugar yield indicated that genotype and environment's additive effects, as well as the genotype–environment interaction, were significant at 1% probability level. Shokoufa and Arya, which exhibit high white sugar yield (WSY) and low first interaction principal component (IPC1) values, are identified as desirable due to their stability across different environments. Among the harvest dates in different years, the fourth and third dates showed a higher yield than the total average. Perfekta and Ekbatan exhibited high specific adaptability. According to the multi-trait stability index, Arta, Arya and Sina were recognized as stable and superior across all measured traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of aerobic biodegradation of distillery wastewater using various microbial cultures is intricately linked to process conditions. The study aimed to examine the aerobic biodegradation by a Bacillus bacteria under controlled dissolved oxygen tension (DOT) conditions as a novel approach in the treatment of sugar beet distillery stillage. The processes were conducted in a 2-L Biostat®B stirred-tank reactor (STR), at a temperature of 36°C, with aeration of 1.0 L/(L·min), and uncontrolled pH of the medium (an initial pH of 8.0). Each experiment was performed at a different DOT setpoint: 75%, 65% and 55% saturation, controlled through stirrer rotational speed adjustments. The study showed that the DOT setpoint did not influence the process efficiency, determined by the pollutant load removal expressed as COD, BOD5 and TOC. In all three experiments, the obtained reduction values of these parameters were comparable, falling within the narrow ranges of 78.6–78.7%, 97.3–98.0% and 75.0–76.4%, respectively. However, the DOT setpoint did influence the rate of process biodegradation. The removal rate of the pollutant load expressed as COD, was the lowest when DOT was set at 55% (0.48 g O2/(L•h)), and the highest when DOT was set at 65% (0.55 g O2/(L•h)). For biogenic elements (nitrogen and phosphorus), a beneficial effect was observed at a low setpoint of controlled DOT during biodegradation. The maximum extent of removal of both total nitrogen (54%) and total phosphorus (67.8%) was achieved at the lowest DOT setpoint (55%). The findings suggest that conducting the batch aerobic process biodegradation of sugar beet stillage at a relatively low DOT setpoint in the medium might achieve high efficiency pollutant load removal and potentially lead to a reduction in the process cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conclusions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State, Belgium, and co‐rapporteur Member State, Austria, for the pesticide active substance lenacil are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012, as amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2018/1659. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of lenacil as a herbicide on sugar and fodder beet (field use). The reliable end points, appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment, are presented. Missing information identified as being required by the regulatory framework is listed. Concerns are reported where identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugar beet is an important sugar crop, and its roots are mainly used for processing raw materials to produce products such as sugar, molasses, and saccharin, as well as being used as fodder for livestock. BvCPD, a key enzyme gene for brassinosteroid (BR) synthesis, regulates the development of parenchyma cells and vascular bundles by promoting BR synthesis, which promotes the expansion of the sugar beet taproot and influences the growth, development, and yield of sugar beets. This study investigated the impact of BvCPD on the physiological metabolism of sugar beet utilizing BvCPD overexpression, silent, and wild-type (WT) lines. BvCPD increased the chlorophyll content and maximum photochemical efficiency and improved the photosynthetic characteristics of sugar beet leaves. Simultaneously, BvCPD increased the rate of sugar beet taproot respiration and ATP content by enhancing the activities of phosphoglycerate kinase, alcohol dehydrogenase, sucrose synthase, and sucrose synthase catabolism. Moreover, BvCPD induced changes in the sugar fraction content, which increased the sugar yield of a single plant. In addition, BvCPD promoted water absorption, nitrogen accumulation, and lignin/cellulose synthesis activities, facilitated by increased activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, cellulose synthase, and protein serine/threonine phosphatases, providing the requisite energy and materials for sugar beet growth. These findings not only provide a new perspective for understanding the physiological mechanisms regulating the growth of sugar beets but also provide a theoretical basis for the future improvement of sugar beet varieties through molecular breeding techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of biomass is strongly influenced by seasonality, which can affect the production of biofuels, biogas, and bio‐based products in the downstream bioenergy supply chain. Rapeseed, maize silage, sugar beet, wheat, and grass from grassland are the most popular energy crops; they play a significant role in the German bioenergy strategy and are being discussed extensively in the current gas shortage context. Most models in the literature assume yearly temporal resolution for these energy crops, which can negatively impact the accuracy of results. This problem is increasingly relevant under weather conditions that are varying increasingly due to climate change; in this study we therefore employ the extended bioenergy optimization model (BENOPTex) to explore the impact of seasonality on the optimal deployment of biomass from energy crops in bioenergy production in the German heat, power, and transport sectors, which typically show high dependency on fossil fuels. First, we increased the model's temporal resolution using available datasets and documents. Next, the varying availability factors were embedded in the optimization model, considering the no‐storage policy for energy crops in accordance with the just‐in‐time philosophy. Finally, the outcomes of the BENOPTex with annual resolution were contrasted with the results including the effects of seasonality, while considering various objective functions. We demonstrated a shift toward the consumption of woody biomass until 2045 due to its longer shelf life and improved storability. The energy demand stemming from summer leisure travel was also anticipated to exceed the bioenergy system's capacity. The insights provided here might be interesting for policymakers who design roadmaps for bioenergy development with a more resilient energy supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sugar beet crop has always been attacked by various pests and diseases. Rhizomania viral disease, which has spread in different regions of sugar beet cultivation, has become a disease of prime importance for the crop in the last three decades. Resistant cultivar usage is the only reliable way to manage rhizomania disease. In order to identify promising genotypes, eleven sugar beet genotypes with natural infection to rhizomania, in a company with three controls, were assessed in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. The experiment was conducted in six research stations of Karaj, Khoy, Kermanshah, Mashhad, Miandoab, and Shiraz for two cropping seasons (2020 and 2021). Based on the rhizomania score, all genotypes had acceptable resistance to the disease. The Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) stability analysis illustrated that the first five principal components were significant and specified 88.8% of the total genotype by environment interaction variance. Gen-7, Gen-10, Gen-11, and Gen-2 were selected as stable genotypes based on the AMMI model. Genotype plus Genotype by Environment Interaction (GGE) biplot results also confirmed the superiority of Gen-10 and Gen-11 regarding sugar yield and stability in disease-infected environments. According to the results of the Multi-Trait Stability Index (MTSI), genotypes Gen-4, Gen-1, Gen-2, and Gen-11 were identified as stable genotypes under rhizomania-infected conditions. By applying different stability measurement methods, in addition to identifying the genotypes' adaptation to different environments, accurate decisions for future breeding or cultivar registration can be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different fertilizer treatments on the growth, yield, and nutrient content of two sugar beet cultivars, Aksu (Kazakhstan) and Yampol (Poland), cultivated in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan. The experiment was conducted using a complete randomized block design with three replicates, comprising six treatments: control (without fertilizer), N120P120K90, and N130P130K130 for both cultivars. The soil's physical and chemical properties were analyzed, revealing a foothill light chestnut soil with favorable nutrient levels. Results indicated that the N130P130K130 treatment significantly increased soil available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents, leading to enhanced sugar beet growth, nutrient uptake, and yield. Both cultivars responded positively to the increased nutrient levels, with the N130P130K130 treatment showing the highest yield of 785.6 tons/ha for Aksu and 802.5 tons/ha for Yampol. Furthermore, nutrient content in tubers and leaves was significantly higher in the N130P130K130 treatment compared to other treatments. These findings underscore the importance of balanced nutrient management tailored to specific cultivars for optimizing sugar beet productivity and soil fertility in diverse agro-climatic conditions. Adopting balanced mineral nutrient management approaches could offer promising solutions to enhance sugar beet productivity and sustainability. Future research should focus on exploring long-term effects and integrated nutrient management strategies for sustainable sugar beet cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thesis discusses the importance of sugar beet as a food supply for common voles and selected mice species (Apodemus spp.), which represent the most common rodent species in the stands of this crop. Sugar beet quality was determined using chemical analyses with a focus on the nitrogen content and comparison with other agricultural crops (spring and winter barley, winter wheat, alfalfa, rapeseed). The results showed a high proportion of nitrogen, especially in the leaves, and less in the tuber. The highest amount of nitrogen was found in alfalfa in the spring, while in the summer the proportion of nitrogen was lower than in alfalfa, comparable to winter rape and higher than in cereals. Based on literary sources, the article discusses the importance of beet leaves and tubers in the diet of mice and voles, as well as the importance of other food sources in sugar beet stands. In the common vole, the important food component is mainly the tubers, and less so the leaves. In the diet of mice, tubers and beet leaves were also recorded, but in a completely insignificant percentage. In sugar beet stands, mice maintain high numbers mainly by eating weed seeds and invertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cercosporiosis is currently the most important disease of sugar beet leaf apparatus. The yield and sugar content losses it causes can vary greatly depending on the year and the infection rate on the plot. The average yield losses were determined in over 10 years of trials and reach about 10 %. However, in the case of an early infection, local losses can be significantly higher. When it comes to cultivation sustainability, the treatment needs to take into account the possible development of resistance to groups of active substances (strobilurins, azoles). It is advisable that the treatment combines organic fungicide products with inorganic products (Cu, S, Ag); early intervention is of utmost importance. Here, a signalling system, which monitors several parameters and assesses the risk of infection, plays a rather important role. Warm and humid weather is risky for the development of cercosporiosis infection. The daily infection coefficient values are monitored by weather stations directly in the crops, any presence of the pathogen in stands is verified by spore traps. The signalling is also complemented by direct observation and rating in production stands. The return on fungicide treatment increases with infection pressure, yield and sugar beet price. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical fertilizers are important production requirements whose quality, timing, and method of use can affect both acreage productivity and costs and net production returns. The self-sufficiency rate for nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers reached about %101.8and %137.46during the period 2007- 202 respectively, and by studying the productive and economic efficiency indicators of chemical fertilizers for the cotton crop at the sample level it was found that the amount of nitrogen units amounted to about 85.13effective units/acre the nitrogen unit productivity amounted to about10.quintals/cotton, and the net nitrogen unit revenue amounted to about 944.68. pounds, while it was found that the quantity of phosphorus units amounted to about 46.50effective units/acre, the productivity of a phosphorus unit amounted to about 0.16 quintals/cotton, and the net revenue of a phosphorus unit amounted to about 1745.86pounds. As for sugar beets, it was found that the quantity of nitrogen units amounted to about 81.14pounds. Effective unit/acre, and the nitrogen unit’s productivity amounted to about 0.26tons/sugar beet, and the net revenue of the nitrogen unit amounted to about 381.43pounds, while it was found tons / Sugar beets, and the net revenue and the research recommends expanding the establishment of chemical factories, especially nitrogen fertilizer production lines, to cover the needs. local, distributing fertilizers to farmers in sufficient quantities and at appropriate times, especially in the summer season, advising farmers on the importance of using organic fertilizers, and working to control prices and prevent monopoly in the fertilizer market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agricultural Economics & Social Sciences is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Rhizosphere environments play a vital role in the nutrient cycling of crops and soil organic nitrogen mineralization. Sugar beet is a highly nitrogen (N)-demanding crop, and it is necessary to explore the relationship between the sugar beet root exudates, the microbial community, and nitrogen utilization. In this study, a special separation method was employed to create rhizosphere (H3) and non-rhizosphere (H2 and H1) environments for sugar beet. After 50 d of cultivation in nearly inorganic-free soil, the microbial diversity and its correlation with root metabolites and N were examined. The results showed that in H3, the inorganic N content was over 23 times higher than in H1 and H2, with a 13.1% higher relative abundance of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria compared to H2 and a 32% higher abundance than H1. The relative abundance of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria was also 18.8% higher than in H1. Additionally, a significant positive correlation was observed between inorganic nitrogen content and serine (Ser) and isoleucine (Ile). The organic nitrogen content exhibited positive correlations with glycine (Gly), alanine (Ala), and tyrosine (Tyr) but displayed negative correlations with certain amino acids, organic acids, and glucose. The co-linearity network indicated that the microbial composition in H3 also exhibited higher node connectivity. It can be inferred that under the influence of sugar beet root exudates, the changes in the rhizosphere's microbial diversity were more intricate, thereby benefiting soil nitrogen cycling and inorganic N accumulation. These findings provide profound insight into sugar beet soil organic nitrogen mineralization and contribute to the sustainable and environmentally friendly development of modern agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Pentastiridius leporinus (Hemiptera: Cixiidae) is the most important vector of syndrome 'basses richesses' (SBR), a new disease that leads to severe economic losses in sugar beet. In this study, different soil tillage methods (ploughing and cultivator) and crops (winter wheat, spring wheat, maize and bare soil) following SBR‐infested sugar beet were tested as potential management options in field trials. In the laboratory, the survival and development of first and third instar nymphs on wheat and maize was studied to further assess their suitability as host plants. RESULTS: In five out of seven field sites, reduced soil tillage had no effect on adult planthopper emergence compared to ploughing. In two sites, reduced tillage resulted in higher emergence rates. In nearly all field sites, up to 98.9% fewer emerging adults were detected in bare soil and maize, when compared to winter wheat. Under laboratory conditions, the lowest survival rate was found in first instar nymphs feeding on maize seedlings (4.2%), while 66.7% survived on wheat, over a period of 300 days. In contrast, 73.3% and 70% of third instar nymphs survived on wheat and maize over a period of 150 days. CONCLUSION: Soil tillage had little effect against Pentastiridius leporinus. Maize is a poor host for first instars but a suitable resource for third instar nymphs, the stage which encounters maize under field conditions. Hence, reductions in planthopper emergence in the field were likely caused by starvation due to the long host‐free period between sugar beet harvest and the sowing of maize. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate, non-destructive and cost-effective estimation of crop canopy Soil Plant Analysis De-velopment(SPAD) is crucial for precision agriculture and cultivation management. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms have shown tremendous potential in predicting crop canopy SPAD. This was because they can rapidly and accurately acquire remote sensing spectral data of the crop canopy in real-time. In this study, a UAV equipped with a five-channel multispectral camera (Blue, Green, Red, Red_edge, Nir) was used to acquire multispectral images of sugar beets. These images were then combined with five machine learning models, namely K-Nearest Neighbor, Lasso, Random Forest, RidgeCV and Support Vector Machine (SVM), as well as ground measurement data to predict the canopy SPAD of sugar beets. The results showed that under both normal irrigation and drought stress conditions, the SPAD values in the normal ir-rigation treatment were higher than those in the water-limited treatment. Multiple vegetation indices showed a significant correlation with SPAD, with the highest correlation coefficient reaching 0.60. Among the SPAD prediction models, different models showed high estimation accuracy under both normal irrigation and water-limited conditions. The SVM model demon-strated a good performance with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.635, root mean square error (Rmse) of 2.13, and relative error (Re) of 0.80% for the prediction and testing values under normal irrigation. Similarly, for the prediction and testing values under drought stress, the SVM model exhibited a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.609, root mean square error (Rmse) of 2.71, and rela-tive error (Re) of 0.10%. Overall, the SVM model showed good accuracy and stability in the pre-diction model, greatly facilitating high-throughput phenotyping research of sugar beet canopy SPAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) is the major sugar‐producing crop in Europe and Northern America, as the taproot stores sucrose at a concentration of around 20%. Genome sequence analysis together with biochemical and electrophysiological approaches led to the identification and characterization of the TST sucrose transporter driving vacuolar sugar accumulation in the taproot. However, the sugar transporters mediating sucrose uptake across the plasma membrane of taproot parenchyma cells remained unknown. As with glucose, sucrose stimulation of taproot parenchyma cells caused inward proton fluxes and plasma membrane depolarization, indicating a sugar/proton symport mechanism. To decipher the nature of the corresponding proton‐driven sugar transporters, we performed taproot transcriptomic profiling and identified the cold‐induced PMT5a and STP13 transporters. When expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, BvPMT5a was characterized as a voltage‐ and H+‐driven low‐affinity glucose transporter, which does not transport sucrose. In contrast, BvSTP13 operated as a high‐affinity H+/sugar symporter, transporting glucose better than sucrose, and being more cold‐tolerant than BvPMT5a. Modeling of the BvSTP13 structure with bound mono‐ and disaccharides suggests plasticity of the binding cleft to accommodate the different saccharides. The identification of BvPMT5a and BvSTP13 as taproot sugar transporters could improve breeding of sugar beet to provide a sustainable energy crop. Significance Statement: In vivo electrophysiological studies with sugar beet taproots provide clear evidence for proton‐coupled glucose and sucrose uptake into taproot parenchyma cells. In search for the molecular entities, the taproot‐expressed BvPMT5a and BvSTP13 carriers were studied in detail, because they mediate proton‐driven import of glucose and sucrose and thus provide proper candidates for sugar beet plasma membrane sugar‐proton cotransporters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the nutritional and sensory properties of spelt cookies without wild garlic, cookies with fresh wild garlic, cookies with osmodehydrated wild garlic in sugar beet molasses, and cookies with osmodehydrated wild garlic in an aqueous solution of sucrose and salt were evaluated and compared. The tested cookie samples were characterized in terms of total antioxidative activity, the total content of phenols, flavonoids, and thiosulfates, the presence of dominant phenols, the content of betaine and dietary fiber, antioxidant activity after in vitro digestion, and sensory attributes for appearance, taste, smell, and texture. The results proved that the addition of wild garlic leaves osmodehydrated in molasses provided the cookies with the best nutritional and bioactive properties: 1.75 times higher total phenols content, 2.4 times higher total flavonoids content, 1.52 times higher total thiosulfates content, and 1.56 times higher betaine content, and a total quality increase of 54% compared to the control cookies. The cookies enriched with osmodehydrated wild garlic in molasses were rated as pleasant and acceptable, but also more complex compared to other cookies. The production of this nutritionally and sensory-improved cookie would contribute to expanding the assortment of flour confectionery products, especially for consumers who care about health and nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The need for addition of external electron donors such as ethanol or lactate impairs the economic viability of chain elongation (CE) processes for the production of medium-chain carboxylates (MCC). However, using feedstocks with inherent electron donors such as silages of waste biomass can improve the economics. Moreover, the use of an appropriate inoculum is critical to the overall efficiency of the CE process, as the production of a desired MCC can significantly be influenced by the presence or absence of specific microorganisms and their metabolic interactions. Beyond, it is necessary to generate data that can be used for reactor design, simulation and optimization of a given CE process. Such data can be obtained using appropriate mathematical models to predict the dynamics of the CE process. Results: In batch experiments using silages of sugar beet leaves, cassava leaves, and Elodea/wheat straw as substrates, caproate was the only MCC produced with maximum yields of 1.97, 3.48, and 0.88 g/kgVS, respectively. The MCC concentrations were accurately predicted with the modified Gompertz model. In a semi-continuous fermentation with ensiled sugar beet leaves as substrate and digestate from a biogas reactor as the sole inoculum, a prolonged lag phase of 7 days was observed for the production of MCC (C6–C8). The lag phase was significantly shortened by at least 4 days when an enriched inoculum was added to the system. With the enriched inoculum, an MCC yield of 93.67 g/kgVS and a productivity of 2.05 gMCC/L/d were achieved. Without the enriched inoculum, MCC yield and productivity were 43.30 g/kgVS and 0.95 gMCC/L/d, respectively. The higher MCC production was accompanied by higher relative abundances of Lachnospiraceae and Eubacteriaceae. Conclusions: Ensiled waste biomass is a suitable substrate for MCC production using CE. For an enhanced production of MCC from ensiled sugar beet leaves, the use of an enriched inoculum is recommended for a fast process start and high production performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to screen lactic acid bacteria strains with high exopolysaccharides production potential from sugar beet molasses. The taxonomic identification and growth characteristics of a lactic acid bacteria strain M1 with high exopolysaccharides-producing capacity isolated from sugar beet molasses were investigated. Furthermore, the exopolysaccharides fermentation parameters using sugar beet molasses as an alternative carbon source to sucrose were optimized using a single-factor experiment and response surface methodology based on Box-Behnken design. Moreover, antioxidant activity of the harvested crude exopolysaccharides were evaluated. The results showed that strain M1 was taxonomically classified as Leuconostoc suionicum. The growth profile of L. suionicum M1 indicated a lag phase of 2 hours, an optimal temperature of 35 °C, a favorable pH value of 8. 0, and a remarkable tolerance to sucrose concentrations up to 60%. The optimal medium for exopolysaccharides production consisted of 300 g/L sugar beet molasses, 20. 0 g/L yeast extract, 15. 0 g/L K2HPO4·3H2O, 0. 2 g/L MgSO4·7H2O, 0. 01 g/L NaCl, 0. 01 g/L CaCl2·2H2O, 0. 01 g/L MnSO4·4H2O, 0. 01 g/L FeSO4·7H2O. The maximum exopolysaccharides yield of 39. 1 g/L was achieved under the following conditions: loading volume 200 mL/250 mL, inoculum size 5%, initial pH value 8. 1, fermentation temperature of 38. 5 °C and fermentation period 41. 1 h. The exopolysaccharides produced by strain M1 exhibited significant antioxidant activities, with quenching capacities of 70. 25% for DPPH radicals, 47. 16% for ·OH radicals, 35. 92% for ABTS+ radicals and 0. 42 for Fe3+ total reducing force at a concentration of 6. 0 mg/ mL. Strain M1 was capable of producing exopolysaccharides with antioxidant activity using sugar beet molasses, and could be used as a promising candidate for the bioconversion of sugar beet molasses into functional exopolysaccharides products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The publication comprises a description of a test method for sugar beet harvesting devices and presents the field test results from 1984 to 2012. Quality parameters examined for harvesters were beet mass losses (both surface and sub-surface), root breakage, soil tare, and topping quality (accuracy and crown retention). The tests were held at Seligenstadt Estate near Würzburg/Germany on a test plot with loess soil. The introduction together with the chapter methods focuses on the test method which is constituted as an international standard of the International Institute of Sugar Beet Research (IIRB) dedicated to unifying the assessment of the working quality of harvest machines. The results from the last test held in 2012 are introduced in more detail outlining the working quality of the participating harvesters representing the state of technique. As a review targeted to reveal the trend of the last decades the test results from the beginning in 1984 are presented with a preceding paragraph on the progress and changes in the design and functions of the harvest machines in this time range.The test results outline a shift in the topping quality tending to a slighter topping of the beets to avoid mass losses due to excessive overtopping. The share of beets that are over-topped decreased in the last tests. Major mass losses over the entire time span originate from breakage of the root tips accounting for 2.7%, on the surface, and underground mass losses amount to 0.9%. Soil tare strongly depends on soil conditions (soil water content and soil type) having an average of 9.8% over test years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the effect of nitrogen (N) fertilization rate on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of drip-irrigated sugar beet, a two-year field experiment was carried out in two areas of Iran including Karaj and Moghan. Four different amounts of N fertilizer (no applied (N0), optimum rate (N100), 75% (N75) and 50% (N50) of optimum rate) and four varieties included two European varieties (Rosire and Flores) and two Iranian varieties (Pars and Ekbatan) were experimental treatments. The results in Moghan showed that the highest values of root and sugar yield were related to N75 by 74.09 and 9.13 t ha-1, respectively. Flores and Rosier had greater sugar yield than Pars and Ekbatan varieties in both locations. Our findings in Karaj demonstrated that SC decreased with increasing N rate, however there was no significant difference among nitrogen levels in SC in Moghan. N application rate had no significant influence on content of the non-sugar impurities in both areas except K concentration. As data, European varieties contained lower non-sugar substances and higher root quality than Iranian varieties. In addition, greater nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) was gained in European varieties compared to Iranian varieties. Increasing N application rate also caused to decrease in NUE under two area conditions. The greatest NUE occurred by no application of N fertilizer as 46.13 and 45.35 kg sugar kg-1 N in Moghan and Karaj, respectively. In general, N fertilizer consumption can be reduced to 75% of the recommended N rate under the drip irrigation system that is developing in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) holds a prominent position in the metabolic system of plants, as it is a main constituent of amino acids, which are the basic building blocks of proteins and enzymes. Plants primarily absorb N in the form of ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3−). However, most plants exhibit severe toxicity symptoms when exposed to NH4+ as the sole N source. Addressing NH4+ stress requires effective strategies, and the use of silicon (Si) has shown promising results. However, there is a lack of underlying studies on the impact of NH4+ toxicity on C:N:P stoichiometric balance and the role of Si in these ratios. In this study, we explored the effects of varying NH4+ concentrations (1, 7.5, 15, 22.5, and 30 mmol L−1) on the C:N:P stoichiometry and yield of beetroot in hydroponic conditions. Additionally, we investigated whether the application of Si (2 mmol L−1) could mitigate the detrimental effects caused by toxic NH4+ levels. The experiment followed a randomized block design based on a 5 × 2 factorial scheme with four replicates. Results revealed that in the presence of Si, both [N] and [P] significantly increased in shoots and roots, peaking at 15 mmol L−1 of NH4+ in the nutrient solution. While shoot [C] remained stable, root [C] increased with NH4+ concentrations of 22.5 and 30 mmol L−1, respectively. Moreover, shoot and root [Si] increased with higher NH4+ levels in the nutrient solution. The findings underscored homeostatic instability under the highest NH4+ levels, particularly in plants cultivated without Si in the nutritive solution, leading to a reduction in both shoot and root dry matter production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of sugar beet in the Republic of Kazakhstan is insufficient to meet the domestic sugar needs of the population. This shortfall is attributed to the natural and climatic conditions, the high cost of production, and the low use of mineral fertilizers. The objective of the study is to investigate the impact of the organic humic fertilizer "Tumat" on the growth, development, yield, and sugar content of sugar beet in the conditions of irrigated light chestnut soils in Southeast Kazakhstan. Scientific research confirms the effectiveness of using the organic humic fertilizer Tumat for cultivating sugar beets. This fertilizer is highly bioavailable and contains a balanced mix of essential macronutrients and micronutrients, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and other biologically active substances. Foliar feeding of sugar beets enriches the soil with exchangeable potassium, mobile phosphorus, and easily hydrolyzable nitrogen during the plant's vegetative period. Using the Tumat fertilizer enhances plant germination rates by 6.0–16.0%, stimulates growth and development, accelerates the ripening of sugar beets, and increases the yield of tubers by 10.5–15.2%, sugar content by 0.4–0.7%, and sugar output by 13.6–20.8%. An organic humic fertilizer, is recommended as an environmentally safe and effective agricultural product that boosts the productivity and quality of sugar beets, as well as soil fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1H fast field-cycling and time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry studies have been performed for 15 samples of sugar of different kinds and origins (brown, white, cane, beet sugar). The extensive data set, including results for crystal sugar and sugar/water mixtures, has been thoroughly analyzed, with a focus on identifying relaxation contributions associated with the solid and liquid fractions of the systems and non-exponentiality of the relaxation processes. It has been observed that 1H spin–lattice relaxation rates for crystal sugar (solid) vary between 0.45 s−1 and 0.59 s−1, and the relaxation process shows only small deviations from exponentiality (a quantitative measure of the exponentiality has been provided). The 1H spin–lattice relaxation process for sugar/water mixtures has turned out to be bi-exponential, with the relaxation rates varying between about 13 s−1–17 s−1 (for the faster component) and about 2.1 s−1–3.5 s−1 (for the slower component), with the ratio between the amplitudes of the relaxation contributions ranging between 2.8 and 4.2. The narrow ranges in which the parameters vary make them a promising marker of the quality and authenticity of sugar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhizomania is one of the most destructive and damaging sugar beet diseases that has spread in different regions of Iran. In order to evaluate the genotypic, environmental, and genotype by environmental variability of sugar beet genotypes under rhizomania infection, variance components were estimated from the trial series in 7 years. Required data, such as yield and quality parameters, were collected from value for cultivation and use trials. Results of analysis of variance showed that the environment was the source that explained most of the variability, except for amino‐N and alkalinity. Quality traits were also influenced by the environment × cultivar interaction, so that 4.8% (white sugar content) to 46.1% (alkalinity) variance was observed. In contrast, genetic variation was much lower, between 1.2% (potassium) and 27.4% (amino‐N). A strong and negative correlation was found between root yield, sugar yield, and white sugar content with the disease index, which obviously illustrates the negative impact of the rhizomania on root weight and as a consequence on the dependent traits. The cluster analysis of the cultivars based on the quantitative and qualitative traits and the disease index showed that the range of variation in traits, such as the disease index, varied from 6.25 for the susceptible cultivar to 1.25 for the resistant one. This indicates the existence of sufficient genetic diversity among cultivars in terms of this trait. High impurity accumulation was observed in Shiraz region compared with Mashhad. In conclusion, it is observed that rhizomania has a significant effect on the impurity concentration in the root, especially sodium, potassium, and amino‐N. This is very important in the sugar industry because sugar extraction depends on the concentration of these impurities, in addition to the sugar content of each cultivar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has always been a specific focus on nitrogen fertilization in sugar beet production due to its important effect on sugar beet root yield and quality. For stable sugar beet growth and satisfactory root yield and quality, balanced N fertilization is crucial. Thus, this study aimed to investigate spring N fertilization in two seasons as the following treatments: N0—control, N1—only pre-sowing fertilization, and N2—pre-sowing with topdressing. Four different genotypes were included in the study (Serenada, Colonia, Fred, and Danton). The experiment was set up in a plain area, belonging to the temperate climate zone in Eastern Croatia (Županja and Vrbanja), with the long-term mean (LTM) (March–October) air temperature around 16 °C and the total precipitation of 515 mm. Pre-sowing N fertilization had a smaller impact on root yield in the year with higher precipitation (31% higher than LTM). Therefore, the average yields with pre-sowing fertilization (N1) and pre-sowing fertilization with top dressing (N2) were very similar and were only 7% higher than those of the control. In a season with less rainfall (29% less than LTM), pre-sowing fertilization with top dressing (N2) had a more pronounced effect on the increase in sugar beet root yield, which was 17% higher compared to that of the control treatment. The sugar beet sucrose content and quality parameters (brei impurities, loss of sugar in molasses, extractable sugar) differed when N fertilization was applied among locations in both seasons. The white sugar yield was the highest at N2 treatment with pre-sowing and topdressing N fertilization. In general, according to the average of all locations and years of research, the Serenada hybrid achieved the highest average root yield (81.1 t ha−1), while Colonia exhibited the highest root sugar content (14.5%) and white sugar yield (9.7 t ha−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the applicability of the Peleg model to the osmotic dehydration of various sweet potato variety samples in sugar beet molasses, addressing a notable gap in the existing literature. The osmotic dehydration was performed using an 80% sugar beet molasses solution at temperatures of 20 °C, 35 °C, and 50 °C for periods of 1, 3, and 5 h. The sample-to-solution ratio was 1:5. The objectives encompassed evaluating the Peleg equation's suitability for modeling mass transfer during osmotic dehydration and determining equilibrium water and solid contents at various temperatures. With its modified equation, the Peleg model accurately described water loss and solid gain dynamics during osmotic treatment, as evidenced by a high coefficient of determination value (r2) ranging from 0.990 to 1.000. Analysis of Peleg constants revealed temperature and concentration dependencies, aligning with previous observations. The Guggenheim, Anderson, and de Boer (GAB) model was employed to characterize sorption isotherms, yielding coefficients comparable to prior studies. Effective moisture diffusivity and activation energy calculations further elucidated the drying kinetics, with effective moisture diffusivity values ranging from 1.85 × 10−8 to 4.83 × 10−8 m2/s and activation energy between 7.096 and 16.652 kJ/mol. These findings contribute to understanding the complex kinetics of osmotic dehydration and provide insights into the modeling and optimization of dehydration processes for sweet potato samples, with implications for food processing and preservation methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2-phenylethanol (2-PE) is a valuable aromatic alcohol with diverse applications in cosmetics, food, beverages, and pharmaceutical industries. Currently, 2-PE is produced either through chemical synthesis or by extraction from plant materials. However, both conventional production methods have their own limitations. Therefore, there is a need for more eco-friendly and cost-effective approaches to produce natural 2-PE. Biotechnological routes, particularly microbial fermentations, hold promise for natural 2-PE production, especially when using low-cost substrates. In this study, 2-PE was produced by de novo synthesis via the shikimate pathway, using the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica in a medium composed of sugar beet molasses (SBM) and yeast extract (YE) as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. A genetically engineered strain was generated, in which the SUC2 gene was transformed, expressing the invertase enzyme, enabling Y. lipolytica to efficiently utilize SBM as a cost-effective substrate. A central composite design allowed for the optimization of the concentrations of the carbon and nitrogen sources, resulting in approximately 0.71 g(2-PE)/L(culture medium). The results obtained highlight the potential of utilizing SBM as a low-cost substrate for 2-PE production, advancing biotechnological approaches in fragrance synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agricultural Economics & Social Sciences is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the period of 2016–2018, two series of field studies on organic sugar beet growing (Beta vulgaris L.) were carried out in northern Poland on Luvisol loamy soil (medium–heavy) soil in Bałcyny and Płonne. The aim of this study was to decrease the yield gap between organic and conventional beets. Factors to increase the yield of organic beet were differentiated fertilization (cattle farmyard manure (FYM), compost, and Bioilsa) and choice of varieties (Eliska, Jampol, and Sobieski). The reference point was the conventional cultivation of the same sugar beet varieties, fertilized with manure and NPK mineral fertilizers, the prevailing standard of sugar beet cultivation in Poland. High sugar beet root yields exceeding the average yield in Poland by 25–30% were obtained in both studies, both in conventional and organic cultivation. Higher root and white sugar yields were obtained in the study conducted at Płonne (with similar soil conditions to those at Bałcyny), but they were characterized by higher temperatures during the growing season. The lowest root yields in both experiments were obtained by fertilizing the organic beet with compost (66.1 t per ha in Bałcyny and 78.13 t per ha in Płonne), which were 10.8% and 8.5% lower than the conventional crop, respectively. Higher root yields in organic cultivation were obtained by fertilizing the sugar beet with FYM, which reduced the differences from conventional beet to 7.7% in the study in Bałcyny and 2.1% in the study in Płonne. Thus, the results showed no need to convert cattle FYM to compost. The highest root yields in organic cultivation were obtained by fertilizing the sugar beet with Bioilsa N 12.5 supplemented with mineral fertilization of K, Mg, and S (Patentkali). This fertilization provided a yield of 78.1 t of roots per ha in Bałcyny, which is a reduction in the yield gap to 1.4%, a statistically insignificant value. Moreover, in the study at Płonne, organic sugar beet fertilized with Bioilsa and Patentkali yielded 86.7 t of roots per ha, compared to 85.6 t per ha of conventional beet, so a yield gap was not seen here. The choice of varieties was also of great importance for root and pure sugar yields in both farming systems. The lowest yields were obtained from the Eliska variety, and at Bałcyny, a change of beet cultivar to Jampol increased the organic root yield from 68.8 t per ha to 76.0 t per ha, while reducing the yield gap from 10.1% to 2.2%. At Płonne, replacing the Eliska variety with Jampol reduced the yield gap between organic and conventional roots from 6.6% to 0.3%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trends in soil organic carbon (SOC) were analyzed in the soils from the oldest Czech long-term field experiment, the Prague-Ruzyně Long-Term Fertilizer Experiment, conducted on Haplic Luvisol since 1955. The aim of the work was to compare the long-term dynamics of SOC in contrasting crop rotations and different fertilization regimes. The trial design includes two crop rotations (CR): simple CR with two-year rotation of sugar beet and spring wheat, and multi-crop rotation (MCR) with nine crops. Four fertilization treatments were chosen for SOC analysis: unfertilized control, only mineral fertilization (NPK), farmyard manure application (FYM), as well as FYM and NPK application. SOC content was significantly affected by both fertilization and crop rotation practices. In the simple CR, both the unfertilized control and the NPK treatment exhibited a consistent decline in SOC content over the study period, with percentages decreasing from an initial 1.33% in 1955 to 1.15% and 1.14%, respectively. Although the FYM and FYM + NPK treatments showed an increase in SOC content in the 1990s, a gradual decline was recorded in the last two decades. This decrease was not observed in MCR: positive C balances were recorded in all treatments within MCR, with the largest increase in SOC stock occurring when NPK was combined with FYM. In contrast, over the last decade, C balances have decreased in simple CR for all treatments except FYM. This trend coincides with changes in the local climate, particularly rising temperatures. The results indicate that diversified crop rotations and FYM fertilization are effective in mitigating the negative impacts of changing environmental conditions on SOC stocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to undertake a detailed investigation of the agroecological state of the wheat and sugar beet ecosystems on a local scale. From 2001 to 2016, a set of the most critical agroecological indicators of wheat and sugar beet farming systems in the Torbat-e Heydarieh region, northeast of Iran, were studied. Potential yield calculations using both FAO and modified FAO methodologies revealed that potential yield was nearly consistent for both ecosystems over the research period in the region. The extent of the yield gap for both habitats decreased. The study of the regional yield factor revealed that improving the management system resulted in higher actual yield and thus a smaller yield gap in both ecosystems. In both ecosystems, there was a reduction in yield stability. The rate of ​nitrogen uptake efficiency, nitrogen utilization efficiency, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) all decreased during the studied years in the region. According to the findings, the primary cause of the increase in nitrogen consumption, growing intensification, and decreasing stability in the analyzed systems appears to be a deficiency of NUE and its downward trend. As a result, planning and altering management methods focusing on enhancing NUE may be proposed as the first step toward boosting sustainability in the Torbat-e Heydarieh wheat and sugar beet agroecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, beetroots were osmotically dehydrated in sugar beet molasses. The input parameters of the drying process were varied: temperature (20 °C, 40 °C, and 60 °C), time (1 h, 3 h, and 5 h), and concentration of sugar beet molasses (40%, 60%, and 80%). Basic quality indicators were determined for the dried beetroot samples: dry matter content, water loss, solid gain, mineral and betaine content, and phenols and flavonoids, as well as antioxidant potential. After optimizing the results, favorable drying parameters were selected: temperature 60 °C, molasses concentration 70%, and processing time 5 h. According to the optimal drying conditions, the beetroots were dried and stored at 4 °C for 28 days. Half of the dried samples were coated with an edible biopolymer coating based on Camelina sativa oilcake, while the other half of the samples remained uncoated. The sustainability study aimed to confirm the effects of the biopolymer coating on the quality and sustainability of the osmotically dried beetroots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orange peel and sugar beet pulp contain large quantities of pectin, which can be turned via galactaric acid into furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and its esters. In this work, we show the polymerisation of these FDCA esters into high‐molecular‐weight, 70–100 kg/mol, poly(ethylene 2,5‐furanoate) (PEF). PEF is an emerging bio‐based alternative for poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), widely used in for example packaging applications. Closing the loop, we also demonstrated and confirmed that PEF can be hydrolysed by enzymes, which are known to hydrolyse PET, back into FDCA for convenient recycling and recovery of monomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) is grown in temperate regions around the world as a source of sucrose used for natural sweetening. Sugar beet is susceptible to a number of viral diseases, but identification of the causal agent(s) under field conditions is often difficult due to mixtures of viruses that may be responsible for disease symptoms. In this study, the application of RNAseq to RNA extracted from diseased sugar beet roots obtained from the field and from greenhouse-reared plants grown in soil infested with the virus disease rhizomania (causal agent beet necrotic yellow vein virus; BNYVV) yielded genome-length sequences from BNYVV, as well as beet soil-borne virus (BSBV). The nucleotide identities of the derived consensus sequence of BSBV RNAs ranged from 99.4 to 96.7% (RNA1), 99.3 to 95.3% (RNA2), and 98.3 to 95.9% (RNA3) compared with published BSBV sequences. Based on the BSBV genome consensus sequence, clones of the genomic RNAs 1, 2, and 3 were obtained to produce RNA copies of the genome through in vitro transcription. Capped RNA produced from the clones was infectious when inoculated into leaves of Chenopodium quinoa and B. vulgaris, and extracts from transcript-infected C. quinoa leaves could infect sugar beet seedling roots through a vortex inoculation method. Subsequent exposure of these infected sugar beet seedling roots to aviruliferous Polymyxa betae, the protist vector of both BNYVV and BSBV, confirmed that BSBV derived from the infectious clones could be transmitted by the vector. Co-inoculation of BSBV synthetic transcripts with transcripts of a cloned putative satellite virus designated Beta vulgaris satellite virus 1A (BvSat1A) resulted in the production of lesions on leaves of C. quinoa similar to those produced by inoculation with BSBV alone. Nevertheless, accumulation of genomic RNA and the encoded protein of the satellite virus in co-inoculated leaves was readily detected on Northern and Western blots, respectively, whereas no accumulation of satellite virus products occurred when satellite virus RNA was inoculated alone. The predicted sequence of the detected protein encoded by BvSat1A bears hallmarks of coat proteins of other satellite viruses, and virions of a size consistent with a satellite virus were observed in samples testing positive for the virus. The results demonstrate that BSBV is a helper virus for the novel satellite virus BvSat1A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugar beet molasses is a low-value byproduct from the sugar industry. It contains significant amounts of sucrose (approx. 50% (w/w)), which can be used for many different applications, for example, as feedstock for the production of fuel (as ethanol) and biobased chemicals such as 5-hydoxymethyl furfural (HMF). To produce platform chemicals, sucrose is hydrolyzed into its monomeric C6 sugars: glucose and fructose. When comparing the hydrolysis rates of molasses with a pure sucrose solution, the specific reaction rate is much slower (Qp/x,60min = 93 and 70 gprod L−1 h−1 gcell−1 for pure sucrose and crude molasses, respectively) at the same sucrose concentration (300 g/L) and process conditions. To clarify why molasses inhibits the enzymatic hydrolysis rate, the influence of its viscosity and inorganic and organic composition was investigated. Also, the effects of molasses and treated molasses on pure enzymes, invertase (from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 0.05 mg/mL), compared with hydrolysis using whole cells of Baker's yeast (3 mg/mL), were tested. The results indicate an inhibitory effect of potassium (Qp/x,60min = 76 gprod L−1 h−1 gcell−1), generally at high salt concentrations (Qp/x,60min = 67 gprod L−1 h−1 gcell−1), which could be correlated to the solution's high salt concentrations and possibly the synergistic effects of different ions when applying concentrations that were four times that in the molasses. Also, the viscosity and sucrose purity seem to have an effect, where pure sucrose solutions and thick juice from the sugar mill yielded higher hydrolysis rates (Qp/x,60min = 97 gprod L−1 h−1 gcell−1) than molasses-type solutions with a higher viscosity (Qp/x,60min = 70–74 gprod L−1 h−1 gcell−1). Attempting to further understand the effects of different components on the invertase activity, an in silico investigation was performed, indicating that high salt concentrations affected the binding of sucrose to the active site of the enzyme, which can result in a lower reaction rate. This knowledge is important for future scale-up of the hydrolysis process, since reduced hydrolysis rates require larger volumes to provide a certain productivity, requiring larger process equipment and thereby higher investment costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]