Study of some qualititative and quantitative traits of sugar beet in response to foliar application of methanol and drought stress

In order to evaluate the effects of methanol on yield and some quality characteristics of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) under drought and non-drought stress conditions, a study was conducted in maahdasht (Karaj, Iran) in 2012. The first factor was Aqueous solutions of methanol including 0 (control), 7, 14, 21 and 28% (v/v) and the second factor was three levels of irrigation including normal irrigation (irrigation after 40% depletion of available water), mild drought stress (irrigation after 60% depletion of available water) and severe drought stress (irrigation after 70% depletion of available water). These solutions were sprayed over head 3 times in two week intervals on foliage parts of sugar beet during plant growth. The first spraying was done 80 days after crop sowing. In this study, qualitative and quantitative traits like root yield, aboveground yield, white sugar content, root dry matter percent, sugar percent content, Na, K and harmful N amounts, molasses sugar percent, extraction coefficient of white sugar and extractable sugar percent were evaluated. Results indicated that there were significant differences between effects of methanol solutions on root yield, leaf yield, white sugar yield, dry weight of root, molasses, extraction coefficient of sugar, white sugar content, N and Na concentrations. The greatest root yield, aboveground yield, and white sugar yield were gained with 7% (v/v) of methanol with 72.62, 61.76 and 9.91 ton/h, respectively. There were also significant differences between irrigation levels in traits such as root yield, leaf yield, extraction coefficient of sugar, root dry weight percent, sugar content and K and harmful N concentrations and white sugar content.