Screening of sugar beet genotypes to beet cyst nematode

Sugar beet cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii Schmidt), is one of the limiting factors of sugar beet growth. Considering the importance and magnitude of this nematode distribution in Iran and also to decrease its destructive damage, use of resistant varieties is recommended. Prerequisite for resistant variety development is resistant genotype availability. In this study, resistance of 70 sugar beet genotypes to sugar beet cyst nematode was evaluated in a completely randomized design with three replications in the greenhouse and in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the field condition in Isfahan, Iran. Data analysis was performed using SAS software and cluster analysis was done by SPSS software. Results showed that genotypes 53 (SB-2), 69 (NE 0911), and 16 (SB32-HSF-5) had the minimum number of cysts, and genotypes16 (SB32-HSF-5) and 5 (SB31-HSF-2) had the lowest rates of eggs, larva and reproductive factor, respectively. The genotypes 16 (SB32-HSF-5) and 5 (SB31-HSF-2) were identified as the most resistant genotypes and were placed in the same cluster. Therefore, these genotypes can be used in breeding programs for resistant variety development.