Major fungal causal agent of Red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) seed industry in New Zealand

Abstract

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) is an herbaceous dicotyledonous plant belonging to the Chenopodiaceae family. The plant species is indigenous to the Mediterranean area, but beets have been widely cultivated in temperate regions of the world (5). New Zealand is a major seed source of Beetroot/Red beet for plant breeders in the global market and supplies about 50% of the total worldwide beetroot seed production. The Mid-Canterbury plains situated in the province of Canterbury on the central east coast of the South Island is a major seed production region (6). In MidCanterbury, the beetroot seed crop remains in the field for about 12 months which increases the possibility of attack by various fungal pathogens causing increasing yield loss and seed quality problems.