Quality Seed Production of Sugar Beet in India

Abstract

Sugar beet is another crop which possesses capability of producing sucrose, besides sugarcane. It is a flexible crop as it can be grown in number of soils including saline soils where crop like sugarcane fails to grow. It even has the capability to grow well under water-limiting conditions and in general requires less irrigation supply than sugarcane crop. Furthermore, it can be grown as an intercrop with autumn-planted sugarcane which will help in increasing the sugar productivity of our country and also lessens the burden of sugar production bestowed on sugarcane crop solely. Considering all the benefits of sugar beet cultivation, adaptability of superior variety to Indian agroclimatic condition is prerequisite for success of this crop for which intensive research is required for developing indigenous sugar beet varieties. In accordance, success has been achieved in standardization of quality seed production at various locations in our country at higher altitudes where low temperature prevails. These are Mukteshwar and Ranichauri (Kumaon Hills), Auli (Garhwal Hills), Shimla and Kalpa (Himachal Pradesh), Darjeeling (West Bengal), and Kashmir. Due to the variable climatic conditions in India at various places, seed production of this crop is more favorable, and in this respect, India may become independent producer of seed for this crop. With the increasing demand of sugar beet production, not only as sugar producer but also as bioethanol producer, multinational companies may be attracted toward our country for producing seeds at lower costs. In this respect, guarantee of seed availability of suitable varieties is needed. Considering all these aspects from this crop, there will be need of large quantity of high-quality sugar beet seeds. So, this chapter will be focused on seed biology of sugar beet, how sugar beet quality seeds are produced, as well as the seed enhancement technologies involved with this crop.