Much has changed in the methods of growing sugar beets in the last 75 years and in the kinds of sugar beet varieties available. One of the most dramatic changes has occurred in the quality of the sugar beet seed itself. These changes have allowed growers to save in labor costs and improve yields, vigor and sugar content, yet at the same time offer more resistance to sugar beet diseases. Mark Law, general manager of Holly Seed Operations in Sheridan, WY, explains that several factors contributed to the improved quality of sugar beets: research in plant breeding and genetics, better tools on the farm and in the seed processing and production areas, and innovations with seed pelleting and coatings.

The contribution of plant breeders heads the list of reasons why sugar beet seed quality improved so drastically. Prior to 1948, the biggest problem with the sugar beet seed was the seed itself. Sugar beet seed produced clusters of flowers, which in turn produced a hard ball of seeds held together by a cork-like material. When growers planted such a seed ball, two or more seedlings emerged, generally quite close together and often intertwined. This multi germ seed needed extensive thinning. In the old days, workers went through the field blocking and thinning, using a short handled hoe to remove solid blocks of seedlings, and then removing by hand picking all but one plant from each bunch.

This seed ball, with its bunched seedlings, prevented the invention and use of thinning machines. Labor costs, therefore, were huge. Scientists first had to solve the multi-germ problem by creating a seed ball, which produced only one seed.

Researchers made some progress in this area in the '40s by devising a method that reduced by mechanical means the number of seeds in a seed ball. This made a segmented seed. While this segmented seed was a huge improvement over the unsegmented multi-germ seed, this method still did not guarantee that each seed segment would produce only one seedling.

In 1948, researchers found two plants with the true monogerm trait in an Oregon beet seed field. From those two plants, scientists did the slow work of breeding the monogerm trait into quality seeds.

"Monogerm seed facilitated modern sugar beet production today," Law remarks. "It made thinning easier, it allowed for more effective thinning with less labor, and paved the way to planting to stand, with no thinning required at all."

Researchers did not stop their efforts once they achieved the monogerm sugar beet seed. They continued the drive for quality by developing better varieties with more inherent traits, such as robustness and yield. They also tackled the disease problem by developing varieties with resistance to certain diseases. "I'd say the biggest development in sugar beet research is the Cercospora resistant, Curly Top resistant, and recently, of global importance, the development of Rhyzomania resistant sugar beets," Law comments.

Law also points out that a Holly Sugar seed division research program discovered the gene, used worldwide, for the Rhyzomania resistant varieties. "The Holly Sugar seed division research program discovered that gene in Tracy, CA, in 1983," Law says. "That source of resistance is used all over the world today."

Law says there are in excess of 100 sugar beet varieties available for use in the U.S. today. Researchers need to develop varieties suited specifically to each different growing location. Researchers test varieties in locations all over the world to determine what variety works best in what specific situation and location. "It's a challenge for plant breeders to keep the sugar content and yield up while adding in the disease factor," Law advises. "Breeders strive to improve one aspect of the seed's genetic makeup without at the same time losing some other valuable aspect of that genetic makeup."

Besides researching disease resistant varieties, breeders also work on plant research to prevent bolting, a problem in California. They also continue to work on the genetically altered aspects of sugar beet research.

A few other factors other than plant breeding efforts have also contributed to the improvement in sugar beet quality. The invention of better tools plays a part. Growers themselves have better equipment and they practice better agronomics, such as in their management of water and fertilizer and in the implementation of ridging practices.

Law points out that the Internet has become a useful tool for both growers and companies. "The Internet has proved itself invaluable as a communication method for a wide range of information dissemination," Law notes. "The Internet is very useful. We can post grower alerts, we have crop models, and grower resources. Growers can log on our site for crop models to predict disease and insect outbreaks, for record keeping information, field mapping; we have a message board to communicate with growers all over the country. The Internet is a very powerful tool."

Tools used by seed suppliers also improve quality. Seed suppliers place more emphasis on seed quality and on improving techniques that allow seed to emerge faster. Companies discard a high percentage of seed as unsuitable for germination. "Most seed companies have modern equipment that removes a lot of the extra cork material found around the seed," Law states. "Machines remove the excess cork which also improves seed quality."

He continues, "Cork removal allows seed companies to separate the good seed from the bad seed. We throw away 75% of all seed. It is a sophisticated exercise in separating good seed from bad."

Seed companies learned to improve seed quality even more with new coating and pelleting techniques. Seed pelleting aids growers in precision planting techniques by making seed more uniform. "Sugar beet seed is irregular," Law explains. "These pelleting techniques take an irregular seed and make it regular. Planter units can then plant seed precisely, allowing growers to plant to stand. Growers can regulate their machines to plant every four or five inches, which eliminates thinning costs and adds up to savings for the grower."

Seed companies today have also developed a priming process for seed. "Priming technologies help speed emergence in the field," Law remarks. "This process can remove the growth inhibitors, so when growers plant that seed, it germinates quickly."

Law believes that in the future, because of the effect of genetic engineering, growers will see new developments in areas of disease resistance where traditional plant breeding methods show little progress. "With genetic engineering, we'll be able to fight diseases and pests we can't fight today. We have to work through the public perception of genetic engineering first, but the research will come," Law says.

Law reminds Sidney area growers that the Holly Sugar seed division has worked on research to better sugar beet quality for many years. "The seed division with Holly Sugar has supported Sidney area growers since the '30s," he points out. "We are all in this together."