Volume 7
Issue 1
Horticulture
JOURNAL OF
POLISH
AGRICULTURAL
UNIVERSITIES
Available Online: http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume7/issue1/horticulture/abs-01.html
GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF GLOBOSE AND SLIGHTLY FLATTENED CULTIVARS OF RED GARDEN BEET LISTED IN POLAND BETWEEN 1988 AND 1999
Urszula Braun-M³odecka
ABSTRACT
The paper aimed at estimating the genetic improvement in yield and some quality traits of globose and slightly flattened cultivars of red garden beet listed in Poland during the years 1988-1999. The method of deviations from a check was used. The calculations were based on the results of cultivar testing conducted by the Research Centre for Cultivar Testing in S³upia Wielka. A significant genetic improvement of 0.55%/yr. was achieved in marketable yield. The genetic gain in betanin content amounted to 0.78%/yr. and vulgaxanthine to 1.33%/yr. However, the content of dry matter decreased at an annual rate of –0.77% and of sugar at the rate of -1.12%/yr. The content of nitrates negatively increased by 0.74%/yr. Depending on the trait analysed approximately 17% - 30% of the total improvement could be attributed to genetic factors.
Key words: red garden beet, genetic improvement, cultivar.