Foreword -- Preface -- About the Cover Illusmtration -- Contents -- Contributors -- Introduction -- 1. History and Basic Biology -- 1 .1 Brief History of Sugar and Sugar-producing Plants (E. Biancardi) -- 1.2 Brief History of Sugar Beet Cultivation (E. Biancardi) -- 1.3 Anatomy and Physiology (K. Klotz) -- 1.3.1 Vegetative Growth -- 1.3.1.1 Seed germination and early plant development -- 1.3.1.2 Shoot morphology and development -- 1.3.1.3 Root morphology and development -- 1.3.2 Reproductive Growth -- 1.3.2.1 Transition to reproductive growth -- 1.3.2.2 Reproductive growth and floral anatomy -- 1.3.2.3 Fertilization -- 1.3.2.4 Seed morphology and development -- 1.4 Cytology and Cytogenetics (G.N. Skaracis) -- 1.4.1 Chromosome Morphology and Structure -- 1.4.2 Meiotic Course -- 1.4.2.1 Haploids -- 1.4.2.2 Diploids -- 1.4.2.3 Triploids -- 1.4.2.4 Tetraploids -- 1.4.2.5 Meiosis in related Beta species -- 1.4.3 Primary Trisomics -- 1.4.4 ldentification of Alien Chromosomal Additions -- 1.5 Sources of Genetic Variation, Genus Beta (B. Ford-Lloyd) -- 1.5.1 Early Descriptions of Beet -- 1.5.2 Classification History -- 1.5.3 New Classification for Section Beta -- 1.5.4 The Future of Beta Classification using DNA -- 1.6 Plant Introduction and Genetic Diversity (L. Panella and R.T. Lewellen) -- 1.7 History of Sugar Beet Breeding (E. Biancardi) -- References -- 2. Objectives of Sugar Beet Breeding -- 2.1 Introduction (E. Biancardi) -- 2.2 Polyploidy (G.N. Skaracis and E. Biancardi) -- 2.3 Monogerm Seed (E. Biancardi and G.N. Skaracis) -- 2.4 Male Sterility (G.N. Skaracis and E. Biancardi) -- 2.5 Annual and Biennial Growth Habit, Bolting Resistance (G. Steinrucken) -- 2.5.1 Annual Growth Habit -- 2.5.2 Biennial Growth Habit -- 2.5.3 Bolting and Flowering Regulation -- 2.5.4 Major Flowering Pathways -- 2.5.5 Flowering Traits in Breeding.

2.5.6 Breeding for Bolting Resistance -- 2.6 Self-fertility and Self-incompatibility (M. De Biaggi) -- 2.6.1 Self-incompatibility -- 2.6.2 Self-fertility -- 2.7 Seed Quality (E. Biancardi and M. De Biaggi) -- 2.8 Root, Hypocotyl, and Leaf Color (E. Biancardi) -- 2.9 Morphological and Physiological Traits (E. Biancardi) -- 2.10 Resistance to Parasites -- 2.10.1 Introduction (E. Biancardi) -- 2.10.2 Viruses -- 2.10.2.1 Curly Top (L. Panella) -- 2.10.2.2 Beet Yellows (M. De Biaggi) -- 2.10.2.3 Beet mosaic (R.T. Lewellen and E. Biancardi) -- 2.10.2.4 Rhizomar~ia (M. De Biaggi) -- 2.10.2.5 Beet soilborne virus (M. De Biaggi) -- 2.10.3 Bacteria -- 2.10.3.1 Bacterial vascular necrosis and rot (L.G.C ampbell) -- 2.10.3.2 Yellow wilt (R.T. Lewellen and E. Biancardi) -- 2.10.4 Fungi -- 2.10.4.1 Cercospora leaf spot (G.N. Skaracis and E. Biancardi) -- 2.10.4.2 Powdery mildew (L.G. Campbell) -- 2.10.4.3 Downy mildew (E. Biancardi and R.T. Lewellen) -- 2.10.4.4 Fusarium yellows (L. Panella and R.T. Lewellen) -- 2.10.4.5 Root rots (L. Panella) -- 2.10.4.6 Southern sclerotium root rot (R.T. Lewellen and E. Biancardi) -- 2.10.4.7 Polymyxa betae (E. Biancardi) -- 2.10.4.8 Black root (L. Panella) -- 2.10.4.9 Minor fungal diseases (E. Biancardi) -- 2.10.5 Nematodes -- 2.10.5.1 Cyst nematode (M.H. Yu) -- 2.10.5.2 Root-knot nematode (M.H. Yu) -- 2.10.6 Insects and Mites -- 2.1 0.6.1 Aphids (L.G. Campbell) -- 2.1 0.6.2 Spinach leaf miner (E. Biancardi) -- 2.10.6.3 Sugar beet root maggot (L.G. Campbell) -- 2.1 0.6.4 Flea beetle (E. Biancardi) -- 2.1 0.6.5 Spider mite (E. Biancardi) -- 2.10.7 Multiple Disease Resistance (E. Biancardi) -- 2.11 Resistance to Abiotic Stresses (P. Stevanato) -- 2.11.I Cold Stress -- 2.11.2 Heat and UV Stresses -- 2.11.3 Water Stress -- 2.12 Sugar Content, Root Weight, and Sugar Yield (M. McGrath) -- 2.13 Ethanol Production (E. Biancardi).

2.14 Postharvest Storage Traits (L.G. Campbell) -- 2.15 Processing Quality (L.G. Campbell) -- References -- 3. Conventional Breeding Methods -- 3.1 Selection Methods (M. De Biaggi and G.N. Skaracis) -- 3.1 .I Mass Selection -- 3.1.2 Progeny Selection and Line Breeding -- 3.1.2.1 Half-sib selection -- 3.1.2.2 Full-sib selection -- 3.1.2.3 Progeny selection using clones -- 3.1.3 Recurrent Selection -- 3.1.4 Inbreeding and Heterosis -- 3.1.5 lnterspecific Hybridization -- 3.1.6 Mutagenesis -- 3.2 Production of Commercial Varieties (G.N. Skaracis and M. De Biaggi) -- 3.2.1 Introduction -- 3.2.2 Open-pollinated, Synthetic, and Anisoploid Varieties -- 3.2.3 Monogerm Hybrid Varieties -- 3.2.3.1 Development of CMS seed parents -- 3.2.3.2 Development of pollinators -- 3.2.3.3 Synthesis of hybrid varieties -- 3.2.4 Maintenance of Parental Lines -- 3.2.5 Winter Varieties -- 3.3 Field Evaluation and Registration (E. Biancardi and M. De Biaggi) -- 3.3.1 Field Evaluation -- 3.3.2 Variety Registration and International Regulations -- References -- 4. Molecular Biology and Biotechnology -- 4.1 Genomics in Genetic Improvement (M. McGrath) -- 4.1 .1 Introduction -- 4.1.2 Genome Organization of the Nucleus (Structural Genomics) -- 4.1.3 Genomes of Chloroplasts and Mitochondria -- 4.1.4 Genes (Functional Genomics) -- 4.1.5 Other Genomic Considerations for Beet Improvement -- 4.2 Molecular Breeding (G.N. Skaracis) -- 4.2.1 Introduction -- 4.2.2 Genetic Mapping -- 4.2.3 Marker-assisted Selection -- 4.2.3.1 Rhizomania resistance -- 4.2.3.2 Bolting trait -- 4.2.3.3 Fertility restoration -- 4.2.3.4 Cercospora resistance -- 4.2.3.5 Powdery mildew -- 4.2.3.6 Sugar yield-related traits -- 4.2.3.7 Nematode resistance -- 4.2.4 DNA Fingerprinting -- 4.2.4.1 Genetic diversity in cultivated sugar beet and related species -- 4.2.4.2 Characterization of germplasm and varieties.

4.3 In Vitro Culture Technique (G.N. Skaracis) -- 4.3.1 Introduction -- 4.3.2 Micropropagation -- 4.3.3 Plant Regeneration -- 4.3.3.1 Callus-mediated morphogenesis -- 4.3.3.2 Direct morphogenesis -- 4.3.3.3 Regeneration efficiency -- 4.3.4 Protoplast Culture -- 4.3.5 Haploid Production -- 4.3.6 Somaclonal Variation and Selection -- 4.4 Genetic Engineering (G.N. Skaracis) -- 4.4.1 Introduction -- 4.4.2 Methods of Genetic Transformation -- 4.4.2.1 Vector-mediated transformation -- 4.4.2.2 Direct DNA transformation -- 4.4.2.3 Recent selection approaches -- 4.4.3 Transgenic Traits -- 4.4.3.1 Herbicide resistance -- 4.4.3.2 Rhizomania resistance -- 4.4.3.3 Altered carbohydrate metabolism -- 4.4.3.4 Environmental stress resistance -- 4.4.3.5 Resistance to fungi -- 4.4.3.6 Insect resistance -- 4.4.3.7 Nematode resistance -- 4.4.3.8 Bolting resistance -- 4.5 Final Considerations (G.M. Skaracis) -- References -- 5. Seed Production -- 5.1 Agronomic Practices (E. Biancardi) -- 5.2 Pollen Isolation (E. Biancardi) -- 5.3 Biodiversity and Gene Flow (D. Bartsch) -- 5.3.1 Inter and Intra-specific Diversity in Genus Beta -- 5.3.2 Impact of Genetically Modified Beet on Biodiversity -- 5.3.3 Monitoring of GMO Gene Flow -- 5.4 Seed Quality and Conservation (M. De Biaggi) -- References -- 6. Prospects in Sugar Beet Breeding -- 6.1 Breeding Targets (G. Steinrucken) -- 6.1 .I Fertilizers and Water -- 6.1.2 Pesticides -- 6.1.3 Herbicides -- 6.1.4 Sugar Yield -- 6.1.5 Processing Costs -- 6.1.6 Low Tare -- 6.1.7 New Products -- 6.2 Breeding Methods (G. Steinrucken) -- 6.2.1 Molecular Markers -- 6.2.2 Genetic Resources -- 6.2.3 New Genes -- 6.2.4 Genes and Environment -- 6.3 Challenges (G. Steinrucken) -- References -- Additional lnformation Sources -- Monographs -- Proceedings and International Journals -- History -- Plant Breeding and Genetics.

Breeding and Genetics of Sugar Beet -- Biotechnology -- Agronomy and Physiology -- Pathology -- Seed Production -- Processing -- Processing Quality -- Dictionaries -- Index -- About the Editors.