Sugar Beet Seed Production in Turkey

Abstract

Sugar beet is an important agricultural and industrial crop that contributes to Turkey‘s economy. It is not only the source of sugar production in our country but also become an important sector with seed production. The seeds are one of the most important issues directly affecting the root yield and quality of sugar beet. There are a lot of registered sugar beet varieties and sufficient seed production in Turkey. According to the data in 2020 year, the seeds of sugar beet varieties were produced with a sowing area of 11.891 decare, seed production was 2.317 tons and 198 kg/da in seed yield. The seed amount is completely belonging to the seed companies operating in the private sector. Besides, 413 tons of sugar beet seeds were imported and 11.312 million dollars was paid, while 143 tons of seeds were exported and 1.584 million dollars income was obtained in 2020. The sugar beet plant produces leaves above the ground and root in the first year, and grows the stem, branch, flower and seeds in the second year. Therefore, seed production needs a long time and intensive labor requirement. In order to shorten this two-year period in seed production of sugar beet, firstly seedlings belonging to male and female lines of a hybrid variety are grown and then, the seed production is performed by transplanting these seedlings. In this review, commercial hybrid seed production of sugar beet is explanied in detail.