Sugar Beet hybrids with resistance/tolerance to Virus Yellows entering the European market.

Abstract

After the ban of the neonicotinoides within the EU in 2018, the ability to control aphids in sugar beet production has drastically deceased.   This includes the peach potato aphid (Myzus persicae), the main vector of viruses causing Virus Yellows.   In Europe, Virus Yellows is caused by one or more of beet yellows virus (BYV), beet mild yellowing virus (BMYV) and beet chlorosis virus (BChV). In several European countries Virus Yellows has caused significant yield losses with reports of about 70% yield loss in some growing areas.  At DLF Beet Seed, research activity towards the different viruses as well as identifying and collecting naturally occurring resistance against the disease goes back to the 1960’s. Hybrids based on resistance and tolerance to more than one virus have been developed and are on the way to the European market under the name VYtech® varieties.