The CTPS Beet and industrial chicory Section
On 16 January 2025, the CTPS Beet and Industrial Chicory Section met for the first time in the 2024-2029 mandate, to examine the varieties under study in 2024. The Section proposed 50 sugar beet varieties, 9 fodder beet varieties and 2 industrial chicory varieties for inclusion in the French Catalogue on list A, and 1 sugar beet variety on list B.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to review the work being done on the interpretation of yellows data. Progress is being made every year, but still few varieties stand out with acceptable results. All sugar beet varieties in their first and second years at the CTPS have been evaluated for the three yellows viruses (BMYV, BChV and BYV) since 2022. In 2025, and based on the results of the 1st year, only a few varieties will be evaluated in the 2nd year in the yellows systems. At the same time, new trials of non-inoculated series will be set up.
The results of the 2024 campaign are rather mixed, considering the difficult weather conditions. Low yields and richness were again recorded this year, due to a number of factors.
The January meeting also provided an opportunity to review preparations for the 2025 campaign. The development of the VSCU networks and the witness grids were presented and approved by the Section.
The Section has taken into consideration a request for special sugar beet trials relating to Syndrome des Basses Richesses, a proteobacterium that can cause significant losses in richness. Once a protocol has been validated, a trial should be set up in Alsace in 2025 to evaluate tolerance to this pathogen, on several candidate varieties.
A number of amendments to the Technical Regulations for sugar beet and fodder beet have been approved, in order to clarify the evaluation and registration rules.
Finally, the Scientific Committee’s “climate change” referral was presented to the Section. The focus was on WP2 “The contribution of breeding and the organisation of the seeds and seedlings sector” and WP4 “How to qualify the potential of varieties to adapt to climate change”.
