Seed production potential evaluation of sugar beet half-sib families in Morocco

In Morocco, sugar-beet seed production represents a new challenge to meet the main breeding programme goals. The identification of a suitable zone for plant vernalization represents a bottleneck for seed production. This study aimed chiefly at evaluating the vernalization aptitude of 18 sugar beet half-sib progenies. Trials were conducted during three selection cycles in a specifically chosen environment. The experimental site of Merchouch is 40 km south-east of Rabat city. Field trials design is according to an open-pollinated experimental block. Yield components and five phenological traits were recorded during the growing cycle and at the plant maturation. The variance analysis showed a significant effect of the selection cycle on the phenological traits and grain yield. The plant cycle duration increased by 10.7 days between the first and the third selection cycles. According to the principal component analysis and the hierarchical clustering, F2, F5, F6, F9, F10, F11, F14 and F15 half-sib progenies are described as long cycle and high grain yield families. Grain yield reached 257.3 g per plant, the duration to maturity 350.6 days and the germination rate 93%. The three selection cycles and the suitability of the site vernalization conditions are potentially effective for seed production progress. Our results are relevant as they established an adequate site for the sugar beet seed production. The half-sib selection is a valuable method for sugar beet germplasm enhancement.