Germination of SEED and establishment of SEEDling in sugar beet could be influenced by chemical inhibitors of SEED coat, SEED hardness and impermeability to water and oxygen as well as SEED reserves. Uniform SEEDs of cv 9597 were studied using a completely randomized design with 4 replications. Samples of 100 SEEDs were washed by distilled water, diluted hydrochloric acid and diluted hydrochloric acid which was neutralized by sodium hydroxide at the end of washing treatment. Each of the above treatments was applied at 2, 4 and 6 hours. Samples were sterilized by diluted sodium hypochlorite solution. Germination percent and the rate of germination in germinator and sand medium were calculated. Results showed that the type of treatment for washing couldn’t influence the percent and the rate of sugar beet germination SEED in the germinator. But the rate of germination in sand medium increased significantly through water treatment. In addition, the time of applied treatments influenced the percent and the rate of germination in germinator and sand medium significantly. Interaction effects between the type of treatments and the time of washing also influenced the percent of germination in germinator and the rate of germination in sand medium significantly. Such that, the 6 hours washing with distilled water increased the percent of germination in germinator 1.87 times and the rate of germination in sand medium 43% in comparison with control, non-washed SEED treatment.

The nutritive value of SUGARBEET SEED (Beta vulgaris) wastes (SBSW) was determined and utilized on fattening Chal male lambs. The proximate chemical analysis of SBSW for crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract were 14.3, 32.5 and 1.3 percent based on dry matter respectively. In vivo and in vitro digestibility for DM and OM were 40.7 and 54.2, 47.5 and 46.7 percent respectively. Rumen degradability of SBSW measured by the nylon bag and gas production technique (GP).DM and OM disappearance were subjected to the equation of Macdonald and Orscov. The 24 hour GP values used to calculate OMD and ME. The nylon bag results were shown to be low. The mean value of GPT for total gas volume and fermentation potential were 10.8 ml/24h for 200 mg DM and 13.3%. The values of OMD and ME calculated from data g~s volumes which were 414 gr/kg DM and 914 kcal/kg DM. TDN and DE values by in vivo have been measured for (SBSW), that were respectively 37% and 721 kcal/kg DM. Thrity six 6-7 month age Chal male lambs with the average body weight 29.5 (2.4) kg were used. SBSW was utilized on fattening lambs diet. A 100-d experiment lambs was conducted to use the dietary inclusions of 0, 8, 16 and 32% (SBSW) on lambs rations. A randomized complete block design with three weight groups (block) and four treatment was employed. At the end of experiment total lambs were slaughtered .The results showed that average daily gain, carcass weight, fat and tail fat weight were not affected by treatments. It was concluded that substitution of (SBSW) up to 32% by alfalfa hay in diet of lambs reduced the cost of fattening.

SEED germination is the begining of life cycle for many crops. Snitable methods of SEED selection and production have great effects on the yield. In this study, a field work was preceded hy a laboratory experiment in order to evaluate the SEED vigour in seven sorghum lines. The field experiment was a RCBD with three replications and was carried out in 1998, Karaj, Iran. Each experimental plot was 2.6x7m with four rows (65 cm between the rows). After SEEDling emergence, the germination percentage was recorded. When the SEEDlings were at 4-6 leaves thinning was done to reduce the space between them to 6cm in a row and other necessary practices were carried out on time until the SEEDs were fully matured. Samples were taken from all the seven sorghum lines and in the laboratory, using RCBD design, standard Germination Test (G), Cold Test (CT), Accelerated Ageing Test (AA), Electrical Conductivity Test (EC) with four replications were implemented on the samples. The results indicated that the sorghum lines KFS1, KFS2 and KFS4 are significantly different in SEED vigours, percentage of field emergence and also the fresh and dry matter yields of forage.

To determine the possible effects of climatic parameters on SUGARBEET SEED yield, the correlation between SEED yield and different meteorological parameters during 1955-2002 was determined and the parameters which had significant correlation with SEED yield were fitted by multivariate models. To scrutinize the effective climatic factors, the growth period of SUGARBEET SEED-bearing plants (from early-April to late-July) was divided into fifteen-day intervals during plantingbolting, bolting-blooming, blooming-full bloom, full bloom-maturity and total growth period. Then, simple correlation coefficients of each period with SEED yield were estimated and finally multiple regression model was fitted. The results showed that the SEED yield significantly correlated with mean temperature during the first half of May (-0.591*) and first half of July (-0.584*), mean sunny hours during the first half of May (-0.544*) and first half of June (-0.550*), total precipitation during the second half of April (0.565*) and first half of June (0.624**) and total received growing degree days (GDDs) during the first half of May (-0.505*) and first half of July (-0.584*). On the other hand, SUGARBEET SEED yield had significant correlation with total precipitation (0.574*) during the planting-bolting period, sunny hours (-0.511*) during the bolting-blooming period and precipitation (0.526*) during the growth period.

An experiment was conducted in research field of Firoozkooh SUGARBEET elite SEED production station in 2004 to study the effects of different planting and harvesting dates on quantity and quality of SUGARBEET monogerm SEED. The experiment was a split plot experiment based on a randomized complete block design with four replications. The planting date at three levels (March 18, April 15 and April 29) made the main plot and harvesting date at four levels (harvesting 15, 30, 45 and 60 days after 50% flowering) constituted the sub-plot. After harvesting and threshing, raw SEED yield, SEED distribution in terms of diameter and thickness and germination percentage was measured. The results showed that the change in planting date significantly affected the occurrence of 50% greening, stem-bearing and flowering in terms of days after planting and intercepted growing degree days (GDD) at 1% probability level, so that the delay in planting date decreased the number of days to 50% greening, stem-bearing and flowering. The main effects of planting and harvesting dates and their interactions had a significant effect on raw SEED yield at 1% probability level. The highest SUGARBEET raw SEED yield (1164 kg/ha) in Firoozkooh was obtained by planting SEED-bearing plants in March 18 and harvesting them 45 days after 50% flowering. The delay in planting date significantly decreased the loss caused by SEED polishing, while harvesting date significantly affected the proportion of undersized SEEDs so that it decreased as the harvesting date was retarded. The results indicated that the studied factors did not significantly affect the proportion of standard (with diameters of 3.5-4.5 mm) and oversized SEEDs (with diameter of >4.5 mm). Delayed harvesting date significantly increased SEED germination rate while the change in planting date had no effect on this trait.

Crop SEED germination and SEEDling growth are exposed to drought and salinity in some areas specially in arid and semi-arid regions and combined effect of these stresses on germination and emergence is of considerable interest. A growth chamber study was conducted to investigate SEED germination of wheat (Triticum aestivum), sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum) in reduced water potential (distilled water as control, 0.32, 0.56, and 0.80 MPa). Negative potentials were simulated by using concentrated macronutrient solution (NPK), NaCl, CaCl2 and polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000). Treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design using a 4×4×3 factorial experiment with four replications [4 levels of water potential, three species, and four types of osmoticum]. In each treatment 50 SEEDs were planted in a 11 cm diameter petri dish. Parameters examined in germinating SEEDs were rate of imbibition per day, rate and duration of emergence and elongation and weight of radicle and plumule. For all three species duration and rate of germination increased with increasing negative water potenital, but the sensitivity of species were quite different, wheat SEEDs were emerged fastest at all water potentials and osmoticums, followed by chickpea and then sugar beet. Although sugar beet is a salt resistant crop’its SEED germination and dry matter build up in radicle and plumule reduced more than other two crops by water potential. Different osmoticums in the same water potential showed significant differences in rate and duration of germination as well as radicle and plumule length and weight particularly in sugar beet and chickpea. At all three species concentrated macro nutrient NPK showed better performance than others and PEG-6000 had the most inhibitory effect on SEED germination. Differences between NaCl and CaCl2 generally became less pronounced. These results suggest that PEG-6000 may exert specific effect and concentrated NPK could be a suitable alternative for PEG.

The host-parasite relationship of oilSEED rape cultivars K. 16, Global, Cobra and Tower were determined against sugar beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii in a glasshouse test. A suspension of 1200 freshly hatched J2 was injected in to the soil around the SEEDlings. After 3 days and twice a week, roots of 3 plants of each cultivar were checked for nematodes and different stages of juvenile development hosts of H. shcachtii, as juveniles penetrated roots and developed to mature egg laying females. Second stage juveniles penetrated the roots of all cultivars during the 18 days of the experiment and third and forth stage juveniles were developed from the 6th and 12th day respectively. Adult males and white females were detected in soil of all cultivars after 21 days. The nematode reproduction factor was more than cultivars. Furthermore, total number of cyst, eggs and juveniles were high lest of all in K. 16, and nearly three times that of Tower and Cobra, although the differences were not significant.

Dodder is an obligate parasite of many plant families and among dodder species Cuscuta campestris has the most diverse around the world. Extensive infestation to dodder recently has been reported in some sugerbeet production regions of Khorasan provinces. So, in this study greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to test and charachterize the tolerance of commercial SUGARBEET varieties to C. campestris. A completely randomized design with five replications and a randomized complete block design with three replications were used for the greenhouse and field experiments, respectively. Treatments were five common varieties of SUGARBEET included Castille, Paulina, Brigitta, Flores and Laetitia with dodder infestation and control treatments (SUGARBEET varieties) without infestation. Traits measured were shoot and root dry weight of sugerbeet, dry weight of dodder, the number of houstorium on shoot of sugerbeet, growth percentage of dodder and sugerbeet. The results indicated that varieties showed different levels of tolerance to dodder infection. The variety of Flores had the most percentage of shoot and root dry weight and Paulina with 13.48% of root dry weight and 31.96% of shoot dry weight compared to control showed the least tolerance. Whereas the number of houstorium and dodder dry weight had the most and the least amount in Castille and Flores, respectively. In this experiment Flores variety exhibited tolerance to dodder and Castille was known as susceptible variety.

A leaf spot and blight of SUGARBEET (Beta vulgaris L.) of unknown etiology was observed in several SUGARBEET production areas of Isfahan since 1993. Circular to irregular necrotic spots or blotches, less than one to several centimeters in diameter appear on leaves. The lesions progress inwards, expand and coalesce, giving the leaves a blighted appearance.A Gram-negative, aerobic, nonmotile, rod-shaped bacterium was consitently isolated from symptomatic leaves. Colonies on sucrose nutrient agar were nonmucoid, yellow, convex and smooth with entire margins. The strains were oxidase negative, nonfluorescent, and hydrolyzed casein, gelatin, esculin, starch and Tween-80. They were negative in tests for production of arginine dihydrolase, urease and lecithinase, reduction of nitrate and production of in,doleand acetoin. Some strains produced H2S from cysteine. Growth of the bacterium was inhibitedby 0.1% triphenyl tetrazolium chloride, 2.5% NaCI and 30% glucose. Fructose, glucose, cellobiose, trehalose, sucrose, maltose, melibiose, xylose, glycerol, starch, dextrin, amygdalin, arbutin, lactate, malate, D- and Lalanine and L- proline were among the carbon sources used for growth. No strain utilized adonitol, dulcitol, inositol, rhamnose or tartrates. Strains produced a xanthomonadin pigment.Pathogenicity of strains was confirmed through wound inoculation of young SUGARBEET plants.Based on the biochemical, physiological and nutritional charactristics, the strains isolated from, and proved pathogenic on SUGARBEET plants, were identified as Xanthomonas sp. The phenotypic features, electrophoretic profile of cell proteins and the type of symptoms produced by Xanthomonas sp. reported herein, are considerably different from those of Xanthomonas sp. betae (X campestris pv. betae) recorded in Brazil. Therefore, the blight of SUGARBEET occurring in Iran, appe.1rs to be a previously unreported disease and the incita"nt bacterium a new species or pathovar of Xanthomonas.