The drought tolerance of sugar beet may be improved by selecting genotypes that are better able to extract soil water. Root growth and patterns of water extraction were examined in sugar beet genotypes that showed contrasting yield responses to water deficit. In one experiment, the spatial distribution of roots of two genotypes under irrigated and droughted conditions was determined by counting root contacts within a grid placed on the vertical face of a trench cut into the plant row. The genotype NV7 produced a larger yield under drought, but did not show differences in patterns of water uptake or root distribution in the soil profile compared with Y975H37, which yielded less. In other experiments, water use profiles of a larger number of genotypes were compared. Significant genotypic differences were observed for total dry matter, sugar yield and drought tolerance index. Genotypes differed in the ability to extract water from deep soil layers (110 cm from the surface), which correlated with yield potential. However, there were no significant genotype differences in season-long water use, which suggests that genotypes differed in water use efficiency. There was no consistent relationship between total water use and drought tolerance per se. Thus, water extraction by deep roots was related to general plant vigour, but may not be the most important factor controlling drought tolerance for sugar beet under these conditions.

drought, drought resistance, genotypes, irrigation, plantwater relations, root systems, rooting, roots, soil water, sugarbeet,water stress, water uptake, UK, Beta vulgaris var. saccharifera, Betavulgaris, Beta, Chenopodiaceae, Caryophyllales, dicotyledons,angiosperms, Spermatophyta, plants, eukaryotes, British Isles, WesternEurope, Europe, Developed Countries, Commonwealth of Nations, EuropeanUnion Countries, OECD Countries, Britain, drought tolerance, soilmoisture, United Kingdom, watering, Field Crops (FF005) (New March2000), Plant Physiology and Biochemistry (FF060), Plant Water Relations(FF062), Plant Production (FF100), Environmental Tolerance of Plants(FF900), Soil Water Management (Irrigation and Drainage) (JJ800)(Revised June 2002) [formerly Soil Water Management]

• Journal Article

• Crop Water Use
• Drought