TYMCHYSHYN S.M.

Estimation and selection of sugar beet hybrid components suitable for biofuel production in terms of energy characteristics

Purpose. To study the agronomic characteristics (yield, sugar content, bioethanol yield, energy yield, infestation by diseases and pests) in sterile and fertile breeding materials of beet sugar and select the best ones through top crossings in order to obtain experimental hybrids suitable for production both biofuel and sugar. Methods. Six diploid sterile lines of different origin and six multigerm diploid pollinators served as starting materials. Individual analysis of breeding value of the genotypes in terms of root yield, sugar content and infestation with black root, cercospora and pests was carried out. Energy characteristics, such as bioethanol, biogas and energy yield of sugar beet were calculation. Results. In crops of sugar beet, minor affection of leaves with cercospora (1–2 points) was observed. Pollensterile forms had a greater degree of tolerance to pathogens as compared to fertile pollinators. Yields and sugar content of multigerm pollinators were higher than that of sterile forms. Their yield ranged from 34.7 to 414 t/ha and sugar content from 14.0 to 15.6 % (the male line) against 32.5–38.3 t/ha and 13.0–14.0%, respectively (female line), which affected the yield of bioethanol, biogas and energy. Conclusions. Prospective multigerm pollinators '1180 02002 (2x)' and '1184 B2 (2x)' were selected in terms of high tolerance to all the pathogens, '1183 02024 (2x)' and '118 202 015 (2x)' in terms of ethanol yield and energy yield, '1182 02015 (2x)', '1233 Yan3 (2x)', 'CMS Uman.1212' in terms of biogas yield. Next year the selected lines will be used to produce experimental hybrids of sugar beet suitable for biofuel production.