Evaluation location: Idaho, United States
Thirty Plant Introductions (PIs) from the USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) (Garden Beet, Sugar Beet, Leaf Beet, Fodder Beet, and wild beet) were evaluated for resistance to the beet curly top virus in an artificially inoculated nursery, managed by USDA-ARS and the Beet Sugar Development Foundation (BSDF) in Kimberly, ID. Planting was late to maximize the number of viruliferous leafhoppers available to transfer to the sugarbeets while they are in the 8- to 10-leaf stage. Plots were 12 ft long, two-rows with 22 in between rows and replicated twice. After the beets emerged, plots were trimmed to 8 ft long, thinned to one foot between beets, and cultivated. Viruliferous leafhoppers were released to cause an artificial epiphytotic. Plots were visually evaluated and rated on a Disease Index (DI) scale of 0 to 9 (no symptoms to dead) on July 17.