In one of the Bejo research greenhouses, Dora Coelho and Berber de Wolff show rows of potted beets on tables. Or at least what is left of those beets. Of some, the leaves and root are affected, others are completely gone. "Lost by the Rhizoctonia fungus," De Wolff points out. It shows what both phytopathologists are dealing with: the battle against pathogens (plant diseases) that has become increasingly challenging over the years.
Coelho and De Wolff are part of the extensive team of Bejo phytopathologists, scientists working on research into ingredients and diseases in crops (and how to minimise their impact). An example of their work in the field of matter content: a few years ago, in a large research on taste, they concluded, among other things, that the beet sugar content (brix) does not fully predict sweetness or general impression of the beet in a taste panel and that several compounds are involved in the powerful aroma. Company-wide, Bejo employs several phytopathologists and the team of Coelho, specialized in the beetroot crop (among others), comprises besides De Wolff, also of Marja Seignette as research assistant.
Cooperation
When developing varieties, cooperation between the various departments at Bejo is crucial. The breeders work on varieties the grower can rely on the sales team advises customers and identifies problems they encounter. Often these are pathogens that threaten a crop's yield. The phytopathologists are closely involved in all these processes.
Coelho and De Wolff talk enthusiastically about their work and developments in their field. In a nutshell: the phytopathologist investigates in the laboratory which pathogens are responsible for the field problems and gives advice on identification and control. And also develops the protocols for testing different pathogens (fungi, viruses, bacteria, insects, etc.) on plants. By looking at the symptoms, or further analysis on specific ingredients, the best plants are selected as part of the process to develop varieties with disease resistance and improved quality. This can be time-consuming, especially when we test a population of plants that are all different genetically, De Wolff explains: "For example if we have a field of 1,000 plants, we have to look at them one by one to draw reliable conclusions about the trait we are evaluating. From the results, breeders then benefit in their work."
New developments
The researchers' work has intensified in recent years due to stricter regulations on the use of chemicals and - we cannot ignore - climate change. "Higher temperatures, will increase the life cycle speed and spread of most pathogens and insects (which can transmit diseases)," Coelho explains. "And with milder winters, they also survive during these periods into the next season." And, she continues, "As a result, we also have to deal with mutating pathogens, evolution of new ones and resistances that break through more often. That’s why it is important to test variants of pathogens from different regions that could have an impact on the local production, also because, due to the increase of global trading and travelling, the diseases tend to spread faster to new areas. This means we have to keep up to date with the newest developments in the field and adapt our programs accordingly.”
Well-known pathogens for beetroot are Rhizomania (soilborne root rot disease), Cercospora (leaf spot disease), Rhizoctonia (root and crown rot), Nematodes (root parasites) and Phoma (seedling or root storage disease). But there are more like these, and new variants are also developing all the time. Can your group with the expertise in this field keep up with all these developments? Coelho, laughing: "Expansion of the team is always welcome, but I think we're especially going to benefit a lot from the latest advances in rapid diagnostics and from the new technologies in automation of certain steps in disease trials. And of course from the possibilities that artificial intelligence offers us" This can be used in high-throughput phenotyping systems , for example, adds De Wolff: " You can develop an automated system that takes pictures of diseased plants (phenotyping) and immediately gives them a score by training a model to recognise the symptoms. This can be done for instance in the greenhouse with high-tech cameras or in the field with drones."
Do both recognise in Bejo an employer that sees the importance of investing in these modern technologies? "Absolutely," thinks Coelho. "Bejo always strives to be progressive and acts accordingly. It has to be in order to achieve our company's mission of producing sustainable varieties of the highest quality. Resistance to pathogens is essential in this respect. But with a team of dedicated people and dedicated researchers per crop, complemented by the capabilities of modern technology, all the conditions are in place to realise that mission."
Beet Magazine
This article is from the first edition of our Beet Magazine. This issue delves into the multifaceted world of this vibrant root vegetable, covering everything from the latest challenges in seed production to the cultural significance of beets in different corners of the world. View the entire magazine here.
Beet Magazine
