Abstract
Sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris) is a major crop in the U.S. for sugar production which contributes nearly 60% of the total domestic sugar production. In the U.S., sugarbeet is cultivated across nine states including California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wyoming spanning approximately 450,000 hectares of planting area. In general, sugarbeet roots are harvested and stored in factory yards, outdoor piles, or in ventilated sheds for several months prior to processing. During storage, different plant pathogens can infect, colonize, and deteriorate sugarbeet roots resulting in significant sucrose loss causing economic damage as high as tens of millions of dollars each year. Therefore, reduction of postharvest pathogens and sucrose loss in sugarbeets during storage is critical to mitigate economic loss to the sugar industry. However, comprehensive research on managing postharvest diseases in sugarbeet remains limited to date. In this study, we conducted in-vitro screening of 82 essential oils (EOs) against major postharvest pathogens of sugarbeet such as Penicillium, Trichoderma, and Mucor species. EOs showed variable response to different pathogen isolates. Approximately 25 EOs showed antifungal activity against Penicillium spp.;11 EOs against Trichoderma while only one EO was active against Mucor spp. The common EO that was active against all the tested pathogens was Birch (Betula lenta) EO. Our preliminary studies showed that EOs would be effective to minimize postharvest pathogen growth and improve the storage quality of sugarbeet roots. Future studies will warrant to develop a formulation of these compounds and conduct in-vivo studies to assess their efficacy in storage disease management in sugarbeets.