**Sugar Beet Tolerance to Drought: Physiological and Molecular Aspects Molecular Aspects**

**Sugar Beet Tolerance to Drought: Physiological and** 

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.72253

Marina Putnik-Delić, Ivana Maksimović, Nevena Nagl and Branislava Lalić and Branislava Lalić Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Marina Putnik-Delić, Ivana Maksimović, Nevena Nagl

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.72253

#### **Abstract**

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[211] Liu G, Li Y, Migliaccio K, Olczyk T, Alva A. Oxygen amendment on growth and nitrogen use efficiency of flooded Italian basil. International Journal of Vegetable Science.

[212] Li G, Meng X, Wang R, Mao G, Han L, Liu Y, et al. Dual-level regulation of ACC synthase activity by MPK3/MPK6 cascade and its downstream WRKY transcription factor during ethylene induction in Arabidopsis. PLOS Genetics. 2012;**8**:e1002767. DOI: 10.1371/

[213] Else MA, Jackson MB. Transport of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid [ACC] in the transpiration stream of tomato (*Lycopersicon esculentum*) in relation to foliar ethylene production and petiole epinasty. Functional Plant Biology. 1998;**25**:453-458. DOI: 10.1071/

[214] Grichko VP, Glick BR. Amelioration of flooding stress by ACC deaminase-containingplant growth-promoting bacteria. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 2001;**39**:11-17.

[215] Barnawal D, Bharti N, Maji D, Chanotiya CS, Kalra A. 1-Aminocyclopropane-1 carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase-containing rhizobacteria protect *Ocimum sanctum* plants during waterlogging stress via reduced ethylene generation. Plant Physiology

[216] Li J, McConkey BJ, Cheng Z, Guo S, Glick BR. Identification of plant growth-promoting bacteria-responsive proteins in cucumber roots under hypoxic stress using a proteomic approach. Journal of Proteomics. 2013;**84**:119-131. DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2013.03.011

and Biochemistry. 2012;**58**:227-235. DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2012.07.008

DOI: 10.1016/0168-1656[93]90148-G

68 Plant, Abiotic Stress and Responses to Climate Change

2013;**19**:217-227. DOI: 10.1080/19315260.2012.713451

10.1071/CP09225

journal.pgen.1002767

DOI: 10.1016/S0981-9428[00]01212-2

PP97105

Drought often reduces sugar beet yield in the Balkan agroecological region. Climate forecasts indicate that this negative trend of drought periods will continue. Tolerance to drought is a complex trait, which comprises involvement of both physiological and molecular mechanisms in plants. This research was conducted on 11 sugar beet genotypes, which showed different tolerance to drought in the field. Experiment had three parts: water deficiency caused by cessation of watering conducted in the greenhouse, water deficiency imposed by different concentrations of polyethylene glycol on plants grown in tissue culture, and analysis of alterations in gene expression under drought. Plants exposed to stress in greenhouse had on average three leaves less, 4% lower water content, and seven-fold higher proline content. Classification of genotypes with respect to the level of tolerance to water deficiency on the basis of concentration of free proline, assessed in the experiment *in vitro*, corresponded to the result of the observation test in the field. Changes in the expression of candidate genes under drought suggest that one of them might be used for further development as a DNA-based marker. These results can be applied in sugar beet breeding aimed at increasing tolerance to water deficiency.

**Keywords:** water deficiency, *Beta vulgaris*, drought tolerance, polyethylene glycol, chloroplast pigments, chlorophyll fluorescence, free proline, green house, tissue culture, candidate genes

#### **1. Introduction**

#### **1.1. Amount and distribution of precipitation required for sugar beet development**

Required amount of precipitation for successful production of sugar beet is 600 mm per year [1]. Furthermore, during the winter period, sugar beet requires around 230 mm and

> © 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

during the period of vegetation (from April to October) approximately 370 mm of precipitate. However, based on perennial average yield data, sugar beet production may achieve high outcome even in the presence of lower (500 mm per year) or higher (1000 mm per year) amount of rain. Water requirement of plant, during the period of vegetation, depends on precipitation. The water loss due to evaporation is most intensive from June to August when the temperatures are high and the air is dry. The average potential evapotranspiration (ET) for period of 30 years in case of sugar beet is 576 mm, but it may vary between 528 and 625 mm due to weather conditions. Approximately 10–20% of total water requirement of sugar beet is fulfilled from the soil water reserves and the rest is obtained by precipitation and irrigation. The amount of water lost by transpiration is 392 mm in average, and it varies from 198 mm during dry years to 542 mm during rainy years. The average precipitation during vegetation (April–September) is 359 mm and it varies from 138 to 521 mm in certain years [2].

According to climate model simulations for 2001–2030 integration periods, expected average annual precipitation during first decades of the twentieth century, at selected locations, will not vary significantly in relation to the 1971–2000 precipitation records (**Table 1**). Inspection of the precipitation amounts for 2001–2014 period (**Table 2**) witnesses in favor to this expectation, with 699.8 mm in Novi Sad and 668.0 mm in Sombor in comparison with the expected 2001–2030 average (**Table 1**). However, it is important to notice significant variability of precipitation in this period which is in accordance with climate simulations for 2001–2030 [3]. In regards to winter and spring precipitations, for all integration periods, climate model simulates slightly higher average precipitation in comparison to reference climatology. Less optimistic is the expectation that growing period precipitation supposed to decrease towards end of the century, with particularly vulnerable summer period and

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71

Water shortage during vegetation is a frequent and a significant issue in agricultural production. Possible solution to this problem is selection of genotypes, which do not show decreased yield under economically acceptable level, in the presence of water shortage. Great challenge in the process of genotype selection is to choose the convenient plant idiotype for the present agroecological conditions. Water deficiency has complex impact on plant physiology. First indicators of water deficiency in plants are the loss of turgor pressure and stomatal closure [7]. Photosynthesis is also highly dependable on the plant's water supply. Many studies showed that disruption of water flow causes decrease in water content in assimilation tissue, which leads to photosynthetic depression [8]. Based on this, soil moisture, as well as relative air humidity, determines photosynthetic intensity. A decrease in chloroplast size, an increase

**Annual Winter (DJF) Spring (MAM) Growing season**

**Precipitation (mm)**

**Variability coeff. (%)**

**Precipitation (mm)**

**Variability coeff. (%)**

**Variability coeff. (%)**

1971–2000 604.1 108.1 46.2 146.6 33.3 359.2 28.8 2001–2030 641.8 131.3 56.1 159.7 34.7 369.2 26.1 2071–2100 560.5 131.0 54.5 147.4 37.0 282.2 32.0

1971–2000 580.3 107.6 41.9 133.3 29.6 339.4 22.7 2001–2030 629.4 127.3 56.7 144.6 37.2 356.5 29.0 2071–2100 565.8 127.2 53.6 148.1 41.3 277.8 31.9

**Table 1.** Past (1971–2000) and future (2001–2030 and 2071–2100) climate precipitation data for Novi Sad and Sombor

increasing variability.

**Climatol. period**

**Precipitation (mm)**

Sombor

locations in Serbia.

Novi Sad (Rimski Sancevi)

**1.2. The impact of water deficiency on sugar beet production**

**Precipitation (mm)**

Having in mind the above-mentioned facts, amount and distribution of precipitation, in combination with the light and amount of heat, mostly determine quality and yield of sugar beet. On the territory of Serbia, it is common that the lack of soil water, typical for summer months, sometimes occurs during moderately rained years. Lack of soil moisture outcomes 100–200 mm per year, but rarely exceeds 300 mm per year. Currently, less than 1% of irrigation-suitable agricultural land in Serbia is intensively irrigated.

Climate of Serbia is continental or moderate continental. The most important sugar beet production area is Vojvodina region situated in the north of the country. Climate of Vojvodina is moderated continental, determined by the presence of Alps on western border of Pannonian basin, Carpathian Mountains, the Dinarides, and the Balkan Mountains [3]. Precipitation regime is continental, typical for Danube region, with precipitation maximum in summer (June) and minimum in winter. According to the Köppen classification [4], for the period of 1961–1990, dominant climate type in Vojvodina is *Cfwbx*″ [*C* = mild temperate climate; *f* = significant precipitation during all seasons; *w* = dry winters; *b* = warmest month averaging below 22°C (but with at least 4 months averaging above 10°C) and *x*″ = second precipitation maximum occurs in autumn] [5].

Brief analysis of current and expected precipitation distribution during winter, spring, and sugar beet growing season in Vojvodina is made using the data from two meteorological stations located in southern and northwestern part of the Vojvodina region, Novi Sad (Rimski Sancevi) and Sombor, respectively. Climatological data for 1971–2000 refers to the climatological periods derived from the database of the Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia (RHMSS). Future climatic conditions were obtained from the Eta Belgrade University (EBU)—Princeton Ocean Model (POM) model for the A1B scenario for 2001–2030 and A2 for 2071–2100 integration periods [6]. Obtained results lead to expected shift in climate types from *Cfwbx* to "*Cfwax*" in the prevailing part of the country indicating temperature of the warmest month above 22°C (letter *a* in the Köppen formula) [5].

Overview of the average precipitation for the selected past climatological period indicates that during winter time of 1971–2000 reference period, the amount of precipitation is twice less than optimum ones, while growing period of precipitation was slightly below optimal values.

According to climate model simulations for 2001–2030 integration periods, expected average annual precipitation during first decades of the twentieth century, at selected locations, will not vary significantly in relation to the 1971–2000 precipitation records (**Table 1**). Inspection of the precipitation amounts for 2001–2014 period (**Table 2**) witnesses in favor to this expectation, with 699.8 mm in Novi Sad and 668.0 mm in Sombor in comparison with the expected 2001–2030 average (**Table 1**). However, it is important to notice significant variability of precipitation in this period which is in accordance with climate simulations for 2001–2030 [3]. In regards to winter and spring precipitations, for all integration periods, climate model simulates slightly higher average precipitation in comparison to reference climatology. Less optimistic is the expectation that growing period precipitation supposed to decrease towards end of the century, with particularly vulnerable summer period and increasing variability.

#### **1.2. The impact of water deficiency on sugar beet production**

during the period of vegetation (from April to October) approximately 370 mm of precipitate. However, based on perennial average yield data, sugar beet production may achieve high outcome even in the presence of lower (500 mm per year) or higher (1000 mm per year) amount of rain. Water requirement of plant, during the period of vegetation, depends on precipitation. The water loss due to evaporation is most intensive from June to August when the temperatures are high and the air is dry. The average potential evapotranspiration (ET) for period of 30 years in case of sugar beet is 576 mm, but it may vary between 528 and 625 mm due to weather conditions. Approximately 10–20% of total water requirement of sugar beet is fulfilled from the soil water reserves and the rest is obtained by precipitation and irrigation. The amount of water lost by transpiration is 392 mm in average, and it varies from 198 mm during dry years to 542 mm during rainy years. The average precipitation during vegetation (April–September) is 359 mm and it varies from 138 to 521 mm in

Having in mind the above-mentioned facts, amount and distribution of precipitation, in combination with the light and amount of heat, mostly determine quality and yield of sugar beet. On the territory of Serbia, it is common that the lack of soil water, typical for summer months, sometimes occurs during moderately rained years. Lack of soil moisture outcomes 100–200 mm per year, but rarely exceeds 300 mm per year. Currently, less than 1% of irriga-

Climate of Serbia is continental or moderate continental. The most important sugar beet production area is Vojvodina region situated in the north of the country. Climate of Vojvodina is moderated continental, determined by the presence of Alps on western border of Pannonian basin, Carpathian Mountains, the Dinarides, and the Balkan Mountains [3]. Precipitation regime is continental, typical for Danube region, with precipitation maximum in summer (June) and minimum in winter. According to the Köppen classification [4], for the period of 1961–1990, dominant climate type in Vojvodina is *Cfwbx*″ [*C* = mild temperate climate; *f* = significant precipitation during all seasons; *w* = dry winters; *b* = warmest month averaging below 22°C (but with at least 4 months averaging above 10°C) and *x*″ = second precipitation maximum occurs in autumn] [5]. Brief analysis of current and expected precipitation distribution during winter, spring, and sugar beet growing season in Vojvodina is made using the data from two meteorological stations located in southern and northwestern part of the Vojvodina region, Novi Sad (Rimski Sancevi) and Sombor, respectively. Climatological data for 1971–2000 refers to the climatological periods derived from the database of the Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia (RHMSS). Future climatic conditions were obtained from the Eta Belgrade University (EBU)—Princeton Ocean Model (POM) model for the A1B scenario for 2001–2030 and A2 for 2071–2100 integration periods [6]. Obtained results lead to expected shift in climate types from *Cfwbx* to "*Cfwax*" in the prevailing part of the country indicating temperature of the warmest month above 22°C (letter *a*

Overview of the average precipitation for the selected past climatological period indicates that during winter time of 1971–2000 reference period, the amount of precipitation is twice less than optimum ones, while growing period of precipitation was slightly below optimal values.

tion-suitable agricultural land in Serbia is intensively irrigated.

certain years [2].

70 Plant, Abiotic Stress and Responses to Climate Change

in the Köppen formula) [5].

Water shortage during vegetation is a frequent and a significant issue in agricultural production. Possible solution to this problem is selection of genotypes, which do not show decreased yield under economically acceptable level, in the presence of water shortage. Great challenge in the process of genotype selection is to choose the convenient plant idiotype for the present agroecological conditions. Water deficiency has complex impact on plant physiology. First indicators of water deficiency in plants are the loss of turgor pressure and stomatal closure [7]. Photosynthesis is also highly dependable on the plant's water supply. Many studies showed that disruption of water flow causes decrease in water content in assimilation tissue, which leads to photosynthetic depression [8]. Based on this, soil moisture, as well as relative air humidity, determines photosynthetic intensity. A decrease in chloroplast size, an increase


**Table 1.** Past (1971–2000) and future (2001–2030 and 2071–2100) climate precipitation data for Novi Sad and Sombor locations in Serbia.


Stress occurrence during early stages of growth and development may adversely affect sugar beet root growth, which may result in yield loss by 46% [14]. In addition, later stress occurrence may cause decreased leaf area and also number of leaves and by that, the efficiency in light usage becomes decreased [15]. Water deficiency significantly increases concentrations of potassium and sodium, which disturb sugar extraction from roots. Plant response to water stress can partially be explained by disorders in mineral nutrition. Water deficiency actually may retard or even stop ion assimilation, which results in perturbation in ion ratios in specific tissues. This trend is manifested through ion deficiency symptoms in plants. The adverse effect of water stress in later phenophases is less pronounced, since plants already developed root system and canopy which completely covers the soil. Well-developed root system increases efficiency in water extraction and usage, which results in higher tolerance to water deficiency [16]. However, first signs of water stress are usually seen on leaves. Minor drop in leaf water potential may cause significant decrease of total leaf area, and the low water potential enhances emergence of new leaves and accelerates senescence of old leaves. Drought stress results in stomatal closure, limits the transpiration which increases leaf temperature [15]. Both, lower stomatal density and heat stress decrease photosynthetic outcome [17]. Sugar beet leaves have higher number of smaller stomata on their abaxial side. Higher density and smaller size of stomata is a form of adaptation to drought, because it allows plants to be more efficient in regulation of water transport and transpiration [18]. Varieties more efficient in tolerating lack of water are proven to have decreased stomatal density (70–150

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) [19]. During drought, when negative turgor pressure in guard cells generates,

small epidermal cells with tightened cell walls increase plant resistance towards water stress [20]. Response of sugar beet genotypes to drought may also be affected by percentage of

Plants also osmotically adapt to drought [22]. Exposure to water deficiency results in accumulation of osmolytes, such as betaine, proline, and fructans. These substances often accumulate in the form of compatible solutes in plants (compounds which do not take part in chemical reactions in plants, but affect cell water potential), which generate expression of genes encoding relevant enzymes. Osmolyte production, as well as change in osmotic pressure, may increase sugar beet tolerance to abiotic stress. Proline and glycine betaine help in the preservation of cell [23], which makes them suitable for further investigation with purpose of increase stress tolerance of many species including sugar beet [24, 25]. They are not only involved in maintenance of cell turgor and osmotic balance but also in protection of cell structure from stress [26]. However, it still remains unclear whether the plants, which accumulate osmolytes,

Free proline is a key metabolite which accumulates in sugar beet exposed to drought [28]. Change of the free proline concentrations in tissues is an indicator of other kinds of stress, such as temperature, environmental pollution, and misbalanced nutrition. The same factors may affect

adaxial and abaxial epidermis and palisade tissue thickness [21].

**1.4. Chemical response of sugar beet to drought stress**

better tolerate lack of water or not [27].

**1.5. Proline accumulation**

stomata/mm2

**Table 2.** Annual amount of precipitation for 2001–2014 in Novi Sad (Rimski Sancevi) and Sombor locations.

in stomatal density, and disruption of thylakoid membrane structure were reported as consequences of water deficit [9]. Besides decrease in tissue water content, water shortage may cause synthesis of specific compounds in the roots, during the early growth phase. According to this, roots are very significant sensors of soil changes (not only in terms of water, but also texture changes), which alert the aboveground tissues by "chemical drought signals" which are transported to leaves. These signals mostly refer to plant hormones such as abscisic acid (ABA) [10].

#### **1.3. Sugar beet tolerance to water deficiency**

Adaptation of plant metabolism on stress conditions is species specific and was the subject of numerous studies [11]. Plants more tolerant to drought have longer root system with bigger absorptive area, better developed photosynthetic parenchyma, thicker cuticle, smaller leaf area (LA) and number of stomata per leaf area, and higher density of conductive elements [12]. They also possess highly expandable protoplasm, higher content of bound water and osmolytes, enhanced accumulation of ABA, free proline, and alanine. The following indicators point out to higher phenotypic tolerance of sugar beet to water shortage: more shiny leaves, higher turgor pressure of petiole, and more sensitive leaves to expansion [12]. Even though there is genotypic variability with respect to response to drought in sugar beet (i.e., [13]), structural and morphological mechanisms still remain unclear.

Stress occurrence during early stages of growth and development may adversely affect sugar beet root growth, which may result in yield loss by 46% [14]. In addition, later stress occurrence may cause decreased leaf area and also number of leaves and by that, the efficiency in light usage becomes decreased [15]. Water deficiency significantly increases concentrations of potassium and sodium, which disturb sugar extraction from roots. Plant response to water stress can partially be explained by disorders in mineral nutrition. Water deficiency actually may retard or even stop ion assimilation, which results in perturbation in ion ratios in specific tissues. This trend is manifested through ion deficiency symptoms in plants. The adverse effect of water stress in later phenophases is less pronounced, since plants already developed root system and canopy which completely covers the soil. Well-developed root system increases efficiency in water extraction and usage, which results in higher tolerance to water deficiency [16]. However, first signs of water stress are usually seen on leaves. Minor drop in leaf water potential may cause significant decrease of total leaf area, and the low water potential enhances emergence of new leaves and accelerates senescence of old leaves. Drought stress results in stomatal closure, limits the transpiration which increases leaf temperature [15]. Both, lower stomatal density and heat stress decrease photosynthetic outcome [17]. Sugar beet leaves have higher number of smaller stomata on their abaxial side. Higher density and smaller size of stomata is a form of adaptation to drought, because it allows plants to be more efficient in regulation of water transport and transpiration [18]. Varieties more efficient in tolerating lack of water are proven to have decreased stomatal density (70–150 stomata/mm2 ) [19]. During drought, when negative turgor pressure in guard cells generates, small epidermal cells with tightened cell walls increase plant resistance towards water stress [20]. Response of sugar beet genotypes to drought may also be affected by percentage of adaxial and abaxial epidermis and palisade tissue thickness [21].

#### **1.4. Chemical response of sugar beet to drought stress**

Plants also osmotically adapt to drought [22]. Exposure to water deficiency results in accumulation of osmolytes, such as betaine, proline, and fructans. These substances often accumulate in the form of compatible solutes in plants (compounds which do not take part in chemical reactions in plants, but affect cell water potential), which generate expression of genes encoding relevant enzymes. Osmolyte production, as well as change in osmotic pressure, may increase sugar beet tolerance to abiotic stress. Proline and glycine betaine help in the preservation of cell [23], which makes them suitable for further investigation with purpose of increase stress tolerance of many species including sugar beet [24, 25]. They are not only involved in maintenance of cell turgor and osmotic balance but also in protection of cell structure from stress [26]. However, it still remains unclear whether the plants, which accumulate osmolytes, better tolerate lack of water or not [27].

#### **1.5. Proline accumulation**

in stomatal density, and disruption of thylakoid membrane structure were reported as consequences of water deficit [9]. Besides decrease in tissue water content, water shortage may cause synthesis of specific compounds in the roots, during the early growth phase. According to this, roots are very significant sensors of soil changes (not only in terms of water, but also texture changes), which alert the aboveground tissues by "chemical drought signals" which are transported to leaves. These signals mostly refer to plant hormones such as abscisic acid (ABA) [10].

**Table 2.** Annual amount of precipitation for 2001–2014 in Novi Sad (Rimski Sancevi) and Sombor locations.

**Year Novi Sad (Rimski Sancevi) Sombor** 2000 252 231 2001 929 749 2002 412 448 2003 491 434 2004 797 816 2005 726 753 2006 640 585 2007 754 683 2008 539 598 2009 617 615 2010 1035 994 2011 382 401 2012 480 446 2013 723 692 2014 989 932 Average 679.8 653.3

72 Plant, Abiotic Stress and Responses to Climate Change

Adaptation of plant metabolism on stress conditions is species specific and was the subject of numerous studies [11]. Plants more tolerant to drought have longer root system with bigger absorptive area, better developed photosynthetic parenchyma, thicker cuticle, smaller leaf area (LA) and number of stomata per leaf area, and higher density of conductive elements [12]. They also possess highly expandable protoplasm, higher content of bound water and osmolytes, enhanced accumulation of ABA, free proline, and alanine. The following indicators point out to higher phenotypic tolerance of sugar beet to water shortage: more shiny leaves, higher turgor pressure of petiole, and more sensitive leaves to expansion [12]. Even though there is genotypic variability with respect to response to drought in sugar beet (i.e.,

[13]), structural and morphological mechanisms still remain unclear.

**1.3. Sugar beet tolerance to water deficiency**

Free proline is a key metabolite which accumulates in sugar beet exposed to drought [28]. Change of the free proline concentrations in tissues is an indicator of other kinds of stress, such as temperature, environmental pollution, and misbalanced nutrition. The same factors may affect glucose accumulation and yield. In some cases, stress conditions may increase sugar beet root quality and potential of recovery if plants were not highly damaged by water deficiency [29].

conferring tolerance to the dehydration and elimination of those which do not affect the toler-

Although the yield is the basic goal of the breeders, it is very difficult to accurately predict the possibility of water utilization and identify candidate genes for further cloning [37]. Several studies have identified quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with a specific component of the response to drought. Although the development of molecular markers and genome sequencing should expedite positional cloning [38], genome areas associated with individual QTLs are still very large and usually not suitable for testing in the breeding program. With the rapid development of genomic technology and the suitable statistical methods, there is an increased interest in the use of mapping strategies for the identification of genes encoding quantitative traits which have agricultural or evolutionary significance [11]. Another major challenge is how to apply knowledge to improve crop tolerance to stress conditions. There is a problem between high yield and tolerance to stress since very often genotypes with higher stress tolerance have lower yield under optimal conditions. One of the strategies for sugar beet phenotyping was proposed by Ries et al. [39].

On the cellular level plant adaptation to stress includes regulation of the beginning of protein

increase of the concentrations of ABA, the reduction of the energy consumption ways, as well as accumulation of the solution, and protective protein [40]. All of these changes at the cellular level are of great importance for the maintenance of homeostasis after ion imbalance caused by abiotic stress [26]. The deficit of water causes the synthesis and accumulation of ABA in plant cells and the genes corresponding to this has been defined. Most of these genes contain conserved cis-activating promoter elements, called Abre (ABA-responsive element, PyACGTGG/TC) [41]. Great progress to clarify the response of plants to abiotic stress has

In order to achieve a combination of high yield and tolerance to stress in one variety, it is necessary to establish a connection of development of individual characteristics and mutual reactions, which can be achieved only through co-operation among molecular biologists, physiologists, and breeders [11, 42]. It is necessary to assess the relationship between different morphological, anatomical, physiological, and biochemical traits of sugar beet tissues in different phases of their growth and development during different periods of water shortage, in order to categorize genotypes with respect to their tolerance to drought which was in the

The study involved 11 genotypes (marked from 1 to 11) of sugar beet (*Beta vulgaris* ssp. *vulgaris*, L.) differing in levels of drought tolerance, according to observation test conducted in the field. According to this test, genotypes were divided into three groups: (1) sensitive genotypes: 2, 5, 6,

and 8; (2) moderately tolerant: 3, 7, 9, and 11; and (3) tolerant: 1, 4, and 10.

antiporter), an increase in antioxidant level, transient

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ance to stress is a major challenge.

synthesis (e.g., H+

been made in the last decade [11].

**2. Material and methods**

**2.1. Plant material**

focus of our previous [21] and present study.

pumps and Na+

/H+

Higher nitrogen supply increases proline content and may also increase leaf area index (LAI) and drought stress impact. Positive and significant correlation among proline and glucose content in sugar beet root indicates the relationship between the response to stress, carbohydrates, and proline and glucose accumulation ratio. This is supported by the effect of treatment with di-1-p-mentene (anti-transpirant) and DMDP (2,5-dihydroxymetil-3,4-dihydroxypyrolidine, glycosidase inhibitor), which decreased proline content in roots of irrigated sugar beet [29]. Presence of compounds such as proline and glucose adversely affect sugar crystallization and lead to the formation of colored components, thus reducing industrial quality of beet roots [30].

Proline accumulated in sugar beet root, as a nitrogen compound, reduces the quality of roots. Both, the stress and an excess of nitrogen lead to the mobilization of accumulated carbohydrates, which are the source of energy essential for adaptation to the stress conditions. Moreover, chemicals containing nitrogen (e.g., proline) reduce the yield of sucrose and the quality of the roots [29]. The importance of the accumulation of proline in osmotic adjustment is still debatable and varies from species to species [31]. The highest proline accumulation was observed at the end of beet root growth [29]. Correlation between drought and proline content suggests, however, that alteration in proline concentration is useful stress indicator in sugar beet [28]. Proline may act as a signal molecule which alters mitochondrial function, affects cell division and gene expression. This role of proline may be very significant for plant recovery when favorable conditions are regained [32].

#### **1.6. The use of plant biotechnology to increase tolerance to water deficiency**

Basic need for sustainable food production directed research programs towards improving traits of crops despite the size and complexity of their genome [33]. Plant biotechnology is a process in which the use of molecular and cytological techniques help to increase the productivity of the plants, to improve the quality of plant products, to prevent the damage caused under the influence of various biotic and abiotic stresses. Plant breeding reliving on the employment of molecular markers [Marker Assisted Selection (MAS)] is one of the promising techniques to improve crop resilience. A prerequisite for the success of MAS is defining the genes which regulate traits of interest and to test relationships between potential markers and those traits. Only when this link is defined, i.e., when the marker is physically located in the vicinity of or even within the gene of interest, it is possible to use it efficiently in breeding [34].

In sugar beet, development of breeding programs aimed to increase drought tolerance is further complicated by the fact that several types of abiotic stresses often occur at the same time during the growing season, and approach which involves a manipulation of a group of genes for tolerance to drought seems necessary to solve this complex problem [35].

In an era of rapid progress in the identification and characterization of complete segments of plant genome, proteins, transcripts, metabolites, as well as their interactions in a biological system, new discoveries will lead to better understanding and possibly to manipulation of physiological responses to water deficit [36]. Evaluation of the relative contribution of genes conferring tolerance to the dehydration and elimination of those which do not affect the tolerance to stress is a major challenge.

Although the yield is the basic goal of the breeders, it is very difficult to accurately predict the possibility of water utilization and identify candidate genes for further cloning [37]. Several studies have identified quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with a specific component of the response to drought. Although the development of molecular markers and genome sequencing should expedite positional cloning [38], genome areas associated with individual QTLs are still very large and usually not suitable for testing in the breeding program. With the rapid development of genomic technology and the suitable statistical methods, there is an increased interest in the use of mapping strategies for the identification of genes encoding quantitative traits which have agricultural or evolutionary significance [11]. Another major challenge is how to apply knowledge to improve crop tolerance to stress conditions. There is a problem between high yield and tolerance to stress since very often genotypes with higher stress tolerance have lower yield under optimal conditions. One of the strategies for sugar beet phenotyping was proposed by Ries et al. [39].

On the cellular level plant adaptation to stress includes regulation of the beginning of protein synthesis (e.g., H+ pumps and Na+ /H+ antiporter), an increase in antioxidant level, transient increase of the concentrations of ABA, the reduction of the energy consumption ways, as well as accumulation of the solution, and protective protein [40]. All of these changes at the cellular level are of great importance for the maintenance of homeostasis after ion imbalance caused by abiotic stress [26]. The deficit of water causes the synthesis and accumulation of ABA in plant cells and the genes corresponding to this has been defined. Most of these genes contain conserved cis-activating promoter elements, called Abre (ABA-responsive element, PyACGTGG/TC) [41]. Great progress to clarify the response of plants to abiotic stress has been made in the last decade [11].

In order to achieve a combination of high yield and tolerance to stress in one variety, it is necessary to establish a connection of development of individual characteristics and mutual reactions, which can be achieved only through co-operation among molecular biologists, physiologists, and breeders [11, 42]. It is necessary to assess the relationship between different morphological, anatomical, physiological, and biochemical traits of sugar beet tissues in different phases of their growth and development during different periods of water shortage, in order to categorize genotypes with respect to their tolerance to drought which was in the focus of our previous [21] and present study.
