Production of Doubled Haploid Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Plants Through Gynogenesis

Haploid and doubled haploid plant production through unpollinated ovule culture, with diverse benefits and applications, is considered among the most effective and advantageous breeding method for sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). It is known that sugar beet is not responsive to androgenesis, which is widely used for most plant species. Sugar beet is a recalcitrant plant in vitro due to the very low spontaneous chromosome doubling and low gynogenesis rate. Thus, a steadily increasing gynogenesis efficiency has always been an important target for an efficient sugar beet breeding program. Given the scarcity of published papers focusing on gynogenesis in sugar beet, this chapter describes haploid and doubled haploid production through ovule culture of unfertilized flowers as a practical method.