THE ALARMING PREVALENCE OF RHIZOMANIA DISEASE CAUSED BY BEET NECROTIC YELLOW VEIN VIRUS IN KAZAKHSTAN'S SUGAR BEET CULTIVATION

Abstract

Rhizomania is a devastating disease affecting sugar beet crops, characterized by root swelling, necrosis and yellowing of the veins. The main agent causing rhizomania in sugar beet is the Beet Necrotic Yellow Vein Virus (BNYVV), which is transmitted by the single-celled parasitic organism Polymyxa betae, belonging to the order Plasmodiophorales. The disease exhibits increased virulence under conditions of high soil temperature and moisture, while relatively dry soil mitigates its effects. The destructive effect of rhizomania is manifested in a significant decrease in the weight of roots: infected roots weigh 10-15 times less than healthy ones. In addition, in roots infected with rhizomania, the sugar content and sugar yield are reduced, which worsens the technological quality of the raw material. To prevent the spread of the disease, it is necessary to observe strict quarantine measures when importing, exporting, transporting and storing planting material containing soil. In addition, to combat the disease it is necessary to introduce rhizomania-resistant sugar beet hybrids. Thus, understanding the interactions between viral strains and host resistance mechanisms is critical to develop effective strategies to control and maintain sugar beet yields in the face of this formidable disease. In this study, we confirmed the presence of beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) in beet plants (Viorica and Ardan varieties) collected from fields in the Zhetysu region. Zhetysu district is recognized as a major center for growing sugar beets in Kazakhstan. The virus was detected using a commercial real-time PCR kit (Letgen), which identified pathotypes A, B, and P. Only pathotype A was confirmed to be present.