Advancements and prospectives of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) biotechnology

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is the second largest sugar-producing crop (following sugarcane), accounting around 40% of total global sugar output. It has been reckoned with huge contribution in sugar, ethanol, and fodder industries. Since sugar beet is recalcitrant in nature, to address the multifaceted difficulties associated with its conventional propagation, several biotechnological tools and techniques aiming with in vitro-based mass regeneration-cum-genetic enhancement are becoming popular. The implementation of effective methodology for in vitro regeneration from ex vitro explant sources becomes the necessity for successful commercial-scale clonal propagation and genetic modification. Substantial research achievements have been made in the past few decades in connection to the optimization of in vitro protocols for direct and callus-mediated regeneration, homozygous line production, somatic hybridization, and genetic transformation of sugar beet. The current review summarizes several reported findings on various physio-chemical factors responsible for direct, indirect organogenesis, somatic embryogenesis, protoplast culture, haploid culture, acclimatization accountable for plantlet mass multiplication, assessing the genetic integrity of in vitro-cultured plantlets, and, finally, successful transgenic approaches to remediate biotic and abiotic stresses. Furthermore, this study highlights undiscovered regions, research gaps, and major bottlenecks that might be considered in developing significant innovative ideas related to sugar beet biotechnology in the near future. KEY POINTS: • Sugar beet, the second largest sugar producer, is a major contributor in sugar, ethanol, and fodder industries. • Current review comprehensively evaluates diverse factors influencing the success of in vitro biotechnological interventions. • This review further highlights the research gaps and offers way outs to attain comprehensive genetic improvement.