[Effect of Biorend [YEA] on root development and sugar production in sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris var. saccharifera)]

The main purpose of this thesis was to determine the effect of Biorend, a yield enhancer compound derived from chitin, on sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris var. saccharifera), as expressed in root yield, sugar content, and leaves and crowns yield. A secondary objective was to detect if Biorend had a fungistatic effect on the fungi that attack sugarbeet seedling. A third objective was to study the interaction between Biorend and the fungicides normally applied to the seed. Fungicide-treated and non-treated seeds were used. Biorend was applied to the seeds in rates of 0,2500, 3000, 3500, 4000 and 4500 cm3 per 100 kg of seed. The experiment was conducted in a split block design with two treatments and four replications. Plots were constituted by six rows 6 m long spaced at 0.5 m. Data were subjected to analysis of variance; the significance of the differences among treatments were estimated with Duncan's new multiple range test at the 0.5 level. Treatments were also analyzed by simple regression. Statistical differences were observed in plant population and leaves and crown yields, although no definite response pattern was detected. Root yield, sugar content and sugar yield did not differ significantly. Analyzed as simple regression, the treatment that received no fungicide was consistently lower in these three variables. The regression curves showed a positive effect of Biorend on root yield, sugar content and sugar yield. Regression coefficients were high, 0.89, 0.94 and 0.91 respectively. Root yield was directly associated to Biorend rates. A negative interaction between the fungicide and Biorend was observed, which precludes the use of Biorend on fungicide treated seed. A fungistatic effect of Biorend on the fungi that cause seedling damping-off was also observed. These results suggest that Biorend has an effect as a yield enhancer and on sugar content of sugarbeet. Further research is needed to determine the optimum rate of the compound and detect a procedure to avoid the negative interaction between the fungicide and Biorend