HEREDITARY DIFFERENTIATIONS IN GENUS BETA -L

Genotypic diversity of species Beta L. is represented in the collectio n of the Vavilov All-Russian Research Institute of Plant Industry (VIR ) by more than 2000 samples of both natural forms and forms obtained f rom breeding. The origins of sugar beet were verified for wild species . A Western Asian gene center, established by N.I. Vavilov, was supple mented by the Scandinavian area of origin of cultivated beet. The resu lts of analyzing progenies from crossing of monogermic forms confirmed the complementary effect of genes. A genetic relation of the monogerm ity trait to cytoplasmatic male sterility was shown. Pollen sterility occurring in beet populations does not disappear utterly; it is conser ved for a significant length of time and encourages cross pollination. Despite the homogeneity observed, the majority of hereditary forms of beet are polymorphic, which provides evidence for their considerable genetic potential.