The Effect of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Varieties Grown Under Semi-Arid Conditions in Turkey’s Eastern Anatolia Region on Yield and Quality

Global climate change, which is increasingly evident today, leads to significant fluctuations in the yield and quality parameters of sugar beet varieties, particularly due to its direct impact on semi-arid regions. Therefore, the adaptation capacity of varieties especially in the semi-arid areas of eastern regions and their responses to drought and temperature stress are of critical importance. This study was conducted during the 2022–2023 growing seasons to evaluate the yield and quality performance of ten sugar beet varieties (Seranada, Lider, Mohican, Terronova, Aranka, Turbata, Bernache, Setenil, Tisserin, and Chevalier) within a continental agro-ecological zone characterized by high altitude and a semi-arid climate. The results revealed significant differences among the varieties in terms of all examined traits. The highest root yield was obtained from Chevalier (95.30 ton/ha) and Mohican (94.17 ton/ha), while Tisserin produced the lowest (71.34 ton/ha). In terms of sugar yield, Terronova ranked highest (16.18 ton/ha), whereas Tisserin (12.44 ton/ha) and Setenil (12.34 ton/ha) showed the lowest performances. The Lider variety recorded the highest sugar content (18.22%), indicating its potential as a quality-oriented genotype. Overall, Mohican and Terronova demonstrated the most favorable responses under semi-arid conditions. These findings underscore the importance of regional variety testing for identifying high-yielding and high-quality sugar beet genotypes, especially in environments affected by altitude, climate variability, and soil characteristics.