Inbreeding Depression in Sugarbeet (Beta Vulgaris L.)

Inbreeding depression for root yield and sucrose content was studied in six sugarbeet cultivars. Inbreeding depression for root yield varied from variety to variety. Average inbreeding depression after selfing in S₃ & S₄ was 30.56% aad 34.85%, respectively, as compared to the S, parent. Sucrose content was not depressed by inbreeding even up to S₄ generation. As expected, the depression in the progeny of sib-mated plants was of a lower magnitude.