Sugar Beet Workshop Introduction

Sugar beet crop (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) is the world’s second source of sucrose after sugar cane, and used as a biofuel feedstock. Sugar beet produces up to 20% of the world’s commercial sugar and about half of the United States’ domestic production. It is a diploid species with 18 chromosomes and estimated genome size of 758 Mb. Recently there is a leap in availability of public genomic sequences and assemblies. There are 8 genome assemblies and annotation reports. The speakers will highlight recent accomplishments in genomics of sugar beet and other related species.