Sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris L.) is an important sugar and cash crop worldwide. To systematically characterize SSR (Simple Sequence Repeat) loci across sugar beet chromosomes and enable the precise identification of germplasm resources, this study conducted a genome-wide scan for SSR loci, analyzed their distribution patterns, and determined their genotypes using resequencing data from 123 sugar beet varieties. The results revealed an abundance of SSR loci in the sugar beet genome, with a total of 135, 379 identified, from which 135, 344 pairs of SSR primers were designed (135, 344 primer pairs successfully designed; 35 loci failed to meet design criteria). Specifically, 31, 748 primer pairs were designed based on SSRs located in unassigned scaffolds, and 103, 596 primer pairs from SSRs assigned to the nine chromosomes. Through bioinformatic analysis, we identified 28, 768 SSR primers located in multi-copy genes with PIC (Polymorphism Information Content) ≥ 0.5, and 2, 326 SSR markers located in single-copy genes residing in various genic regions (among which 543 had PIC ≥ 0.5, with the highest reaching 0.776). PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) validation confirmed 20 robust and polymorphic markers producing clear and reproducible bands. Among them, 10 SSR primers located in multi-copy genes exhibited three or more polymorphic types, and 10 markers located in single-copy genes displayed 2–3 polymorphic types. The most polymorphic marker, YCD-4-2, detected 11 polymorphic types across 48 varieties. Furthermore, to explore markers with potential functional significance, we annotated the genes harboring SSR markers located in single-copy genes. The results showed that 1, 264 SSRs located in single-copy genes were localized to 967 genes, which are significantly enriched in pathways related to carbohydrate metabolism, stress responses, and plant-pathogen interactions. The 20 validated markers and the 2, 326 SSRs located in single-copy genes provided in this study can be directly applied to fingerprinting of sugar beet varieties, seed purity testing, and marker-assisted selection, thus representing a practical resource for molecular breeding.

The mistakes made:After the article was published online, we identified an inaccuracy in the "2.2.9 Data statistics and analysis" section. The affected sentence currently reads: "The genetic diversity indicators were calculated using popgen1.32, including Ho (observed heterozygosity); He (expected heterozygosity); PIC (polymorphism information content); Ae (Effective Number of Alleles); Ar (Allelic Richness); I (Shannon's Information Index)."In this sentence, PIC (polymorphism information content) was incorrectly attributed to popgen1.32. In fact, the PIC values reported in our study were calculated using PowerMarker 3.25, not popgen1.32. This error occurred inadvertently during manuscript preparation and does not affect any of the results, analyses, or conclusions of the study. A correction has been made to the section 2.2.9 Data statistics and analysis:The results of molecular marker detection are determined by the 0/1 assignment method. Initially, the amplified bands were manually analyzed carefully and the corresponding results were recorded. Subsequently, in order to generate a binary data matrix consisting of 0s and 1s, when a band appeared at the same position, it was assigned a value of "1", and when there was no band, it was assigned a value of "0". The genetic diversity indicators were calculated using popgen1.32, including Ho (observed heterozygosity), He (expected heterozygosity), Ae (Effective Number of Alleles), Ar (Allelic Richness), and I (Shannon's Information Index). PIC (polymorphism information content) was calculated using PowerMarker 3.25.ation Index. The original version of this article has been updated.

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is a major sugar-producing crop worldwide, yet rhizomania, root-knot nematode, and root rot diseases severely constrain its yield and quality. Screening resistant germplasm is critical for disease-resistant breeding and sustainable sugar beet production. In this study, we evaluated the disease resistance of 96 introduced sugar beet cultivars via molecular marker assays and field disease nursery trials. The results showed that 76 cultivars (79.2%) carried the strong resistance genotype for rhizomania, and 20 cultivars (20.8%) carried the weak resistance genotype. For root-knot nematode, 87 cultivars (90.6%) were heterozygous resistant, while 9 cultivars (9.4%) were homozygous susceptible; no homozygous resistant genotype was detected in this study. Field evaluation of root rot showed that disease incidence ranged from 15.45% to 100%. Only one cultivar (KWS7772) was rated as resistant (R), accounting for 1.0%, and two cultivars were moderately resistant (MR), accounting for 2.1%. Among all tested cultivars, KWS7748 showed combined resistance to rhizomania, root-knot nematode, and root rot. These findings provide candidate resistant germplasm resources and baseline resistance data under the tested conditions for sugar beet disease resistance breeding; further multi-environment and multi-year validation is needed, particularly for root rot resistance, before these varieties can be recommended for commercial deployment.