Response of varieties of beetroot Beta vulgaris L. to putrescine spraying and its effect on vegetative traits and yield in Kirkuk Governorate

• Hadeel H. Sarheed1, Omar H. M. Almohammedi2 and Khattab A. Mohammed3

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To explore its validity, the experiment began on August 2025 to November 2025  in the Al-Sayada region of the Agricultural Research and Experiment Station of the College of Agriculture, University of Kirkuk and was accompanied by laboratory and chemical analysis until January 2026. The aim of the research was to experiment the effects of the growth regulator sug Putrescine foliar sprayed on different chemical, qualitative, and sensory characteristics of three beetroot cultivars,)  Pinky and Beetroot Detroit Dark Red 2 Christel, and Fredi( (Beta vulgaris L.): The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) based on split-plot system and three replications. The cultivars were contained in the main plots and the four concentrations of Putrescine (0, 10, 20 and 30 mg L -1 ) were contained in the sub plots. The spraying was done three times and a 15 days time interval was observed between spraying applications and the initial spraying was carried out two weeks after planting. The characteristics observed were: determination of a number of chemical and qualitative components in the roots that comprised nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, crude protein and betalain pigment and determination of sensory characteristics such as color, shape, firmness and size. Sensory assessment among 40 randomly selected consumers among students, staff and faculty of the College of Agriculture of Kirkuk University was done using a questionnaire. The participants were requested to rate each of the treatments by giving a rating of 1 to 10 based on each of the sensory attributes. The results showed that the Fredi (V3) type was superior in several chemical and qualitative attributes, the highest accumulation of nutrients in the roots, namely nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and iron and high content of crude protein and betalain pigments. Putrescine concentration of 30 mg/L (P4) primarily changed most of the characteristics studied with the greatest level of change in most of the chemical and qualitative characteristics. The sensory response was also different according to the trait; consumers were more willing to accept the color of roots at higher levels and a concentration of 20 mg/L was more effective in response to the size trait. Generally, the findings suggest that the combination of the Fredi variety and Putrescine spraying led to increased root quality, both in chemical and sensory quality, in the environment of the area of the research.

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