Beyond salt stress: Unlocking the potential of sugar beet in saline environments

Soil salinity is a growing constraint on crop production, especially in arid and semi-arid regions of the world where freshwater is scarce and irrigation water often has poor quality. Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is an important crop with relatively high salt tolerance that is increasingly valued for its potential to grow on marginal lands. This review combines current knowledge and recent advances in improving sugar beet’s tolerance to salinity stress through agronomic practices, as well as physiological and environmentally friendly methods to manage salinity. Key topics include how sugar beet responds to salinity at the morphological and physiological levels, tolerance mechanisms such as osmotic adjustment and antioxidant activity, effects of salinity on yield and sugar quality, and various salinity mitigation strategies. These strategies involve the application of organic amendments (biochar, compost, humic substances), improved nutrient management (potassium, phosphorus, silicon, and micronutrients), biostimulants and plant hormones applied to the foliage (salicylic acid, melatonin, GABA), microbial inoculants (PGPR and AMF), and seed priming techniques. The review also discusses regulated deficit irrigation and the development of salt-tolerant cultivars. The importance of sustainable, low-impact approaches to enhance soil health, boost plant tolerance to stress, and improve water efficiency will be emphasized. Ultimately, this review identifies gaps in our understanding of sustainable interventions and offers guidance for future research to expand sugar beet cultivation in saline environments.