R. M. Cressman 2
Plant Physiologist
A study on sucrose accumulation and growth of sugarbeets was performed in 1971 to obtain data to be used in planning future work. The purposes of the study were (1) to compare low sucrose beets and high sucrose beets with commercial beets, (2) to study several growth measurements during the season and (3) to examine the variability among beets within each of several varieties.
The plot was planted on May 28 with 11 varieties of commercial beets from 5 different companies, 2 varieties of fodder beets, and an experimental line bred for high sucrose (American Crystal Sugar Co. line 67-436). A sample was taken from each variety every two weeks from July 6 until harvest and data were taken on individual beets. Only information on general growth characteristics and gross differences was desired and the experiment did not qualify as a true variety trial. The averages for the types of beets are listed in Table 1.
The general growth trends are as follows. Root yield increased rapidly during August but leveled off in September. Top fresh weight increased rapidly during July, reached a peak in August and declined during September. Sucrose content increased steadily from early July until harvest although the rate of increase lessened slightly during September. Gross sucrose increased almost linearly from late July to mid-September.
The fodder beets, which characteristically produced larger roots and lower sucrose, produced much less top growth in proportion to the root size and leaf development was slower than for the commercial beets. The high sucrose beets had much smaller roots than the commercial beets, and produced a higher ratio of tops to roots. The higher sugar content did not become pronounced until September.
The results will aid in planning further work in which beets
harvested at various periods will be compared with respect to
maintaining quality in storage.
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1/ This research was conducted in cooperation with the Agricultural Experiment Station, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota.
2/ Plant Physiologist, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Fargo, North Dakota.
1971 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports. Volume 2, pages 27 - 28.