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Sucrose translocation and storage in the sugar beet
1Central Research and Development Department, Experimental Station, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Delaware 19898.
Plant Physiology
|May 1, 1979
Summary
This study reveals key cellular events during sugar beet root development, identifying specific enzyme activities like soluble acid invertase and sucrose synthetase that regulate sucrose storage. Understanding these processes is crucial for optimizing sugar beet yield.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Sugar beet root development involves complex physiological processes.
- Understanding cellular events correlated with sucrose storage is vital for crop yield.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cellular events during sugar beet root development.
- To identify physiological processes temporally correlated with sucrose storage.
Main Methods:
- Utilized carbon-14 (14C)-sucrose to trace metabolic pathways.
- Measured enzyme activities including soluble acid invertase and sucrose synthetase.
- Analyzed root fresh weight and sucrose to glucose ratios.
Main Results:
- Prestorage stage showed increased root weight and low sucrose/glucose ratio.
- High soluble acid invertase activity decreased before sucrose storage began.
- Sucrose storage correlated with increased sucrose synthetase activity and sucrose accumulation.
Conclusions:
- Soluble acid invertase and sucrose synthetase play critical roles in regulating sucrose storage in sugar beet roots.
- Enzyme activity timing is crucial for efficient sucrose accumulation.
- Sugar beet plants efficiently retain imported sucrose, with minimal further metabolism.
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