ARS | Publication request: Determination of carbohydrate profile in sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris) cell walls

Submitted to: Annual Beet Sugar Development Foundation Research Report
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: May 15, 2011
Publication Date: July 15, 2011
Citation: Sharma, P., McGrath, J.M. 2011. Determination of carbohydrate profile in sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris) cell walls [CD-ROM]. 2011 Annual Beet Sugar Development Foundation Research Report. Denver, Colorado: Beet Sugar Development Foundation.

Technical Abstract: Sugarbeet germplasms USH20, C869, EL55, EL54 were used, and different tissues at different developmental stages were sampled, including dry seeds, germinating seedlings, developing leaves, mature leaves, petioles, hypocotyls, mature roots, flowering stems and inflorescences. Cell Wall Composition Analysis identified Xylose, mannose, galactose, arabinose, fucose, rhamnose, glucose, and crystalline cellulose, as analyzed via the Alditol Acetate Assay. No differences between varieties were observed. Differences were observed between tissue types. In particular, most tissues showed arabinose as the dominant mono-saccharide; however, in seeds and stems (but not flowers) the dominant mono-saccharide was xylose. Crystalline cellulose contents were highest in these tissues as well. Each tissue showed a different pattern of mono-saccharide contents, suggesting that the cell walls of these tissues are developmentally determined. Leaves and flowers (which are largely photosynthetic tissue like leaves) were similar in their overall pattern of abundance of each of the mono-saccharides, although variability in arabinose content was observed based on an aggregate sample of leaves versus separately harvested young and old leaves where tissues are either expanding rapidly or senescing, respectively. Galactose was present in highest concentrations in roots, hypocotyls, and petioles.