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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sugarbeet Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #409995
Research Project: Improving Sugarbeet Productivity and Sustainability through Genetic, Genomic, Physiological, and Phytopathological Approaches

Location: Sugarbeet Research

Title: Changes in composition and metabolism of sugarbeet root cell walls during storage

Author
item Fugate, Karen
item LAFTA, ABBAS - NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
item KHAN, MOHAMED - NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
item FINGER, FERNANDO - UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE VICOSA

Submitted to: International Commission for Sugar Technology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cell wall metabolism alters the physical and chemical properties of sugarbeet roots during storage, adversely affecting root slicing resistance and increasing the solubilization of pectic compounds that hinder processing. Despite the importance of cell wall properties on sugarbeet root processing efficiency, little information is available regarding the molecular processes that alter cell wall properties or the effect of storage temperature and duration on these processes. To improve knowledge of the metabolic changes occurring in cell walls during long-term storage, root firmness, concentrations of cell wall components, including cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin and lignin, and the expression of genes involved in cell wall modification were determined in sugarbeet roots during 120 days storage at 5 or 12°C. Root firmness declined during storage, but was not significantly affected by storage temperature. Hemicellulose concentrations declined and lignin concentrations increased with time in storage, while storage temperature significantly altered water soluble pectin concentrations. Over 200 genes involved in cell wall modification were altered in expression during storage, with 90 and 111 of these cell wall modifying genes upregulated and downregulated, respectively. Most highly upregulated genes included those encoding a-galactosidase, a-xylosidase, and peroxidase. Most highly down-regulated were genes that encoded trichome birefringence-like 3 protein, brassinosteroid-regulated BRU1-like protein, and probable pectinesterase inhibitor 61.