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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2004 Publication Date: 10/23/2004 Citation: Haagenson, D.M., Klotz, K.L. 2004. Raffinose synthase is influenced by postharvest storage temperature and duration [abstract.] Abstracts from ASA, CSSA, and SSSA International Annual Meeting 31 Oct-4 Nov, 2004, Seattle, WA. [CD-ROM.] Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Raffinose is an important impurity in sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) processing as it decreases extractable sucrose, and raffinose concentrations may increase with prolonged periods of cold (less than 4°C) during sugarbeet growth and storage. Our objective was to gain a physiological understanding of environmental and biochemical factors controlling sugarbeet raffinose accumulation. Beets were harvested three times (8 September, 23 September, and 29 October 2004), and were stored for 2, 10, or 18 wk at 2 or 6°C, respectively. Root and crown tissues were analyzed for raffinose content, and raffinose synthase transcript abundance and enzyme activities. As expected, sugarbeet root raffinose concentrations increased during storage and were three-fold higher in beets stored at 2°C when compared to 6°C. Raffinose synthase transcript abundance and enzyme activities were highest in roots stored for 2 wk at 2°C. When comparing the three harvest dates, beets harvested 8 September had the highest transcript abundance and enzyme activity after 2 wk of storage at 2°C. Transcript abundance and enzyme activity declined at 10 and 18 wk of storage among all harvest dates, but roots stored at 2°C maintained a 6-fold higher enzyme activity when compared to roots stored at 6°C. |
