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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sugarbeet and Potato Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #252406
Title: Fusarium yellows affects postharvest respiration rate, sucrose concentration, and invert sugar in sugarbeet

Author
item Campbell, Larry
item Fugate, Karen
item NIEHAUS, W - American Crystal Sugar

Submitted to: Journal of Sugar Beet Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/2011
Publication Date: 6/6/2011
Citation: Campbell, L.G., Fugate, K.K., Niehaus, W.S. 2011. Fusarium yellows affects postharvest respiration rate, sucrose concentration, and invert sugar in sugarbeet. Journal of Sugar Beet Research. 48:17-39.

Interpretive Summary: Many sugar beet processors have experienced increased sucrose losses during postharvest storage and reduced efficiencies when processing roots from localities with a high incidence of Fusarium yellows. This report provides information that will assist in managing storage of diseased roots and in deciding when fields should be abandoned. Postharvest respiration rate, extractable sucrose concentration, and invert sugar concentration were measured on roots from a field with severe Fusarium yellows, a strip trial with commercial hybrids, and four trials established to assess Fusarium yellows resistance of adapted hybrids. In individual environments, postharvest respiration rates of roots of susceptible hybrids ranged from 0.85 to 2.28 mg CO2 kg-1 h-1 higher than the resistant hybrids, 30 days after harvest. Comparable differences 90 days after harvest ranged from 1.36 to 3.35 mg CO2 kg-1 h-1. A 10 kg Mg-1 reduction in extractable sucrose accompanied each increase of 2.6 (0 = no Fusarium yellows to 9 = severe) in the disease rating scale, 90 days after harvest. The increase in invert sugar concentration associated with increased disease severity will slow processing and may add color to the sugar produced. The increase in sucrose loss during storage and the decrease in processing efficiency associated with severity of Fusarium yellows can have substantial economic impact. These losses accelerate over time, so diseased roots should be processed soon after harvest. Planting resistant hybrids is an effective means of reducing postharvest losses.

Technical Abstract: Many sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) processors have experienced increased sucrose losses during postharvest storage and reduced efficiencies when processing roots from localities with a high incidence of Fusarium yellows (causal agent, Fusarium oxysporum). This report provides information that will assist in managing storage of diseased roots and in deciding when fields should be abandoned. Postharvest respiration rate, extractable sucrose concentration, and invert sugar concentration were measured on roots from a field with severe Fusarium yellows, a strip trial with commercial hybrids, and four trials established to assess Fusarium yellows resistance of adapted hybrids. In individual environments, postharvest respiration rates of roots of susceptible hybrids ranged from 0.85 to 2.28 mg CO2 kg-1 h-1 higher than the resistant hybrids, 30 days after harvest. Comparable differences 90 days after harvest ranged from 1.36 to 3.35 mg CO2 kg-1 h-1. A 10 kg Mg-1 reduction in extractable sucrose accompanied each increase of 2.6 (0 = no Fusarium yellows to 9 = severe) in the disease rating scale, 90 days after harvest. The increase in invert sugar concentration associated with increased disease severity will slow processing and may add color to the sugar produced. The increase in sucrose loss during storage and the decrease in processing efficiency associated with severity of Fusarium yellows can have substantial economic impact. These losses accelerate over time, so diseased roots should be processed soon after harvest. Planting resistant hybrids is an effective means of reducing postharvest losses.