Root Sugar Content Research Articles

The miR396a-SlGRF8 module regulates sugar accumulation in the roots via SlSTP10 during the interaction between root-knot nematodes and tomato plants.

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs; Meloidogyne spp.) are a serious threat to crop production. The competition between plants and pathogens for assimilates influences the outcome of their interactions. However, the mechanisms by which plants and nematodes compete with each other for assimilates have not been elucidated. In this study, we demonstrated that miR396a plays a negative role in defense against RKNs and a positive role in sugar accumulation in tomato roots. The overexpression of SlGRF8 (Solanum lycopersicum growth-regulating factor 8), the target of miR396a, decreased the sugar content of the roots and the susceptibility to RKNs, whereas the grf8-cr mutation had the opposite effects. Furthermore, we confirmed that SlGRF8 regulated the sugar content in roots by directly activating the transcription of SlSTP10 (Solanum lycopersicum sugar transporter protein 10) in response to RKN stress. Moreover, SlSTP10 was expressed primarily in the tissues surrounding giant cells, and the SlSTP10 knockout increased both the sugar content in the roots and the plant's susceptibility to RKNs. Overall, this study provides important insight into the molecular mechanism through which the miR396a-SlGRF8-SlSTP10 module regulates sugar allocation in roots under RKN stress.

The Effect of Nitrogen and Potassium Interaction on the Leaf Physiological Characteristics, Yield, and Quality of Sweet Potato

This study selected two sweet potato varieties as research subjects and conducted a field experiment using a two-factor design with two potassium (K) levels (K0 and K1) and five nitrogen (N) levels (N0–N4). The physiological changes in sweet potato leaves under different N and K treatments were measured, and nutrients such as the soluble sugar, protein, and starch content of sweet potato roots were analyzed. The results indicate that the activity of glutamine synthetase (GS) and the soluble protein content in sweet potato leaves increase first and then decrease with increasing N application, while K application can significantly increase the activity of GS and the soluble protein content. The N metabolic capacity of leaves is strongest when the fertilizer ratio is K1N2. The SPAD value of sweet potato leaves increases with increasing N application. The net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and intercellular CO2 concentration first increase and then decrease with increasing N application. K fertilizer has a significant effect on these parameters. As the N application rate increases, the starch and protein content in the tubers increase, while the soluble sugar content decreases. However, the number of tubers per plant, fresh weight of the tubers, and dry weight of the tubers increase initially and then decrease, while the vine length continuously increases. The application of K fertilizer can significantly increase the number of tubers per plant and stem thickness of sweet potato. In conclusion, the appropriate N–K combined application can promote N metabolism, enhance the photosynthetic capacity of sweet potato, increase yield, and improve quality.

Effect of seed priming with auxin on ROS detoxification and carbohydrate metabolism and their relationship with germination and early seedling establishment in salt stressed maize

As crucial stages in the plant ontogeny, germination and seedling establishment under adverse conditions greatly determine staple crop growth and productivity. In the context of green technologies aiming to improve crop yield, seed priming is emerging as an effective approach to enhance seed vigor and germination performance under salt stress. In this study, we assess the efficiency of seed priming with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in mitigating the adverse effects of salt stress on maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings during germination and early seedling stages. In unprimed seeds, salt stress reduced germination indices, and seedling (both radicle and coleoptile) growth, together with decreased tissue hydration. However, seed priming using IAA significantly improved maize salt response, as reflected by the increased seed germination dynamics, early seedling establishment, and water status. Besides, seedlings from IAA-primed seeds showed a higher activity of α-amylase, resulting in increased sugar contents in roots and coleoptiles of salt-stressed plants. Further, IAA-seed priming stimulated the accumulation of endogenous IAA in salt-stressed seedlings, in concomitance with a significant effect on reactive oxygen species detoxification and lipid peroxidation prevention. Indeed, our data revealed increased antioxidant enzyme activities, differentially regulated in roots and coleoptiles, leading to increased activities of the antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT and GPX). In summary, data gained from this study further highlight the potential of IAA in modulating early interactions between multiple signaling pathways in the seed, endowing maize seedlings with enhanced potential and sustained tolerance to subsequent salt stress.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Mediate the Acclimation of Rice to Submergence.

Flooding is a critical factor that limits the establishment of a symbiosis between rice and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in wetland ecosystems. The distribution of carbon resources in roots and the acclimation strategies of rice to flooding stress in the presence of AMF are poorly understood. We conducted a root box experiment, employing nylon sheets or nylon meshes to create separate fungal chambers that either prevented or allowed the roots and any molecules to pass through. We found that the mycorrhizal colonization rate and the expression of genes OsD14L and OsCERK1, which are involved in fungal perception during symbiosis, both increased in mycorrhizal rice roots following intermittent flooding compared to continuous flooding. Furthermore, AMF inoculation affected root morphological traits, facilitating both shallower and deeper soil exploration. Increased submergence intensity led to carbohydrate deprivation in roots, while high mycorrhizal colonization increased soil oxygen consumption and decreased the neutral lipid concentration in roots. However, mycorrhizal inoculation increased the rice photosynthesis rate and facilitated acclimation to submergence by mediating the expression of the genes OsCIPK15 and OsSUB1A to enhance rice shoot elongation and the sugar concentration in roots as a result of reduced competition for carbon between rice and AMF under different flooding conditions.

Does the Amount of Pre-Sowing Nitrogen Fertilization Affect Sugar Beet Root Yield and Quality of Different Genotypes?

There has always been a specific focus on nitrogen fertilization in sugar beet production due to its important effect on sugar beet root yield and quality. For stable sugar beet growth and satisfactory root yield and quality, balanced N fertilization is crucial. Thus, this study aimed to investigate spring N fertilization in two seasons as the following treatments: N0—control, N1—only pre-sowing fertilization, and N2—pre-sowing with topdressing. Four different genotypes were included in the study (Serenada, Colonia, Fred, and Danton). The experiment was set up in a plain area, belonging to the temperate climate zone in Eastern Croatia (Županja and Vrbanja), with the long-term mean (LTM) (March–October) air temperature around 16 °C and the total precipitation of 515 mm. Pre-sowing N fertilization had a smaller impact on root yield in the year with higher precipitation (31% higher than LTM). Therefore, the average yields with pre-sowing fertilization (N1) and pre-sowing fertilization with top dressing (N2) were very similar and were only 7% higher than those of the control. In a season with less rainfall (29% less than LTM), pre-sowing fertilization with top dressing (N2) had a more pronounced effect on the increase in sugar beet root yield, which was 17% higher compared to that of the control treatment. The sugar beet sucrose content and quality parameters (brei impurities, loss of sugar in molasses, extractable sugar) differed when N fertilization was applied among locations in both seasons. The white sugar yield was the highest at N2 treatment with pre-sowing and topdressing N fertilization. In general, according to the average of all locations and years of research, the Serenada hybrid achieved the highest average root yield (81.1 t ha−1), while Colonia exhibited the highest root sugar content (14.5%) and white sugar yield (9.7 t ha−1).

Glucose uptake from the rhizosphere mediated by MdDOF3-MdHT1.2 regulates drought resistance in apple.

In plants under drought stress, sugar content in roots increases, which is important for drought resistance. However, the molecular mechanisms for controlling the sugar content in roots during response to drought remain elusive. Here, we found that the MdDOF3-MdHT1.2 module-mediated glucose influx into the root is essential for drought resistance in apple (Malus × domestica). Drought induced glucose uptake from the rhizosphere and up-regulated the transcription of hexose transporter MdHT1.2. Compared with the wild-type plants, overexpression of MdHT1.2 promoted glucose uptake from the rhizosphere, thereby facilitating sugar accumulation in root and enhancing drought resistance, whereas silenced plants showed the opposite phenotype. Furthermore, ATAC-seq, RNA-seq and biochemical analysis demonstrated that MdDOF3 directly bound to the promoter of MdHT1.2 and was strongly up-regulated under drought. Overexpression of MdDOF3 in roots improved MdHT1.2-mediated glucose transport capacity and enhanced plant resistance to drought, but MdDOF3-RNAihr apple plants showed the opposite phenotype. Moreover, overexpression of MdDOF3 in roots did not attenuate drought sensitivity in MdHT1.2-RNAi plants, which was correlated with a lower glucose uptake capacity and glucose content in root. Collectively, our findings deciphered the molecular mechanism through which glucose uptake from the rhizosphere is mediated by MdDOF3-MdHT1.2, which acts to modulate sugar content in root and promote drought resistance.

Effect of Form of Silicon and the Timing of a Single Foliar Application on Sugar Beet Yield

The aim of the study was the evaluation of silicon foliar application on sugar beet yield. In the years 2017–2019, the effect of a single foliar application of various forms of silicon (potassium silicate—PS, calcium silicate—CS, sodium metasilicate—SM, and orthosilicic stabilized acid—OSA) applied in the six-leaf phase of sugar beet, 7 and 14 days later on yield and technological quality of sugar beet roots was assessed. It was found that the form of silicon does not have a significant effect on the yield of sugar beet roots, and significantly modifies the biological yield of sugar and the pure sugar yield. The highest biological yield of sugar is achieved by the foliar application of PS, and the pure sugar yield by PS and OSA. The date of foliar application as well as the interaction of the date of application and silicon forms do not have a significant effect on the root yield, biological yield of sugar, and pure sugar yield. The form of silicon has a significant effect on the technological quality of sugar beet roots (sugar, α-amino nitrogen, potassium, and sodium content). The most beneficial effect on the sugar content and reduction of sodium content in sugar beet roots is the foliar application of OSA, and the reduction of α-amino nitrogen and potassium content—PS. The timing of the application of various forms of silicon has a significant effect on the sugar and potassium content in sugar beet roots. The most beneficial effect on the sugar content in the roots is the application carried out 7 days after the six-leaf phase of sugar beet, and the potassium content is most limited by the treatment 14 days after reaching this phase. The interaction of the timing of foliar application and the form of silicon significantly modifies the technological quality features of sugar beet roots: the content of sugar, α-amino nitrogen, potassium, and sodium. The results of the study proved the significant effect of silicon foliar application on the physiological parameters of plants, such as leaf area index (LAI), absorption of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) which are related to yield and sugar beet productivity.

Bacillus megaterium Compensates for Growth Inhibition from Phosphorus Deficiency by Improving Photosynthetic Capacity, Changing Antioxidant Potential, and Regulating Non-Structural Carbohydrate Concentrations in Glycyrrhiza uralensis

This study assessed the effect of Bacillus megaterium on seedling growth of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. under control and phosphorus (P) deficiency conditions. The results showed that P deficiency improved 1) G. uralensis root growth, 2) superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase activities, 3) inorganic P, starch, and soluble sugar contents in roots, 4) dissipated energy flux per reaction center, trapped energy flux per reaction center, and absorption flux per reaction center, and 5) net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, maximum fluorescence intensity after dark adaptation, and variable fluorescence. However, P deficiency significantly decreased chlorophyll and carotenoid contents in G. uralensis, but enhanced chlorophyll and carotenoid contents in B. megaterium. Our findings on the regulatory mechanisms of B. megaterium in response to P starvation hold promise for improving the success of G. uralensis cultivation.
 Keywords: Bacillus megaterium; Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch; Phosphorus deficiency; Chlorophyll fluorescence; Antioxidant enzymes superoxide; Non-structural carbohydrate

Root Causes of Flowering: Two Sides of Bolting in Sugar Beet

Sugar beet is an important root crop with a biennial life cycle. In the first year of its life cycle, it produces huge amounts of leaf and root mass used for the production of sugar and bioethanol, livestock feed, confectionery and pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, and soil restoration. Normally, after exposure to cold temperatures during winter storage, in the second year of its life cycle, it enters its reproductive phase. However, during the first year of growth, sugar beet plants may be susceptible to producing flowering shoots, or “bolting”, due to vernalization and long-day conditions. Bolting reduces both the yield and the sugar content of roots. Here, we review the published research works that study the environmental factors influencing bolting, the genetic (including epigenetic) and physiological mechanisms that regulate the transition to the reproductive phase, and the agrotechnical and breeding practices used to prevent bolting. Models of gene networks that regulate the transition to flowering are presented. Methods for selecting non-bolting plants using conventional, marker-assisted, and genomic breeding are demonstrated. Attention is also paid to the speed breeding technology that stimulates bolting and flowering sugar beet plants in an artificial climate. Growing sugar beet plants “from seed to seed” can potentially accelerate the breeding and seed production of sugar beet. This review compares different conditions for inducing bolting in sugar beet in climatic chambers and greenhouses. It examines parameters such as temperature, duration of light exposure, and light intensity during the pre-vernalization, post-vernalization, and vernalization periods. The present review may be useful for specialists in sugar beet cultivation, breeders working on developing cultivars and hybrids that are resistant to bolting, and molecular biologists studying the genetic and physiological mechanisms underlying the transition of plants into the flowering stage.

Precipitation pattern changed the content of non-structural carbohydrates components in different organs of Artemisia ordosica

BackgroundNon-structural carbohydrates (NSC) play a significant role in plant growth and defense and are an important component of carbon cycling in desert ecosystems. However, regarding global change scenarios, it remains unclear how NSCs in desert plants respond to changing precipitation patterns. [Methods] Three precipitation levels (natural precipitation, a 30% reduction in precipitation, and a 30% increase in precipitation) and two precipitation intervals levels (5 and 15 d) were simulated to study NSC (soluble sugar and starch) responses in the dominant shrub Artemisia ordosica.ResultsPrecipitation level and interval interact to affect the NSC (both soluble sugar and starch components) content of A. ordosica. The effect of precipitation on NSC content and its components depended on extended precipitation interval. With lower precipitation and extended interval, soluble sugar content in roots increased and starch content decreased, indicating that A. ordosica adapts to external environmental changes by hydrolyzing root starch into soluble sugars. At 5 d interval, lower precipitation increased the NSC content of stems and especially roots.ConclusionsA. ordosica follows the “preferential allocation principle” to preferentially transport NSC to growing organs, which is an adaptive strategy to maintain a healthy physiological metabolism under drought conditions. The findings help understand the adaptation and survival mechanisms of desert vegetation under the changing precipitation patterns and are important in exploring the impact of carbon cycling in desert systems under global environmental change.

ВПЛИВ ПЕРЕДПОСІВНОЇ ОБРОБКИ НАСІННЯ МЕТАБОЛІЧНО АКТИВНИМИ РЕЧОВИНАМИ НА КІЛЬКІСНІ ТА ЯКІСНІ ПОКАЗНИКИ ВРОЖАЮ КОРЕНЕПЛОДІВ МОРКВИ СОРТУ НАНТСЬКА

The development of agriculture necessitates the adoption of new and effective methods to increase yields and enhance product quality. Obtaining high-quality agricultural products is becoming increasingly challenging due to climate variations, soil depletion, and decreasing arable land. These factors underscore the need to explore additional technologies that can enhance the cultivation of crops to meet the demand for quality produce. Pre-sowing seed treatment with metabolically active substances represents one such promising technology.
 The objective of our study was to investigate the impact of metabolically active substances and their combinations on the processes of yield formation and the quality of carrots from the Nantska seed variety. The following substances were used for pre-sowing treatment of carrot seeds: vitamin E, ubiquinone-10, paraoxybenzoic acid (POBA), methionine, and magnesium sulfate (MgSO4).
 Our findings revealed a positive influence of metabolically active compounds on various parameters, including root length, thickness, average root mass, and sugar content in the carrots. The combination of substances, specifically vitamin E + POBA + methionine + MgSO4, exhibited the most significant effect on root length throughout the growth period, surpassing control measurements by 5.23 % to 14.5 1%, depending on the stage of the study. All tested compounds, except for the vitamin E solution, had a favorable impact on the average root mass. Pre-sowing seed treatment with ubiquinone-10 resulted in the highest monosaccharide content in carrot roots after one month of storage, surpassing control measurements by 13.2 %. Although the monosaccharide and disaccharide content in carrot roots decreased during storage in all studied conditions, it remained higher compared to the control measurements, indicating enhanced nutritional value.
 In summary, pre-sowing seed treatment of carrots with metabolically active compounds and their combinations demonstrates the potential to improve both quantitative harvest indicators and sugar content in carrot roots, reflecting increased nutritional value. Incorporating pre-sowing treatment with metabolically active compounds into cultivation practices can be valuable in the production of vegetable crops.

Coordination between non-structure carbohydrates and hydraulic function under different drought duration, intensity, and post-drought recovery

The maintenance of non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) and hydraulic function during drought and post-drought recovery is crucial for tree survival, but previous studies lack systematic investigation of their relationship under different drought conditions. We exposed seedlings to varying degrees of drought intensity for three years, followed by short-term, high-intensity drought and re-irrigation, to explore the coordination between NSCs and hydraulic function. We found that long-duration drought reduced native embolism in all organs, and NSCs were consumed in trunks and branches in response to drought. In contrast, total soluble sugar and starch concentrations in roots under severe drought stress increased by 33.90 % and 24.97 %, respectively, in order to survive and adapt to the drought environment. When short-term and high-intensity drought caused hydraulic dysfunction, plants accumulated soluble sugars, including glucose, sucrose, and maltose, mainly driven by starch depletion. Meanwhile, drought-adapted plants had higher embolism resistance at the cost of consuming NSCs. After re-irrigation, drought-adapted plants maintain lower carbon consumption and improve carbon reserves in their roots to cope with future drought conditions. In summary, long-term drought treatment improves plant survival under extreme drought stress. This study systematically illustrates the long-term drought legacy effects on short-term drought and re-irrigation responses.

Growth, nutritional status, and nonstructural carbohydrates of Armand pine (Pinus armandii) seedlings in response to fertilization regimes and levels

ABSTRACT Exponential fertilization has been regarded as an important technique for improving seedling growth and enlarging internal nutrients reserve. However, the effects of exponential fertilization under varying fertilization levels on seedlings’ growth, nutritional status, and nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) are poorly understood. We employed Armand pine (Pinus armandii) seedlings to investigate the responses of growth, nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) in seedlings, and NSC in organs to varying exponential and conventional fertilization levels. Shoot height, root collar diameter, and biomass increased and then declined with the increased fertilization levels. At high fertilization levels (≥300 mg seedling−1), the seedings accumulated more biomass in exponential fertilization than in conventional fertilization. The exponentially fertilized seedlings contained more concentrated nitrogen, starch, and NSC than the conventionally fertilized ones. Vector analysis revealed that conventional fertilization of 200 mg seedling−1 or exponential fertilization of 300 mg seedling−1 could induce luxury consumption. NSC was closely related to the nutrient states. With the increased fertilization level, regardless of the regime, soluble sugar concentrations in roots and needles trended toward declining with changes in the nutrient supply from deficiency to sufficiency and then increased with the changes from sufficiency to toxicity. Meanwhile, starch and NSC concentrations in roots and needles increased with the changes in the nutrient supply from deficiency to sufficiency; the concentrations in roots decreased with the changes from sufficiency to excess. Exponential fertilization at high levels did not only promote seedling growth but also induced seedlings to reserve more nutrients and NSC, which could improve afforestation success.

Cytokinin application improving growth, sugar content, polyphenol and flavonoid content in Yacon tuberous roots

Yacon is a tuberous crop that accumulates sugar in large quantities and has many valuable secondary compounds in medicine such as phenolic compounds and flavonoids. The objective of this study was to increase the size and content of sugars, polyphenols and flavonoids during the early growth of tubers. Therefore, early tuber stimulation and tuber size are important as they determine yield over time. Cell restructuring along with growth expansion as well as control of tuber reserves also takes place. This study investigated anatomy structure changes, fresh weight, dry weight, respiratory intensity and sugar content in different Yacon root types. A spray of N-benzyl adenine (BA) (0–25 ppm) is applied in the initial stage. Determining agronomic, physiological, and, biochemical indicators after 4 weeks of treatment, the sugar content of tubers determines the yield of tubers after 16 weeks of treatment. The results showed that Yacon crops at the stages of 5 to 9 weeks develop fibrous roots, thin fibrous roots and pre-tuberous roots at week 13, intermediate storage roots at week 17 and mature storage roots at week 17. BA 20 ppm application on Yacon crop week 13 increased the number of storage roots, fresh weight, dry weight tuber diameter, total sugar content, fructan content, total phenolic and flavonoid remarkably compared to controls, but reducing sugar content is lower than treating BA at 15 ppm. BA 20 ppm application on Yacon crop week 13 increased the parameters of sugar growth and accumulation, tuber yeild on a plant increased 2 times, dry weight increased 1.65 times, sugar content, total sugar 1.12 times, reducing sugar 3.01 times, fructan 1.36 times, total phenolic and flavonoid 1.36 and 1.26 times after 25 weeks of treatment.

Lateral root elongation in maize is related to auxin synthesis and transportation mediated by N metabolism under a mixed NO3− and NH4+ supply

A mixed nitrate (NO3−) and ammonium (NH4+) supply can promote root growth in maize (Zea mays), however, the changes in root morphology and the related physiological mechanism under different N forms are still unclear. Here, maize seedlings were grown hydroponically with three N supplied in three different forms (NO3− only, 75/25 NO3−/NH4+ and NH4+ only). Compared with sole NO3− or NH4+, the mixed N supply increased the total root length of maize but did not affect the number of axial roots. The main reason was the increased total lateral root length, while the average lateral root (LR) length in each axle was only slightly increased. In addition, the average LR density of 2nd whorl crown root under mixed N was also increased. Compared with sole nitrate, mixed N could improve the N metabolism of roots (such as the N influx rate, nitrate reductase (NR) and glutamine synthase (GS)enzyme activities and total amino content of the roots). Experiments with exogenously added NR and GS inhibitors suggested that the increase in the average LR length under mixed N was related to the process of N assimilation, and whether the NR mediated NO synthesis participates in this process needs further exploration. Meanwhile, an investigation of the changes in root-shoot ratio and carbon (C) concentration showed that C transportation from shoots to roots may not be the key factor in mediating lateral root elongation, and the changes in the sugar concentration in roots further proved this conclusion. Furthermore, the synthesis and transportation of auxin in axial roots may play a key role in lateral root elongation, in which the expression of ZmPIN1B and ZmPIN9 may be involved in this pathway. This study preliminarily clarified the changes in root morphology and explored the possible physiological mechanism under a mixed N supply in maize, which may provide some theoretical basis for the cultivation of crop varieties with high N efficiency.

Hydrogen Sulfide Alleviates Cadmium Stress by Enhancing Photosynthetic Efficiency and Regulating Sugar Metabolism in Wheat Seedlings.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) plays prominent multifunctional roles in the mediation of various physiological processes and stress responses to plants. In this study, hydroponic experiments were carried out to explore the effects of NaHS pretreatment on the growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under 50 μM cadmium (Cd). Compared with Cd treatment alone, 50 μM NaHS pretreatment increased the plant height, soluble sugar content of shoots and roots, and dry weight of shoots and roots under Cd stress, while the Cd concentration of shoots and roots was significantly reduced by 18.1% and 25.9%, respectively. Meanwhile, NaHS pretreatment protected the photosynthetic apparatus by increasing the net photosynthetic rate and PSII electron transportation rate of wheat leaves under Cd stress. NaHS pretreatment significantly increased the soluble sugar content to maintain the osmotic pressure balance of the leaf cells. The gene expression results associated with photosynthetic carbon assimilation and sucrose synthesis in wheat leaves suggested that the NaHS pretreatment significantly up-regulated the expression of TaRBCL, TaRBCS, and TaPRK, while it down-regulated the expression of TaFBA, TaSuSy, TaSAInv, and TaA/NInv. In summary, NaHS pretreatment improved the resistance of wheat seedlings under Cd stress by increasing the rate of photosynthesis and regulating the expression of genes related to sugar metabolism.

Long-distance hormone transport via the phloem

Several key plant hormones are synthesised in the shoot and are advected within the phloem to the root tip. In the root tip, these hormones regulate growth and developmental processes, and responses to environmental cues. However, we lack understanding of how environmental factors and biological parameters affect the delivery of hormones to the root tip. In this study, we build on existing models of phloem flow to develop a mathematical model of sugar transport alongside the transport of a generic hormone. We derive the equations for osmotically driven flow in a long, thin pipe with spatially varying membrane properties to capture the phloem loading and unloading zones. Motivated by experimental findings, we formulate solute membrane transport in terms of passive and active components, and incorporate solute unloading via bulk flow (i.e. advection with the water efflux) by including the Staverman reflection coefficient. We use the model to investigate the coupling between the sugar and hormone dynamics. The model predicts that environmental cues that lead to an increase in active sugar loading, an increase in bulk flow sugar unloading or a decrease in the relative root sugar concentration result in an increase in phloem transport velocity. Furthermore, the model reveals that such increases in phloem transport velocity result in an increase in hormone delivery to the root tip for passively loaded hormones.

Productivity formation and processability of sugar beet in the conditions of continental climate

Purpose. To reveal the peculiarities of yield formation and processability of sugar beet roots in the conditions of the Steppe of Ukraine through optimizing the cultivation technology.
 Methods. The field experiment was conducted in the years 2020–2021 in the conditions of Chkalov Agrocompany LLC (Kirovohrad region). A drought-resistant diploid sugar beet hybrid ‘Magister’ (SESVanderHave) was grown against the background of the application of a moisture retainer (without hydrogel and hydrogel Aquasorb, 300 kg/ha) and different fertilization systems [without fertilizers – control; manure, 20 t/ha; N170P180K350; Leonardyt, 400 kg/ha; Parostok-20, 400 kg/ha]. Organic and mineral fertilizers (PK) were applied in autumn under plowing, while nitrogen component was applied under early spring cultivation. The adsorbent was applied to the soil two weeks before sowing the crop locally in the zone of the row to be, based on the data of the GPS tracker. The rest of the agricultural activities carried out were generally accepted components of cultivation technology in the research area.
 Results. As a result of rather difficult weather conditions in 2020, the yield of root crops was only 30.3 t/ha on average in the experiment. The lowest level yield (26.0 t/ha) was obtained in the plots of both controls without fertilizer, while the application of 20 t/ha of manure yielded 29.0–30.0 t/ha. The mineral system (N170P180K350), despite its significantly lower efficiency in the treatment without Aquasorb hydrogel (31.0 t/ha), when it was applied to the soil before sowing the crop, ensured the maximum productivity of sugar beets – 34.0 t/ha. In addition, against the background of the hydrogel, the effectiveness of Leonardyt and Parostok-20 increased significantly – yield increases by 7.0 and 6.0 t/ha, respectively. The maximum content of sugars in roots was noted under the mineral fertilization system against the background of Aquasorb hydrogel – 16.3 against 15.0% in the control. However, in the same treatment, the highest content of α-amine nitrogen was also obtained, which significantly reduces the yield of sugar at the factory. In 2021, due to favorable weather conditions during the crop vegetation, the yield of root crops was 55.6 t/ha on average in the experiment, which is almost twice as high as the previous year. As predicted, the lowest yield was obtained in the treatments without fertilizers – 49.7–50.2 t/ha, with manure application – 50.7–53.3 t/ha. Significantly higher, however, unlike in 2020, the indicators for the mineral fertilizer system were 56.9–58.1 t/ha. The most effective from the point of view of the formation of sugar beet productivity were Leonardyt and Parostok-20 yielding 58.1–58.6 and 59.2–61.6 t/ha, respectively. The maximum sugar content of roots was ensured by the use of Parostok-20 fertilizer, both on the background of Aquasorb hydrogel and without it (17.8% compared to control 15.8%).
 Conclusions. Weather conditions during the vegetation of sugar beets are the most significant factor that determines the level of their productivity, as well as the effectiveness of applied agricultural measures. In all treatments with fertilizers, a significant increase in crop yield was observed, and the amount of the obtained increments largely depended on both their type and the use of hydrogel, especially under unfavorable growing conditions. On average, during the research period, the highest indicators of sugar yield were obtained in the treatment with the use of organic fertilizers of the new formulation Leonardyt and Parostok-20 on the background of Aquasorb hydrogel, which indicates the feasibility of their further implementation in the cultivation technology for sugar beet.

Uçucu Yağ Uygulamalarının Depolama Devresinde Şeker Pancarı (Beta vulgaris L.) Kalitesine Etkileri

This study was carried out in order to determine the effects of dill, clove and hyssop essential oils and fungicides applied on sugar beet roots on beet storage quality during the storage period. The roots of Esperanza (KWS) variety, which was produced in the experimental areas in 2019, were used in the study. Roots were treated with 100, 500 and 1000 ppm doses of dill (Anethum graveolens L.), clove (Szygium aromaticum) and hyssop (Echinophora tenuifolia) essential oils, synthetic fungicide (80% Thiram) and Tween-80 right after harvest and the roots were placed in the storage. Weight loss of roots determined at 15-day intervals from the beginning of the storage period, dry matter ratio, brix, polar sugar, reducing sugar and alpha amino nitrogen contents, phytotoxicity and fungal infection development at the end of the 3-month storage period. The applications made in the research significantly affected the post-harvest weight and quality losses in beet. Depending on the applications, the weight losses at the end of the 3-month storage period varied between 9.43-19.90%, and the weight losses in essential oil applications were lower than the control. The highest dry matter content and brix values were obtained from clove essential oil and fungicide and Tween-80 applications. While Tween-80 and fungicide applications increased the polar sugar content compared to the control, 1000 ppm clove essential oil caused a significant decrease in the polar sugar content. In the study, reducing sugar and alpha amino nitrogen contents of roots applied 1000 ppm essential oil E. tenuifolia essential oil were lower. E. tenuifolia essential oil showed the highest antifungal activity against white mold and green mold infections. It was concluded that with the application of essential oil to the roots after the harvest, both weight and quality losses and the development of fungal diseases can be reduced, however, some active substances may cause phytotoxicity in the roots.

Estimation of sugar content in sugar beet root based on UAV multi-sensor data

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is the second largest sugar source crop in the world. Sugar content in its beetroot is an important quality index of sugar beet. Rapid and accurate estimation of sugar content in beetroot is helpful to high-throughput phenotype and genotype breeding. The purpose of the current study is to explore the potential of UAV-based multimodal remote sensing data in sugar content estimation. Multimodal data were collected by different UAV-platform carried with RGB, multi-spectral, thermal infrared, hyperspectral and LiDAR. Spectral, structure and thermal features of canopy were extracted from different sensor combinations to estimate sugar content during sugar accumulation period of beetroot by using Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR), Bayesian Ridge Regression (BRR) and Support Vector Regression (SVR). The main results are as follows: (i) In estimating sugar content, published vegetation indices (PBI, NDVI, TCARI, etc.) calculated from hyperspectral as spectral features outperformed these of multispectral. Structure features calculated from LiDAR outperformed those from RGB. (ii) Eight newly developed vegetation indices presented better performance than published vegetation indices. Among them (R730-R734)/(R730 + R734) index using two bands and (R694-R714)/(R710-R714) using three bands presented the best performance. (iii) Multimodal data combination from different sensors improved estimation accuracy of sugar content than data from individual sensors. PLSR based multimodal data from LiDAR, hyperspectral, thermal infrared sensor presented the best accuracy with R2 = 0.64 and relative root mean square error (rRMSE) = 7.2 %. These results showed that UAV-based canopy features from multimodal data can be used to quickly and accurately obtain sugar content of beetroot. This study provides a basic reference for estimating bioactive substances in roots of root tuber crops based on multimodal canopy remote sensing data.