Project Number: 5442-21440-002-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Mar 27, 2001
End Date: Mar 26, 2006

Objective:
The objective of the proposed research is to increase the yield of extractable sucrose from the domestic sugarbeet crop through a fundamental understanding of sugarbeet sucrose metabolism. Specifically, the cognate factors that affect sucrose accumulation during sugarbeet root development and sucrose loss during postharvest storage will be identified.

Approach:
The role of the major sucrose catabolizing enzymes in sucrose accumulation, retention and impurity formation during sugarbeet root development and postharvest storage will be determined. Enzymes involved in sucrose catabolism will be identified and characterized. Regulation and biochemical properties of sucrose synthase will be examined in depth and sucrose synthase gene(s) will be cloned. The expression and regulation of raffinose synthase, an enzyme responsible for the synthesis of a major sugarbeet root carbohydrate impurity, will also be determined. Raffinose synthase gene(s) will be cloned and sugarbeet plants with reduced raffinose synthase expression will be generated using antisense technology. BSL-1 dated 7-1-02.

Project Team

Klotz, Karen

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003   FY 2002   FY 2001