Storability as a varietal characteristic of sugar beet? - Results 2016-2018

The storability of sugar beet varieties grown in Germany has not been specified to date. In 2016-2018, nine storage trials were carried out in order to test the storability of 13 current varieties. The beet were stored in climate containers for approximately 480 degrees Cd. Root mass and the contents of sugar, invert sugar and marc were determined before and after storage. During storage, the sugar content decreased in all varieties while the invert sugar content increased. The observed sugar loss was most significant (about 10% of the amount before storage) in an environment where the syndrome "basses richesses" had occurred. Differences among varieties were significant in six environments, but not for the mean of the eight trials without diseases. Variety recommendations concerning the storability of sugar beet are thus currently not possible.