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PubMed2003

Pelleted beet pulp substituted for high-moisture corn: 3. Effects on ruminal fermentation, pH, and microbial protein efficiency in lactating dairy cows.

The effects of increasing concentrations of dried, pelleted beet pulp substituted for high-moisture corn on ruminal fermentation, pH, and microbial efficiency were evaluated using eight ruminally and duodenally cannulated multiparous Holstein cows in a duplicated 4 x 4 Latin square design with 21-d periods. Cows were 79 +/- 17 (mean +/- SD) DIM at the beginning of the experiment. Experimental diets with 40% forage (corn silage and alfalfa silage) and 60% concentrate contained 0, 6.1, 12.1, or 24.3% beet pulp substituted for high-moisture corn on a DM basis. Diet concentrations of NDF and starch were 24.3 and 34.6% (0% beet pulp), 26.2 and 30.5% (6% beet pulp), 28.0, and 26.5% (12% beet pulp), and 31.6 and 18.4% (24% beet pulp), respectively. Substituting beet pulp for corn did not affect daily mean or minimum ruminal pH but tended to reduce pH range. Ruminal acetate:propionate responded in a positive exponential relationship to added beet pulp. Rate of valerate absorption from the rumen was not affected by treatment. Substituting beet pulp for corn up to 24% of diet DM did not affect efficiency of ruminal microbial protein production, expressed as microbial N flow to the duodenum as a percentage of OM truly digested in the rumen. Microbial efficiency was not correlated to mean pH or daily minimum pH. While microbial efficiency was not directly related to concentration of beet pulp fed, it was positively correlated with passage rate of particulate matter, as represented by starch and indigestible NDF, probably due to reduced turnover of microbial protein in the rumen.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2001

Specific screening for color precursors and colorants in beet and cane sugar liquors in relation to model colorants using spectrofluorometry evaluated by HPLC and multiway data analysis.

A comparison was made of the fluorophores in beet thick juice and cane final evaporator syrup, which are comparable in the production of cane and beet sugar; that is, both represent the final stage of syrup concentration prior to crystallization of sugar. To further elucidate the nature of the color components in cane and beet syrup, a series of model colorants was also prepared, consisting of mildly alkaline-degraded fructose and glucose and two Maillard type colorants, glucose--glycine and glucose--lysine. Fluorescence excitation--emission landscapes resolved into individual fluorescent components with PARAFAC modeling were used as a screening method for colorants, and the method was validated with size exclusion chromatography using a diode array UV--vis detector. Fluorophores from the model colorants were mainly located at visible wavelengths. An overall similarity in chromatograms and absorption spectra of the four model colorant samples indicated that the formation of darker color was the distinguishing characteristic, rather than different reaction products. The fluorophores obtained from the beet and cane syrups consisted of color precursor amino acids in the UV wavelength region. Tryptophan was found in both beet and cane syrups. Tyrosine as a fluorophore was resolved in only beet syrup, reflecting the higher levels of amino acids in beet processing. In the visible wavelength region, cane syrup colorant fluorophores were situated at higher wavelengths than those of beet syrup, indicating formation of darker colorants. A higher level of invert sugar in cane processing compared to beet processing was suggested as a possible explanation for the darker colorants.

Carbohydrates↗
PubMed1993

Effects of increasing levels of corn or beet pulp on utilization of low-quality crested wheatgrass hay by lambs and in vitro dry matter disappearance of forages.

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of corn or dried beet pulp on intake and digestibility of forage by lambs and on IVDMD. In Trial 1, 16 lambs (average BW = 41 +/- .9 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design with eight lambs per block. Lambs were fed a crested wheatgrass hay (7.5% CP) and received either no supplement (NS), a protein supplement (PS), or protein supplements with various levels of corn or beet pulp. Corn supplements supplied 1.75 (PCL), 3.5 (PMC), and 5.25 (PHC) g of corn/kg of BW, whereas beet pulp supplements supplied 2.1 (PLBP), 4.2 (PMBP), and 6.3 (PHBP) g of beet pulp/kg of BW. All supplemented lambs received .128 g of CP/kg of BW. Hay DMI decreased linearly (P < .03) as the level of corn and beet pulp increased in the supplement. Total DMI decreased linearly (P = .013) as the level of corn increased; however, beet pulp did not affect total DMI (P > .71). Supplemental corn increased (P = .03) apparent diet DM digestibility (DMD), whereas supplemental beet pulp did not affect (P > .32) diet DMD. Lambs whose diet was supplemented with beet pulp had greater (P = .010) estimated hay DMD than lambs whose diet was supplemented with corn. In Trial 2, 48-h IVDMD was determined on each of three forages mixed with either corn or beet pulp. The crude protein content of the three forages was 4.9, 9.4, and 12.2% for low-, medium-, and high-quality forages, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2001

Enzymatic degradation studies of pectin and cellulose from red beets.

The influence of structural features of the cell wall polysaccharides pectin and cellulose on the enzymatic degradation of red beet was evaluated. Alcohol-insoluble substances and acetone-insoluble residues were prepared from red beets and characterized with respect to the content of dietary fibre, pectin fractions, neutral saccharide composition and water absorption. The high-methylated and high-acetylated pectin component was partly soluble in water and in EDTA. Pectin was hardly extractable from alcohol-insoluble substances as well as from red beets. Isolated pectin could not be completely degraded by pectolytic enzymes. After de-acetylation, the pectic acid from red beets was degradable in a similar rate like citrus pectic acid. From alcohol-insoluble substances, several cellulose and lignin fractions were prepared and analysed. A cellulose preparation from red beets was intensely degraded by cellulases with high activities as shown by the release of reducing end-groups, viscosity and scanning electron microscopy. Cell wall preparations from red beets were able to bind high amounts of water. A decrease in water absorption during enzymatic action or changes in viscosity and flow behaviour are sensitive markers for decomposition or depolymerization processes. Furthermore, an inhibitor of microbial enzymes was isolated from red beets and acetone-insoluble residues. The main reason for the poor enzymatic liquefaction or maceration of red beets by pectolytic and cellulolytic enzymes is the high degree of acetylation of the pectin component.

Beta vulgaris↗
PubMed1991

The cytochrome oxidase II gene in mitochondria of the sugar-beet Beta vulgaris L.

We have cloned and analyzed the sugar-beet mitochondrial gene for cytochrome oxidase subunit II (coxII). The sugar-beet and its deduced amino acid sequence were compared to its homologous coxII gene sequences from both monocot and dicot plants. It was found to be highly conserved (89-95%) compared to homologue in other plant species. The 780 bp coding sequence of the sugar beet coxII gene is interrupted at position 383 by a 1463 bp intron. This intron contains an additional 107 bp sequence that is not found in any of the plant coxII genes studied thus far. The structure of the intron suggests that a large intron existed in an ancestral coxII gene before monocots and dicots diverged in evolution. Three CGG codons in the sugar-beet coxII coding sequence align with conserved tryptophan residues in the homologous gene of other species, suggesting that RNA editing takes place also in sugar-beet mitochondria. In 13 out of 24 codons of coxII mRNA that were found to be edited in four other plants, the sugar-beet gene already utilizes the edited codons. This phenomenon may indicate that the mitochondrial genome in sugar-beet is phylogenetically more archaic relative to these plants. An additional sequence of 279 bp that is identical to the first exon of coxII was identified in the mtDNA of the sugar-beet. This 'pseudo-gene' is transcribed and its existence in the mitochondrial genome is unexplained.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Biosynthetic origin of geosmin in red beets (Beta vulgaris L.).

Geosmin provides the characteristic but sometimes undesirable "earthy" flavor to red table beets. To date, it is not known whether geosmin is a byproduct of beet metabolism or synthesized by soil-borne microorganisms and taken up by the beets during maturation. Analysis of mature beet roots revealed that peels contained 6 times the amount of geosmin compared to the bodies and cores. Sterilized beet seeds were aseptically grown in a basal medium prior to analysis for the presence of geosmin. Using a headspace solid-phase microextraction (HSPME) method, the relative recovery of geosmin from beet seedling extracts was 72.0 +/- 4.2% with (-)-menthone as the internal standard. The presence of geosmin in aseptically grown beet seedlings was confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using authentic geosmin as the standard. During aseptic growth, the concentration of geosmin in seedlings remained constant for up to 5 months but increased at 6 months. Geosmin added to the growth medium was not absorbed by the seedlings. These studies support the conclusion that red beets are capable of endogenous synthesis of geosmin.

Beta vulgaris↗
PubMed1993

Ileorectostomy or cecectomy but not colectomy abolishes the plasma cholesterol-lowering effect of dietary beet fiber in rats.

Adult male rats were fed a cholesterol-free diet with no added fiber (fiber-free) or with 10% cellulose or beet fiber. After 7 d of feeding, plasma total cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower in rats fed beet fiber than in those fed fiber-free or cellulose diets. This difference was due mainly to lower HDL cholesterol concentrations and remained significant for 28 d. The hypocholesterolemic effect of beet fiber relative to fiber-free disappeared when the cecum and colon were concurrently resected (ileorectostomy). Plasma cholesterol concentrations were the same in colectomized rats as in sham-operated rats fed the same diet and significantly lower in animals fed the beet fiber diet than in those fed the fiber-free diet. In cecectomized rats fed beet fiber, plasma cholesterol concentrations were intermediate between sham-operated rats fed the beet fiber diet and cecectomized or sham-operated rats fed the fiber-free diet. Fecal bile acid excretion was higher in rats fed the beet fiber diet than in those fed the fiber-free diet but did not correlate with plasma total cholesterol concentration. In rats with intact ceca, cecal total and individual short-chain fatty acids correlated negatively with plasma total cholesterol concentration. Dietary beet fiber lowers plasma cholesterol concentrations in rats, and the lower digestive tract, especially the cecum, seems to be necessary for this effect.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

The Beet soilborne pomovirus in Belgium and relationship with rhizomania.

The objective of this study was to determine the extend of the Beet soilborne pomovirus (BSBV) and the Beet virus Q in sugar beet fields in Belgium. During the 2000 sugar beet growing season, more than 80 fields located in Belgium were investigated for the presence of the Beet necrotic yellow vein benyvirus (BNYVV), the BSBV and Polymyxa betae, the plasmodiophorid vector of both viruses. Fields investigated were identified either using previous recorded data or by visual identification of yellow leaves on sugar beets or root symptoms. Sampling position (longitude-latitude) was recorded using the global positioning system (G.P.S.) with the view to follow-up infested fields in the following years. Three different techniques were used to evidence the aforementioned biological agents: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a RT-PCR assay to detect the viruses and direct coloration of Polymyxa betae in plant root tissues, using lactophenol-aniline blue. ELISA allowed the detection of 43 BSBV-infested soils, largely distributed in all Belgian sugar beet growing areas. These results were largely confirmed by RT-PCR using two different primers pairs targeting respectively a 400 bp fragment of the 145K ORF located on virus RNA-1 and a 970 bp fragment of the conserved 3' end of the viral genome. Five other primer's pairs have also been evaluated for BSBV identification. The detection of BSBV-infested soils without BNYVV, as well as BNYVV-infested soils without BSBV allowed the design of a competition assay between both viruses. Among the samples, 21 were selected randomly and tested for the presence of Beet virus Q by RT-PCR. Here also, six fields were detected positive for this virus. Sequence data reveal a clonal population of BSBV isolates in Belgium though a high level of diversity is observed for the coat protein region. Compared to BSBV, BVQ isolates show less diversity at sequence level.

Belgium↗
PubMed2004

The absence of TIR-type resistance gene analogues in the sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) genome.

The majority of known plant resistance genes encode proteins with conserved nucleotide-binding sites and leucine-rich repeats (NBS-LRR). Degenerate primers based on conserved NBS-LRR motifs were used to amplify analogues of resistance genes from the dicot sugar beet. Along with a cDNA library screen, the PCR screen identified 27 genomic and 12 expressed NBS-LRR RGAs (nlRGAs) sugar beet clones. The clones were classified into three subfamilies based on nucleotide sequence identity. Sequence analyses suggested that point mutations, such as nucleotide substitutions and insertion/deletions, are probably the primary source of diversity of sugar beet nlRGAs. A phylogenetic analysis revealed an ancestral relationship among sugar beet nlRGAs and resistance genes from various angiosperm species. One group appeared to share the same common ancestor as Prf, Rx, RPP8, and Mi, whereas the second group originated from the ancestral gene from which 12C1, Xa1, and Cre3 arose. The predicted protein products of the nlRGAs isolated in this study are all members of the non-TIR-type resistance gene subfamily and share strong sequence and structural similarities with non-TIR-type resistance proteins. No representatives of the TIR-type RGAs were detected either by PCR amplification using TIR type-specific primers or by in silico screening of more than 16,000 sugar beet ESTs. These findings suggest that TIR type of RGAs is absent from the sugar beet genome. The possible evolutionary loss of TIR type RGAs in the sugar beet is discussed.

Base Composition↗
PubMed2003

The promoter of the nematode resistance gene Hs1pro-1 activates a nematode-responsive and feeding site-specific gene expression in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) and Arabidopsis thaliana.

The Hs1pro-1 gene confers resistance to the beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) on the basis of a gene-for-gene relationship. RNA-gel blot analysis revealed that the transcript of Hs1pro-1 was present in uninfected roots of resistant beet at low levels but increased by about fourfold one day after nematode infection. Treatments of plants with external stimuli including salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, gibberellic acid and abscisic acid as well as wounding or salt stress did not result in changes in the gene transcription, indicating de novo transcription of Hs1pro-1 upon nematode infection specifically. To study transcriptional regulation of Hs1pro-1 expression at the cellular level, a 3082 bp genomic fragment representing the Hs1pro-1 promoter, isolated from the YAC-DNA housing the Hs1pro-1 gene, was fused to the beta-glucuronidase reporter gene (1832prm1::GUS) and transformed into susceptible beet roots and Arabidopsis plants, respectively. Fluorometric and histochemical GUS assays on transgenic beet roots and Arabidopsis plants carrying the 1832prm1::GUS construct demonstrated that the Hs1pro-1 promoter is functional in both species and drives a nematode responsive and feeding site-specific GUS-expression. GUS activity was detected as early as at initiation of the nematode feeding sites and GUS staining was restricted to the nematode feeding sites. To delineate the regulatory domains of the Hs1pro-1 promoter, fusion genes with various 5' deletions of the Hs1pro-1 promoter and the GUS gene were constructed and analysed in transgenic beet roots as well. Cis elements responsible for feeding site-specific gene expression reside between -355 and +247 from the transcriptional initiation site of Hs1pro-1 whereas an enhancer region necessary for higher gene expression is located between -1199 and -705 of the promoter. The Hs1pro-1 promoter drives a nematode feeding site-specific GUS expression in both sugar beet and Arabidopsis suggesting a conserved mechanism of regulation of Hs1pro-1 expression in these two species.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Cloning and functional analyses of a gene from sugar beet up-regulated upon cyst nematode infection.

The cDNA-AFLP technique was used to isolate sugar beet genes up-regulated upon infection with the beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii. Hairy root cultures were obtained from resistant plants carrying a Beta procumbens translocation as well as from a non-resistant control. mRNA was isolated from hairy root clones and sugar beet plants infected or not with the beet cyst nematode and 8000 transcript-derived fragments (TDFs) were analysed. One TDF was found to be differentially expressed in both materials and was further investigated. Real-time PCR confirmed that this TDF is specifically up-regulated in resistant sugar beet upon nematode infection and its full-length cDNA was isolated. Sequence analysis suggests that the gene encodes a 317 amino acid polypeptide of unknown function. No homology to any sequence present in the public databases could be detected. To further elucidate its function in resistance to the beet cyst nematode, the cDNA was transformed into hairy roots of susceptible sugar beet under the control of the 35S promoter and hairy root clones were inoculated with nematodes. The number of developing females was significantly reduced in 12 out of 15 clones resulting from independent transgenic events suggesting that the gene can be used for inducing cyst nematode resistance in plants.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Suppression of Rhizoctonia solani diseases of sugar beet by antagonistic and plant growth-promoting yeasts.

AIMS: Isolates of Candida valida, Rhodotorula glutinis and Trichosporon asahii from the rhizosphere of sugar beet in Egypt were examined for their ability to colonize roots, to promote plant growth and to protect sugar beet from Rhizoctonia solani AG-2-2 diseases, under glasshouse conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Root colonization abilities of the three yeast species were tested using the root colonization plate assay and the sand-tube method. In the root colonization plate assay, C. valida and T. asahii colonized 95% of roots after 6 days, whilst Rhod. glutinis colonized 90% of roots after 8 days. Root-colonization abilities of the three yeast species tested by the sand-tube method showed that roots and soils attached to roots of sugar beet seedlings were colonized to different degrees. Population densities showed that the three yeast species were found at all depths of the rhizosphere soil adhering to taproots up to 10 cm, but population densities were significantly (P < 0.05) greater in the first 4 cm of the root system compared with other root depths. The three yeast species, applied individually or in combination, significantly (P < 0.05) promoted plant growth and reduced damping off, crown and root rots of sugar beet in glasshouse trials. The combination of the three yeasts (which were not inhibitory to each other) resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) better biocontrol of diseases and plant growth promotion than plants exposed to individual species. CONCLUSIONS: Isolates of C. valida, Rhod. glutinis and T. asahii were capable of colonizing sugar beet roots, promoting growth of sugar beet and protecting the seedlings and mature plants from R. solani diseases. This is the first successful attempt to use yeasts as biocontrol agents against R. solani which causes root diseases. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Yeasts were shown to provide significant protection to sugar beet roots against R. solani, a serious soil-borne root pathogen. Yeasts also have the potential to be used as biological fertilizers.

Antibiosis↗
PubMed2001

Genetically modified feeds in animal nutrition. 2nd communication: glufosinate tolerant sugar beets (roots and silage) and maize grains for ruminants and pigs.

To analyse substantial equivalence of genetically modified sugar-beets and maize, in which the glufosinate-tolerant (Pat) gene is inserted, crude nutrients, the amino acid and the fatty acid profiles as well as the composition of the NDF-fraction of maize grains were determined and compared with those of the corresponding non-transgenic cultivars. Due to the genetic manipulation differences in crude nutrient contents including sugar and starch were not detected. The amino acid profile of maize grains was analysed to be the same. Fatty acid profile and composition of cell wall constituents did not show any influences as well. Digestibility of Pat-sugar-beets and maize grains for pigs did not demonstrate meaningful differences as compared to the corresponding non-transgenic cultivars. Digestibility of sugar-beet roots and sugar-beet top silage for ruminants proved to be also in the scope of natural variance. As the digestibility of the macro nutrients remained unaffected, the Pat-gene introduction into both crops did not show an influence on the energetic feeding value. For pigs the ME-content of Pat-sugar-beets was determined to be 14.1 MJ/kg DM versus 13.7 MJ of the non-transgenic cultivars. ME-content of Pat-maize grains was 16.0 MJ/kg DM versus 15.8 MJ for controls. For ruminants the feeding value of Pat-sugar-beets was found to be 8.5 MJ NEL/kg DM or 13.2 MJ ME/kg DM, regardless of whether the Pat-gene was inserted or not. The corresponding energy values of sugar-beet top silage ranged between 5.2 and 5.5 MJ NEL/kg DM or 8.6 and 9.1 MJ ME/kg DM, with differences considered in the biological range.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1995

Apolipoprotein mRNA in liver and intestine of rats is affected by dietary beet fiber or cholestyramine.

Rats were fed a cholesterol-free diet with no added fiber (fiber-free) or with 15 g/100 g beet fiber or 5 g/100 g cholestyramine for 14 d. Final plasma total cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower in rats fed beet fiber than in those fed fiber-free or cholestyramine diets. This difference was due mainly to lower HDL cholesterol concentrations. The group fed beet fiber also tended (P < 0.1) to have lower apolipoprotein A-I concentration in plasma. Northern blot analysis revealed that the relative concentrations of jejunal apolipoprotein A-I and A-IV mRNA were the same in all groups, whereas ileal apolipoprotein A-I and A-IV mRNA levels were significantly lower in rats fed beet fiber or cholestyramine than in those fed the fiber-free diet. Hepatic apolipoprotein E mRNA concentrations were the same in all groups, but apolipoprotein A-I mRNA levels were significantly lower in rats fed beet fiber than in those fed the other diets. Apolipoprotein A-IV mRNA tended (P < 0.1) to be lower in rats fed the beet fiber diet. These data suggest that the hypocholesterolemic effect of dietary beet fiber is associated with diminished expression of the hepatic apolipoprotein A-I gene.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Dietary sugar beet fiber ameliorates diarrhea as an acute gamma-radiation injury in rats.

Gamma radiation induces diarrhea as an acute injury. We have studied whether ingestion of sugar beet fiber influences radiation-induced diarrhea. Abdominal irradiation with gamma rays induced diarrhea in male Wistar/ST rats from 2 to 7 days after a single sublethal dose. The body weight of the irradiated rats was decreased temporarily at 4 days after irradiation regardless of the ingestion of sugar beet fiber. At day 8, it returned to almost the same level as that of unirradiated rats. A change in daily food intake resulted in a pattern similar to that for body weight. Dietary sugar beet fiber had little significant effect on the changes in body weight and daily food intake, and its ingestion significantly decreased gamma-ray-induced diarrhea. Changes in biochemical and histological parameters in intestinal mucosa (small intestine, cecum and colon) were not greatly influenced by the ingestion of sugar beet fiber through the periods of diarrhea. It was concluded that dietary sugar beet fiber ameliorated the diarrhea induced by abdominal irradiation. We suggest that the inhibitory effect of the ingestion of sugar beet fiber is due to its effects on the luminal environment, such as support for bacterial function in the luminal contents in the colon of animals that ingest sugar beet fiber.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1997

Influence of particle size on the effectiveness of beet pulp fiber.

Sixteen Holstein cows in midlactation were used in a design based on a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square with the last period removed to determine the influence of particle size of beet pulp neutral detergent fiber (NDF) on its effectiveness as a replacement for alfalfa NDF. Diets were a low forage, low fiber diet [12.1 g of alfalfa NDF/100 g of dry matter (DM)], a normal forage diet (low forage plus 7.8 g of additional alfalfa NDF/100 g of DM), and two low forage diets with 5.3 g of NDF/100 g of DM from either whole or finely ground dried sugar beet pulp. Replacement of alfalfa fiber with beet pulp fiber increased milk protein yield because of the tendencies toward increased milk yield and protein concentration. However, milk fat concentration and yield were unaffected. The addition of beet pulp fiber, either whole or ground, to the basal low forage, low fiber diet did not affect yields of milk, protein, or fat, but milk protein concentration tended to be lower for cows fed the beet pulp diets than for cows fed the basal diet. Reducing the particle size of beet pulp increased DM intake but did not affect any of the milk yield measurements. Particle size reduction of beet pulp did not reduce its effectiveness as a fiber source as measured by changes in milk fat content.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed2000

The effect of red beet (Beta vulgaris var. rubra) fiber on alimentary hypercholesterolemia and chemically induced colon carcinogenesis in rats.

The effect of diet supplemented with 5% and 15% cellulose or with 15% fiber isolated from red beet (Beta vulgaris var. rubra) on the development of alimentary hypercholesterolemia and chemically induced colon carcinoma was studied in male Wistar rats. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by a diet containing 0.3% of cholesterol and colon carcinoma was induced by treatment with dimethylhydrazine (20 mg/kg, 12 doses applied s.c. in one-week intervals). Fibrous matter isolated from red beet contained 89% fiber, of which 9% was in water soluble form. Animals were killed 14 weeks after the application of dimethylhydrazine (i.e. 26 weeks after starting on the diets). Red beet fiber diet (and not the increased cellulose intake) caused a reduction of serum cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels (by 30 and 40%, respectively) and a significant increase in the fraction of cholesterol carried in HDL. This diet induced also a significant decrease (almost by 30%) of cholesterol content in aorta. Higher cellulose content in the diet and even more so the administration of red beet fiber caused a significant reduction of conjugated dienes content in plasma, erythrocytes and in liver. Also observed were increases in the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in erythrocytes and in colon and activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase in liver. The presence of both higher cellulose content and red beet fiber in the diet significantly reduced the incidence of precancerous lesions--aberrant crypt foci--in the colon. The diet containing red beet fiber did not affect significantly the incidence of colon tumours although the number of animals bearing tumours was reduced by 30%.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Physico-chemical and technological studies on sugar beet roots.

The morphological and chemical characteristics of ten varieties of sugar beet roots were evaluated during the season of 1996-1997. The best morphological characteristics were found in Top, Ito and Pamela varieties. The highest expected technological yield of sugar was found in Pamela and Top. The chemical constituents of different varieties of sugar-beet roots showed significant differences. The suitability of sugar beet juice for preparing beet syrup as a new product was also evaluated and compared with sugar cane syrup. Purified beet-syrups concentrated under vacuum or under atmospheric pressure showed more stability during storage than sugar cane syrup. The effect of storage conditions (at cold storage and at room temperature) and packaging materials (glass and polyethylene high-density bottles) on properties of beet-syrup and sugar cane syrup were also studied.

Chemical Phenomena↗