Techniques for Identifying Varieties of Beta Vulgaris in the Laboratory

The present paper deals with the problem of differentiation between seeds of sugar-fodder and sugar beets in laboratory. The investigations also included Mangold (Beta vulgaris var. cicla).

Treatments of seeds with Streptomycin sulphate solutions, soaking in water, action of absolute alcohol, photometric measurement of the liquid in which the roots of the seedlings had been growing, refractometric and paper-chromatographic determinations of the sugar content of the seedlings, led to negative results.

A valuable clue for the differentiation of types was obtained through the distribution of hypocotyl colours in seedlings. The root fluorescence also showed small differences among the Beta types.

For the identification of Mangold seeds from those of other Beta varieties, a difference in the cotyledon colour proved useful.