Monitoring Invertase Activity and its Impact on Sugar Beet Roots (Beta vulgaris L.) During Extended Storage Under Controlled Conditions

Abstract

Sugar beet factories employ long-term storage of sugar beet roots to extend the processing campaign in Egypt. Changes in the chemical composition of sugar beet roots during storage, driven by invertase enzyme activity, impact the crystallization process in sugar production. This study aimed to monitor invertase activity in sugar beet roots harvested at 180, 195 and, 210 days of cultivation, applying different storage conditions for 1, 10, 20, and 30 days. Additionally, the study explored the influence of invertase activity on reducing sugars content in sugar beet roots. Results indicated that covered storage conditions exhibited the lowest invertase activity compared to open air and room storage conditions. Moreover, reducing sugars content was affected by invertase enzyme activity. Storage conditions displayed the lowest inverted sugars content across all tested sugar beet root varieties. Thus, the study suggests that long-term storage with covered conditions is suitable for extending the processing campaign, emphasizing the importance of considering inverted sugars concentration.