Effects of Ploidy Level on the Components of Sucrose Yield and Quality in Sugarbeet t

Comparisons of 2x, 3x, and 4X sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) lines and hybrids were made to determine the effects of ploidy level on sucrose yield and quality components in equivalent and non-equivalent hybrid populations. The relative order of importance for the components of recoverable sucrose was generally the same for all three ploidy levels, with root weight having the greatest path coefficient direct effect and juice purity the least. Purity generally decreased as .ploidy level increased; this decrease was accompanied by increase in the quantity of non-sucrose chemical components in the extract. Significant differences were found between reciprocal equivalent 3x hybrids for both yield and quality components. Recoverable sucrose yield of triploids produced from tetraploid female plants. [3X(4X ~ )] averaged 17% greater than that of the reciprocal 3X(4x /~ ) hybrids. The same 3X(4x ~ ) triploid hybrids also were lower than their reciprocal equivalents in extract concentrations of Na. K, and total N, with decreases of 9, 17, and 12%, rcspectlvely. When components are expressed in rag/100 g sucrose, the corresponding decreases were 13, 20, and 16%, respectively.