最近的一些研究表明，干旱胁迫能影响叶子发育以及储藏根的生长，因此会对糖用甜菜的产量造成影响。为了研究干旱条件下蔗糖的累积情况，糖用甜菜研究所科学家C. M. Hoffman对甜菜储藏根的生长、离子和溶质积累的变化情况进行了考查。他进行了两组盆栽实验，其中一组使糖用甜菜保持中度干旱条件，另一组则使糖用甜菜和饲料甜菜处于极度干旱状态。
结果表明干旱胁迫使甜菜的根和叶子产量下降，储藏根中蔗糖的浓度也有所降低，而钾、钠、氨基酸和葡萄糖等溶解物的浓度则有所升高。蔗糖和溶解物间的这种负相关关系表明溶解物浓度的增加限制了蔗糖积累。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推荐英文摘要：
Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-037X.2009.00415.x
Sucrose Accumulation in Sugar Beet Under Drought Stress
C. M. Hoffmann
Drought stress may affect sucrose accumulation of sugar beet by restricting leaf development and storage root growth. The objective of this study was to identify changes occurring in the storage root of Beta beets in growth characteristics and ions and compatible solutes accumulation under drought with regard to sucrose accumulation. Two pot experiments were conducted: (1) sugar beet well supplied with water (100 % water capacity), under continuous moderate (50 %) and severe drought stress (30 %), (2) sugar beet and fodder beet well supplied with water (100 %) and under continuous severe drought stress (30 %). Under drought stress, the ratio of storage root to leaf dry matter of sugar beet decreased indicating a different partitioning of the assimilates. The sucrose concentration of the storage root was reduced. In the root, the number of cambium rings was only slightly affected, although drought stress was implemented already 6 weeks after sowing. In contrast, the distance between adjacent rings and the cell size was considerably restricted, which points to a reduced expansion of existing sink tissues. The daily rate of sucrose accumulation in the root showed a maximum between 16 and 20 weeks after sowing in well-watered plants, but it was considerably reduced under drought stress. The concentration of compatible solutes (K, Na, amino acids, glycine betaine, glucose and fructose) decreased during growth, while it was enhanced because of drought. However, when sucrose concentration was added, a constant sum of all examined solutes was found throughout the vegetation period. It was similar in sugar beet and in fodder beet despite different concentrations of single solutes, and the total sum was not affected by water supply. A close negative relationship between the concentration of compatible solutes and sucrose occurred. It is therefore concluded that the accumulation of compatible solutes in the storage root of Beta beets under drought might be a physiological constraint limiting sucrose accumulation.
