An enzyme-based method for the rapid determination of sucrose, glucose and fructose in sugar beet roots and the effects of impact damage and postharvest storage in clamps

A high‐throughput enzyme‐coupled assay is described for the determination of sucrose, glucose and fructose in sugar beet roots. This method is sensitive, rapid and inexpensive and has been used to highlight the increases in sucrose loss following root stresses such as freezing or aggressive harvesting. Sugar beet roots lose 12.5% of their sucrose following an episode of impact damage greater than 2 J, rising to 19.7% loss after 8 J, with concurrent increases in glucose and fructose. Increases in glucose and fructose are particularly pronounced following a period of clamp storage (up to 2.3 and 3.3 µg mg−1 fresh weight, respectively). © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry