Beta vulgaris

Sugar beet

About

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) belongs to the Altissima cultivar group of the common beet. Beta vulgaris (beet) is a plant which is included in Betoideae subfamily in the Amaranthaceae family.

The root of sugar beets contain high levels of sucrose. It has a conical, white, fleshy root (a taproot) with a flat crown. The plant consists of the root and a rosette of leaves. Sugar is formed by photosynthesis in the leaves and is then stored in the root.

Sugar beets are the second only major source of the world’s sugar production. Sugar beets grow exclusively in temperate zones, in contrast to sugarcane, which grows exclusively in tropical and subtropical zones. The soil must contain a large supply of plant food, be rich in humus and must retain a great deal of moisture.