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SOME PRACTICAL STORAGE
INVESTIGATIONS WITH TABLE BEETS
FOR SEED PRODUCTION PURPOSES

The-sis for the Degree of M. S.
. MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE

Ernest Wilbur Scott
I943

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PLACE IN RETURN BOX to remove this checkout from your record.
TO AVOID FINES return on or before date due.

DATE DUE DATE DUE DATE DUE

 
 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MSU Is An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution
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SOKE PHACQICAL STORAGE INVESTIGATIONS I'I'I”H TABLE BEETS

FOR SE E'D PROD LMC‘ION PURPOSES

The s i 3

Submitted to the Faculty of Michigan State College of

Arriculture and Applied Science in partial fulfillment

of the requirements for the degree of Naster of Science
by

Ernest Wilbur Scott
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TH [ISIS

 

IYDE

Introduction -------------------- 1
Review of Literature ---------------- 3
Objectives -------------------- - 5
Materials and Kethods --------------- 6
Presentation of Temperature Data --------- 16
Presentation of Storage Data ----------- 51
Presentation of Seed Production Data ------- 38
Discussion'and Conclusions ------------ 45
Summary -------------------- - 54
Acknowledgements ----------------- 56
Literature Cited ----------------- 57

14.8293

INTRODUCTION

In 1941, there were 2,182 acres, principally on the
west coast, devoted to the production of 806,564 pounds
of garden beet seed. Due to war time restrictions on
the importation of European seed and to the poor crop in
1941, the 1942 crop has been increased to 4,442 acres
with an estimated production of 2,911,600 pounds of seed.

For many years, some of the seed companies in the
Northeast have been growing their own beet seed. This
enables them to maintain lines which are carefully
selected from a greater number of roots than would be
practicable if they grew them only for stock seed pur-
poses and had the main crop grown elsewhere. It also
enables them to see that these lines are properly
isolated and kept free from crossings with inferior lines.

The war has changed the United States from a seed
importing nation to a seed exporting nation. Whereas we
formerly obtained beet seed from Europe, we may now expect
to ship seed to them. With this greater demand for beet
seed, it would be poor policy to raise all our seed in one
section of the country where adverse weather conditions
might greatly reduce the seed crop. Since the trans-
portation system of the country is overtaxed, it is even
more important that an effort be made to keep up and
perhaps increase the supply of garden beet seed grown in

1

the East.

In the production of beet seed inthe East, it is
customary to grow the mother beets one year, store them
in outdoor pits or root cellars during the winter, and
plant them out for flowering and seed production the
following spring. During the storage period, many roots
are lost from overheating, freezing, and to some extent,
shriveling. It is the general opinion that storage

conditions exert an important influence on seed production.

REV an or LITERATURE

Data on actual experiments on the storage of garden
beets for seed production are very limited.

Gaskill and Brewbaker stored sugar beets for seed for
125 days at 55.90 F. and 96.5fi relative humidity with good
results. The mean outside temperature for the storage
period was 26.80 F. (4)

Wright, in storing beets for table use, recommended a
temperature of 52° F. at a relative humidity of 95-98%.
Beets may be expected to store satisfactorily under these
conditions for one to three months. The freezing tempera-
ture of beets was given as 26.90 F., while 45° F. was the
highest temperature at whicht>eets could be safely stored.
(5)

Chroboczek, in.growing beet seed in a greenhouse, re-
ported that freezing injury to the beet resulted in delayed
seed stalk development. In a limited histological study,
he found that seed stalk primordia grew abnormally at high
temperatures. (2)

Vincent and Longley, in the Palouse section of Idaho,
recommended storing garden beets for seed one half to one
and one half inches in diameter. They recommended outdoor
pits four to six feet wide, one to one and a half feet
below the soil level, two feet above the soil level, and
as long as necessary. A heavy covering of straw and up to
30 inches of soil were advised as protection against

5

freezing. Bottomless boxes, 12 to 18 inches square, set
at intervals along the top of the pit, were suggested for
ventilation. To prevent shriveling, they suggested alter-
nating layers of soil withthe beets. (6)

Cox and Starr advised a pit very similar in shape to
the one recommended by Vincent and Longley. A six inch
sand covering topped with a layer of strawy litter was
thought best for covering. Sifting sand between the beets
was advised. The storing of mother beets in cellar bins,
similar to those used for storing potatoes, was thought
to be inferior to the outdoor pit. No actual experimen-
tation was mentioned or discussed. (3)

Incomplete field records kept ty the Joseph Harris
Company show that spoilage (no mention of type) has
occurred in pits with and without soil.

Burrows, a grower for the Joseph Harris Company, reports
good results for a period of six years with beets stored

above soil level without soil about the roots. (1)

OBJECTIVES

The prime object of this investigation is to determine
the maximum, minimum, and Optimum storage temperatures at
which garden beets may be stored for seed production
purposes. It is heped that this object may be attained by
comparing the percent of beets suitable for planting and
the seed yields from beets stored as follows:

1. In a commercial cold storage room,

2. In a root cellar,

3. In outdoor pits having varying amounts of covering,

4. In outdoor pits having varying amounts of ventilation,

5. In outdoor pits with and without soil about and over
the beets.

A secondary object is to determine whether satisfac-
tory yields of seed may be grown from small beets stored

in cold storage.

NATERIALS AND NETHODS

Using mother beets grown for seed production purposes
in Monroe County, New York, several types of pit storage,
root cellar storage, and commercial cold storage were
tried during the fall and winter of 1941 and 1942.

All mother beets used were field run, fall grown beets.
They were planted about July 1, 1941, and grown in much the
same manner as beets for the cannery. They ranged in size
from one to six inches; most of them were two and one
quarter to three inches in diameter. They were pulled and
topped, i.e., all leaves out off about two inches from the
crown, by hand and placed in storage on October 28, November
1, and November 2. There had been no heavy frosts up to
that time. The variety used was Detroit Dark Red.

Six bushels were stored in a commercial cold storage
room in which the temperature was kept at 550-350 F. and
the relative humidity at 85-90%. All were stored in open
slat crates whose sides had been lined with light weight
cardboard. Four bushels had sand around and over the beets,
one bushel had peat moss around and over the beets, and one
bushel had nothing over and around the beets. These beets
remained undisturbed in storage until the day before plant-
ing on April 1.

Seven bushels of mother beets were stored in a root
cellar commonly used for the storing of Brussels sprouts.
The root cellar dimensions were as follows: 40 feet long,

6

7
20 feet wide, approximately 15 feet high at the center, and
8 feet high at the eaves. It was all above soil level, but
soil had been thrown up against its side walls as high as
the eaves. The root cellar was ventilated by a set of dou-
ble doors on the north end, a set of double windows on the
south end, four side wall ventilators, and one roof venti-
lator. The beets were stored on its sandy floor in a
pile approximately the same size and shape as the outdoor
pit dexcribed below» (See figures 1 and 2.) Soil was
thrown between and over the beets. The only covering used
was one inch of soil. Temperatures in the root cellar were
taken with a Taylor maximum-minimum thermometer. Tempera-
tures within the pile of beets were taken with thermocouples
and a galvanometer. (Details described below.) The place-
ment of the thermocouples in the beet pile was approximately
the same as the placement of those in theczheck outdoor pit.
(See figure 1.)

To serve as a check for other outdoor pit experiments
and for use in comparing pit storage with root cellar and
cold storage, seven bushels of mother beets were pitted in
the manner usually employed by the Joseph Harris Company
of Goldwater, New York, i.e., the beets were pitted with
soil around them and covered with eight to ten inches of
straw applied November 21, six inches of soil applied
November 25, and eight to ten inches of horse manure
applied December 17. Figures 1 and 2 give the pit dimen-

sions as well as the placement of the thermocouples in the

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FIGURE 1. Long. crossection of the check pit. X denotes
placement of the thermocouples.

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FIGURE 2. Transverse crossection of the check pit. X
denotes placement of the center thermocouple.
check pit.

Two outdoor pits in addition to the check pit were
constructed with the object of determining the approximate
amount of covering necessary. As far as possible, these
pits were constructed the same as the check. The size
and shape and the placement of the thermocouples were the
same as is shown in figures 1 and 2 above. One pit had
one half the covering of the check, i.e., four to five

inches of straw, four inches of soil, and four inches of

9
manure, while the other had one fourth the covering of the
check, i.e., two inches of straw, two inches of soil, and
two inches of manure. The covering materials were applied
the same times as those of the check. No ventilator was
put in the pit with only one fourth the covering of the
check.

One outdoor pit in addition to the check was construct-
ed with the object of determining the need for soil about
the beets. This pit was constructed andczovered the same
as the check in all details except that no soil was placed
with the beets.

Two outdoor pits in addition to the<3heck were con-
structed with the object of determining the amount of
ventilation needed in pits. These pits were constructed
and covered very much like the check except for the venti-
'lators. Both pits had ventilators set seven feet apart
and running down both sides. In addition to the side venti-
lators, one pit had a ventilator shaft at the bottom of the
pit. This ventilator shaft was not only connected with the
side ventilators, but with an intake ventilator running
under the pit to the outside. All ventilators were made
of two and one half inch drain tiles. The ventilator shaft
was made of chicken wire stretched over a rectangular frame-
work of "one by twos". Figures 5 and 4 give dimensions and
shape of the latter pit, and figures 5 and 6 give size and
shape of the other pit. It may be noted that these pits

were separated from the check by about thirty feet of pit

10

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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11
and that they had no ends, i.e., beets were pitted contin-
uously on both ends. They were separated from each other
by about ten feet of pit.

In addition to the above pits, temperatures were
taken and observations made on the regular pits of the
Joseph Harris Company. The pits were much longer than the
experimental pits, but otherwise were the same dimensions.
Thermocouples were placed at about 20 foot intervals in the
pits, and at ground level. Covering and construction were
the same as the check pit.

For taking soil temperatures, a thermocouple was
placed six inches in thessoil adjacent to the check pit.

A11 pits had five thermocouples which were placed as
is shown in figures 1 and 2. The thermocouples were made
by connecting a four foot number 18 copper wire to a four
foot number 20 advance wire. The junction was enclosed
in a test tube and the wires insulated with rubber tubing.
All pit temperatures were taken on a Weston Galvanometer
(model 440) previously calibrated to read in degrees Fah-
renheit above or below 52° F., i.e., the temperature of
melting ice in which the check thermocouple was inserted.
The check thermocouple was placed in a test tube filled
with fine copper filings. This test tube was then
inserted in a thermos bottle in which ice was melting.
Frequent checks on the temperature of the check thermo-
couple were made with a regular laboratory thermometer.

Figure 8 shows the set up of the galvanometer and check

12
thermocouple connected to a pit thermocouple. Below is a
picture of the galvanometer in position for temperature

taking on one of the pits.

 

 

FIGURE 7. Galvanometer on pit.

 

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CONTAN'NB COPPER FILINGS

 

 

 

 

 

 

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FIGUHE 8. Diagram of galvanometer and thermocouples.

13

Temperatures in the pits were taken daily from pitting
until December 21, thereafter they were taken weekly until
April 5, when they were taken twice each week until
planting.

The mother beets were removed from the pits in layers
as is shown in figure 9. As the beets from each zone were
removed, they were sorted into those suitable and those
unsuitable for planting. These were then counted or
measured as the case required, and the percentage of beets
suitable for planting, calculated. A11 small and extra

large beets were sorted out of those suitable for planting.

 

 

 

 

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FIGURE 9. Crossection of pit showing zones used in
removing beets from the pits. X denotes
placement of thermocouples.

A two and one half bushel sample taken proportion-
ally from each zone from each pit (except the pit venti-
lated in the sides only) was planted in 650 foot rows,

along with comparable samples of beets stored in the root

cellar and in cold storage in sand. Shorter rows of beets

14
which had been stored in<3old storage in peat moss, in
cold storage without any covering, and of small beets
(size) sorted out of those stored in cold storage in
sand were planted adjacent to the regular planting. The
beets were planted two feet apart in three foot rows by
a transplanter similar to those used in transplanting
tomato or cabbage plants.

Notes were taken on the height of leaves or seed
stalks three times, i.e., 17, 51, and 79 days after plant-
ing. Stand counts were taken four weeks after planting.

Seed was harvested from a total of 250 feet of each
of the 650 feet rows. One half of the 250 feet was at
the north end of the rows, while the other half was near
the middle of the rows. All the seed was harvested from
the 161 foot row planted from beets stored in cold stor-
age in peat moss; the 69 foot row planted from beets
stored in cold storage without any covering; and from the
155 foot row, planted from the small beets sorted from
those stored in cold storage in sand. The seed stalks in
each section were counted, cut, and allowed to dry on
wire screens in the field. After about a week of drying,
the seed was flailed by hand and the sticks and small and
light seed removed on a small seed mill. All lots of
seed were milled as nearly alike as possible. Germination
tests of 100 seeds of both large and small seeds from each

lot of seed were run and the viable seeds counted. If the

15
small seed germinated 50% or more after remilling, it was
added to the large seed. The germination tests were run
on standard blotting paper in a regular seed germinator at
800 F. Counts were made at three and ten days after tests

were placed in the germinator.

PRESENTATION OF TETPEHATUFE DATA

The mean and normal outdoor temperatures for the months
in which beets were stored are given in table 1.
TABLE 1. Kean and normal outdoor temperatures for the

storage period. (U.S. Weather Bureau records
for Rochester, N.Y.)

 

Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. March April
Kean 1941-1942 45.0 51.8 24.4 20.4 55.6 50.2

Normal 38.7 29.4 24.6 24.7 51.8 44.9

 

The total precipitation, the normal precipitation,
the total snowfall, and the normal snowfall for the months
in which beets were stored, are given in table 2.

TABLE 2. Total and normal precipitation and snowfall for
the storage period.

 

Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Karch April

Total Ppt. 1.05 2.24 1.28 4.51 5.24 2.6
Normal Ppt. 2.54 2.27 2.89 2.69 2.76 2.55
Total Snowfall 0.2 5.9 5.0 51.5 18.4 5.5
Kormal Snowfall 6.4 16.9 19.5 16.6 12.9 5.9

 

The average weekly temperatures and the maximum and
minimum temperatures are shown in figure 10.

The lowest temperature observed during the storage
period was -100 F. on January 8. During this cold spell,
which lasted from January 5 to January 12, the tempera-

ture went below zero four times. Two less severe and
16

 

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19
shorter cold spells occurred in February with temperatures
going to 40 F. on February 5, and to 10 F. on February
ninth and tenth.

The highest temperature observed during the storage
period was 840 F. on April 26. The high during the fall
nonths was 750 F. on Kovember 19th. An abnormally warm
period occurred during the first week in December, during
which the temperature reached a high of 660 F. on December
fourth.

The average weekly soil temperatures are shown in
figure 11.

In comparing temperatures of mother beets held in
cold storage, root cellar, and pit storage, the cold
storage beets with.a constant temperature of 550-550 F.
averaged much lower than the root cellar with an average
of 58.790 F., or the check pit with an average of 40.500 F.
The temperatures of mother beets stored in the root cellar
and the check pit are shown in figure 12. Except for two
weeks in November and four weeks in Narch, the root cellar
temperatures were below those observed in the check pit.
Faulty management of the root cellar was probably respon-
sible for the high temperatures there during November.
Following covering of the check pit with straw and soil
on November 21 and 25, it may be noted that temperatures
of the root cellar beets dropped, while those of the check
pit rose. Thereafter, until Harch 15, the root cellar
pit temperatures remained one to five degrees below those

of the check pit. Temperatures in the root cellar pit

IN DEGREES FAHRENHBT

TEMP ERATURE

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22
started to rise earlier, but less rapidly than any of the
outdoor pits. The check in the rise in temperatures in
the root cellar pit which occurred from April 5 to April
19, might give evidence that temperatures in a root
cellar may be controlled more easily than those in pit
storage.

The average temperatures for the storage period of
the check pit, the pit with one half the covering of the
check, and the pit with one quarter the covering of the
check were 40.5° F., 58.2° F., and 58.5° F., respectively.
The average weekly temperatures of these pits are shown
in figure 15. The temperatures in these pits were very
much the same until Kovember 21 and 25, when straw and
soil covering were added. The differences in tempera-
tures observed following the straw and soil covering
became still greater when manure was added on December 18.
It may be noticed (see figure 15) that the check pit
temperatures continued to rise on December 6, while those
of the other two pits showed a decrease, similar to that
but not as great, as the one observed in the root cellar
during this period. (See figure 12) Until March 8,
the pit temperatures fluctuated quite uniformly together.
During this period, the pit with one quarter the covering
of the check always had the lowest temperatures. On
January 18, a low of 26° F. was observed and on February
15, a low of 27° F. was observed in the top section of

this pit. It may be assumed that temperatures of 260-270 F.

23

 

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26
lasted for two weeks or more in this pit. The lowest
temperatures observed in the pit with half the covering
of the check were 290 F. on January 19 and February 15.
These temperatures were observed in the tOp section of
the pit. Ho freezing temperatures were observed in the
check pit. During the week of March 8-15, the temperatures
in the pit with one quarter the covering of the check
began to rise more rapidly than in either of the other
pits. This rise, which was more rapid than than the outside
temperature during this period, continued until April 5,
when a temperature of 50° F. was observed in the top of
the pit. The drop in temperatures in the top of this pit
(see figure 14) from April 5 to April 12, was also out of
line with the outside temperatures. The rise in tempera-
tures of the other two pits during this period was much
the same except that the check pit rose more slowly at
first and more rapidly during the latter part of the
storage period.

The average weekly temperatures observed in the
check pit and the soiless pit are shown in figure 15,
while those observed in the top and bottom sections of
the soiless pit are shown in figure 16. It may be noted
that the temperatures observed in the soiless pit were
below those of the check pit. The lowest temperature
observed in the soiless pit was 30.40 F. in the top section
of the pit. It is doubtful whether this temperature lasted

over three or four days as the temperatures of the week

27

 

él"*

(20'

59- _

U I T

CHECK

 

L— _.__ ___- -.

-__J

VE NTILATED, SH:

 

Vern-s LATED, Snpzs ONLY

555 ND Barron

 

57
56+
5.5“
54+

 

 

"/23 STRAN Cc
"/25 3o". Cow
‘34? l‘

VERJNG
ERlNG

4A~URE COVER

 

\

 

 

TEMPERATURE m DEGREES FAHRENHEIT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28'
27»

2!»

 

W EEK

 

 

 

 

 

 

E NDI'NG

 

'7. "w ’75 We ’% "73 525%, w 9.. 9.. 545% % mafia 35/8 is %2%

quRE 17: AVERAGE WEEKLY TEMPERATURES OBSERVED m VENTILATED AND CHECK plT’S.

wwwa

28
before and following were well above this low temperature.
The temperatures observed in the soiless pit during April
were nearly the same as those observed in the check. The
average temperature for the storage period in the soiless
pit was 59.080 F.

The average weekly temperatures observed in the
check pit and the two ventilated pits are shown in figure
17. It may be noted that during November and December,
when the ventilators in the ventilated pits were opened
during cold weather and closed during warm weather, that
the temperatures in the pit ventilated on both sides and
bottom were somewhat below those of the check pit. The
temperatures in the pit ventilated on the sides alone
were about the same as those in the check during this
period. It may be noted also that the temperatures in
the pit ventilated on both sides and bottom showed a
decrease, similar to the decrease mentioned above in the
two covering pits and the root cellar, on December 6,
while the check pit and the pit ventilated on the sides
only showed an increase. Following plugging of the
ventilators for the winter on December 17, the tempera-
tures in the pit ventilated on both sides and bottom rose
to temperatures approximating those of the check, while
the temperatures of the pit ventilated on the sides rose
above those of the check pit. The temperature in the pit
ventilated on the sides only began to rise earlier and

more rapidly than either the check or the other ventilated

2.9

 

6|

1

SURROUNDING Q

 

Sumo Home

 

PIT

TIL ATE!) PITS

 

 

9!
I

’sz STRAW CowERmG

(K “/25 50: L. COVfiRING

MAN uRE. Cov ERsNG

O

 

 

.’\/

L\

 

 

TEMPERATURE IN DEGREE: FAHRENHErr

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q)

 

 

ub‘w

 

FNNEN

WEEK

l

 

 

 

q

J

4

 

 

Emma '71 "/8 Vs III/22%? {77¢ {77(3'1’7’20 T591 ’1‘! '7" 29 725 2A 776 1% %zéfi % 37:5 722 5&7 % 7: k1? 5‘56

FIGURE. :3: AVERAGE WEEKLY TEMPERATURES OBSERVED m Pns

 

 

VENT\LATE.D Prrs,

SURROUNDING CHECK PW AND

SO
pit. For the last two and one half weeks of the storage
period, this pit had temperatures above 450 F. The
average temperature for the storage period was 40.80 F.
in the pit ventilated in both sides and bottom, 42.60 F.
in the pit ventilated in sides alone, and 40.50 F. in
the check. The two west thermocouples in the pit with
ventilation in sides only averaged 1.20 F. higher than
the two east thermocouples.

Figure 18 shows a comparison of temperatures of
beets pitted immediately surrounding the two ventilated
pits and temperatures of beets pitted immediately sur-
rounding the check pit. It may be noted that the pits
surrounding the ventilated pits had higher temperatures
throughout most of the storage period and that they
showed an earlier and more rapid rise in temperatures

than did the ventilated pits.

PRESENTATION OF STORAGE DATA

All beets stored in cold storage, the root cellar,
and the check pit, were suitable for planting.

Mother beets stored in cold storage in sand were
entirely dormant. They had no root hairs or sprout growth,
other than that which they had when stored. Except for a
few on top of the crates which were not completely covered
by the sand, they were all firm fleshed. Figure 19 shows

three typical beets stored in sand in cold storage.

 

 

0

FIGURE 19. Three typical beets after removal from cold
storage.

51

32

Beets stored in cold storage in peat moss were very
much the same as those stored in sand. The beets stored
without sand or peat moss about them were slightly
shriveled but otherwise the same as those stored in peat
moss and sand.

Beets stored in the root cellar had longer sprouts
and more root hairs than beets stored under any other
condition. They were all firm. Figure 20 shows three

typical beets stored in the root cellar.

 

 

 

-—
r—

FIGURE 20. Three typical beets after removal from the
root cellar.
Beets stored in the check pit had an abundance of root
hairs and fairly long sprout growth. The beets from all

sections of the pit were nearly alike. There was no

55
indication of frost, overheating, or drying out injury in
this pit.

The percentage of beets suitable for planting from
the pits with different amounts of coveringeare given in
table 5.

TABLE 3. The percentage of beets suitable for planting
from two covering pits and the check.

 

Zone 1* Zone 2* Zone 5*
Check ' 100 p 100$ 100%
% Covering of 95. fl lOOfl 100%
Check
t Covering of 50% 82.51 lOOfl
Check

"l
0“

See figure 9 for explanation of zones

 

The pit with one half the covering of the check
showed six and nine tenths per cent of the beetsyvith
freezing injury in zone one. This frost injury was
confined to the crown of the beet. The beets in zones two
and three were much the same as those of the check pit.

The beets stored in the pit with one quarter the
covering of he check showed considerable frost damage
in both top zones, i.e., zones one and two. The frost
damage in zone one was very severe, i.e., the entire beet
was rotted at the time of removal, while the frost damage

in zone two was less severe and consisted mainly of rotted

crowns. Fourteen per cent of the beets in zone two and

54
eighteen per cent of the beets in zone three and a slight
rotting of the tap root, but were considered suitable for
planting.

All beets stored in the pit without soil about them
were classed as suitable for planting in spite of the fact
that nearly all showed some rotting of the tap root. On
some beets, just the tip of the tap root was affected,
while in others, the rotting extended into the beet proper
as much as one half an inch. The most severe injury oc-
curred in the top of the pit (zone one) where 46 per cent
of the beets showed severe injury. The center of the pit
was less affected with 35 per cent showing severe injury,
and the bottom of the pit (zone three) was least affected,
with 23 per cent showing severe injury. Figure 21 shows

three severely injured beets. The dry brown rotting

 

 

1
9

 

 

. ___ *—
FIGURE 21. Three severely injured beets from the soiless
pit.

55
seemed to start at the tip of the tap root and worked
towards the beet proper. In many cases, the tap root
seemed normal, but a slight jar or pull would break it off.
The sprout growth on all beets in this pit was much shorter
than in any of the other pits. The only good vigorous root
hair growth observed was in beets which were in contact
with the soil at the bottom of the pit.

The percentage of beets suitable for planting from
the two ventilated pits and the check are given in table 4.

TABLE 4. Percentage of beets suitable for planting from
the ventilated pits and the check pit.

 

Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 5
Check 100% 100% 100%
Vent. Sides and Bottom 100i 100% 100$
Vent. Sides Only 85.1% 94.5% 69.5%

 

The beets stored in the pit ventilated on both sides
and bottom were very much the same as those stored in the
check pit. Sprouts were longer and root hairs more
numerous around the ventilators. Figure 22 is a picture
of three typical beets from this pit.

The beets stored in the pit ventilated on the sides
only showed injury which was probably due to overheating.
The most common injury was to the sprout and crown and the
area around the crown. In severe cases, the whole sprout

was jet black and brittle, while the crown and the top half

56

 

 

f

 

 

FIGURE 22. Three typical beets stored in the pit venti-
lated on both sides and bottom.
of the beet was covered with a watersoaked retting which
scuffed off when rubbed- In less severe cases, only the
tips of the Sprouts and the old leaf petioles were black
and circular water soaked areas appeared on the shoulder
of the beets. In crossection, these water soaked areas
were black and confined to the surface of the beet. Over-
heating damage was evident to some extent in all parts of
the pit, but it was most severe in zone three and the lower
parts of zone one. Figure 25 shows how the covering mat-
erial slid to the base of the pit, covering the areas
where heat injury occurred with an excessive amount of

covering material. It was also noticed that more severe

37

  

LEAST
4W

I V5
‘35 E1'§
I.
E.

32?; \\

I «mum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

_—— - -‘ 7. -_——.-

FIGURE 23. Relation of cover at end of storage period to
heat injury.

injury occurred near the west ventilator than around the
east ventilator, so counts were taken in four sections
(see figure 6) as well as in zones. Starting with section
one, i.e., the section adjacent to the west ventilator,
the percentages of beets suitable for planting were 97.5%,
83.0%, 65.0%, and 72.0fi respectively. Section one con-
tained the east thermocouples and section four, the west
thermocouples.

The beets in the pits on either side and between
these two ventilated pits had up to 50 per cent severe

injury from overheating.

PRESEKlATIOH OF SEED FRODUCTI~N DATA

The spring and summer of 1942 were ideal for beet seed
production. Warm weather during the early spring made it
possible to plant the beets early. hainfall was abundant
and well distributed throughout the growing period.

Table 5 gives the per cent stand and the average length
of leaves or seed stalks at 15, 31, and 79 days after
planting. The seed stalks were just beginning to appear
TABLE 5. The per cent stand 15 days after planting, the

average height in inches 15, 31, and 79 days after

planting, and the per cent rosette seed stalks.
Data on 550 feet of row.

 

TYPES OF STORAGE % STAND AVERAGE EEIGHT IN IN. fl ROSETTE
15 51 79 days SEED STALKS

Cold Storage, 96.8 3.4 9.4 41.2 5
Sand

Cold Storage, ---* ——% 9.0 41.3 4
Peat Moss

Cold Storage, --—* -—* 8.4 44.5 0
No Covering

Cold Storage, ---% 2.1 7.1 38.7 6
Small

Root Cellar 91.2 2.8 7.9 40.5 11
Pit-3 Covering 82.4 2.3 7.0 38.7 29
of Check

Pit-1 Covering 75.1 1.8 5.7 42.0 28
of Check

Pit-Check 83.7 2.3 7.6 37.6 29
Pit-Soiless 76.1 2.2 7.5 40.0 25
Pit-vent. Sides 8607 2.6 805 40.9 24
and Bottom

 

* Data not collected
38

39
at the first measurement, just above the leaves at the
second measurement, and were in full bloom and at their
maximum height for the third measurement. It may be noted
that the beets stored in cold storage and the root cellar
made much the better stand and early growth, but that as
the seed stalks matured, the beets stored in pits caught
up to and in one case, i.e., the pit with one fourth the
covering of the check, exceeded the height attained by
them. It was noted, during the growing period, that the
seed stalks produced by beets stored in cold storage were
more uniform in height than the seed stalks produced from
beets from the other storage treatments.

It was noticed that many of the beets stored in the
outdoor pits produced seed stalks with no main stem, but
instead, a rosette of several lesser stems. These stems,
unlike the more common main stems which grew from the
single crown of the beet, grew from the shoulder of the
beet. The percentage of beets producing seed\stalks with
the rosette growth habit is given in table 6 above.

The yield in pounds per acre from the two plots of
each storage treatment are given in table 6, along with
the germination of each lot of seed and the calculated
yield in pounds per acre and pounds per plant at 80f
germination. Since there were quite large differences in
the germination of the various lots of seed, it was though
advisable to convert the yields to pounds of seed per acre

on the basis of 80% germination.

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41

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42

The stand at harvest in seed stalks per acre, for the
various treatments is given in table 7.

Table 8 contains the analysis of variance and covari-
ance of the numbers of beets per acre and the pounds of
seeds produced per acre. 0n examining the P value per-
taining to stands or numbers of beets per acre, namely;

1,838,517

F, . = 9.99,
£ 183,993

 

it is seen that there are significant differences between
the stand averages. This shows that the treatments caused
significant differences in the numbers of beets to survive,
grow, and produce seeds.
0n examining the F value pertaining to yields per acre,
namely;
184,915

F, = -—————— =
J 7,882

(‘3
C»)
0
C”
b

it is seen that there are highly significant differences
between yield means. One of the reasons why the yield
means are significant is because of the differences in stands
and these differences are no doubt brought about by differ-
ences in treatments.

The slopes of the regression lines pertaining to error
and treatment plus error are-respectively as follows:

b = .0260:

b . 2676

These slopes differ significantly from each other. The first

slope indicates that there is not a great deal of dependence

43

between stands and yields; the latter indicates that there
is some dependence of yield on stands. The last three
columns in table 8 contain the analysis after adjusting for
stand. The P value pertaining to yields adjusted for stands,
namely;

38,025

F = ——““”” = 4.23,

9,050
lacks .05 of being significant at the 5fl level. This
indicates that perhaps some of the mean yields after
adjusting for stands are significantly different from others,
since it is a border line case. The averages of the yields
before and after adjusting for stand are given in table 10.

TABLE 10. Yields of seeds per acre before and after ad-
justing for stands.

 

 

COLD ROOT PITS
STOR- CELLAR ‘VEUT. E COV. CHECK SOIL- % COV.
ACE CHECK ESS CHECK

 

Av. before
adj. for 1340 1
stands

818 773 708 643 561

A)
(71
U1

 

Av. after
adj. for 1302 1234 809 779 714 660 584
stands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Differences in means to be significant = 232 at 5fl level
and 353 at the 1% level.

Clearly the adjustment yield means for the cold storage
and the root cellar treatments are significantly larger
than the other treatment yield means. There is no signifi-
cant difference between the adjusted yield means of the

cold storage and the root cellar treatments and no signifi-

44
cant differences between the adjusted yield means of the
other treatments.

Table 11 contains the analysis of variance of the
yields per plant. (See table 6) The value of F from this
table, namely;

.009,586

F”: ’——-——“—'= 5.22,
.002,028

TABLE 11. Analysis of variance of the yields per plant.

 

 

SOURCE OF SUM OF YEAR
VARIATION D.F. SQUARES SQUARE
Total 13 .011,614

Between Treatment 6 .ooa,eee .001,514*
Yeahs

Error 7 .002,028 .000,29

' Significant at the EZ level. = .017

suggests that there are significant differences between
treatment means. 0n testing for significance, it is found
that the difference between yield per plant averages to be
significant is .042 pounds at the Efl level and .059 pounds
at the lfl level. The means of the cold storage and the
root cellar treatments are significantly larger than the
means of the other treatments. There are no significant

differences between the other treatment averages.

DISCUSSION AHD CONCLUSIONS

In attempting to draw conclusions from the above data,
it must be borne in mind that they are the results of but
one years's work and thus cannot be taken as wholly con-
elusive.

The use of thermocouples and a galvanometer for taking
temperatures in pits proved to be a very laborious and time
consuming operation. It proved very difficult to take
temperatures in mid-winter when snow, ice, and cold weather
made handling the thermocouple wires a painful and at times
an impossible task. From the above data, the author thinks
it can be safely assumed that in all but the scantily
covered pits, the critical months of storagevere November,
December, March, and April. During these months, tempera-
ture readings can easily be taken with the galvanometer
and thermocouples. The use of thermocouples and aggalvano-
meter in taking temperatures in the root cellar proved to
be much easier and could be used to good advantage in
taking temperatures there in either bins or pits.

The fact that some beet crowns froze at approximately
300 F. in the pit with one half the covering of the check
seems to indicate that any temperature below freezing for
any length of time is dangerous in storing mother beets for
seed purposes. Since no tissue damage from freezing was ob-
served in this pit at this temperature, it may be assumed
that tissue damage from freezing takes place at tempera-

45

46
tures between 270 F., i.e., the lowest temperature observed
in the pit with one fourth the covering of the check which
showed severe freezing injury, and 300 F. These deductions
are in line with the 26.90 F. freezing point for beets
given by Wright. (5) SinCe a beet is of no value for seed
purposes if its crown is frozen, we may say that storage
temperatures as low as 300 F. should be avoided.

To determine from the above data the temperatures
which will cause heat injury is difficult if not impossible.
Since temperature readings were not taken daily during the
last three weeks of the storage, and due to the fact that
some of the beets remained in the regular pits as long as
ten days after the last temperature observations were made
on April 26, it is difficult to state the exact number of
days during wiich the pits were above a set temperature,
i.e., any arbitrarily picked temperature at which heat
injury was thought likely to appear. However, through
interpelation of the temperature data an hand, the follow-
ing table was constructed, (table 12) giving the approxi-
mate number of days during Which the beets surrounding each
of the thermocouples were above 450, 480, and 500 F.

In selecting the thermocouples for table 12, only
borderline cases, i.e., those which showed no heat injury
but which had relatively high temperatures, and those which
showed varying degrees of heat injury were used. It may be
gathered from this table that beets may be stored without

serious decay for approximately 68 days at temperatures of

47

TABLE 12. The relationship of heat injury to the number
of days in which temperatures of beets sur-
rounding selected thermocouples were above

 

45°, 48 , and 50° F.
9:: IBZAT APP. :30. DAYS ABOVE

PIT THERHOCOUPLE INJURY 45° — 48° - 50° F.
Vent., Sides Center 0 32 ' 26 20
and Bottom
Regular* 20' E. of Center 0 68 32 16
Regular* 3' from w. End 1% so 9 o
Vent., Sides East, Soil Level 10% 56 32 20
Only
Regular* Center 15% 69 49 21
Vent., Sides West, Soil Level 28% 68 49 29
Only
Regular* 20' from W. End 27.7fl 81 54 33

 

4 Regular pit refers to pits constructed by Joseph harris
Company for storing their main crop of beets.

450 F. or over, providing not more than 32 of these days
have temperatures of 48° F. or over, or more than 20 of
these days have temperatures of 50° F. or over. No other
thermocouple with surrounding beets showing heat injury
failed to have less than 68 days at 45° F. or over, or
less than 32 days at 48° F. or over, or less than 20 days
at 50° F. or over. No other thermocouple which showed no
heat injury had more than 68 days at 450 F. or over, or
more than 32 days at 48° F. or over, or more than 20 days
at 500 F. or over.

The average temperatures for the storage period, the

48

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49
per cent of the storage period during whichthe tempera-
tures of the various storage treatments were below 32° F.,
between 32-40° F., and above 40° F., and the mean yields
of the various storage treatments are given in table 13.

It may be noted that the mean yields decreased as the
average storage temperatures and the per cent of the stor-
age period above 400 F. increased, if the temperatures of
the pits with one quarter and one half the covering of the
check and the soiless pit are not considered. Freezing
temperatures were observed in these two covering pits for
15 and 12 per cent of the storage period respectively.
These low temperatures not only lowered the average stor-
age temperatures of these pits, but caused the obvious
freezing injury discussed above. It would seem logical to
ass me that the low yield per plant, the poor stands, and
the low yield per acre from beets stored in these pits,

may have been due to unapparent injury due to freezing.
-his assumption is supported by the findings of Chroboc-
zek, (2) who reported that freezing injury to beets growing
in a greenhouse delayed seed stalk develOpment. Low yields
from beets stored in the soiless pit can be attributed to
the serious tap root rotting observed in that pit.

Since Wright (5) found that table beets gave off 35¢
and 300fl more heat (which he assumed was due to respiration
of hexose sugars) at 40° F. and 60° F. respectively than
at 32° F., it seems logical to assume that the beets stored

at the higher temperatures, i.e., those stored in the out-

50
door pits which showed no storage injury in this investi-
gation, lost more sugars than those stored at the lower
temperatures i.e., the cold storage and root cellar stor-
age. This leads to the conclusion that greater sugar losses
may be responsible for the poorer stands, the lower yields
per plant, and the lower yields per acre obtained from the
beets stored at the higher pit temperatures. Other storage
conditions such as ventilation, moisture, etc., may have
helped cause the low yields from the beets stored in the
outdoor pits.

The cause of the rosette seed stalk growth is diffi-
cult to explain with the limited data obtained. It may
be noticed in table 6 that there were a greater percentage
of rosette seed stalks produced by beets stored in outdoor
pits than were produced by beets stored in the root cellar
or in cold storage. The higher storage temperatures
observed in the outdoor pits may have been the cause.
This reasoning is in line with the finding of Chroboczek.
(2) -In conducting an investigation to determine the cause
of bolting in beets, he found that temperature had a
marked influence on the formation and growth of seed stalk
primordia. Further investigation would be necessary to
determine whether this or other storage or field conditions
caused this abnormal seed stalk growth. Although no yield
data was obtained on individual rosette seed stalks, the

7

lower yields per plant obtained from the outdoor pits would

indicate that their yield per plant was less than that
obtained from normal seed stalks.

In this investigation, it was possible to get the land
fitted and the beets planted at a fairly early date. In
spite of this, many beets were lost in the outdoor pits,
i.e., in the pit with ventilation on sides only, and the
regular pits surrounding it, because of high temperatures.
Under less favorable field conditions, the differences
between the yields obtained from beets stored in the root
cellar and outdoor pits, where the storage temperature
depends largely on the outdoor temperatures, and the beets
stored in cold storage, where the storage temperature can
be kept constant, may be even greater than the differences
observed above. If this investigation were conducted during
a year in which field conditions were unfavorable for early
planting, differences between yields from beets stored in
a root cellar, where storage temperatures can only parti-
ally be controled, and the outdoor pits might be consider-
ably less.

Although the economic aspects of storing beets for
seed production purposes were not considered in this inves-
tigation, it must be borne in mind that a storage method
to be practical must be economical. Further investigation
would be necessary to determine the costs of the various
methods of storage. When the labor costs of constructing

pits and removing beets from them are carefully considered,

(n
(‘0

it is believed that they will be found to be higher per
pound of seed produced than the costs per pound of seed
produced from beets stored in the root cellar and cold
storage.

The above data and discussion would, in the opinion
of the author, eliminate outdoor pits as a method of storing
beets for seed purposes if cold storage or root cellar
storage were available. If it were necessary to use pit
storage, the somewhat larger (not significant) yields
obtained from beets stored in the pit ventilated in sides
and bottom and from the pit with one half the covering of
the check would indicate that pits should be well venti-
lated and not overcovered. The amount of covering would
necessarily vary with the outdoor winter temperatures of
the locality. Since the yield from beets stored in the
soiless pit was less than the yield obtained from those
stored in the check, the use of soil about beets in pits
is considered advisable.

The secondary object of this problem was to determine
whether small beets stored in cold storage would produce as
much seed per plant and per acre as the larger beets. The
data presented would indicate this to be true, although
only a limited number of beets were used. As three times
as many small beets can be stored in the space required
for the larger beets, the storing of small beets in cold

storage would materially reduce the storage costs.

55

Because of the limited amount of beets stored in cold
storage with peat moss covering or with no covering, no
conclusive data was obtained. A lighter covering material
for storing beets in cold storage would facilitate hand-
ling.

Io attempt was made, in this investigation, to over-
winter beets in the field. Later investigations may prove

this possible in certain select localities in the Northeast.

SUKHAhY

During the fall and winter of 1941 and 1942, fall
grown Detroit Dark Red garden beets were stored in cold
storage, a root cellar, and in outdoor pitsvzith'varying
amounts of covering, ventilation, and soil surrounding the

‘4

beets. Storage temperatures in the outdoor pits and the

root cellar were taken with.a galvanometer and thermocou-

\

‘D

ples. fine beets were taken from the pits in the Spring
and graded and planted. Field notes and seed yields re—
cords were taken during the summer of 1941. Seed yield
and stand data were analysed by analysis of variance and
covariance to determine the significance of the data ob-
tained.»

The use of the galvanometer and thermocouples for
taking temperatures in outdoor pits and root cellars was
found practical in good weather.

Freezing injury of beet crowns was observed in out-
door pits whose lowest temperature was 500 F. Freezing
injury to beet tissue was observed in outdoor pits whose
lowest storage temperatures were 26-270 F. These temper-
atures lasted approximately three weeks.

Heat injury occurred in outdoor pits whose storage
temperatures were above 45'0 F. for approximately two months.

Dry rot was observed on the tap roots of beets stored
in the pit with no soil about them.

Better stands, more vigorous seed stalks, and more

54

uniform growth were made by beets stored at 530 F. in cold
storage and at 58.80 F. in the root cellar.

81?

U

nificantly better stands and yields per plant and
per acre were obtained from beets stored in the root cellar
and cold storage.

A greater per cent of rosette seed stalk growth, i.e.,
seed stalks which had several equal stems instead of a
single main stem, was produced by beets stored in outdoor
pits. This was thought to be due to the higher storage
temperatures observed in the outdoor pits.
Ho significant seed yield differences were found
between beets stored in the root cellar and cold storage,
or between the seed yields of beets from the various pits.

Seed yields decreased as the storage temperature
increased when the data from pits showing no storage injury
were not considered. Better yields (differences not statis-
tically significant) were obtained from beets stored in
moderately covered and well ventilated pits.

Satisfactory yields were obtained from small beets,

averaginv 1.8 inches in diameter, stored in cold storage,

U

indicating that further investigation may prove them suit-

able for seed production purposes.

ACI‘IIIOWLEDGEII his

I am indebted to Professors Victor B. Gardner and
Keith Darrons of the Horticulture Department for their
help and guidance throughout the working and writing of
this paper, to the Joseph Harris Company of Rochester,
New York, for their wholehearted cooperation in provid-
ing materials and suggestions, and to Dr. W.D. Eaten of
the hathematics Department for his aid in the statisti-

cal analysis of the data presented in this paper.

LITERATURE CITED

Burrows, G. (Seed Grower, Ontario, Yew York.) Cor-
respondence. 1942.

Chroboczek, E. A Study of Some Ecological Factors
Influencing Seed—Stalk Development in Beets (Beta
vulgaris L.) Cornell University Ag. Exp. Station

hemoir 154. 1954.

Cox, J. and Starr, G.E. Seed Production and Karket-
ing. John Wiley a Sons, Inc. New York. 534—544.
1927.

Gaskill, J.O. and.Brewbaker, H.E. Storage of Sugar
Beets Under Conditions of High humidity and Low Temp-
erature. Am. Soc. of Agronomy. 81:109-115. 1959.

Rose, D.H., Wright, R.C., and Whitman, J.H. The
Commercial Storage of Fruits, Vegetables, and Florists'
Stocks. U.S.D.A. Circ. 278:6. 1942.

Vincent, C.C. and Longley, L.E. Vegetable Seed Pro-
duction in Idaho. Idaho Ag. Exp. Station Bull. 140:
7.110 19250

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