Expanding sugar beet’s utility: genetic insights into leaf protein valorisation

Summary

Plant breeding usually focuses on the part of the crop we harvest, like seeds or roots, while the leftover leaves or stems are often wasted. Sugar beet is grown for sugar, but about one-third of its biomass are leaves, which contain useful protein. The main protein, RuBisCO, has good properties for food use and could even replace egg white in some products. But right now, it’s hard to extract enough protein from the leaves to make it worthwhile.

This thesis tested new, faster ways to measure how much protein can be taken from sugar beet leaves. Around 400 beet varieties were grown in trials in the Netherlands and France, and their leaves were studied. The results showed that there are genetic differences in how much protein beets produce, and breeding could increase protein levels without reducing sugar yields. This means sugar beet could become a crop used for both sugar and protein.