13C NMR determination of sugar levels in storage roots of carrot (Daucus carota)

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Abstract
13C NMR was used to detect sugars in detached fibrous and storage roots of carrots (Daucus carota L. cv. Chantenay Red‐Cored). The relative amounts of sucrose, glucose and fructose in storage roots of two ages and in fibrous roots were similar to those detected by a destructive, enzymatic sugar determination method. In tap roots all three sugars were present with glucose being marginally predominant in 8‐week‐old roots and sucrose being the major sugar present in 12‐week‐old roots. Glucose was the major sugar present in fibrous roots with small amounts of sucrose and no fructose detected. The results indicate that with some instrumental modification, 13C NMR could be used as a non‐destructive method for measuring sugar levels in intact storage root systems during development.