Transport and distribution of solutes in sugar beet roots

Inorganic ions and sugars are the main osmotic components of sugar beet root tissues. While the roots function exclusively as nutritive organs, sugar concentrations are low in them, and their osmotic potential is created by inorganic ions. Later in the course of differentiation of the tertiary structure of the roots, they transform into storage organs where sucrose prevails, its concentration being up to 0.6 M or even high.