Over the past 4 decades, sucrose content of sugarbeets (Beta vulgaris L.) has decreased while root yield has increased. Reasons reported include processing of more crown material, because mechanical harvesting removes less crown tissue than hand‐topping methods, and incre ased use of N fertilizer. Our objective was to determine the relationship between N application rate and sugarbeet crown tissue production, and its effects on processing quality of sugarbeets. Reported are the results of two studies conducted in 1975 and one in 1976, each using a different sugarbeet cultivar and seven N rates. Green petiole material was removed before each sugarbeet was sectioned into root and crown tissues for yield and quality analyses. Crown tissue increased linearly as rates of N application increased. Root tissue and recoverable sucrose yields were near maximum when spring soil NO3‐N or soil NO3‐N plus added N reached 200 to 225 kg/ha. At higher N levels, crown tissue yield increased and sucrose content in both root and crown tissues decreased, offsetting any potential benefits from increased whole beet yield. When N was adequate for maximmn sucrose production, crown tissue contributed approximately 20% of the total recoverable sucrose per ha. As N rate increased, sucrose concentration, extractable sucrose per metric ton, and purity decreased whereas Na, K, amino‐N, invert sugar, and imaturity index values increased for both root and crown tissues. Root tissue always had higher levels than crown tissue of extractable sucrose and purity and lower levels of Na, amino‐N, invert sugar, and impurity index. Crown tissue production can be minimized, and processing quality of sngarbeets can be improved by conservative use of N fertilizer.

Each season rot of sugarbeets in storage accounts for losses of sugar. Estimates of the amount of this loss have not been based on sample data. Our objectives were to sample and examine roots as they began the factory process, to determine the amount of rotted tissue, identify the causal pathogens and, on the basis of the data, to estimate losses in the Red River Valley. Materials and Methods The survey was made from November 6, 1974, through March 12, 1975, at the American Crystal Sugar Company factory, Moorhead, MN. Samples were removed from the picking table on alternate days. Two samples were taken at randomly selected 12-h intervals on each sample day. Sample size was a standard tare bag of 10-17 kg (22-37 Ibs). Samples from 6 factories in the Red River Valley were compared on January 24, 1975. During a 10-minute period four samples were ob tained at the picking table of each factory. The roots were returned to the laboratory, weighed, quartered longitudinally, divided into topping classes, and the decayed portions removed and weighed. Frozen tissue also was removed and weighed. The roots were classified into those with no crown tissue removed, all crown tissue removed, or partial crown removed. Rotted or frozen tissue was expressed as percent by weight. The tons of rotted tissue that were processed daily was determined by multiplying the percent rot derived from the sample times the tons of production for that particu lar day. This same sample percent also was used for estimating rot on the following day when no sample was taken. Rotted tissues from the crown, pith, body, and tail of the root were examined for pathogens. Rotted tissue samples of uniform size were removed with a cork borer and eight slices from each portion of the root were plated on potato-dextrose agar. Results When this survey began on November 6, 1974, 10 tons of rotted sugarbeet tissue was being processed daily at Moorhead. The daily

Dicamba (3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid), 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid], and picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid) were applied as simulated spray drift to sugarbeets at several growth stages. When applied at early growth stages 2,4-D tended to decrease root yield but decreased purity and extractable sucrose content by as much as 54% when applied at later growth stages. Dicamba at 0.14 kg ae/ha and 2,4-D at 0.28 kg ae/ha decreased extractable sucrose/ha and tended to decrease root yield at harvest while picloram at 0.028 kg ae/ha did not significantly reduce root yield or sucrose content at harvest compared to the control. All rates of 2,4-D from 0.035 to 0.28 kg ae/ha increased sucrose losses during post-harvest storage at 5 C and 95% relative humidity. Dicamba and picloram at 0.14 and 0.028 kg ae/ha, respectively, caused similar storage losses. Sugarbeets that are inadvertently exposed to 2,4-D, dicamba, or picloram spray drift during the growing season should be processed immediately after harvest.

Various pregermination treatments were used to determine their effects on germination of cottonseed (Gossypium barbademe L.) at suboptimum temperatures and to determine whether chilling injury was reduced by these treatments.‘Pima S‐4’ cottonseed were preconditioned in water and gibbercllic acid (10‐3M) at 10 and 30 C or in adenosine‐ 3′:5′.cyclic monophosphate( cyclic AMP,10‐4M) at 30 C, or were hot‐water‐treated at 70 C for 5 rain. After being preconditioned, seed were chilled for 24 hours at 5 C in water. Seed were germinated over a temperature range of 15.5 to 30 C for 7 days on a thermogradient plate. Germination counts were made daily. The speed and percent of germination were higher for seed preconditioned at 30 C than at 10 C. Hot‐water treatment reduced the sensitivity of seed to gibberellic acid and reduced germination at all temperatures. Chilling injury was reduced by preconditioning in either water, gibberellic acid, or cyclic AMP. Our data suggest that satisfactory cotton stands may be obtained at suboptimum temperatures (below 31 C) by elevating seed moisture and/or treating with a growth regulator prior to planting.