Structure and chemical composition of exopolysaccharides of frost-damaged sugar beet

In this research paper, development of a procedure of isolation of exopolysaccharides from frost-damaged beet and an analysis of structural and chemical composition of polymers isolated from sugar beet of different origin are presented. Total acid hydrolysis degradation integrated with HPAEC-ED analysis has been utilized to confirm the monomeric composition of the separated polysaccharides. The implementation of NMR spectral analysis and SEC chromatography of the structure of exopolysaccharides has been investigated. The results demonstrate that the chemical composition and structure of exopolysaccharides depend on their origin. Typical exopolysaccharides from Central European beet roots consist mainly of glucose monomers – and they have low branched structure – about 90% of α-1,6 linkage which is typical for dextran. The exopolysaccharides isolated from Swedish beet are characterized by 50–60% fructose monomers. They contain only about 65% α-1,6 linkages. Exopolysaccharides extracted from various origin beet differ in average molecular mass. The molecular distribution is not normal.