Characterization of red beet and carrot with special emphasis on nitrate accumulation

Nitrate accumulation in plants is a natural phenomenon resulting from uptake of nitrate ion in excess of its reduction and subsequent assimilation. The water soluble nitrate content of various carrot and red beet varieties was measured as a function of irrigation and mineral supplement in three years. In the first year, the nitrate content increased in both roots (significant differences were found for three carrot and at three red beet cultivars) following the irrigation. The activity of nitrate-reductase in the leaves was also significantly higher after irrigation in three red beet varieties in 1998. The mineral supplement in most of the carrot varieties increased the nitrate content. In the third year, the impact of water supply showed various tendencies in nitrate accumulation in both vegetables. On the basis of results for three years, the conclusion was that the seasonal and varietal differences were also remarkable.