beet

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Beet
• Beetroot
• Chard
• Fodder Beet
• Mangels
• Silver Beet
• Spinach Beet
• Sugar Beet
• Swiss Chard
• common beet

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Caryophyllales, it is classified under the family Amaranthaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is established within the genus Beta.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Beta vulgaris, exhibits a specific presence across various regions of Northern Europe. Within this geographical area, it can be found growing in the country of Denmark. Its distribution also extends to the northern territories of Finland. Furthermore, the species is established throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its range includes the coastal and inland areas of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Beta vulgaris is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to varied environments, primarily thriving within anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica) where human activity and land modification provide suitable growing conditions. This species demonstrates a broad altitudinal tolerance, occupying a significant vertical gradient that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to an elevation of 2700 m AMSL. This wide elevational range suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, allowing the plant to persist in diverse climatic zones ranging from lowland coastal regions to high-altitude mountainous terrains.

Elevational range max:

2700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Beta vulgaris is characterized by a versatile growth strategy that can be described as variable, encompassing annual, biennial, and perennial lifecycles depending on environmental conditions and specific cultivars. Morphologically, the plant exhibits distinct life forms, functioning as both a hemicryptophyte, where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, and a therophyte, which allows it to complete its life cycle in a single season under certain circumstances. Furthermore, the species follows a deciduous pattern, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal growth cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Beta vulgaris is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. The plant maintains a self-supporting structure, exhibiting an erect shoot orientation rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. In terms of physical dimensions, the plant height is variable, ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 2 m, with a mean height of approximately 0.98 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

0.983333333333333 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Beta vulgaris is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing standard carbon fixation processes to drive its metabolic activities. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on soil-based nutrient uptake and does not possess nitrogen-fixing capabilities. The plant exhibits a distinct vegetative structure with an alternate leaf arrangement, featuring leaves that vary significantly in dimensions; individual leaf lengths range from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 40 cm, while leaf widths fluctuate between 1.5 cm and 15 cm. The leaves typically present an elliptic form, with a mean leaf size of 184.96 cm² and a mean leaf width of 15 cm. Furthermore, the plant demonstrates a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 211.06 cm²/g, reflecting its morphological strategy for balancing light interception and resource allocation.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

40 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

184.96 cm²

Leaf width mean:

15 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

211.06 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Beta vulgaris is characterized by a primarily sexual process, as asexual reproduction is absent. The plant features bisexual flowers that are green in color, facilitating a reproductive cycle that typically begins in July and concludes in October. The pollination syndrome is classified as abiotic, specifically relying on wind for the transfer of pollen. In terms of genetic structure, self-fertilization is absent, necessitating cross-pollination. Following fertilization, the plant produces fruit in the form of an achene, which is indehiscent. These fruits are highly prolific, yielding a seed count of more than 1000 seeds per fruit. The seeds exhibit a mean mass of approximately 0.0181631856666667 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.00855 g to a maximum of 0.03004 g. Dispersal of these seeds is achieved through a hydrochorous syndrome, utilizing water as the primary medium for movement.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flower colour :

green

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.03004 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0181631856666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.00855 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Beta vulgaris has 2 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, leaf.

Root

1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. Natural product research
4. Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology

Leaf

1. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine
2. Current drug discovery technologies

Chemicals

Beta vulgaris has 167 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Betanin, Betanine, CADMIUM, COPPER, Flavonoids.

Betanin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Vavilovskii zhurnal genetiki i selektsii
3. Journal of chromatography. A
4. Journal of natural products

Betanine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology

CADMIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports

COPPER

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in chemistry

Flavonoids

1. Nutrients
2. Drug development and industrial pharmacy

Isobetanin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of chromatography. A

MAGNESIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in chemistry

MANGANESE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in chemistry

SODIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in chemistry

ferulic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Activities

Beta vulgaris has 671 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Hypoglycemic, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomass conversion and biorefinery
3. Nutrients
4. Pharmaceutical biology
5. Journal of chromatography. A

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Beni-Suef University journal of basic and applied sciences

Hypoglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Beta vulgaris has 25 reported investigations on conditions identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include oxidative stress, Alzheimer's disease, DNA damage, Escherichia coli, Hypoglycemic.

Oxidative stress

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Scientific reports

Alzheimer's disease

1. Toxicology reports

Dna damage

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Escherichia coli

1. Biomass conversion and biorefinery

Hypoglycemic

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Nutritional deficiencies

1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology

Salmonella enterica

1. Biomass conversion and biorefinery

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Biomass conversion and biorefinery

Alcoholic liver disease

1. Current drug metabolism

Asthma

1. Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology

Preparations

Beta vulgaris has 15 reported preparations identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous Beta vulgaris extract, aqueous extract, ethanolic extract, hairy root clones, hairy root cultures.

Aqueous beta vulgaris extract

1. Virologie

Aqueous extract

1. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz

Ethanolic extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hairy root clones

1. Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology

Hairy root cultures

1. Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology

Hairy root lines

1. Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology

Hairy roots

1. Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology

Leaf extract

1. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine

Lyophilized beet root

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Methanolic extract

1. Natural product research