Here, we first systematically identified and characterized responsive mRNAs expressed in roots of sugar beet at a genome-wide scale, focusing on salt-responsive mRNAs. Overall design: Four-week-old seedlings were treated with Hoagland solution, containing 300 mM mixed neutral-salt solution (NaCl and Na2SO4, at a 2:1 molar ratio, 300 mmol L-1 Na+) for 1 day (control and treatment designated as CK_1 and S_1) and 7 days (control and treatment designated as CK_7 and S_7). Roots from the same position of seedlings at different treatments were collected, and three biological replicates were sampled.