Responses of inulin content and inulin yield of Jerusalem artichoke to seasonal environments

Abstract

<span>Seasonal variation (e.g. temperature and photoperiod) between growing seasons might affect<br /><span>inulin content and inulin yield of Jerusalem artichoke. However, there is limited information on<br /><span>genotypic response to seasons for inulin content and inulin yield. The objective of this study<br /><span>was to investigate the variability in genotypic response to seasons for inulin content and inulin<br /><span>yield of Jerusalem artichoke. Field experiments were conducted during the early-rainy season<br /><span>from June to September 2011 and the post-rainy season from September to December in 2011<br /><span>and these 2 seasons were repeated in 2012 at the Field Crop Research Station of Khon Kaen<br /><span>University. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 5 replications was used. Four<br /><span>Jerusalem artichoke genotypes were studied during both seasons in each year. Data were<br /><span>recorded for brix value, inulin content, tuber yield, inulin yield, biomass and harvest index at<br /><span>harvest. The results revealed that seasonal variations had significant effects on inulin content,<br /><span>inulin yield, tuber yield, biomass and harvest index but not on brix value. The results indicated<br /><span>that growing Jerusalem artichoke in the early-rainy season with high temperature and long<br /><span>photoperiod resulted in greater inulin content and biomass. In contrast, growing Jerusalem<br /><span>artichoke in the post-rainy season with low temperature and short photoperiod resulted in<br /><span>greater tuber yield and inulin yield. The present study revealed that temperature and photoperiod<br /><span>were important for producing tuber yield and inulin yield. This information can be used to select<br /><span>the appropriate growing seasons for sustainable production of inulin content, inulin yield and<br /><span>tuber yield of Jerusalem artichoke in Thailand.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></span>