JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE - A POTENTIAL EDIBLE TUBER YIELDING PLANT

Abstract

Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) - a tuberous under
shrub of family Compositae is a native of North America. The name
Jerusalem Artichoke, is considered to be a correction of the italian
Girasoli articoea, sunflower artichoke. According to Gray (1877), it
originated in the valley of Mississipi from the species of sunflower,
H.doronicoides Lam. This plant is cultivated in Europe, few parts of Asia
in temperate regions of southern hemisphere. In India, it is found
growing in W. Bengal, Assam, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra
Pradesh. It is well adapted to rich sandy or light loam and alluvial soils
but does not thrive in wet and heavy soils, Although perennial in nature,
it is treated as an annual under cultivation. This species is reported to
have 13-18 per cent carbohydrate and 1.5-2.0 per cent protein (Anon,
1986) and is an economic