Crops Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)

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Common Name	JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE
Latin binomial	Helianthus tuberosus
Plant family	Asteraceae
Names in other languages	helianthe tubereux (F), topinambour (D), tupinabo (E)

Jerusalem artichoke, in common with its close relative, the sunflower, this species is a native of North America, but it is cultivated for different purposes. Small areas have been grown for many years in the USA and Europe to produce tubers, sold as a root vegetable, but the market has remained very limited. The tubers contain a high proportion of the carbohydrate inulin, a polymer of fructose; the high-fructose syrups derived from the tubers may be used in the food industry and also for the production of ethanol and other industrial raw materials. The large amount of top growth is suitable for use as cattle fodder and may also prove to be a useful source of biomass for energy purposes. Experimental work in several European countries has examined productivity and the partitioning of dry matter between top growth and tubers, as an aid to defining optimal cultural methods.

This entry forms part of the publication Crops for Industry and Energy in Europe

References:

Chisholm, C J (Ed) (1994) Towards a UK Research Strategy for Alternative Crops. Silsoe: Silsoe Research Institute.

Fuchs, A (Ed) (1993) Inulin and Inulin-containing Crops. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science B V

Grassi, G & Gosse, G (Eds) (1991) Topinambour (Jerusalem Artichoke) Revised Edition. Proceedings of 2nd workshop at Rennes. Report EUR-13405-EN. Luxembourg: Commission of the European Communities.

Langer, R H M & Hill, G D (1991) Agricultural Plants (2nd Edn) Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Industrial Crops and Products. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science B V

Relevant EC funded projects:
FAIR-1896