THE EFFECT OF FALL AND SPRING HARVESTING ON THE SUGAR CONTENT OF JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE TUBERS

The Columbia cultivar of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.), a potential fructose-producing crop, was grown at Morden, Manitoba and harvested in the fall from mid-August to mid-October, and in the spring from mid-April to mid-May. The total reducing sugar content increased as the tubers enlarged in the fall and decreased in the spring with the initiation and elongation of tuber sprouts. The fructose content, however, decreased with sequential fall harvest dates whereas it remained relatively stable during spring harvesting but at a lower concentration than in the fall-harvested tubers.Key words: Reducing sugars, fructose, harvest date