Field and In Vitro Studies of Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) and Its Potential as Biofuel Feedstock

Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) is a perennial native North American, plant species related to sunflower. To many of us, it is known as a weed. It has been used as human food, animal feed, source of inulin and ethanol and as raw material for large number of other industrial purposes. In the present study, twenty two accessions obtained from USDA germplasm collection were evaluated in a replicated Randomised Block Design (RBD) experiment, at the Agriculture Farm of Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA during cropping season 2008. Plant growth characters related to biomass production were evaluated in this preliminary study. Significant variation was found in plant height (ranging from 105 cm in PI 451980 to 191 cm in Ames 18010), internodal length range from 3.38 cm to 7.83 cm, number of branches (ranging from 28 to 47) and other character studied. Disease reactions of these lines to powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum DC) and rust (Puccinia helianthi) were accessed under natural field conditions. An in vitro regeneration protocol was also developed using PI547233 accession, which can accelerate crop improvement efforts using recombinant DNA techniques. Based on its growth potential and large amount of variation present in H. tuberosus germplasm it can be considered as a good candidate for biofuel feedstock.