Ontogeny and total sugar content of yacon tuberous roots and other three Smallanthus species (Heliantheae, Asteraceae), insights on the development of a semi-domesticated crop
- Coll Araoz, Maria Victoria
- Kortsarz González, Alejandra M.
- Mercado, María I.
- Ponessa, Graciela I.
- Grau, Alfredo
- Catalan, Cesar Atilio Nazareno
DOIAbstract
The ontogeny of the tuberous roots of yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius), an ancient Andean crop, is described for the first time along with three other wild species of Smallanthus: S. connatus, S. macroscyphus and S. siegesbeckius. Tuberous storage roots are present in the four species. Tuberization results from unusual secondary thickening. A meristematic endodermis maintains the primary cortex by generating cortex cells continuously. Secretory schizogenous canals develop adjacent to the endodermis in opposition to the phloem poles. Phellogen originates in the outer layers of the parenchymatic cortex. The four species develop a parenchymatous pith that stores mainly fructooligosacharides (FOS) and plays an important role in storing wate...
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