RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HARVESTING TIME AND CARBOHYDRATE CONTENT OF JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE (Helianthus tuberosus L.) TUBERS

The aim of this 3-year study was to determine the influence of harvest time on dry matter, total dietary fibre, fractional composition of dietary fibre (acid detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF)), water-soluble carbohydrates (WSCs) and inulin content in tubers of different cultivars of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.): ‘Rubik’, ‘Albik’ and ‘Sauliai’. The tubers were harvested in spring (March and April) and autumn (October and November). Our study shows that the largest amount of WSC to exist in ‘Rubik’ tubers harvested especially during October. In contrast, the largest amount of total dietary fibres and their fractions (NDF and ADF) accumulated in ‘Albik’ tubers during the spring harvest month (April). The largest amount of inulin was obtained from ‘Sauliai’ tubers harvested in October. Based on our results, it is advisable to use the ‘Sauliai’ tubers from the harvest time during October to obtain the largest amount of inulin.