CHARACTERIZATION OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE DURING TUBERIZATION STAGE

The photosynthetic characteristics among two different Jerusalem artichoke cultivars(high yield potential cultivar Yulin and low yield potential cultivar Xiuyan) during tuberization stage were investigated.Cultivar Yulin had significantly higher CO2 assimilation rates than that of cultivar Xiuyan throughout the measured days.In addition,the Rubisco activity and chlorophyll content in cultivar Yulin were higher than that in cultivar Xiuyan.Results suggested the relatively higher CO2 assimilation rate during tuberization stage favors accumulation of dry matter in tubers.Higher leaf photosynthetic capacity is the physiological basis for higher tuber yield in Jerusalem artichoke.