Researches on morphological characteristics of a yocon (Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp. and Endl.) H. Robinson) cultivar 'Andesu no otome' and similarities with those of other cultivars and lines during each growth

The morphological characteristics of a yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp. and Endl.) H. Robinson) cultivar, 'Andesu no otome', were investigated during its growth and compared with those of other cultivars and lines. In 2012, the nursery plants of four cultivars, 'Andesu no otome', 'Andes no yuki', 'Salad okame' and 'Sarada otome', and two lines, 'SY11' and 'SY107', were planted on 13 April in the experimental field of NARO Western Region Agricultural Research Center in Zentsuji, Kagawa, which is 24 m above sea level. The number of stems of 'Andesu no otome' was more than that of the other cultivars and lines 45 and 77 days after transplanting (DAT) respectively. The dry weights of the top part of the plant of 'Andesu no otome' and 'Salad okame' 108 DAT were higher than that of the other cultivars and lines. In the storage examination of tuberous roots that were harvested 108 DAT, the epidermis of the tuberous roots of 'Andesu no otome' was magenta under both light and dark conditions. The epidermis of the tuberous roots of 'Salad okame' and 'SY11' were magenta under light conditions but not under dark conditions under the storage examination. In 2013, nursery plants of two cultivars, 'Andesu no otome' and 'Andes no yuki', and the same two lines, 'SY11' and 'SY107', were planted on 21 May in the experimental field of the Industrial Promotion Division local agriculture room Kumakogen agriculture leadership team in Ehime prefecture, which is 500 m above sea level. The number of stems of 'Andesu no otome' was more than that of the other cultivar and lines 57 DAT, and the same as that of 'SY107' 169 DAT. The ratio of leaf length to leaf width and the ratio of petiole length to leaf length of 'Andesu no otome' were similar to those of 'SY107' 111 DAT. The degree of anthocyanin-mediated coloring on the leaves of 'Andesu no otome' was similar to that on the leaves of 'SY11' in September.