Responses of Total Biomass, Shoot Dry Weight, Yield and Yield Components of Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) Varieties under Different Terminal Drought Duration

As a secondary crop planting in the double-cropping system, terminal drought is the major constraint of Jerusalem artichoke production in the rainfed area. This study aims to estimate the effects of different durations of terminal drought on total biomass, tuber yields, harvest index, yield components, and to identify high yield potential and low yield reduction genotypes for the varietal improvement program. A split-plot design with four replications was conducted under field experiment for two years. Three drought durations including non-drought stress (SD0), drought from 60 and 45 days after transplanting until harvest (SD1 and SD2, respectively), were assigned in main plots and six genotypes were arranged in subplots. Crop parameters were greater decreased under a long-drought duration than under short-drought duration. The genotypes were identified; HEL256, JA37 and JA125 had high yield potential under SD0 conditions, whereas there was high yield reduction under drought conditions. In contrast, JA60 and HEL253 were identified as low yield potential and low yield reduction genotypes. This information suggested that high yield potential genotypes and low yield reduction genotypes should be selected and generated progeny population for improvement of new varieties with high yield potential and low yield reduction for growing in terminal drought-prone environments.