Ayeni Albert O
Department of Plant Biology, Rutgers University, 59 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
Plants (Basel). 2022 Mar 28;11(7):897. doi: 10.3390/plants11070897.
Tigernut or 'chufa' ( L. var. ) is gaining popularity in the United States as a high energy tuber crop known for sweet and chewy taste, 40-45% gluten-free digestible carbohydrate, high dietary fiber content, healthful fatty acid profile (73% monounsaturated, 18% saturated, 9% polyunsaturated-similar to olive oil), high oleic acid, and high P, K, and vitamins C. E. Tigernut tubers were obtained from specialty crop markets in central NJ and purchased online from commercial distributors as propagules for transplants for hoop house and field production studies. Nine tigernut selections were also evaluated under NJ hoop house culture conditions for growth habit and in the field for adaptation and productivity We concluded that tigernut production is feasible in NJ based on the results of these experiments. The growth patterns of three selections (GH, MV and SK) were studied and characterized. Foliage growth was similar in the three selections. Plant height ranged from an average of 90 cm in GH to 110 cm in MV and SK; side shoot production capacity ranged from 13 shoots per propagule in GH to 20 or more in MV and SK over 14 weeks. Over 99% of tubers in MV and SK were located within the upper 5 cm of the growth media (Pro-Mix BX brand) but tubers of GH were observed at greater soil depths (~20 cm). Tubers varied from spherical (round) in shape in GH and SK to oblong (elongated) in MV. In the field the best growth and tuber yields from NG3 and T-USA selections were obtained under black or white-over-black plastic mulch in conventionally managed plots. Tubers showed high levels of Fe (168-218 ppm) and Zn (39-50 ppm) implying that they should be a good source of these essential elements in human diet. Studies also showed that the tigernut tuber cannot survive the cold winter months in the field in NJ, therefore minimizing the fear of "tigernut invasion" of agronomic fields in NJ and similar agroecosystems.
油莎豆或“虎坚果”（莎草科变种）在美国正越来越受欢迎，它是一种高能量块茎作物，以其香甜有嚼劲的口感、40%-45%的无麸质可消化碳水化合物、高膳食纤维含量、有益健康的脂肪酸组成（73%单不饱和脂肪酸、18%饱和脂肪酸、9%多不饱和脂肪酸——与橄榄油类似）、高油酸以及高磷、钾和维生素C、E而闻名。油莎豆块茎从新泽西州中部的特色作物市场获取，并从商业经销商处在线购买，作为用于拱棚和田间生产研究的移植繁殖体。还在新泽西州拱棚栽培条件下对9个油莎豆品种进行了生长习性评估，并在田间对其适应性和生产力进行了评估。基于这些实验结果，我们得出结论，在新泽西州种植油莎豆是可行的。对三个品种（GH、MV和SK）的生长模式进行了研究并进行了特征描述。这三个品种的叶片生长情况相似。植株高度从GH的平均90厘米到MV和SK的110厘米不等；在14周内，每个繁殖体的侧枝生产能力从GH的13个侧枝到MV和SK的20个或更多不等。MV和SK中超过99%的块茎位于生长介质（Pro-Mix BX品牌）的上部5厘米内，但在更深的土壤深度（约20厘米）观察到了GH的块茎。GH和SK的块茎形状为球形（圆形），而MV的块茎为长方形（细长形）。在田间，在传统管理的地块中，在黑色或黑白双色塑料薄膜覆盖下，NG3和T-USA品种的生长和块茎产量最佳。块茎显示出高水平的铁（168-218 ppm）和锌（39-50 ppm），这意味着它们应该是人类饮食中这些必需元素的良好来源。研究还表明，油莎豆块茎无法在新泽西州田间度过寒冷的冬季，因此减少了对新泽西州及类似农业生态系统中油莎豆“入侵”农田的担忧。
