View source for Yacón

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Yacón
| image = yacon.jpg
| image_width = 200px
| image_caption = Roots of Yacón
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asterales]]
| familia = [[Asteraceae]]
| genus = ''[[Smallanthus]]''
| species = '''''S. sonchifolius'''''
| binomial = ''Smallanthus sonchifolius''
| binomial_authority = ([[Eduard Friedrich Poeppig|Poeppig]] and [[Stephan Ladislaus Endlicher|Endlicher]]) [[Harold E. Robinson|H. Robinson]]
| synonyms = ''Polymnia sonchifolia'' <small>Poeppig and Endlicher</small>
}}

The '''Yacón''' is a [[perennial plant]] grown in the [[Andes]] for its crisp, sweet-tasting [[tuberous root]]. The texture and flavour have been described as a cross between a fresh apple and watermelon which is why it is sometimes referred to as the apple of the earth. The root is composed mostly of water and [[fructooligosaccharide|fructo-oligosaccharides]].  It has recently been introduced into farmer's markets and natural food stores in the [[United States|US]]. 

Although sometimes confused with [[jicama]], yacón is actually a close relative of the [[sunflower]] and [[Jerusalem artichoke]]. The plants produce two types of [[root]]s: propagation roots and storage roots. Propagation roots grow just under the soil surface and produce new growing points that will become next year's aerial parts. These roots resemble Jerusalem artichokes. Storage roots are large and edible. 

These edible roots contain [[inulin]], an indigestible sugar, which means that although they have a sweet flavour, the roots contain fewer [[calories]] than would be expected. 

Yacón plants can grow to over 2 meters in height and produce small, yellow inconspicuous [[flower]]s at the end of the growing season. Unlike many other root vegetables domesticates by the [[Inca]] ([[ulluco]], [[oca]]), the yacón is not photoperiod sensitive, and can produce a commercial yield in the tropics.

==Yacón Culture==

Yacón can easily be grown in home [[garden]]s in climates with only gentle frosts. It grows well in southern [[Australia]], [[Tasmania]] and [[New Zealand]], where the climate is mild and the growing season long. It has recently been introduced to the [[Philippines]], and is now widely available in markets.

Propagation roots with growing points can be planted in a well-dug bed in early spring, near the time of the last expected frost. While aerial parts are damaged by frost, the roots are not harmed unless they freeze solid. Yacón is a vigorous grower much like Jerusalem artichokes. The plants grow best with fertilization. 

After the first few frosts the tops will die and the plants are ready for harvest. It is generally best to leave some in the ground for propagating the following spring. Alternatively, the propagating roots can be kept in the refrigerator or buried away from frost until spring. While usable-sized roots develop fairly early, they taste much sweeter after some frost.

==Yacón leaves==

The leaves of the yacón contain quantities of [[protocatechuic acid|protocatechuic]], [[chlorogenic acid|chlorogenic]], [[caffeic acid|caffeic]] and [[ferulic acid]]s, which gives tea made from the leaves [[Prebiotic (nutrition)|prebiotic]] and [[antioxidant]] properties. As a result, some researchers have explored the use of yacón tea for treating [[diabetes]] and for treating diseases caused by radicals, e. g., [[arteriosclerosis]].<ref>{{cite journal|journal= Eur J Nutr.|date=January 2003|volume=42|issue=1|pages=61-62|author=K. Valentova K, L Cvak, A Muck, J lrichova, V Simanek|url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12594543&dopt=Abstract|title=Antioxidant activity of extracts from the leaves of Smallanthus sonchifolius}}</ref>

==Other==
[[Image:Mocheyacon.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Yacón. Moche Culture. [[Larco_Museum|Larco Museum Collection.]]]]
In colonial times yacón consumption was identified with a [[Catholic]] religious celebration held at the time of an earlier [[Inca]] feast. In the [[Moche]] era, it maybe have been food for a special occasion. Effigies of edible food may have been placed at Moche burials for the nourishment of the dead, as offerings to lords of the other world, or in commemmoration of a certain occasion. Moche depicted these yacón in their ceramics. .<ref>{{cite book
 | author=Berrin, Katherine
 | title=The Spirit of Ancient Peru:Treasures from the [[Larco_Museum|Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera]]
 | publisher=Larco Museum New York: [[Thames and Hudson]]
 | date=1997
}}</ref>

==Notes and references==
<references/>

==Other references==
* {{cite paper
 | author=C. Boon
 | date=2003
 | title=Making yacon candy
 | publisher=International Potato Center
 | url=http://www.cipotato.org/artc/cip_crops/making_yacon_candy.pdf
}} Mimeograph, 9 tables, 11 figures, 27 p. 
* {{cite paper
 | author=G. Butler G, D. Rivera
 | date=2004
 | title=Innovations in Peeling Technology for Yacon
 | work=Project Report.
 | publisher=International Potato Center
 | url=http://www.cipotato.org/artc/cip_crops/2004-1127.pdf
}}
* {{cite journal
 | author=S. Graefe, M. Hermann, I. Manrique, S. Golombek & A. Buerkert
 | date=2004
 | title=Effects of post-harvest treatments on the carbohydrate composition of yacon roots in the Peruvian Andes
 | journal=Field Crops Research
 | volume=86
 | pages=156-165
 | url=http://www.cipotato.org/artc/docs/Graefe_Yacon.pdf
}}
* {{cite book
 | author=A. Grau, J. Rea
 | date=1997
 | title=Yacon. Smallanthus sonchifolius
 | publisher=Poepp. & Endl.
 | editor=M. Hermann and J. Heller (eds)
 | booktitle=Andean roots and tubers: Ahipa, arracacha, maca, yacon. Promoting the conservation and use of underutilized and neglected crops
 | volume=21
 | publisher=Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben/International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy
 | pages=199-242 
 | url=http://www.cipotato.org/artc/artc_hermann/yacon.pdf
}}
* {{cite conference
 | author=M. Hermann M, I. Freire & C. Pazos
 | date=1999
 | title=Compositional diversity of the yacon storage root
 | booktitle=Impact on a changing world, Program Report 1997-1998
 | publisher=International Potato Center
 | pages=425-432
 | url=http://www.cipotato.org/publications/program_reports/97_98/51yacon.pdf
}}
* {{cite book
 | author=I. Manrique, M. Hermann, T. Bernet
 | date=2004
 | title=Yacon - Fact Sheet
 | publisher=International Potato Center
 | url=http://www.cipotato.org/artc/cip_crops/factsheetyacon.pdf
 | id=ISBN 92-9060-244-9
}} (Also available <!-- [http://www.cipotato.org/artc/cipcrops/fichatecnicayacon.pdf] --> in Spanish.)
* {{cite conference
 | author=I. Manrique & M. Hermann
 | date=2004
 | title=El potencial del yacón en la salud y la nutrición
 | booktitle=XI Congreso Internacional de Cultivos Andinos, Cochabamba, Bolivia
 | url=http://www.cipotato.org/artc/docs/Manrique_Hermann_2004_yacon_en_la_salud.pdf
}}
* {{cite journal
 | author=I. Manrique, A. Párraga & M. Hermann
 | date=2005
 | title=Yacon syrup: Principles and processing
 | journal=Series: Conservación y uso de la biodiversidad de raíces y tubérculos andinos: Una década de investigación para el desarrollo (1993-2003)
 | volume=8B
 | publisher=International Potato Center, Universidad Nacional Daniel Alcides Carrión, Erbacher Foundation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
 | url=http://www.cipotato.org/artc/cip_crops/1919-Yacon_Syrup.pdf
}} 31 pages. Available in Spanish http://www.cipotato.org/artc/cip_crops/1919-Jarabe_Yacon.pdf -->.
* {{cite book
 | author=D. Rivera & I. Manrique
 | date=2005
 | title=Zumo de Yacón - Ficha Técnica
 | publisher=International Potato Center
 | id=ISBN 92-9060-251-1
 | url=http://www.cipotato.org/artc/cip_crops/docs/fichazumoyacon.pdf
}}
* {{cite book
 | author=J. Seminario, M. Valderrama & I. Manrique
 | date=2003
 | title=El yacón: fundamentos para el aprovechamiento de un recurso promisorio
 | publisher=International Potato Center, Universidad Nacional de Cajamarca, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Lima, Perú
 | url=http://www.cipotato.org/artc/docs/Yacon_Fundamentos_password.pdf
}} 60 p.

==External links==
*[http://www.newcrops.uq.edu.au/newslett/ncnl1221.htm Yacón description from the Australian New Crops Newsletter]
*[http://www.daleysfruit.com.au/plant/Yacon.htm Yacon - Polymnia sonchifolia]
[[Category:Asteraceae]]
[[Category:Root vegetables]]
[[Category:Underutilized crops]]