What are likely to be possible pests and diseases of Kaentawan (Jerusalem artichoke)

Abstract

For such country as Japan, where natural and seasonal beauty was highly appraised by its people,blooming flowers of kaentawan are regarded as a sign of the visit of fall season, indicating the change of seasonfor Japanese people. It is comparable to the bloom of Sakura flowers in the spring. It is also named as sunflowerprinces (hime-mawari for Japanese word) because it has the most beautiful flowers among species in Helianthusgenus. Not only because of its beautiful flowers, kaentawan is a profitable cash crop in Japan, and it is also knownas çkiku-imoé or chrysanthemum yam. kaentawan is originated in North America, and is used as medicinal andfood crop by indigenous tribes. It was consumed as vegetable by American military in the war during early 17^thcentury. kaentawan was introduced to Europe during 20^th century, and it is well known in Japan after the end ofworld-war II. Now kaentawan is more and more important as a new economic crop because of versatility of itsproduct to serve human demand especially for the urgent need of raw material for ethanol production. Althoughkaentawan is drought resistant, resistant to environmental changes and competitive to weeds, it is susceptible tosome insect pests and pathogens. More than 50 pathogens are likely to infect kaentawan. These include virus,fungi, bacteria, nematodes and parasitic plants. Mites, aphids, herbivorous insects, rodents, birds, mollusca andother invertebrates are also possible pests of kaentawan. More studies on management of diseases and pests forkaentawan are required.