ABSTRACT
To understand the developmental biology of the Jerusalem artichoke, it is important to be cognizant of the fact that wild, domesticated, and intermediate clones are found and, while similar, differ significantly. Due to the very limited investment in breeding over the past 100+ years (Schittenhelm, 1987a; Toxopeus et al., 1994), especially when contrasted with rice, corn, or wheat, cultivated clones are generally not too far removed from their wild ancestors. Wild populations are frequently found in disturbed habitats such as roadsides, old fields, meadows, moist river and stream banks, and waste areas (Alex and Switzer, 1976; Gleason and Cronquist, 1963), not only around what is believed to be the general center of origin of the species, but as escapes in other areas of the world (Balogh, 2001; Konvalinková, 2003; ˇRehorek,ˇ 1997).
