This review is about two crops, topinambur (Helianthus tuberosus L.) and yacón [Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poeppig & Endlicher) H. Robinson], which due to their properties should be considered as nutraceutical foods. The common characteristics they present are discussed, such as belonging to the same botanical family (Asteraceae), being ancestral crops produced for their different uses (horticultural, forage and industrial), and for generating tubers that store carbohydrates such as inulin and fructooligosaccharides (FOS). In addition, these compounds are considered to have beneficial effects on nutrition and human health, which would allow them to be defined as nutraceutical foods. Therefore, the objective of this review is to contribute to the dissemination of knowledge about the characteristics of topinambur (Helianthus tuberosus) and yacón (Smallanthus sonchifolius) crops, in order to improve their production, consumption and use.

To determine the effect of Azospirillum brasilense and soil mycorrhizal fungi on the nutrition of the Jerusalem artichoke crop (Helianthus tuberosus L.), evaluations of agronomic parameters and the health status of the plants were carried out, under greenhouse conditions. The tests were carried out, at the moment of the implantation of the culture: the tubers were inoculated with A. brasilense and with native mycorrhizal fungi, generating four treatments including the control and the co-inoculation of the consortium of the microorganisms under study (T0: control or control without inoculation; T1: inoculation with native A. brasilense; T2: inoculation with native mycorrhizal fungi and T3: joint inoculation with A. brasilense and native mycorrhizal fungi. The results indicate that co-inoculation with A. brasilense and with native mycorrhizal fungi increased plant growth in height, leaf area, biomass, dry matter, and yields significantly in greenhouse production. It was determined that the application of the selected microorganisms has a plant growth-promoting effect, increasing the productivity of cultivated topinambur in the greenhouse

In order to evaluate the effect of Azospirillum brasilense and mycorrhizal fungi in the soil on the nutrition of the yacon crop (Smallanthus sonchifolius [(Poeppig & Endlicher) H. Robinson]), determinations of agronomic parameters and the health status of the plants were carried out, under greenhouse conditions. The tests were carried out at the time of the implantation of the culture: the propagules were inoculated with A. brasilense and with native mycorrhizal fungi, generating four treatments, including the control and the co-inoculation of the consortium of the microorganisms under study (T0: control or control without inoculation; T1: inoculation with native A. brasilense; T2: inoculation with native mycorrhizal fungi and T3: joint inoculation with A. brasilense and native mycorrhizal fungi. The results indicate that co-inoculation with A. brasilense and native mycorrhizal fungi increased plant growth in height, leaf area, biomass, dry matter and yields significantly in greenhouse production. It was determined that the application of the selected microorganisms has a plant growth promoting effect, increasing growth and productivity, greenhouse grown yacón.