Chufa (Cyperus esculentus L. var. sativis Boeck.): An unconventional crop.studies related to applications and cultivation

Tubers of Cyperus esculentus were art important food in ancient Egypt. In S pain the tubers are used to make a beverage named horchata, and are also co nsumed as fresh after soaking. In other countries tubers are used in sweetm eats or uncooked as a side dish. New products obtained can enhance the inte rest irt this crop: as a sour-ce of dietary fiber in food technology; as ri high quality cooking/salad oil or as biodiesel fuel; as caramel to add bod y, paver or color to other products; as a source of starch; as an antioxida nt-containing food etc. The results of a twenty-year research program on nu trition, fertilization, lodging control, planting date, soil texture and us e of herbicides are shown. Three cultivars ('Ametlla Bonrepos', 'Gegant Afr icana', and 'Llargueta Alboraia') are selected and characterized using hort icultural and morphological traits, the chemical composition of tubers and horchatas, and the RAPD technique.