Cichorium intybus L – cultivation, processing, utility, value addition and biotechnology, with an emphasis on current status and future prospects

Cultivation of chicory plants for various applications, such as utilisation of the root biomass for preparation of a coffee adjuvant, utilisation as a vegetable and, recently, utility of the plants for important phytochemicals, has received global attention. Chicory is widely grown in countries of different geographical locations owing to the economic importance of this crop. This review addresses cultivation, utility, phytochemical studies and pharmacological aspects, with an emphasis on biotechnological developments in recent years and safety evaluation of genetically modified chicory crops. These aspects are dealt with in detail to bring out the current status and future prospects of cultivation and utility of this economically important crop.