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[Objective] To improve the production and processing quality of Shangluo Ipomoea batatas, research the main physicochemical properties of Ipomoea batatas under different processing techniques, and explore the effects of different processing techniques on the polysaccharide and protein content of Ipomoea batatas. [Method] Four processing methods, namely, hot air processing, microwave processing, water boiling processing and steaming processing, were used to score the appearance, texture, taste and residual fiber of Ipomoea batatas using 9- point system. The polysaccharide content in Ipomoea batatas was determined by phenol concentrated sulfuric acid method, and the protein content in Ipomoea batatas was determined by Coomassie brilliant blue. [Result] There were differences in appearance, texture, taste and residual fiber of Ipomoea batatas under different processing techniques. The polysaccharide content of Ipomoea batatas treated with different processing methods varies, steaming for 6 minutes at 60 ℃ for drying>microwave drying at 30 W>hot air drying at 60 ℃ >water boiling for 4 minutes at 60 ℃ for drying. The protein content varied with different processing techniques, with microwave drying at 30 W>hot air drying at 50 ℃ > steaming for 6 min and then drying at 60 ℃ >boiling for 4 min and drying at 60 ℃ . [Conclusion] The processing method of steaming and hot air drying at 60 ℃ preserves the most polysaccharide content, and the protein content is preserved the most after microwave drying at 30 W. The sensory quality characteristics of Ipomoea batatas steamed for 6 min at 60 ℃ and dried to constant weight are superior to other processing techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between low seed set and abnormal embryo sacs lacking normal female organs, such as one egg cell, two assistant cells, and two polar nuclei, in Ipomoea trifida, which is closely related to sweet potato, and sweet potato cultivars and lines, through histological analysis of their ovaries on flowering day. Ovaries of diploid, tetraploid, and hexaploid lines of I. trifida each had four ovules, except for some hexaploid lines with five or six ovules. Almost all sweet potato cultivars and lines had four ovules per ovary, although some sib-cross lines had two or three ovules. The number of ovules per ovary did not have direct effects on low seed set. The frequency of abnormal embryo sac increased with polyploidy in I. trifida. However, it varied among different sweet potato cultivars and lines. Moreover, the variation in abnormal embryo sacs occurred at an earlier stage of gametogenesis (type A) in the tetraploid and hexaploid plants of I. trifida and sweet potato cultivars and lines. These findings suggest that the high frequency of abnormal embryo sacs is a primary cause of low seed set in sweet potato and that it is closely related to the decline in seed propagation that occurs in the evolution process of sweet potato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organization of sweet potato research across global regions began in earnest in the 1980s. Leading international institutions, notably the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, recognized the potential for science-driven development of a "neglected" crop. Sweet potato was second only to potato in root crop cultivation worldwide and the top tuber in Asia yet had not been subject to the internationally coordinated research that its importance merited. This article explores how scientists involved in sweet potato research attempted to respond to the call for new international research and development efforts while avoiding the limitations of predecessor programs associated with the Green Revolution. It highlights the challenges inherent in this work by focusing on ambitions for--and challenges to--providing standardized information about samples of varieties used in research and entered into gene bank collections. As scientists and institutions grappled with critiques of the top-down model of development, many sought to address these through more inclusive research practices. As the article shows, accommodating diversity in crops and among cultivators and cultures entailed costs that ultimately limited the longevity and effectiveness of some enterprises that sought to maximize inclusivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to provide an overview of the compounds found in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) that contribute to its anti-diabetic activity and the mechanisms by which they act. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using electronic databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct, with specific search terms and Boolean operators. A total of 269 articles were initially retrieved, but after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria only 28 articles were selected for further review. Among the findings, four varieties of sweet potato were identified as having potential anti-diabetic properties. Phenolic acids, flavonols, flavanones, and anthocyanidins are responsible for the anti-diabetic activity of sweet potatoes. The anti-diabetic mechanism of sweet potatoes was determined using a combination of components with multi-target actions. The results of these studies provide evidence that Ipomoea batatas is effective in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expressed sequence tags-derived simple sequence repeats (EST-SSRs) are related to functional genes and can be useful in crop breeding. Parental lines selected in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) breeding including controlled hybridization and polycross may be originated from a limited number of genetic sources. We surveyed genetic variation of three breeding populations (hybrid, landrace, and polycross) of 89 cultivated sweet potato varieties derived from controlled hybridization (41 hybrids) and polycross (38 varieties) breeding population and landrace (10 varieties) maintained by various geographic regions and main agronomic traits of local farmers, using 23 EST-SSRs. Six wild sweet potato (I. trifida) samples were also included in the study. High genetic diversity in the three types of breeding populations was detected. High proportions of shared alleles leading to low levels of differentiation between breeding populations were discovered. The neighbor-joining tree and individual assignments showed intermingling of varieties among the three breeding populations. Additionally, genetic clustering showed little power of grouping varieties of different breeding populations into separate clades. These results indicate limits of sweet potato breeding. Nevertheless, ten alleles of nine loci showed variance contributed significantly to the delimitation of varieties in different breeding populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. We developed a novel, non-destructive, expandable, ebb and flow soilless phenotyping system to deliver a capable way to study early root system architectural traits in stem-derived adventitious roots of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.). The platform was designed to accommodate up to 12 stems in a relatively small area for root screening. This platform was designed with inexpensive materials and equipped with an automatic watering system. Methods. To test this platform, we designed a screening experiment for root traits using two contrasting sweetpotato genotypes, 'Covington' and 'NC10-275'. We monitored and imaged root growth, architecture, and branching patterns every five days up to 20 days. Results. We observed significant differences in both architectural and morphological root traits for both genotypes tested. After 10 days, root length, surface root area, and root volume were higher in 'NC10-275' compared to 'Covington'. However, average root diameter and root branching density were higher in 'Covington'. Conclusion. These results validated the effective and efficient use of this novel root phenotyping platforming for screening root traits in early stem-derived adventitious roots. This platform allowed for monitoring and 2D imaging of root growth over time with minimal disturbance and no destructive root sampling. This platform can be easily tailored for abiotic stress experiments, and permit root growth mapping and temporal and dynamic root measurements of primary and secondary adventitious roots. This phenotyping platform can be a suitable tool for examining root system architecture and traits of clonally propagated material for a large set of replicates in a relatively small space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) is served as an important root crop worldwide due to its high yield, strong adaptability and nutrient richness. Sweet potato has played a significant role in ensuring food security and family income opportunities for local populations in China for years of experience. The storage roots, which provide abundant nutrition and health benefits to people, are the mainly harvested and consumed parts of sweet potato. However, after harvest, physiological disorders, such as sprouting, mechanical injury and infectious postharvest diseases, increase the magnitude of sweet potato root quality decline and nutritional compound losses. Ethylene and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) were considered to be effective commercial treatments in sweet potato postharvest. Exogenous ethylene and 1-MCP treatment could successfully inhibit root sprouts and reduce rot decay without affecting the storage quality of sweet potato. This review aims to summarize the latest available information on the effects of ethylene and 1-MCP with respect to enhancing or impairing sweet potato root quality. A better understanding of the influence of ethylene and 1-MCP on root quality parameters will be useful to further explore the role and mechanisms of action of ethylene in regulating the postharvest storage of sweet potato roots and contributions to technological development and innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auxin is a plant phytohormone that is essential for the initiation of tuberization in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.). Auxin exerts these effects via polar auxin transport facilitated by various auxin influx and efflux carriers. It is unclear which members of the auxin transporter families: PIN, PILS, Aux/LAX, and ABCB, are involved in sweet potato tuber initiation and development. Therefore, a genome-wide analysis of the I. batatas auxin transporter genes was conducted, and their expression patterns during storage root initiation and development were analyzed. Five IbLAX, 16 IbPIN, 12 IbPILS, and 34 IbABCB family members were identified. These genes showed high conservation among families based on their intron-exon structure, motif composition, and phylogenetic analysis. Additionally, the promoter regions of these genes had various cis-acting regulatory elements involved in hormone, light, and developmental responses. The auxin transporter genes were expressed in various sweet potato tissues, and many were differentially expressed during storage root development. IbLAX1, IbPIN13, IbPILS7, IbABCB1, and IbABCB14 showed up-regulated expression during tuber initiation. This study characterizes these auxin transporter gene families for the first time. These results are an important reference for validation studies to determine the specific functions of these genes and their auxin transporting capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is an economically important food crop that is grown primarily for its edible storage roots. Several researchers have consequently been conducting studies to increase sweet potato yield, and an important aspect of this research involves understanding how storage root initiation occurs. Although significant progress has been made, several challenges associated with studying this crop have resulted in lagging progress compared to other crops and thus sweet potato storage root initiation is not clearly understood. This article highlights the most important aspects of the hormone signalling processes during storage root initiation that needs to be investigated further and suggests candidate genes that should be prioritized for further study, based on their importance in storage organ formation in other crops. Lastly, ways of overcoming the challenges associated with studying this crop are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet potato dispersal from Americas to French Polynesia predates known human colonization periods, therefore being a long-standing dilemma. According to recent phylogenetic studies, the most likely hypothesis to explain this migration is the sea-drift long-distance dispersal, but no research indicating the response of I. batatas seeds to seawater conditions have been performed so far. The aim of this study was to understand seawater resistance in I. batatas, an essential feature for the sea-drift natural dispersal hypothesis, thus shedding light on the historical biogeography of this species, which also has implications on human civilization history, as the archaeological presence of sweet potato in both continents has been used as an evidence of pre-Columbian contacts between ancient civilizations. The experiment consisted of submitting sweet potato seeds to seawater treatments and observing the respective germination rates after different periods of immersion. Subsequently, one-way ANOVAs were conducted to test for significant differences between groups. All seeds from the seawater immersion treatments germinated, which confirms that I. batatas seeds are resistant to seawater salinity for a period of 120 days. Our results support the sea-drift natural dispersal hypothesis, thus shedding light on part of the logical conditions for one of the major hypotheses on the historical biogeography of this species, which also plays an important role in the discussions related to prehistorical human mobility in Polynesian islands.

Reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis) is a major pest of sweetpotato in many production regions in Southern United States. Applying soil fumigants and non-fumigant nematicides are the primary management strategies available to growers. This study compared the relative efficacy of nematicides (1,3-dichloropropene, fluopyram, oxamyl, fluazaindolizine, aldicarb, Majestene, and fluensulfone) for management of reniform nematode on sweetpotato. Fumigating soil with 1,3-dichloropropene consistently reduced soil population densities of reniform nematode at the time of planting in both trial years (31 – 36% reduction relative to the untreated control); however, the duration of suppression varied greatly by growing season. A similar trend was observed with fluopyram (56 – 67% reduction) and aldicarb (63 – 65% reduction), which provided season-long suppression of reniform nematode population development in 2021 but had no impact in 2022. In 2021, nematicide application had no impact on yield; however, in 2022, oxamyl and aldicarb increased the yield of U.S.#1 grade sweetpotato. Overall, soil fumigation with 1,3-dichloropropene and in-furrow application of fluopyram and aldicarb provided the most consistent suppression of reniform nematode on sweetpotato.

This research aimed to evaluate the chemical composition, techno-functional properties, and antioxidants of the mixtures of blue corn flour (Zea mays L.) (BCF) and purple sweet potato flour (Ipomoea batatas L.) (PSPF) (100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75, and 0/100%, w/w, respectively). Increasing the concentration of BCF in the mixture increased the moisture content (8.89–9.24 g/100 g), proteins (3.66–5.25 g/100 g), lipids (2.11–3.72 g/100 g), carbohydrates (81.90–82.84 g/100 g), total energy (1508.27–1611.31 kJ/100 g), solubility capacity in water (7.76–12.51%), water absorption capacity (2.49–2.83 g/g) and oil (1.98–2.12 g/g), emulsifying capacity (1.08−2.06%), foaming capacity (14.40–22.47%), degree of gelatinization (9.12–10.84%), L* (59.73–65.93), b* (−2.42–−0.47) and the content of total flavonoids (TF) (37.54–39.20 mg catechin equivalent/g). While the increase in the concentration of PSPF increased the ash content (1.21–1.54 g/100 g), fiber (6.98–10.79 g/100 g), a* (8.86–13.66), the total color difference (34.66–42.00), the content of total polyphenols (TP) (41.72–52.43 mg gallic acid equivalent/g), anthocyanins (TA) (108.06–114.77 mg monomeric anthocyanins/100 g) and the content of β-carotene (β-C) (15.43–17.20 mg β-C/g). The mixtures presented a good content of TF, TP, TA, and β-C. The mixtures exhibited interesting techno-functional properties, which can be suitable as functional ingredients in many food formulations, providing bioactive compounds, proteins, and fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Plant carotenoids are essential for human health, having wide uses in dietary supplements, food colorants, animal feed additives, and cosmetics. With the increasing demand for natural carotenoids, plant carotenoids have gained great interest in both academic and industry research worldwide. Orange-fleshed sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) enriched with carotenoids is an ideal feedstock for producing natural carotenoids. However, limited information is available regarding the molecular mechanism responsible for carotenoid metabolism in sweetpotato tuberous roots. Results: In this study, metabolic profiling of carotenoids and gene expression analysis were conducted at six tuberous root developmental stages of three sweetpotato varieties with different flesh colors. The correlations between the expression of carotenoid metabolic genes and carotenoid levels suggested that the carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 4 (IbCCD4) and 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid cleavage dioxygenases 3 (IbNCED3) play important roles in the regulation of carotenoid contents in sweetpotato. Transgenic experiments confirmed that the total carotenoid content decreased in the tuberous roots of IbCCD4-overexpressing sweetpotato. In addition, IbCCD4 may be regulated by two stress-related transcription factors, IbWRKY20 and IbCBF2, implying that the carotenoid accumulation in sweeetpotato is possibly fine-tuned in responses to stress signals. Conclusions: A set of key genes were revealed to be responsible for carotenoid accumulation in sweetpotato, with IbCCD4 acts as a crucial player. Our findings provided new insights into carotenoid metabolism in sweetpotato tuberous roots and insinuated IbCCD4 to be a target gene in the development of new sweetpotato varieties with high carotenoid production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is known that heat treatment can lead to physical and chemical changes that can decrease or alter the properties of food. This work evaluated the influence on the antioxidant activity of boiling, pressure, and microwave cooking processes on three selected sweet potato varieties (purple, orange, and yellow). The samples were analyzed for total phenols and anthocyanin content and antioxidant capacity. The cooking water of the boiling and pressure processing were also analyzed. The results demonstrated that the purple sweet potato had better phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity profiles than the other varieties studied. On the other hand, the yellow sweet potato was the variety that showed the lowest antioxidant activity after applying the different culinary processes. Microwave processing, particularly when applied to purple sweet potato samples, seemed to be the most suitable cooking process to extract the bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity. Related to the cooking water, there were discrepancies between the behavior of different sweet potato varieties, since not all the samples followed similar profiles. In conclusion, it is necessary to study sweet potatoes processed through various cooking methods for antioxidant properties and other characteristics, such as texture, flavor, and nutritional value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet potato is a widely cultivated crop with storage roots. Although many studies have been conducted on the mechanism of its storage root formation, the details have not been fully elucidated. We screened mutant lines with inhibition of storage root formation to clarify parts of the mechanism. In this study, the process of storage root formation in one of the mutant lines, C20-8-1, was investigated. The inhibition of storage root formation was observed during the early stages of growth. The roots in C20-8-1 did not show histological differences compared to those in wild type. The transition from fibrous roots to pencil roots, which are the developmental stages prior to mature storage root formation, was delayed or inhibited in C20-8-1. The upregulation of starch biosynthesis-related genes and downregulation of lignin biosynthesis genes with storage root swelling were not confirmed in the root of C20-8-1 during the developmental transition stage, suggesting that most of the roots in C20-8-1 are in the pre-transition state toward the storage root swelling. C20-8-1 showed a mutant phenotype during the critical period of storage root swelling initiation, and further clarification of this mutation is expected to provide new insights into storage root formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop a way to mass-produce sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) as an energy crop to replace fossil fuels, the effects of using a sewage supply as a fertilizer and heat source were investigated. When 25 pots planted with sweet potato vine seedlings were arranged in three layers and cultivated for 160 days from June to November by supplying treated sewage to the root zone, the yield of tuberous roots reached 19.5 kg m−2 due to the massive growth of leaves. In addition, when sweet potato seedlings were replanted in December and treated sewage was supplied to maintain the irrigation water temperature above 15 °C even in winter, overwintering cultivation was successful and 8.4 kg m−2 of tuberous roots were harvested in July. As a result, the annual production rate for 12 months increased to 25.3 kg m−2, about 10 times the national average of 2.4 kg m−2 for open-field cultivation. The results far exceed previously reported maximum production of resource crops, such as sugarcane and eucalyptus, suggesting that the mass production of sweet potatoes by supplying treated sewage could provide an alternative to fossil fuels on a large scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxycinnamate-CoA quinate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HQT) enzyme affect plant secondary metabolism and are crucial for growth and development. To date, limited research on the genome-wide analysis of HQT family genes and their regulatory roles in chlorogenic acid (CGA) accumulation in leafy vegetable sweet potato is available. Here, a total of 58 HQT family genes in the sweet potato genome (named IbHQT) were identified and analyzed. We studied the chromosomal distribution, phylogenetic relationship, motifs distribution, collinearity, and cis-acting element analysis of HQT family genes. This study used two sweet potato varieties, high CGA content Fushu 7-6-14-7 (HC), and low CGA content Fushu 7-6 (LC). Based on the phylogenetic analysis, clade A was unique among the identified four clades as it contained HQT genes from various species. The chromosomal location and collinearity analysis revealed that tandem gene duplication may promote the IbHQT gene expansion and expression. The expression patterns and profile analysis showed changes in gene expression levels at different developmental stages and under cold, drought, and salt stress conditions. The expression analysis verified by qRT-PCR revealed that IbHQT genes were highly expressed in the HC variety leaves than in the LC variety. Furthermore, cloning and gene function analysis unveiled that IbHQT family genes are involved in the biosynthesis and accumulation of CGA in sweet-potato. This study expands our understanding of the regulatory role of HQT genes in sweet-potato and lays a foundation for further functional characterization and genetic breeding by engineering targeted HQT candidate genes in various sweet-potato varieties and other species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The effective use of mycorrhizal inoculants poses a challenge for Cuban agriculture. Sweet potato is an important crop for human and animal nutrition, being a mycorrhizal crop with a successful breeding program. Objective. To determine whether all sweet potato cultivars respond to inoculation and if the effectiveness of inoculants varies among cultivars and planting seasons. Materials and methods. Two experiments were conducted during 2010 - 2012 in Eutric Cambisols in Villa Clara, Cuba, one for each planting season and repeated twice. Seventeen cultivars were evaluated for their response to the application of three inoculants, in the presence of a half the fertilization dose, and three non-inoculated treatments with fertilization levels of 0, 50, and 100 % of the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium dose (100 % NPK). A split plot design was used. Root yields, colonization frequency, and mycorrizal spore production were evaluated as response variables. Results. Cultivars responded positively to inoculation and fertilization, showing differences in yields. However, the highest yields were obtained when inoculated with Rhizoglomus irregulare/ INCAM-11, surpassing (p≤0.05) those obtained with only 50 % of the NPK dose. In the rainy season with higher yields, the differentiation between inoculants was more pronounced, and in thirteen and nine of the cultivars, yields obtained with INCAM-11 were higher (p≤0.05) to those obtained with Glomus cubense/ INCAM-4 and 100 % NPK, respectively. In the dry season, no significant differences were found between yields obtained by inoculating INCAM-11 or INCAM-4 or applying 100 % NPK. In both seasons, inoculation with Funneliformis mosseae/ INCAM-2 was consistently lower. Colonization frequencies and spore production were always higher (p≤0.05) when INCAM-11 was inoculated. Conclusion. Under these soil conditions evaluated, inoculation with INCAM-11 showed higher effectiviveness for all cultivars and planting seasons, resulting in a higher yields and mycorrhizal performance indicators.

Abstract The objective of this work was to select sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) genotypes with leaves with potential to be used for human consumption. Twenty-six experimental genotypes and four commercial cultivars were tested in a randomized complete block design with three replicates and ten plants per plot. The trial was carried out in the municipality of Lavras, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Leaf shape and lobe, aerial-part yield, edible-leaf yield, edible-leaf percentage, edible-leaf dry mass, and latex production, as well as leaf total chlorophyll, pH, soluble solids contents, titratable acidity, total phenolic compounds, and anthocyanin contents, were evaluated. Roots were characterized as to their pulp and peel colors. Fifteen genotypes presented the highest aerial-part (29.6 to 51.8 Mg ha-1) and edible leaf (7.8 to 12.7 Mg ha-1) yields. In the biochemical analysis, high contents of chlorophyll, total phenolics, and anthocyanins were observed. In addition, pH, soluble solids, and leaf titratable acidity did not differ significantly among the evaluated genotypes. Leaves of ten genotypes are recommended for human consumption.

Abstract Diatomaceous earth is an organic naturally occurring material rich in silicon. This silicon source can be used in organic agriculture, it also has a great potential of use in the acclimatization of crops. However, there are no reports of the effects of diatomaceous earth supplementation on the micropropagation of sweet potato. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of diatomaceous earth applied in vitro on the growth, physiology and anatomy of sweet potato cv. ‘Brazlândia Branca’ after acclimatization. Four concentrations of diatomaceous earth. After 30 days of in vitro growth, the plants were transferred to a greenhouse for acclimatization. After 45 days, leaf number, shoot and root length, fresh and dry shoot and root mass, gas exchange, chlorophyll content, root and leaf anatomy. The experimental design was completely randomized. The supplementation of diatomaceous earth in the in vitro cultivation had beneficial effects, increasing the accumulation of mass, improving the photosynthetic apparatus and promoting favorable anatomical characteristics during the acclimatization of the sweet potato plants. In addition, the use of diatomaceous earth achieved adequate seedling development, with higher seedling quality and resistance to biotic and abiotic effects than attained with control treatment.

Background We developed a novel, non-destructive, expandable, ebb and flow soilless phenotyping system to deliver a capable way to study early root system architectural traits in stem-derived adventitious roots of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.). The platform was designed to accommodate up to 12 stems in a relatively small area for root screening. This platform was designed with inexpensive materials and equipped with an automatic watering system. Methods To test this platform, we designed a screening experiment for root traits using two contrasting sweetpotato genotypes, ‘Covington’ and ‘NC10-275’. We monitored and imaged root growth, architecture, and branching patterns every five days up to 20 days. Results We observed significant differences in both architectural and morphological root traits for both genotypes tested. After 10 days, root length, surface root area, and root volume were higher in ‘NC10-275’ compared to ‘Covington’. However, average root diameter and root branching density were higher in ‘Covington’. Conclusion These results validated the effective and efficient use of this novel root phenotyping platforming for screening root traits in early stem-derived adventitious roots. This platform allowed for monitoring and 2D imaging of root growth over time with minimal disturbance and no destructive root sampling. This platform can be easily tailored for abiotic stress experiments, and permit root growth mapping and temporal and dynamic root measurements of primary and secondary adventitious roots. This phenotyping platform can be a suitable tool for examining root system architecture and traits of clonally propagated material for a large set of replicates in a relatively small space.

One of the challenges of the scientific research on sweet potatoes in semi-arid environments is to increase biomass amounts of spontaneous species from the Caatinga biome, such as hairy woodrose (Merremia aegyptia L.) and roostertree (Calotropis procera Ait.), for use as green fertilizers during cultivation. Therefore, this study aimed to agronomically and economically optimize the agronomic characteristics of sweet potato root production in a monoculture, fertilized with equal amounts of biomass mixture of these spontaneous species, over two years of cultivation. The experimental design was complete randomized blocks with five treatments and five replications. The treatments consisted of equal amounts of hairy woodrose and roostertree biomass at 16, 29, 42, 55, and 68 t ha-1 on a dry basis. An additional sweet potato treatment was planted in each experiment, one without fertilizers (control) and another with mineral fertilizer, to compare with the treatment of maximum physical or economic efficiency. Sweet potato fertilization obtained the maximum optimized productive efficiency by incorporating 46.97 t ha-1 of dry biomass of M. aegyptia and C. procera into the soil. The maximum optimized agroeconomic efficiency (based on net income) of sweet potato cultivation occurred by adding 41.55 t ha-1 of dry biomass of M. aegyptia and C. procera to the soil. Using biomass from the green fertilizers M. aegyptia and C. procera is a viable technology for producers who practice sweet potato monocropping in semi-arid environments.

Andean roots, such as zanahoria blanca, achira, papa China, camote, oca, and mashua, contain high amounts of dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and fructo-oligosaccharides. This study aimed to demonstrate the possibility of obtaining healthy second-generation (2G) snacks (products obtained from the immediate expansion of the mixture at the exit of the extruder die) using these roots as raw materials. Corn grits were mixed with Andean root flour in a proportion of 80:20, and a Brabender laboratory extruder was used to obtain the 2G snacks. The addition of root flour increased the water content, water activity, sectional expansion index, hygroscopicity, bulk density, and water absorption index but decreased the porosity. However, all 2G snacks manufactured with Andean root flour showed better characteristics than did the control (made with corn grits) in texture (softer in the first bite and pleasant crispness) and optical properties (more intense and saturated colors). The developed snacks could be considered functional foods due to the high amount of carotenoids and phenolic compounds they exhibit after the addition of Andean root flours. The composition of raw roots, specifically the starch, fiber, and protein content, had the most impact on snack properties due to their gelatinization or denaturalization.

The effects of home cooking methods (e.g., boiling, steaming, oven, and microwave) on the contents phenolic compounds, biogenic amines, and precursor amino acids in colored-fleshed sweet potatoes were investigated in this study. Sixteen genotypes of colored sweet potatoes (cream/white, yellow, orange, and purple pulp) were analyzed using spectrophotometry for their total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, antioxidant capacity (DPPH and MDA) and pigments. Of these, five genotypes with orange and purple pulps were investigated using HPLC-DAD for their polyphenols, biogenic amines and precursor amino acids. The results revealed that orange-fleshed sweet potatoes contain higher amounts of phenolic compounds, carotenoids, amino acids, and beneficial amines, especially when cooked in a microwave or in an oven, wrapped in aluminum foil. For the purple sweet potatoes, superior quantities of bioactive were found after cooking with steam, microwave, and in the oven with aluminum foil protection. In general, the colored genotypes showed a superior phytochemical profile than the traditionally commercialized ones before and after heat treatments, characterizing them as richer sources of the bioactive compounds of interest for producers, consumers, and industry.

Heat treatment is a widely applied technique in the preservation of fruits and vegetables, effectively addressing issues such as disease management, rot prevention, and browning. In this study, we investigated the impact of heat treatment at 35 °C for 24 h on the quality characteristics and disease resistance of two sweet potato varieties, P32/P (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. cv ‘Pushu13’) and Xinxiang (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. cv ‘Xinxiang’). The growth in vitro and reproduction of Rhizopus stolonifer were significantly inhibited at 35 °C. However, it resumed when returned to suitable growth conditions. The heat treatment (at 35 °C for 24 h) was found to mitigate nutrient loss during storage while enhancing the structural characteristics and free radical scavenging capacity of sweet potato. Additionally, it led to increased enzyme activities for APX, PPO, and POD, alongside decreased activities for Cx and PG, thereby enhancing the disease resistance of sweet potato against soft rot. As a result, the heat treatment provided a theoretical basis for the prevention of sweet potato soft rot and had guiding significance for improving the resistance against sweet potato soft rot.

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) are harmful pests that have become a severe threat to crop production worldwide. Diversity of PPN at horizontal and spatial scales influence the effectiveness of control strategies. This study evaluated the vertical distribution of PPN genera at 0 cm to 30 cm and 30 cm to 60 cm in sweet potato fields in Central, Manyatta, and Nembure regions of Embu County, Kenya. A significant region × depth interaction was observed for Tylenchus. For all the other nematode genera, there were no significant variations in the abundance at 0 cm to 30 cm and 30 cm to 60 cm depths. However, Helicotylenchus, Meloidogyne, and Scutellonema occurred in greater numbers at both depths in all regions. Shannon and Simpson diversity indices were higher at 0 cm to 30 cm depth while Pielou’s evenness was similar at both depths in the three regions. Diversity partitioning of genus richness, Shannon, and Simpson diversities across all regions at 0 cm to 30 cm, indicated that β component contributed 61.9%, 35.6%, and 22.6% of γ diversity, respectively. Coinertia analysis indicated a significant covariation between nematode genera and soil properties. The results show that management of PPN in sweet potato fields should be targeted at soil depths that are not less than 60 cm.

Sting nematode is acutely damaging to a wide range of crops and is relatively common in sandy soils in the southeastern United States. Sweetpotato is an important crop in this region, and its production may be expanding to localities where sting nematode is an important pest. Despite this, the relationship between sweetpotato and sting nematode is not well-defined. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to assess (1) the relative host status of sweetpotato for sting nematode and (2) damage potential of sting nematode on sweetpotato in repeated greenhouse experiments. A known sting nematode host (field corn), a known poor host (sunn hemp), and sweetpotato cultivars susceptible (‘Beauregard’) and resistant (‘Covington’) to southern root-knot nematode were challenged with sting nematode. In both trials, field corn supported greater final soil sting nematode abundances than sunn hemp or either sweetpotato cultivar. Based on the average reproductive factor, field corn was confirmed as a susceptible host, whereas sunn hemp and sweetpotato were poor hosts. Sting nematode did not impair the growth of any crop, suggesting greenhouse conditions were not conducive to damage since field corn sustains damage in field conditions. These results suggest that sunn hemp and sweetpotato could be useful rotation crops for managing sting nematode, but future work is needed to assess sting nematode pathogenicity on these crops under field conditions.

Southern root-knot nematode (SRKN, Meloidogyne incognita) is a major pest of sweet potato, and nematicides are needed to manage this nematode. The objectives of this study were to assess the efficacy of fluazaindolizine, a new non-fumigant nematicide, in comparison with the fumigant nematicide 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) and non-fumigant nematicides fluopyram and oxamyl for (1) SRKN management, (2) impacts on free-living nematodes, and (3) sweet potato yield in field trials. Among all nematicides, 1,3-D at 84 kg/ha most consistently (2 of 3 years) managed SRKN soil populations and improved yield. Fluazaindolizine at 2.24 kg/ha and fluazindolizine at 1.12 kg/ha plus oxamyl at 2.14 kg/ha managed SRKN populations and improved yield in 1 of 3 years, whereas fluazaindolizine alone at 1.12 kg/ha only decreased SRKN populations. Fluopyram at 238 g/ha did not affect SRKN or yield. Nematicide application also had non-target effects on free-living nematodes with 1,3-D reducing abundances relative to untreated most frequently (2018 and 2020), but other nematicides also reducing free-living nematode abundances in 2020. In summary, 1,3-D is the most consistent option for SRKN control on sweet potato, but fluazaindolizine, oxamyl or combinations of the two products can also be effective.

Abstract Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam) is an important food crop, an excellent fodder crop, and a new type of industrial raw material crop. The lack of genomic resources could affect the process of industrialization of sweet potato. Few detailed reports have been completed on the mitochondrial genome of sweet potato. In this research, we sequenced and assembled the mitochondrial genome of sweet potato and investigated its substructure. The mitochondrial genome of sweet potato is 270,304 bp with 23 unique core genes and 12 variable genes. We detected 279 pairs of repeat sequences and found that three pairs of direct repeats could mediate the homologous recombination into four independent circular molecules. We identified 70 SSRs in the whole mitochondrial genome of sweet potato. The longest dispersed repeat in mitochondrial genome was a palindromic repeat with a length of 915 bp. The homologous fragments between the chloroplast and mitochondrial genome account for 7.35% of the mitochondrial genome. We also predicted 597 RNA editing sites and found that the rps3 gene was edited 54 times, which occurred most frequently. This study further demonstrates the existence of multiple conformations in sweet potato mitochondrial genomes and provides a theoretical basis for the evolution of higher plants and cytoplasmic male sterility breeding.

A rapid and reliable micropropagation protocol was developed for two sweet potato varieties, Mangawy and Mabrokat Al-Shimal, by testing various growth regulators and different carbon sources. Healthy cultures were taken from nodal segment explants taken from potted plants. Adding BA was more effective than Kinetin when used at the same concentration. The highest number of leaves per explant (5.22 leaves/ explant) and the longest shoots (2.88 cm) were achieved when 2 mg L-1 BA was added to the culture medium. For Mabrokat Al-Shimal, the highest mean length of shoots (3.77 cm) was obtained when 1 mg.l-1 kinetin was used, and the highest leaves number (10.33 leaves/ explant) was obtained when 0.5 mg.l-1 kinetin was used. Sucrose was the best carbon source for the multiplication of this Mangawy variety, followed by fructose then glucose. On the other hand, fructose and sucrose showed the best results for the Mabrokat AlShimal variety. A 100% rooting was achieved for all tested treatments. IBA was better than NAA Mangawy root formation by giving the best rooting parameters. The highest number of roots per explant (22.33 roots/ explant) was achieved when 1.5 mg.l -1 IBA was used. While the highest mean length of roots (12.87 cm) was achieved when added 0.5 mg.l-1 NAA. A hundred percent success was achieved at the acclimatization stage for both tested varieties. Both varieties were excellent and tasty, especially from Mabrokat Al-Shimal at open-field cultivation

El cultivo de camote da seguridad alimentaria porque se produce satisfactoriamente en suelos marginales; sin embargo, el uso de esquejes-semilla de calidad, fertilización y una adecuada densidad de siembra pueden incrementar los rendimientos y la calidad comercial. El objetivo de la investigación fue evaluar el efecto de la densidad de siembra y dosis de fertilización en el rendimiento de raíces reservantes de tres clones avanzados de camote bajo condiciones del distrito de San Vicente de Cañete, Lima, Perú. El estudio se realizó bajo un diseño de bloques completos al azar en arreglo factorial 3x2x2, con cuatro réplicas. Se evaluó el comportamiento agronómico de tres clones de camote (C1 = anaranjado, C2 = amarillo y C3 = morado) dos densidades de siembra (D1 = 33 333 y D2 = 50 000 plantas ha-1) y dos dosis de fertilización (F1 = 60-40-100 de NPK y F2 = 80-60-120 NPK). Las variables en evaluación fueron rendimiento total y comercial, materia seca e índice de cosecha. Los resultados indican la ausencia de efecto combinado, los factores en estudio actuaron en forma independiente, el tratamiento C1F1D2 (clon anaranjado + dosis de fertilización 60-40-100 NPK + 33 333 plantas ha-1) presenta el mayor rendimiento total, superior en 186.72 % al tratamiento C2F1D2 (26.58 t ha-1; p>0.05). El C1, independiente de las dosis de fertilización y densidad de siembra presenta el mayor rendimiento (64.87 t ha-1; pC2>C3) superan el rendimiento promedio nacional y se perfilan como nuevas variedades promisorias para reemplazar a las variedades que han mermado su rendimiento en los últimos años. A mayor densidad de plantas menor rendimiento debido a la mayor competencia intraespecifica por recursos; asimismo, dosis medias de fertilización (D1) complementadas con materia orgánica cubren los requerimientos nutricionales del cultivo.

Phytochrome-interacting factors (PIFs) are essential for plant growth, development, and defense responses. However, research on the PIFs in sweet potato has been insufficient to date. In this study, we identified PIF genes in the cultivated hexaploid sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and its two wild relatives, Ipomoea triloba, and Ipomoea trifida. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that IbPIFs could be divided into four groups, showing the closest relationship with tomato and potato. Subsequently, the PIFs protein properties, chromosome location, gene structure, and protein interaction network were systematically analyzed. RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR analyses showed that IbPIFs were mainly expressed in stem, as well as had different gene expression patterns in response to various stresses. Among them, the expression of IbPIF3.1 was strongly induced by salt, drought, H2O2, cold, heat, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. batatas (Fob), and stem nematodes, indicating that IbPIF3.1 might play an important role in response to abiotic and biotic stresses in sweet potato. Further research revealed that overexpression of IbPIF3.1 significantly enhanced drought and Fusarium wilt tolerance in transgenic tobacco plants. This study provides new insights for understanding PIF-mediated stress responses and lays a foundation for future investigation of sweet potato PIFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ipomoea batatas, popularly known as sweet potato, is a species of the Convolvulaceae family, with probable origin between Mexico and northern South America. Among the genotypes with economic potential, the biofortified cultivar Beauregard (Ipomoea batatas) stands out due to its rusticity and easy handling. Controlledrelease fertilizers were mostly used in studies developed in other countries, and their study being necessary in Brazilian soil and climatic conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the development of Beauregard biofortified cultivar, submitted to different fertilization technologies in vertical farming system. The plantlets received different doses of controlled-release fertilizer: 0.0 (control); 30; 60; 90; 120g and a dose of 40g per pit of NPK 13-13-28 of ready solubility. At 180 days, biometric and production parameter data were collected and submitted to regression analysis and variance analysis followed by the Scott-Knott test for mean separation. The application of controlled-release fertilizer showed a positive effect on the production of the studied cultivar, favoring the performance of the plants and promoting the increase especially in height, length of branches and number of leaves. The base application of controlled-release fertilizer at a dose of 30g per plant and traditional NPK fertilizer at a dose of 40g per plant promote higher yields of dry mass of shoots and root when compared to unfertilized plants in the cultivation of sweet potatoes in vertical farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature is critical for the plant growth and yield of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) in northern cool season climates. Few studies have quantified the effect of temperature using different crop systems to improve the growth of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.). Our study examined the impact of black mulch on raised beds for sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) production in open field conditions in Manitoba. Black mulched plots were compared with non-mulched plots over 3 years for effects on soil temperature and commercial yields. Three year mean soil temperatures (19.9°C) were significantly higher under mulched plots compared to non-mulched soil (19°C). Higher total, marketable and US#1 yields were harvested from mulched plots than non-mulched plots; however, no differences were recorded for US#2, jumbo and cull yields over 3 years. Marketable yield increases of 47, 39 and 30%, were recorded for mulched plots over non-mulched plots in years 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively, with a 3-year average yield increase of 39%. Use of black mulch contributed to increased sweet potato commercial yields in short season-temperate climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase (XET/XEH, also named XTH) family is a multigene family, the function of which plays a significant role in cell-wall rebuilding and stress tolerance in plants. However, the specific traits of the XTH gene family members and their expression pattern in different tissues and under stress have not been carried out in sweet potato. Thirty-six XTH genes were identified in I. batatas, all of which had conserved structures (Glyco_hydro_16). Based on Neighbor-Joining phylogenetic analysis the IbXTHs can be divided into three subfamilies—the I/II, IIIA, and IIIB subfamilies, which were unevenly distributed on 13 chromosomes, with the exception of Chr9 and Chr15. Multiple cis-acting regions related to growth and development, as well as stress responses, may be found in the IbXTH gene promoters. The segmental duplication occurrences greatly aided the evolution of IbXTHs. The results of a collinearity analysis showed that the XTH genes of sweet potato shared evolutionary history with three additional species, including A. thaliana, G. max, and O. sativa. Additionally, based on the transcriptome sequencing data, the results revealed that the IbXTHs have different expression patterns in leaves, stems, the root body (RB), the distal end (DE), the root stock (RS), the proximal end (PE), the initiative storage root (ISR), and the fibrous root (FR), and many of them are well expressed in the roots. Differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis of FRs after hormone treatment of the roots indicated that IbXTH28 and IbXTH30 are up-regulated under salicylic acid (SA) treatment but down-regulated under methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment. Attentionally, there were only two genes showing down-regulation under the cold and drought treatment. Collectively, all of the findings suggested that genes from the XTH family are crucial for root specificity. This study could provide a theoretical basis for further research on the molecular function of sweet potato XTH genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the challenges of the scientific research on sweet potatoes in semi-arid environments is to increase biomass amounts of spontaneous species from the Caatinga biome, such as hairy woodrose (Merremia aegyptia L.) and roostertree (Calotropis procera Ait.), for use as green fertilizers during cultivation. Therefore, this study aimed to agronomically and economically optimize the agronomic characteristics of sweet potato root production in a monoculture, fertilized with equal amounts of biomass mixture of these spontaneous species, over two years of cultivation. The experimental design was complete randomized blocks with five treatments and five replications. The treatments consisted of equal amounts of hairy woodrose and roostertree biomass at 16, 29, 42, 55, and 68 t ha-1 on a dry basis. An additional sweet potato treatment was planted in each experiment, one without fertilizers (control) and another with mineral fertilizer, to compare with the treatment of maximum physical or economic efficiency. Sweet potato fertilization obtained the maximum optimized productive efficiency by incorporating 46.97 t ha-1 of dry biomass of M. aegyptia and C. procera into the soil. The maximum optimized agroeconomic efficiency (based on net income) of sweet potato cultivation occurred by adding 41.55 t ha-1 of dry biomass of M. aegyptia and C. procera to the soil. Using biomass from the green fertilizers M. aegyptia and C. procera is a viable technology for producers who practice sweet potato monocropping in semi-arid environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Insect-proof net tunnels can help reduce virus infection of clean virus-tested sweetpotato seed produced by decentralized seed producers. However, optimal management is required to maintain both quality and quantity of seed produced. This study investigated the effect of the ratoon cropping technique on vine production in net tunnels and open fields. Virus-tested planting material of two varieties, Kabode and Mataya, were grown in net tunnels and open fields. Each variety had 80 plants per plot, with 40 following the ratooning technique and 40 a replanting technique. The ratooned crop was harvested six times, comprising the initial harvest and five regrowths. This covered 14 months representing six generations of vine production. The number of vines, number of nodes per vine, and vine length were recorded. The number of plants showing virus symptoms was also recorded. The ratoon cropping technique produced more vines compared with the replanting technique in both net tunnels and open fields. Cv. Kabode produced more vines in open fields compared with net tunnels regardless of cropping technique. On the other hand, cv. Mataya produced relatively equal numbers of vines in net tunnels and open fields. Despite ratooning leading to more vine production compared with replanting, the technique led to higher virus incidences on plants grown in the open. This also varied with variety with the highest virus disease incidences being recorded on cv. Mataya. We recommend the ratoon cropping technique for sweetpotato vine production in net tunnels. Replanting technique should be adopted for vine production in the open fields because it acts as a key control strategy for virus infections even for susceptible varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical hematology and tissue histoarchitecture are prognostic indicators of pathological conditions in fish. Using Oreochromis niloticus, a 12-week feeding experiment assessed the hematology and histopathology of ammonia-exposed tissues of gills, kidney and liver. Four treatments were used in the experiment. Fish in the control group was fed the practical diet (T1), while others received diet supplemented with Ipomoea batatas in powder (T2), hot water extract (T3), and crude extract (T4). Hematological profiling was conducted for 12 weeks. Results indicated significant differences at week 6 in neutrophils and lymphocytes, at week 8 in erythrocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and platelets, and at week 12 in hemoglobin (P<0.05). Liver of T1 and T4 illustrated histoarchitecture at normal limits, while erythrocyte infiltration and vacuolation of hepatocytes were observed in T2 and T3. All groups fed I. batatas-supplemented diets showed beneficial effect on the kidney as evidenced by notable decrease in the melanomacrophages. Gill tissues displayed no prominent signs of improvement against widespread infiltration of inflammatory cells in both primary and secondary lamella. The results of the present study demonstrated that incorporation of crude extracts of I. batatas can boost early enhancement of lymphocyte and neutrophil production and improve ammonia-induced kidney and liver histopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expression of the root oncogenic loci (rol) genes from Agrobacterium rhizogenes provokes multiple divergent effects on physiological properties in transgenic plants and cell cultures. Recently, the homolog of the rolB and rolC oncogenes, named Ib-rolB/C , has been identified in the genome of a naturally transgenic food crop, i.e. sweet potato. In this study, we revealed that the Ipomoea batatas genome contains two full-length copies of Ib-rolB/C. The expression level of Ib-rolB/C in leaves of sweet potato showed a clear age-dependent pattern and increased as leaves senesce. Moreover, dark-induced senescence strongly up-regulates transcription of the Ib-rolB/C gene. Though Ib-rolB/C shares homology with its counterparts in A. rhizogenes , this gene was not capable to induce hairy roots or tumors in kalanchoe and tobacco plants. The Ib-rolB/C gene induced early-flowering phenotype, altered leaf morphology, and promoted premature leaf senescence in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants. At the same time, Ib-rolB/C did not affect root morphology and biomass. Our results suggest that Ib - RolB/RolC participates in both age- and dark-triggered leaf senescence programs. • IbT-DNA2 of sweet potato contains two intact copies of Ib-rolB/C gene. • The Ib-rolB/C gene was activated by age-triggered and dark-induced leaf senescence. • The Ib-rolB/C does not have a root-inducing function in kalanchoe and tobacco plants. • The Ib-rolB/C promotes flowering time by modulation of regulatory genes. • The Ib-rolB/C triggers premature leaf senescence in transgenic Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Sweet potatoes are rich in cardioprotective phytochemicals with potential anti-platelet aggregation activity, although this benefit may vary among cultivars/genotypes. The phenolic profile [HPLC-ESI(−)-qTOF-MS2], cheminformatics (ADMET properties, affinity toward platelet proteins) and anti-PA activity of phenolic-rich hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from orange (OSP) and purple (PSP) sweet potato storage roots, was evaluated. The phenolic richness [Hydroxycinnamic acids> flavonoids> benzoic acids] was PSP > OSP. Their main chlorogenic acids could interact with platelet proteins (integrins/adhesins, kinases/metalloenzymes) but their bioavailability could be poor. Just OSP exhibited a dose-dependent anti-platelet aggregation activity [inductor (IC 50, mg.ml−1): thrombin receptor activator peptide-6 (0.55) > Adenosine-5′-diphosphate (1.02) > collagen (1.56)] and reduced P-selectin expression (0.75–1.0 mg.ml−1) but not glycoprotein IIb/IIIa secretion. The explored anti-PA activity of OSP/PSP seems to be inversely related to their phenolic richness. The poor first-pass bioavailability of its chlorogenic acids (documented in silico) may represent a further obstacle for their anti-PA in vivo. [Display omitted] • Purple (PSP) > orange (OSP) sweet potato is richer in phenolic compounds. • Chlorogenic acids (CGAs) are major sweet potato phytochemicals. • OSP but not PSP exhibit anti-platelet aggregation (PA) activity. • Sweet potatoes´ CGAs may be poorly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. • Sweet potatoes' CGAs may target human platelet-related proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet potato leavesare a natural source of bioactive compounds with high antioxidant activity. Despite abundance of results regarding sweet potato composition, effect of fertilizing on bioactive compounds is not explored enough. In this study influence of diverse fertilization treatments on the yield and leaf composition of 'Japanese', 'Beauregard' and '414' sweet potato cultivars from late harvesting of dual-purpose was examined. Through comprehensive analysis, we reveal cultivar-specific responses to fertilization treatments, showcasing distinct correlations among factors such as chlorophyll, carotenoids, phenolic and flavonoid content, demonstrating the impact of fertilization on both yield and biochemical composition, underscoring the unique variations across sweet potato cultivars.Despite these differences, all cultivars exhibited significant changes in yield and biochemical composition in response to fertilization. Furthermore, sweet potato leafs were characterized with phenolic acids (SPLPA) and sweet potato leaf flavonoids (SPLF), identifying 33 individual constituents. PCA analysis of results offers valuable insights into the complex relationships between of each cultivar to fertilization treatments and the bioactive polyphenols present. The results obtained from this study would be beneficial to sweet potato producers and increase the interest of consumers for sweet potato leaves. [Display omitted] • Fertilization impacts the yield and biochemical composition of sweet potato leaves. • Cultivar-specific responses observed in chlorophyll, carotenoids, phenols, and flavonoid content. • Sweet potato leaves characterized by 33 distinct phenolic acids and flavonoids. • High antioxidant activity in sweet potato leaves offers health benefits and functional food potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweetpotatoes are a major crop in California, ranking sixth in value among organic commodities in the state. In recent years, there has been growing consumer interest in diverse specialty varieties, particularly purple types and those associated with Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, some of which are currently imported into the state. In this study, we screened 45 diverse sweetpotato varieties and breeding lines under California organic conditions in a preliminary characterization of their agronomic performance. We then conducted culinary evaluations with a tasting panel of students primarily identifying as Asian/Asian American to determine the preference for each type in terms of flavor and culinary appeal. Our results indicated that major tradeoffs exist among existing germplasm, with no variety or line excelling across all agronomic and culinary traits. These results suggest that sweetpotato breeding could be an effective mechanism to combine superior agronomic traits of major commercial classes with the high culinary quality of diverse materials that are not adapted to California organic production. These results provide a strong justification for the value of sweetpotato breeding to ultimately promote a more profitable, sustainable, and just food system in the region.

In recent years, scientific research has focused on studying Andean roots and tubers due to their attractive agricultural and nutritional qualities; however, as they contain a high level of moisture, it is imperative to dry them to extend their useful life. Likewise, analysing food-drying kinetics and food stability (regarding water activity) is essential to control moisture removal and the marketing progress. The drying process carried out in this study (65 °C for 8 h) showed three clear stages: adaptation, the drying period at a constant velocity, and a third stage with a gradual drop in the drying rate. The experimental data were satisfactorily adjusted to seven mathematical models, with the Page model highlighted since it presented higher coefficient-of-determination values. Likewise, this model estimated that the mean-error and percentage-of-relative-mean-deviation values were less than 1. The isotherms showed a type-II sigmoidal shape, showing that the samples were hygroscopic due to the structural changes undergone by the matrix during the process. Finally, the GAB model showed a higher coefficient of determination. All the Andean tubers and tuberous root flours must be dried until reaching a humidity below 10 gwater/gdry mass and stored in environments with a relative humidity lower than 60% to remain stable for longer.

Las virosis son la principal limitante del rendimiento de batata, quinto cultivo alimenticio del mundo. En Argentina, el “encrespamiento amarillo” (EA), complejo viral con siete agentes involucra-dos, causa notables pérdidas en los genotipos de toda región productiva. Se analizó la influencia del EA en componentes de rendimiento de los cvs Arapey INIA y Beauregard. mediante ensayos comparativos que combinaron dos condiciones sanitarias (sana vs enferma) y dos genotipos. Las plantas sanas se obtuvieron por termoterapia y cultivo in vitro de meristemas, y las enfermas, injertando púas con EA. Hubo diferencias significativas entre condiciones sanitarias, para contenido de clorofilas y mermas de caracteres de rendimiento cercanas al 90%, donde peso y número de raíces comerciales fueron los más afectados por EA en ambas variedades. Se corrobora la relevancia del EA como limitante del cultivo y del empleo de materiales saneados junto a buenas prácticas de manejo para alcanzar rendimientos potenciales.

Field studies were conducted in North Carolina in 2019 and 2020 to determine the effect of a reduced-tillage, high-residue rye (Secale cereal) cover crop system on soil health, and growth and storage root yield of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) cultivars having upright (NC04-0531 or NC15-650) or prostrate (Covington or Bayou Belle) vining characteristics. Sweetpotato canopy width expanded quicker in the conventional tillage system than the reduced-tillage rye system. Prostrate sweetpotato cultivars had greater late-season canopy widths than upright cultivars. Soil bulk density of raised beds was greatest in the reduced-tillage rye system, but both systems remained within the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommended range for soil bulk density. The conventional-tillage system resulted in 17% more marketable roots; however, no differences were observed in total marketable root weight between systems. ‘Covington’ and ‘NC15-650’ had greater marketable yield than ‘NC04-0531’ but less marketable yield than ‘Bayou Belle’.

Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) production in the northern United States is limited due to the perceived barriers of a short growing season and relatively cool summer temperatures, yet recent studies have shown yield in northern regions can be greater than the national average when sweetpotatoes are grown with plastic mulch. A study was conducted in northwest Washington to evaluate the productivity of ‘Covington’ sweetpotato with polyethylene (PE) and soil-biodegradable (BDM) mulches and different in-row spacings (20, 30, and 38 cm) in 2019, and to test accessions resistant to wireworm (Agriotes sp. and Limonius sp.) in 2020. In 2019, slips were shipped from North Carolina, and after 4 days in transit, 60% to 70% died after transplanting in the field. By the end of the season, BDM deterioration reached 11% compared with 0.4% for PE mulch, but there were no differences due to mulch in plant establishment, growth, yield, or the proportion of storage roots damaged by wireworm. Total storage root yield was 22 t⋅ha−1 with PE mulch and 15 t⋅ha−1 with BDM. Percent canopy cover was greatest at 20-cm spacing later in the growing season, likely due to intermingling of vines from adjacent plants, whereas high percent canopy cover at 38-cm spacing was likely due to increased production of secondary vines per plant. Total yield was greatest with 20-cm plant spacing (20.4 t⋅ha−1), intermediate with 30-cm spacing (18.0 t⋅ha−1), and lowest with 38-cm spacing (17.0 t⋅ha−1). In contrast, the greatest number of storage roots per plant was produced with 38-cm plant spacing (3.4). There were more jumbo sweetpotatoes produced with PE mulch (3.4 t⋅ha−1) and with 30-cm spacing (3 t⋅ha−1), and the weight of U.S. No. 2 grade sweetpotatoes was greatest at 20-cm spacing (10.2 t⋅ha−1). Soil temperature was increased by 3 °C under the PE mulch and 2 °C under the BDM compared with bare ground. However, 98% of storage roots were observed to be severely damaged by wireworm in 2019, with more than 10 to 20 holes per storage root. For wireworm-resistant accessions in 2020, 16% of the storage roots were damaged by wireworm, with 1.7 to 4.0 holes per storage root. Total yield of accessions PI 666141 and 04-791 (45.5 t⋅ha−1 on average) was greater than the national average (24.7 t⋅ha−1). Overall, sweetpotatoes appear to be suitable for production in northwest Washington, but low yield in 2019 highlights the importance of healthy slips for successful production. Future research should evaluate cultivars with maximum adaptation to the region, techniques to reduce wireworm damage including genetic resistance, and the economics of producing sweetpotatoes in northern regions.