Sweetpotato genetic resources: today and tomorrow

Publication date: 08/05/2019
Extent: 52 pages

Contributions by: Robert L. Jarret, USDA-ARS, USA; Noelle L. Anglin and David Ellis, International Potato Center, Peru; Arthur Villordon, Sweet Potato Research Station, USA; Phillip Wadl and Michael Jackson, USDA-ARS, USA; and Genoveva Rossel, International Potato Center, Peru

Chapter synopsis: The sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) is the sixth most important food crop on a global scale. While China accounts for about 80% of global production, Nigeria, Uganda, Indonesia and Tanzania are also large producers of sweetpotato. The chapter examines the origin and dispersal of sweetpotato, including archaeological data for the early distribution of the crop, before moving on to considering its general botany. The chapter considers in vitro germplasm storage in sweetpotato genebanks, as well as issues of quality control. The chapter looks at the importance of managing sweetpotato crop wild relatives (CWR) and examines plant quarantine and phytosanitary issues and the status of genebanks under international treaties. The chapter considers a number of specific issues associated with sweetpotato germplasm. Finally, the chapter looks at the application of next-generation sequencing to sweetpotato and its CWR, before looking ahead to future trends in this area.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2019.0016.18