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Opportunities for Ugandan farmers to undertake the production of sweet potato have resulted in certified sweet potato seed (CSS) innovations being pursued in recent times. The CSS and farmer-saved vine sources co-exist with the latter still predominant despite the formers' on-farm superior performance as regards yields, disease reduction and promotions. Information on the evolution process is missing, leading to ambiguous interpretations of its impact on uptake. This study described the evolution stages, emerging delivery structure and actor interactions during the CSS development process in Uganda. A case study design was employed, and data were collected through focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs), and anchored into actor-network theory (ANT) to generate actor actions and interrelationships. Transcripts were analyzed using the thematic analysis approach by Braun and Clarke. Network analysis was done using UCINET6 V6.759 and a Network visualizer (Net Draw 2.179). Results depicted a six-stage evolution process with most actors having multiple roles, business actors involved at utilization stage only and each stage being triggered by an event. During the process, an integrated CSS system emerged with only 35.6% of the potential direct links between actors being present. The major central actors that had closer interactions with farmers and seed growers were largely public sector, with private sector coming in late. Actors were location-specific with those of Mpigi being many, more interactive (average degree of 7.8) compared to Omoro (average degree of 4.5), and high average path lengths (1.7) implying actors are remotely connected with farmers and vine multipliers being most influential. It is envisaged that the involvement of business actors in product innovation stages and imparting entrepreneurial skills to key farmer groups and vine multipliers will spur the CSS system. Future research into CSS systems should focus on building business ecosystems. Key words: Certified sweet potato seed, Evolution process, Delivery structure, Actor interactions, INTRODUCTION This paper provides an analysis of the events during the evolution from informal to formal certified sweet potato seed (CSS) systems in Uganda. It is poised on the changes [...]

This study investigated the use of fall cover crops and spring buckwheat monoculture to suppress weeds and improve yields in sweet potato cultivation. Buckwheat emerged as a highly effective summer cover crop, providing robust weed suppression throughout the growing season. Its ability to shade weeds, compete for resources, and release allelopathic compounds contributed to its effectiveness. The selection of fall cover crops influenced weed suppression, with rye mixed with clover showing limited differences in weed densities, while rye mixed with hairy vetch reduced Palmer amaranth coverage. Sweet potato cultivars demonstrated varying levels of weed competition, with Beauregard exhibiting higher weed coverage compared to Heart-O-Gold and 529. These findings highlight the importance of selecting suitable cover crops and cultivars based on their competitive abilities and weed tolerance for effective weed management. Overall, incorporating appropriate cover crops and cultivars holds promise for suppressing weeds and improving sweet potato yields. KEY WORDS: crop cover, monoculture, weed density, sweet potato, INTRODUCTION Mississippi ranks second in terms of acreage and third in total sweet potato (Ipomea batatas) production in the United States. In 2019, approximately 11 thousand hectares of sweet potatoes [...]