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BackgroundThe sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) is a globally important insect pest that damages crops through direct feeding and by transmitting viruses. Current B. tabaci management revolves around the use of insecticides, which are economically and environmentally costly. Host plant resistance is a sustainable option to reduce the impact of whiteflies, but progress in deploying resistance in crops has been slow. A major obstacle is the high cost and low throughput of screening plants for B. tabaci resistance. Oviposition rate is a popular metric for host plant resistance to B. tabaci because it does not require tracking insect development through the entire life cycle, but accurate quantification is still limited by difficulties in observing B. tabaci eggs, which are microscopic and translucent. The goal of our study was to improve quantification of B. tabaci eggs on several important crop species: cassava, cowpea, melon, sweet potato and tomato.ResultsWe tested a selective staining process originally developed for leafhopper eggs: submerging the leaves in McBryde's stain (acetic acid, ethanol, 0.2% aqueous acid Fuchsin, water; 20:19:2:1) for three days, followed by clearing under heat and pressure for 15 min in clearing solution (LGW; lactic acid, glycerol, water; 17:20:23). With a less experienced individual counting the eggs, B. tabaci egg counts increased after staining across all five crops. With a more experienced counter, egg counts increased after staining on melons, tomatoes, and cowpeas. For all five crops, there was significantly greater agreement on egg counts across the two counting individuals after the staining process. The staining method worked particularly well on melon, where egg counts universally increased after staining for both counting individuals.ConclusionsSelective staining aids visualization of B. tabaci eggs across multiple crop plants, particularly species where leaf morphological features obscure eggs, such as melons and tomatoes. This method is broadly applicable to research questions requiring accurate quantification of B. tabaci eggs, including phenotyping for B. tabaci resistance.

In order to rapidly and accurately detect ipomeamarone using hyperspectral image technology sweet potato inoculated with Ceratocystis fimbriata (that can infect sweet potato with black spot disease, leading to the generation of ipomeamarone) was used as the research object, methods of hyperspectral characterization information extraction and robust model construction for ipomeamarone content were explored. After eliminating the effects of noisy signals and offsetting baseline, hyperspectral characterization information of ipomeamarone was extracted by the successive projection algorithm (SPA) and the competitive adaptive reweighted sampling algorithm (CARS), 26 and 48 optimal characteristic wavelengths were extracted, respectively; Based on the extracted characteristic wavelengths, back propagation neural network (BPNN), least squares support vector machine (LSSVM), radial basis function neural network(RBFNN), partial least squares regression(PLSR)and extreme learning machine (ELM) prediction models were established, respectively. The performance of prediction models was compared and the results showed that the LSSVM model based on characterization information extracted by CARS (CARS-LSSVM) was optimal, with a R2 of 0.968 and a RMSE of 0.2678. the content change and distribution of ipomeamarone in sweet potato samples were clearly illustrated in pseudo-color plots based on the prediction results of the CARS-LSSVM mode. Simultaneously electron microscope scanning (SEM) was performed for the sweet potato samples, the SEM results showed that the texture of sweet potato was varied with the development of black spot disease. The research provided a new method for the detection of ipomeamarone; and provided a basis for the early prevention and control of sweet potato black spot disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Prataculturae Sinica is the property of Acta Prataculturae Sinica Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Sweet potatoes are extremely vulnerable to mechanical wounds during harvesting and postharvest handling. It is highly necessary to take measures to accelerate wound healing. The effect of 20 g L−1 of ascorbic acid (AA) treatment on the wound healing of sweet potatoes and its mechanisms were studied. The results validated that AA treatment significantly reduced the weight loss rate and disease index. AA treatment effectively enhanced the formation speed of lignin and SPP at the wound sites, decreased the MDA content, and maintained the cell membrane integrity. AA enhanced the activities of PAL, C4H, 4CL, CAD, and POD and increased the contents of chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, sinapic acid, ferulic acid, cinnamic acid, p-coumaryl alcohol, sinapyl alcohol, coniferyl alcohol, and lignin. Based on a transcriptomic analysis, a total of 1200 genes were differentially expressed at the sweet potato wound sites by the AA treatment, among which 700 genes were upregulated and 500 genes were downregulated. The KEGG pathway analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis; phenylpropanoid biosynthesis; and other wound healing-related pathways. As verified by a qRT-PCR, the AA treatment significantly upregulated the gene expression levels of IbSKDH, IbADT/PDT, IbPAL, and Ib4CL at the wound sties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In response to the growing interest in plant‐based alternatives and vegan diets, this study aimed to develop novel sweet potato‐based vegan protein bars enriched with rice protein (RP) as an alternative protein source. The vegan protein bars (VPBs) formulated with varying RP content (0–32 g) were evaluated for nutritional, textural, microstructural and sensory properties. Nutritional analysis revealed a proportional increase in protein content (8.94%–21.77%) and energy value (310.29–353.32 kcal/100 g) with increasing RP content. The progressive inclusion of RP significantly (P < 0.05) improved the textural properties of VPBs, notably increasing cohesiveness (0.07%–0.60%), chewiness (8.71–105.02 g) and firmness (1453.80–3444.03 kg cm−2), with all VPBs receiving favourable sensory evaluation scores. Importantly, all VPBs received favourable sensory scores. Microstructural analysis revealed the mechanism for textural enhancement in enriched VPBs, indicating a positive correlation between higher RP content and the number and size of surface clumps. Amino acid profiling indicated over 50% increases in valine content and essential amino acid scores in enriched VPBs compared to those without RP. Moreover, protein‐enriched VPBs exhibited superior antioxidant activity. In conclusion, these findings suggest the potential of sweet potato and RP in developing VPBs, highlighting the value of plant‐based ingredients in vegan food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) The development of sweet potato storage roots is impacted by nitrogen (N) levels, with excessive nitrogen often impeding development. Starch synthesis enzymes such as sucrose synthase (SUS) and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) are pivotal in this context. Although the effects of excessive nitrogen on the formation of sweet potato storage roots are well documented, the specific responses of IbSUSs and IbAGPases have not been extensively reported on. (2) Pot experiments were conducted using the sweet potato cultivar "Pushu 32" at moderate (MN, 120 kg N ha−1) and excessive nitrogen levels (EN, 240 kg N ha−1). (3) Nine IbSUS and nine IbAGPase genes were categorized into three and two distinct subgroups based on phylogenetic analysis. Excessive nitrogen significantly (p < 0.05) suppressed the expression of IbAGPL1, IbAGPL2, IbAGPL4, IbAGPL5, IbAGPL6, IbAGPS1, and IbAGPS2 in fibrous roots and IbSUS2, IbSUS6, IbSUS7, IbSUS8, IbSUS9, IbAGPL2, and IbAGPL4 in storage roots, and then significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the SUS and AGPase activities and starch content of fibrous root and storage root, ultimately reducing the storage root formation of sweet potato. Excessive nitrogen extremely significantly (p < 0.01) enhanced the expression of IbAGPL3, which was strongly negatively correlated with the number and weight of storage roots per plant. (4) IbAGPL3 may be a key gene in the response to excessive nitrogen stress and modifying starch synthesis in sweet potato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth-regulating factor (GRF) is a multi-gene family that plays an important role in plant growth and development and is widely present in plants. Currently, GRF gene members have been reported in many plants, but the GRF gene family has not been found in sweet potato. In this study, ten GRF genes were identified in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), twelve and twelve were identified in its two diploid relatives (Ipomoea trifida) and (Ipomoea triloba), which were unevenly distributed on nine different chromosomes. Subcellular localization analysis showed that GRF genes of sweet potato, I. trifida, and I. triloba were all located in the nucleus. The expression analysis showed that the expression of IbGRFs was diverse in different sweet potato parts, and most of the genes were upregulated and even had the highest expression in the vigorous growth buds. These findings provide molecular characterization of sweet potato and its two diploid relatives, the GRF families, further supporting functional characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam is a dicotyledonous plant originally from tropical regions, with China and Spain acting as the main producers from outside and within the EU, respectively. The root, including only flesh, is the edible part, and the peel, leaves, stems, or shoots are considered by-products, which are generated due to being discarded in the field and during processing. Therefore, this study aimed to perform a comprehensive review of the nutritional value, phytochemical composition, and health-promoting activities of purple-fleshed sweet potato and its by-products, which lead to its potential applications in bakery products for the development of functional foods. The methodology is applied to the selected topic and is used to conduct the search, review abstracts and full texts, and discuss the results using different general databases. The studies suggested that purple-fleshed sweet potato parts are characterized by a high content of essential minerals and bioactive compounds, including anthocyanins belonging to the cyanidin or the peonidin type. The flesh and leaves are also high in phenolic compounds and carotenoids such as lutein and β-carotene. The high content of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins provides the purple-fleshed sweet potato with high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory power due to the modulation effect of the transcription factor Nrf2 and NF-kB translocation, which may lead to protection against hepatic and neurological disorders, among others. Furthermore, purple-fleshed sweet potato and its by-products can play a dual role in food applications due to its attractive color and wide range of biological activities which enhance its nutritional profile. As a result, it is essential to harness the potential of the purple-fleshed sweet potato and its by-products that are generated during its processing through an appropriate agro-industrial valorization system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-harvest deterioration limits the effective processing and utilization of Ipomoea batatas L. (sweet potato). This study identified the fungi associated with post-harvest tuber rot of I. batatas from selected markets in Lagos, Nigeria, and the antifungal efficacy of selected plant extracts in treating this disease. Sweet potato tubers collected from local markets in Iyana-Iba and Okokomaiko were observed for rot diseases. Isolation, identification, and characterization of fungi and pathogenicity tests were carried out on the specimens collected from the markets. Five fungi were isolated from the diseased tuber, they were identified as Aspergillus aculeatus, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium sp., Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Penicillium oxalicum. The pathogenicity test revealed that only A. aculeatus and P. oxalicum induced rot in healthy sweet potato tubers 14 days after inoculation, with P. oxalicum being the most virulent. The molecular analysis confirmed the identity of the two virulent isolates as Penicillium oxalicum and Aspergillus aculeatus. The extracts of Parkia biglobosa, Pseudocedrela kotschyi, and Mezoneuron benthamianum exhibited antifungal potency on the fungi isolates. P. kotschyi against A. aculeatus at 20mg/ml had the highest inhibitory zone of 18.17±0.76 for n-hexane extract while against P. oxalicum at the same concentration, the highest inhibitory zone of 25.00±1.00 was recorded. Hence, the recommendation of the use of these plant extracts product as a substitute to synthetic antifungal agents for controlling the growth of fungi causing post-harvest tuber rot of I batatas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) is a heterotrimeric complex composed of three unique subunits: NF-YA, NF-YB, and NF-YC. This transcription factor complex binds to the CCAAT box of eukaryotic promoters, playing a crucial role in various biological processes in plants. Despite its importance, the NF-Y gene family has not been reported in the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) genome, an important food and energy crop. Understanding the role and function of NF-Y in sweet potatoes could provide valuable insights for genetic improvement and yield enhancement. To address this gap, our research aimed to comprehensively catalog and characterize the NF-Y genes in sweet potatoes, which we refer to as 'IbNF-Y', where 'Ib' denotes Ipomoea batatas. A total of 37 NF-Ys were identified, including 11 NF-YA, 21 NF-YB, and 5 NF-YC members, and their phylogeny, gene structure, chromosomal distribution, and conserved motifs were analyzed. Additionally, we assessed their expression patterns under salt stress in both light and dark conditions using transcriptome sequencing. Notably, we discovered that certain IbNF-Y genes showed significant changes in expression under salt stress, suggesting their potential roles in sweet potato's adaptation to saline environments. Furthermore, our work enriches the genomics and genetic research on sweet potatoes and contributes valuable knowledge to the broader scientific community of the Convolvulaceae family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Seasonal late‐season water deficits negatively affect the yield and quality of sweet potatoes in northern China. However, the amount of late‐season irrigation to achieve high yield and consistent quality storage root remains undetermined. We assessed the yield and some qualitative traits of sweet potatoes such as size, shape, skin/flesh colour and nutritional content, as influenced by five irrigation levels (T0: unirrigated control; T1: 33% ETc; T2: 75% ETc; T3: 100% ETc; and T4: 125% ETc). RESULTS: Late‐season irrigation significantly increased yield and marketable yield. Yields for T2 and T3 were significantly higher than other treatments, whereas T2 had the highest Grade A rating in a 2‐year test. The vertical length of storage roots gradually increased with an increase in irrigation level, whereas the maximum width remained unchanged. The proportion of long elliptic and elliptic storage roots also increased, whereas the proportion of ovate, obovate and round storage roots gradually decreased. The skin and flesh colours became more vivid as the level of irrigation increased, with the skin colour becoming redder and the flesh colour becoming more orange–yellow. The levels of carotenoids, vitamin C and soluble sugar were significantly higher in irrigated crops, with the highest vitamin C and soluble sugar levels in T2 and the highest carotenoid levels in T3 treatment. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these results demonstrate the potential of moderate irrigation in the late‐season to improve both yield production and quality potential. The results are of great importance for improving the market value of sweet potatoes and increasing grower profits. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The yield of sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam] can be easily threatened by drought stress. Typically, early stages like the seedling stage and tuber-root expansion stage are more vulnerable to drought stress. In this study, a highly drought-tolerant sweet potato cultivar "WanSu 63" was subjected to drought stress at both the seedling stage (15 days after transplanting, 15 DAT) and the tuber-root expansion stage (45 DAT). Twenty-four cDNA libraries were constructed from leaf segments and root tissues at 15 and 45 DAT for Next-Generation Sequencing. A total of 663, 063, and 218 clean reads were obtained and then aligned to the reference genome with a total mapped ratio greater than 82.73%. A sum of 7119, 8811, 5463, and 930 differentially expressed genes were identified from leaves in 15 days (L15), roots in 15 days (R15), leaves in 45 days (L45), and roots in 45 days (R45), respectively, in drought stress versus control. It was found that genes encoding heat shock proteins, sporamin, LEA protein dehydrin, ABA signaling pathway protein gene NCED1, as well as a group of receptor-like protein kinases genes were enriched in differentially expressed genes. ABA content was significantly higher in drought-treated tissues than in the control. The sweet potato biomass declined sharply to nearly one-quarter after drought stress. In conclusion, this study is the first to identify the differentially expressed drought-responsive genes and signaling pathways in the leaves and roots of sweet potato at the seedling and root expansion stages. The results provide potential resources for drought resistance breeding of sweet potato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis is the property of Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The diverse nutrients found in sweet potato leaves, including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, offer a range of health benefits. The presence of carotenoids and polyphenols, both powerful health-promoting compounds, highlights their potential contribution to medical science. The main objective of this study was to ascertain essential functionals substances of antioxidant, phenolic compounds, and β-carotene in the leaves of 14 distinct sweet potato lines cultivated in open field. A comprehensive analysis of antioxidant capacity, phenolic content, and β-carotene was conducted using ABTS, Folin-Ciocalteu, and HPLC techniques, respectively. The study showed that the concentrations of total antioxidants, phenols, and β-carotene differed markedly among the leaf materials. Among the lines, SP-13 stands out with the highest concentration of phenols (124.64 mg/g dry weight), while SP-14 comes in at the opposite end with the lowest amount (62.97 mg/g dry weight) under field conditions. In the case of antioxidant content in line SP-3 showed the highest with 3.55 mg/g dry weight, while SP-14 brings up the lowest with 1.88 mg/g dry weight. Line SP-5 showed the most β-carotene (0.51 mg/g dry weight), while SP-11 had the least (0.05 mg/g dry weight). Therefore, it can be concluded that sweet potato leaves are a valuable dietary source of antioxidants, phenolic compounds, and β-carotene which have beneficial health elements.

Abstract This work aims to produce dextrin from sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) starch by pyroconversion. The effect of dextrinization process (roasting time, temperature, and hydrochloric acid concentration) on properties (structural and functional) of starch have been studied using central composite design of experiment. Reaction conditions included: roasting time (55 and 94 min), temperature (127 and 152 °C), and hydrochloric acid concentration (0.17 and 0.43 M). The temperature (quadratic effect X2 2) is highly significant on the three measured responses (p

This study evaluated the responses of sweet potatoes to Cadmium (Cd) stress through pot experiments to theoretically substantiate their comprehensive applications in Cd-polluted agricultural land. The experiments included a CK treatment and three Cd stress treatments with 3, 30, and 150 mg/kg concentrations, respectively. We analyzed specified indicators of sweet potato at different growth periods, such as the individual plant growth, photosynthesis, antioxidant capacity, and carbohydrate Cd accumulation distribution. On this basis, the characteristics of the plant carbon metabolism in response to Cd stress throughout the growth cycle were explored. The results showed that T2 and T3 treatments inhibited the vine growth, leaf area expansion, stem diameter elongation, and tuberous root growth of sweet potato; notably, T3 treatment significantly increased the number of sweet potato branches. Under Cd stress, the synthesis of chlorophyll in sweet potato was significantly suppressed, and the Rubisco activity experienced significant reductions. With the increasing Cd concentration, the function of PS II was also affected. The soluble sugar content underwent no significant change in low Cd concentration treatments. In contrast, it decreased significantly under high Cd concentrations. Additionally, the tuberous root starch content decreased significantly with the increase in Cd concentration. Throughout the plant growth, the activity levels of catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase increased significantly in T2 and T3 treatments. By comparison, the superoxide dismutase activity in T1 treatment was significantly lower than that of CK. With the increasing application of Cd, its accumulation accordingly increased in various sweet potato organs. The the highest bioconcentration factor was detected in absorbing roots, while the tuberous roots had a lower bioconcentration factor and Cd accumulation. Moreover, the transfer factor from stem to petiole was the highest of the potato organs. These results demonstrated that sweet potatoes had a high Cd tolerance and a restoration potential for Cd-contaminated farmland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract KNOXs, a type of homeobox genes that encode atypical homeobox proteins, play an essential role in the regulation of growth and development, hormonal response, and abiotic stress in plants. However, the KNOX gene family has not been explored in sweet potato. In this study, through sequence alignment, genomic structure analysis, and phylogenetic characterization, 17, 12 and 11 KNOXs in sweet potato (I. batatas, 2n = 6x = 90) and its two diploid relatives I. trifida (2n = 2x = 30) and I. triloba (2n = 2x = 30) were identified. The protein physicochemical properties, chromosome localization, phylogenetic relationships, gene structure, protein interaction network, cis-elements of promoters, tissue-specific expression and expression patterns under hormone treatment and abiotic stresses of these 40 KNOX genes were systematically studied. IbKNOX4, -5, and − 6 were highly expressed in the leaves of the high-yield varieties Longshu9 and Xushu18. IbKNOX3 and IbKNOX8 in Class I were upregulated in initial storage roots compared to fibrous roots. IbKNOXs in Class M were specifically expressed in the stem tip and hardly expressed in other tissues. Moreover, IbKNOX2 and − 6, and their homologous genes were induced by PEG/mannitol and NaCl treatments. The results showed that KNOXs were involved in regulating growth and development, hormone crosstalk and abiotic stress responses between sweet potato and its two diploid relatives. This study provides a comparison of these KNOX genes in sweet potato and its two diploid relatives and a theoretical basis for functional studies.

Abstract Salinity stress significantly hinders plant growth by disrupting osmotic balance and inhibiting nutrient uptake, leading to reduced biomass and stunted development. Using saponin (SAP) and boron (B) can effectively overcome this issue. Boron decreases salinity stress by stabilizing cell walls and membranes, regulating ion balance, activating antioxidant enzymes, and enhancing water uptake. SAP are bioactive compounds that have the potential to alleviate salinity stress by improving nutrient uptake, modulating plant hormone levels, promoting root growth, and stimulating antioxidant activity. That’s why the current study was planned to use a combination of SAP and boron as amendments to mitigate salinity stress in sweet potatoes. Four levels of SAP (0%, 0.1%, 0.15%, and 0.20%) and B (control, 5, 10, and 20 mg/L B) were applied in 4 replications following a completely randomized design. Results illustrated that 0.15% SAP with 20 mg/L B caused significant enhancement in sweet potato vine length (13.12%), vine weight (12.86%), root weight (8.31%), over control under salinity stress. A significant improvement in sweet potato chlorophyll a (9.84%), chlorophyll b (20.20%), total chlorophyll (13.94%), photosynthetic rate (17.69%), transpiration rate (16.03%), and stomatal conductance (17.59%) contrast to control under salinity stress prove the effectiveness of 0.15% SAP + 20 mg/L B treatment. In conclusion, 0.15% SAP + 20 mg/L B is recommended to mitigate salinity stress in sweet potatoes.

Objective: To mitigate unfavorable factors during the packing, transportation, and storage of fruits and vegetables, a foldable, preassembled turnover box was designed based on the premise of recycling. Methods: Standardized boxes were used to hold sweet potatoes, which were considered long rotating ellipsoids, and the storage environment was modeled. A porous medium model, a species transport model, and a local non-thermal equilibrium model were used to study the temperature, humidity, speed, O2 volume fraction, and CO2 volume fraction distributions in the cargo area during the curing warming, post-curing cooling, and storage stages. Results： 40 ℃ was the optimum curing air supply temperature, and the time required was 5.85 h. 10 m/s was the optimum post-curing cooling air supply speed, and the time required was 8.47 h. The air supply velocity （4.0~6.0 m/s） had little effect on the distribution of O2 and CO2 volume fractions. When the air supply velocity was 4.5 m/s, the storage effect was the optimal, with deviation rates of 1.24% and 0.48% compared to the target storage conditions （12 ℃, 90.00% RH）. The generation of respiratory heat in sweet potatoes leaded to a shorter time for the internal temperature of the cargo area to reach the target curing temperature, while requiring a longer time to reach the target storage temperature. Compared to thermal conduction, convective heat transfer played a dominant role, resulting in a lag in temperature change between the internal and external temperatures of the cargo area during the storage process. Increasing the temperature and air supply velocity facilitated a faster attainment of the desired curing and storage temperatures. The physical characteristics and storage volume of sweet potatoes within the cargo area determined the subsequent warming and cooling processes. Conclusion: The velocity field on the surface of the cargo area exhibits a weak correlation with the distribution of RH, whereas the temperature field demonstrates a negative correlation with the RH field and exhibits a similar distribution pattern. The air supply velocity can alter the fluid flow direction inside the cargo area box, and both the magnitude of the air supply velocity and the direction of fluid flow inside the box significantly impact on the temperature distribution within the cargo area.

Abstract Background The sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) is a globally important insect pest that damages crops through direct feeding and by transmitting viruses. Current B. tabaci management revolves around the use of insecticides, which are economically and environmentally costly. Host plant resistance is a sustainable option to reduce the impact of whiteflies, but progress in deploying resistance in crops has been slow. A major obstacle is the high cost and low throughput of screening plants for B. tabaci resistance. Oviposition rate is a popular metric for host plant resistance to B. tabaci because it does not require tracking insect development through the entire life cycle, but accurate quantification is still limited by difficulties in observing B. tabaci eggs, which are microscopic and translucent. The goal of our study was to improve quantification of B. tabaci eggs on several important crop species: cassava, cowpea, melon, sweet potato and tomato. Results We tested a selective staining process originally developed for leafhopper eggs: submerging the leaves in McBryde’s stain (acetic acid, ethanol, 0.2% aqueous acid Fuchsin, water; 20:19:2:1) for three days, followed by clearing under heat and pressure for 15 min in clearing solution (LGW; lactic acid, glycerol, water; 17:20:23). With a less experienced individual counting the eggs, B. tabaci egg counts increased after staining across all five crops. With a more experienced counter, egg counts increased after staining on melons, tomatoes, and cowpeas. For all five crops, there was significantly greater agreement on egg counts across the two counting individuals after the staining process. The staining method worked particularly well on melon, where egg counts universally increased after staining for both counting individuals. Conclusions Selective staining aids visualization of B. tabaci eggs across multiple crop plants, particularly species where leaf morphological features obscure eggs, such as melons and tomatoes. This method is broadly applicable to research questions requiring accurate quantification of B. tabaci eggs, including phenotyping for B. tabaci resistance.

Abstract Sorghum and orange‐fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) flours were blended to produce composite flours at eight different ratios of 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, 30:70, and 20:80, respectively, whereas 100% sorghumflour was used as control. The physicochemical compositions, nutritional and functional properties, as well as color attributes of the composite flour blends were evaluated. The acquired data were analyzed using ANOVA, and the means were separated using the Duncan multiple range test. Significant differences (p

SUMMARY: As a major worldwide root crop, the mechanism underlying storage root yield formation has always been a hot topic in sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.]. Previously, we conducted the transcriptome database of differentially expressed genes between the cultivated sweet potato cultivar "Xushu18," its diploid wild relative Ipomoea triloba without storage root, and their interspecific somatic hybrid XT1 with medium‐sized storage root. We selected one of these candidate genes, IbNF‐YA1, for subsequent analysis. IbNF‐YA1 encodes a nuclear transcription factor Y subunit alpha (NF‐YA) gene, which is significantly induced by the natural auxin indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA). The storage root yield of the IbNF‐YA1 overexpression (OE) plant decreased by 29.15–40.22% compared with the wild type, while that of the RNAi plant increased by 10.16–21.58%. Additionally, IAA content increased significantly in OE plants. Conversely, the content of IAA decreased significantly in RNAi plants. Furthermore, real‐time quantitative reverse transcription‐PCR (qRT‐PCR) analysis demonstrated that the expressions of the key genes IbYUCCA2, IbYUCCA4, and IbYUCCA8 in the IAA biosynthetic pathway were significantly changed in transgenic plants. The results indicated that IbNF‐YA1 could directly target IbYUCCA4 and activate IbYUCCA4 transcription. The IAA content of IbYUCCA4 OE plants increased by 71.77–98.31%. Correspondingly, the storage root yield of the IbYUCCA4 OE plant decreased by 77.91–80.52%. These findings indicate that downregulating the IbNF‐YA1 gene could improve the storage root yield in sweet potato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

KNOXs, a type of homeobox genes that encode atypical homeobox proteins, play an essential role in the regulation of growth and development, hormonal response, and abiotic stress in plants. However, the KNOX gene family has not been explored in sweet potato. In this study, through sequence alignment, genomic structure analysis, and phylogenetic characterization, 17, 12 and 11 KNOXs in sweet potato (I. batatas, 2n = 6x = 90) and its two diploid relatives I. trifida (2n = 2x = 30) and I. triloba (2n = 2x = 30) were identified. The protein physicochemical properties, chromosome localization, phylogenetic relationships, gene structure, protein interaction network, cis-elements of promoters, tissue-specific expression and expression patterns under hormone treatment and abiotic stresses of these 40 KNOX genes were systematically studied. IbKNOX4, -5, and − 6 were highly expressed in the leaves of the high-yield varieties Longshu9 and Xushu18. IbKNOX3 and IbKNOX8 in Class I were upregulated in initial storage roots compared to fibrous roots. IbKNOXs in Class M were specifically expressed in the stem tip and hardly expressed in other tissues. Moreover, IbKNOX2 and − 6, and their homologous genes were induced by PEG/mannitol and NaCl treatments. The results showed that KNOXs were involved in regulating growth and development, hormone crosstalk and abiotic stress responses between sweet potato and its two diploid relatives. This study provides a comparison of these KNOX genes in sweet potato and its two diploid relatives and a theoretical basis for functional studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Genetic variability among sweet potato & wild Ipomoea species studied using SSR markers. • High genetic variability between diploid wild species and hexaploid sweet potato. • More variability available among the wild Ipomoea species for many characters. • Identified Ipomoea spp can be utilized for weevil & virus resistance breeding. Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) is one of the major tuber crops in Asian countries, including India, yet the interrelationship and genetic variability among the cultivar and its crop wild relatives remain obscure. The wild relatives of sweet potato represent a vital source of untapped genetic diversity in the breeding programs. In this study, a set of 12 Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) markers were utilized to understand the extent of genetic diversity and relationship within and between 20 sweet potato accessions, 23 wild Ipomoea species and two Merremia species for utilization in breeding programmes. The SSR primers produced 84 polymorphic alleles within the range of 105–393 bp, collectively showing an average polymorphism of 94.5 %. The average Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) value of 0.67 showed that all the primers were polymorphic in nature. Similarity coefficient based dendrogram and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) scatter plot clearly differentiated all the cultivars and wild species. The cluster dendrogram analysis revealed the close relationship of cultivars with I. triloba and I. trifida at a similarity index of 0.75. Our analysis showed a high degree of genetic variability within and between hexaploid sweet potato and diploid wild species, whereas lower within the cultivars, which shows that there is a high level of genetic diversity exists within the Ipomoea species for its utilization in breeding programs. Thus, the two wild species, I. trifida and I. triloba could be used in hybridization for improvement of sweet potato through ploidy manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanization of ship-shaped transplanting is currently an urgent problem that should be solved. The movement trajectory of the transplanting mechanism is the key technology to perform ship-shaped transplanting. In this study, a shipshaped transplanting trajectory was built and a mathematical model of a four-link transplanting mechanism was developed based on the requirements of the sweet potato transplanting agronomic technology. The particle swarm optimization algorithm was used, with the length of the four-bar mechanism and the installation angle of the fixed bar serving as the variables to optimize. The objective was to minimize the deviation of the ship-shaped transplanting trajectory, yielding an iterative optimization solution. The MATLAB simulation results showed that the penalty factors of different proportions in the adaptive particle swarm optimization algorithm affected the transplanting trajectory. The optimal penalty factor parameters are a=0.6, ß=0.4. They ensure that the transplanting trajectory fulfills the agronomic requirements, and limit the deviation in the return trajectory of the mechanism. The sizes of the optimized four-bar mechanism were 110, 312, 245, 160, 360, and, 160 mm. The determined installation angle was 100°. The results of the field experiments demonstrated that the optimized four-bar transplanting mechanism can better fulfill the agronomic technical requirements of sweet potato ship-shaped transplanting. For a transplanting speed of 0.2 m/s, the average qualified rates of insertion depth, insertion length, and tail height were equal to 94.00%, 93.83%, and 91.67%. The results obtained in this study provide a theoretical basis and technical support for studying and developing sweet potato ship-shaped transplanting machinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a global pandemic. Known as COVID-19, it has affected billions of people worldwide, claiming millions of lives and posing a continuing threat to humanity. This is considered one of the most extensive pandemics ever recorded in human history, causing significant losses to both life and economies globally. However, the available evidence is currently insufficient to establish the effectiveness and safety of antiviral drugs or vaccines. The entry of the virus into host cells involves binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a cell surface receptor, via its spike protein. Meanwhile, transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2), a host surface protease, cleaves and activates the virus's S protein, thus promoting viral infection. Plant protease inhibitors play a crucial role in protecting plants against insects and/or microorganisms. The major storage proteins in sweet potato roots include sweet potato trypsin inhibitor (SWTI), which accounts for approximately 60% of the total water-soluble protein and has been found to possess a variety of health-promoting properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, ACE-inhibitory, and anticancer functions. Our study found that SWTI caused a significant reduction in the expression of the ACE2 and TMPRSS2 proteins, without any adverse effects on cells. Therefore, our findings suggest that the ACE2 and TMPRSS2 axis can be targeted via SWTI to potentially inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small auxin-upregulated RNAs (SAURs), as the largest family of early auxin-responsive genes, play important roles in plant growth and development processes, such as auxin signaling and transport, hypocotyl development, and tolerance to environmental stresses. However, the functions of few SAUR genes are known in the root development of sweet potatoes. In this study, an IbSAUR36 gene was cloned and functionally analyzed. The IbSAUR36 protein was localized to the nucleus and plasma membrane. The transcriptional level of this gene was significantly higher in the pencil root and leaf.This gene was strongly induced by indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), but it was downregulated under methyl-jasmonate(MeJA) treatment. The promoter of IbSAUR36 contained the core cis-elements for phytohormone responsiveness. Promoter β-glucuronidase (GUS) analysis in Arabidopsis showed that IbSAUR36 is highly expressed in the young tissues of plants, such as young leaves, roots, and buds. IbSAUR36-overexpressing sweet potato roots were obtained by an efficient Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated root transgenic system. We demonstrated that overexpression of IbSAUR36 promoted the accumulation of IAA, upregulated the genes encoding IAA synthesis and its signaling pathways, and downregulated the genes encoding lignin synthesis and JA signaling pathways. Taken together, these results show that IbSAUR36 plays an important role in adventitious root (AR) development by regulating IAA signaling, lignin synthesis, and JA signaling pathways in transgenic sweet potatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MYB transcription factors (TFs) play vital roles in plant growth, development, and response to adversity. Although the MYB gene family has been studied in many plant species, there is still little known about the function of R2R3 MYB TFs in sweet potato in response to abiotic stresses. In this study, an R2R3 MYB gene, IbMYB330 was isolated from sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas). IbMYB330 was ectopically expressed in tobacco and the functional characterization was performed by overexpression in transgenic plants. The IbMYB330 protein has a 268 amino acid sequence and contains two highly conserved MYB domains. The molecular weight and isoelectric point of IbMYB330 are 29.24 kD and 9.12, respectively. The expression of IbMYB330 in sweet potato is tissue-specific, and levels in the root were significantly higher than that in the leaf and stem. It showed that the expression of IbMYB330 was strongly induced by PEG-6000, NaCl, and H2O2. Ectopic expression of IbMYB330 led to increased transcript levels of stress-related genes such as SOD, POD, APX, and P5CS. Moreover, compared to the wild-type (WT), transgenic tobacco overexpression of IbMYB330 enhanced the tolerance to drought and salt stress treatment as CAT activity, POD activity, proline content, and protein content in transgenic tobacco had increased, while MDA content had decreased. Taken together, our study demonstrated that IbMYB330 plays a role in enhancing the resistance of sweet potato to stresses. These findings lay the groundwork for future research on the R2R3-MYB genes of sweet potato and indicates that IbMYB330 may be a candidate gene for improving abiotic stress tolerance in crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid wound healing is crucial in protecting sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) against infection, water loss and quality deterioration during storage. The current study investigated how acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) treatment influenced wound healing in harvested sweet potatoes by investigating the underlying mechanism. It was found that ASM treatment of wounded sweet potatoes induced a significant accumulation of lignin at the wound sites, which effectively suppressed weight loss. After 4 days of healing, the lignin content of ASM-treated sweet potatoes was 41.8% higher than that of untreated ones, and the weight loss rate was 20.4% lower. Moreover, ASM treatment increased the ability of sweet potatoes to defend against wounding stress through enhancing processes such as increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), activation of enzymes involved in the ROS metabolism (peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase) and phenylpropanoid pathway (phenylalanine ammonia lyase, cinnamate-4-hydroxylase, 4-coumarate-CoA ligase and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase), and intensive synthesis of phenolics and flavonoids. These results suggest that treating harvested sweet potatoes with ASM promotes wound healing through the activation of the ROS metabolism and phenylpropanoid pathway. Mechanical damage during harvest, handling and transportation can cause wounding in sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas). Wounds provide an access point for pathogens to infect the sweet potato, leading to rotting and quality deterioration during storage. Wound healing plays an important role in maintaining postharvest quality and shelf life of sweet potato. Our data showed that postharvest ASM treatment effectively promoted wound healing of sweet potatoes. These results provide theoretical basis for improving the storage quality of wounded sweet potatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of soil phosphorus application on selenium uptake, distribution, and transformation in sweet potato under selenium foliar spraying conditions, the field experiment were conducted in Laiyang county, Shandong province in 2021 and 2022. The split-plot design was used with pure selenium applications of 0 g hm-2 (Se0) and 150 g hm-2 (Se1) in the main plots, and P2O5 applications of 0 kg hm-2 (P0), 75 kg hm-2 (P1), and 225 kg hm-2 (P2) in the sub-plots, the dry matter weight, total selenium, and organic selenium content in different organs of sweet potato were measured, and the selenium utilization rates were calculated. The results showed that phosphorus application significantly increased the dry matter quality of different organs in sweet potato, but the effect of selenium application on the dry matter quality was not significant difference on the dry matter quality of different organs. Phosphorus application significantly increased the selenium content and accumulation in sweet potato root tubers. Compared with no phosphorus application (P0), the selenium content and accumulation in root tubers with low phosphorus application (P1) increased by 19.54% and 27.74% on average under seleniium application under selenium application conditions, respectively, while high phosphorus application (P2) increased selenium content and selenium accumulation in root tubers by 40.24% and 52.64% on average, respectively. Phosphorus application can also improve the selenium distribution and utilization rates in root tubers under selenium applications. The selenium distribution rate increased by 7.77% and 12.46%, and the selenium utilization rate increased by 1.81% and 3.36% in root tubers applied with low phosphorus (P1) and high phosphorus (P2) respectively, while the effect of phosphorus application on selenium utilization of the whole plant of sweet potato was not significant. Phosphorus application not only increased the total selenium content in sweet potato tubers, but also increased the organic selenium content in tubers. However, the effect on the proportion of organic selenium to the total selenium in tubers was not significant. In summary, proper increase of phosphorus application can appropriately increase the dry matter quality of different organs of sweet potato, increase the content of total selenium and organic selenium of root tubers, and improve selenium utilization rate, but the environmental risks caused by excessive phosphorus application should be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sufficient soil moisture is required to ensure the successful transplantation of sweet potato seedlings. Thus, reasonable water management is essential for achieving high quality and yield in sweet potato production. We conducted field experiments in northern China, planted on 18 May and harvested on 18 October 2021, at the Nancun Experimental Base of Qingdao Agricultural University. Three water management treatments were tested for sweet potato seedlings after transplanting: hole irrigation (W1), optimized drip irrigation (W2), and traditional drip irrigation (W3). The variation characteristics of soil volumetric water content, soil temperature, and soil CO2 concentration in the root zone were monitored in situ for 0–50 days. The agronomy, root morphology, photosynthetic parameters, 13C accumulation, yield, and yield components of sweet potato were determined. The results showed that soil VWC was maintained at 22–25% and 27–32% in the hole irrigation and combined drip irrigation treatments, respectively, from 0 to 30 days after transplanting. However, there was no significant difference between the traditional (W3) and optimized (W2) drip irrigation systems. From 30 to 50 days after transplanting, the VWC decreased significantly in all treatments, with significant differences among all treatments. Soil CO2 concentrations were positively correlated with VWC from 0 to 30 days after transplanting but gradually increased from 30 to 50 days, with significant differences among treatments. Soil temperature varied with fluctuations in air temperature, with no significant differences among treatments. Sweet potato survival rates were significantly lower in the hole irrigation treatments than in the drip irrigation treatments, with no significant difference between W2 and W3. The aboveground biomass, photosynthetic parameters, and leaf area index were significantly higher under drip irrigation than under hole irrigation, and values were higher in W3 than in W2. However, the total root length, root volume, and 13C partitioning rate were higher in W2 than in W3. These findings suggest that excessive drip irrigation can lead to an imbalance in sweet potato reservoir sources. Compared with W1, the W2 and W3 treatments exhibited significant yield increases of 42.98% and 36.49%, respectively. The W2 treatment had the lowest sweet potato deformity rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nemafric-BL phytonematicide is a potent plant-based nematicide which consistently suppress nematode population densities of root-knot (Meloidogyne species) nematodes on various crops, but with limited information on its effects on foliar nutrient elements in sweet potato. The objective of this study, therefore, was to investigate the effects of Nemafric-BL phytonematicide on accumulation of nutrient elements in leaf tissues of sweet potato cv. ‘Bophelo’ under greenhouse conditions in Limpopo Province, South Africa, during autumn (February-April) in 2021 and validated in 2022. The product was applied weekly at geometric concentrations, with mature leaves collected and prepared for analysis of nutrient elements at eight weeks. Seasonal interactions were not significant and therefore data were pooled (n = 70) and then subjected to the Curvefitting Allelochemical Response Dose (CARD) algorithm computer model. Iron (R² = 0.86), K (0.91) and Na (0.82) versus Nemafric-BL phytonematicide each exhibited negative quadratic relations, whereas Zn (0.83) versus the product exhibited positive quadratic relations. In all test elements, the CARD-generated biological indices illustrated that the accumulation of elements was highly sensitive to the concentration of Nemafric-BL phytonematicide. In conclusion, in sweet potato production, the application of NemafricBL phytonematicide can inhibit (Fe, K) and stimulate (Zn) the accumulation of certain elements in leaf tissues of sweet potato cv. ‘Bophelo’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The storage roots of orange-fleshed sweet potato contain high levels of polyphenols and carotenoids. Little information is available on changes in the content and composition of these secondary metabolites during the growth stages of the root system. We investigated changes in carotenoids, polyphenols, and anthocyanins in the root system of the orange-fleshed sweet potato 'Tamaakane' from the post-planting stage. Carotenoids and polyphenols accumulated immediately after root-system formation at 15 days after transplanting (DAT). The levels of carotenoids increased by 45 DAT and decreased once the storage root enlargement began, but increased rapidly thereafter. After 90 DAT, β-carotene accounted for >90% of the total carotenoids, and the frequency remained stable until maturity. Total polyphenol content increased significantly towards 45 DAT and then gradually decreased as the storage roots began to thicken. No anthocyanin was detected in the root systems of 'Tamaakane' at any stage. The content and composition of these secondary metabolites are discussed in terms of agronomic aspects, as they might contribute to a strategy to protect storage roots while engaging with each other against biotic or abiotic stresses at the growth stage of the root system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Summary: Reduced fat mayonnaise was prepared by substituting oil with sweet potato powder at concentrations of 2%, 4% and 6%. The changes in physicochemical, oxidative, rheological, microbial and organoleptic properties of functional reduced fat mayonnaise were investigated. The results revealed that sweet potato powder significantly improved the antioxidant activity (2.63–31.6%), rheological attributes, nutritional content and shelf life stability of mayonnaise during the storage time of 21 days. Rheological evaluation illustrated the stabilisation of samples with the addition of sweet potato powder, with a significant reduction in oil droplet size (6.78–2.16 μm) and an increase in firmness (0.941–1.84 N) and adhesiveness (41.21–76.78 × 10−3 Nm). Emulsion stability (93.3–99.2%) was significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced by supplementation with sweet potato powder. The presence of carotenoids in sweet potato improved colour and increased the L* (73.4%) and b* (31.4%) values. Preliminary sensory evaluation demonstrated that taste, texture, mouthfeel and overall acceptability were perceived better in the samples supplemented with sweet potato powder. Our findings suggest that sweet potato powder can be a nutrient enhancer and a considerable alternative to synthetic antioxidants and stabilisers for oil‐in‐water food emulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet potato is grown for its starchy roots in many countries and is widely cultivated in India. This crop is widely acknowledged for its substantial economic and health benefits. However, a comprehensive description of its phenology has not been reported. The phenological growth stages of sweet potato are described here for the first time using the extended Biologische Bundesantalt, Bundessortenamt, and Chemische Industrie (BBCH) scale. Nine primary growth stages have been specifically defined, including germination (0), leaf development (1), main shoot development (2), side shoot development (3), tuber development (4), inflorescence emergence (5), flowering (6), fruit development (7), fruit maturation (8), and senescence (9). The sequential progression of key growth stages has been described according to the phenological development structure and environmental requirements of different phenophases. Because it covers all phenophases related to the vegetative and reproductive stages, the extended BBCH scale is extensively useful for sweet potato cultivation. The extended BBCH scale may also be a useful tool for assessing the potential effects of climate change on crop productivity and fruit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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By consulting the production and variety application of sweet potato in 11 districts and counties in Northeast Chongqing, the current situation of sweet potato industry was analyzed. Based on the development trend of sweet potato industry, suggestions for the development and variety promotion of sweet potato industry in Northeast Chongqing were proposed as follows: actively introducing and cultivating sweet potato processing enterprises, and vigorously developing new products for sweet potato intensive processing; selecting planting varieties according to local conditions and establish and improving the seed tuber and seedling breeding system of sweet potato; comprehensively promoting the development of industrial integration, and increasing policy support and scientific and technological services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet potato is one of the essential starch materials for food and feed world widely. However, its application is limited by the low viscosity and poor stability of native starches. Herein, sweet potato starch is modified by octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) in the aqueous system. The optimization for esterification is studied using response surface methodology. The characteristics of OSA‐modified sweet potato starch are investigated, and its emulsifying properties as macromolecular and particulate stabilizers in the oil‐in‐water systems are compared. The optimal process conditions for OSA modification are: reaction time 4.0 h, temperature 38.8 °C, pH of the reaction system 8.2, starch concentration 32.2%, OSA amount 3.0%. The degree of substitution is 0.0185, and reaction efficiency is 79.7% under the optimum conditions. The new peaks at 1725 and 1573 cm−1 are observed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Compared with native starch, OSA‐modified sweet potato starch exhibits higher viscosities, improved paste clarity, and decreased retrogradation. The confocal laser scanning microscope results show that the gelatinized starch macromolecule and ungelatinized starch particles can arrange at the water–oil interface. The OSA‐modified sweet potato starch is both an effective macromolecular emulsifier and a particulate stabilizer, effectively stabilizing oil‐in‐water emulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to screen out the high-quality sweet potato varieties suitable for being planted in Fuqing City, 10 new edible sweet potato varieties with high quality were introduced in 2023, and the local main cultivated variety Guangshu 87 was used as the control for the screening experiments. The results showed that Quanshu 19 had high yield, ranking the first in yield, with the concentrated growth of tubers, a larger number of tubers growing in a single plant, uniform size of tubers, smooth body, and excellent quality of taste. Pushu 12 had high yield, ranking the second in yield, with the concentrated growth of tubers, a larger number of tubers growing in a single plant, larger size of tubers, and higher commercial potato rate, dry matter content and starch content. Longshu 601 had high yield, ranking the third in yield, with the concentrated growth of tubers, a larger number of tubers growing in a single plant, moderate size of tubers, high commercial potato rate and excellent quality of taste. The comprehensive performance of the above three varieties was outstanding, and the demonstration base of them could be further expanded in Fuqing City. Funingzi No. 5 had high yield, with the concentrated growth of tubers, neat tubers, uniform size of tubers, and excellent quality of taste. Although the yield of Pushu 32 and Rongzishu No. 1 was lower than that of the control, the size of tubers was uniform, the tuber body was smooth, the commercial potato rate, dry matter content and starch content were higher, and the edible quality of taste was better. The comprehensive performance of the above three varieties was better, and it was recommended to continue carrying out the field experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The starch synthase (SS) plays important roles in regulating plant growth and development and responding to adversity stresses. Although the SS family has been studied in many crops, it has not been fully identified in sweet potato and its two related species. In the present study, eight SSs were identified from Ipomoea batatas (I. batata), Ipomoea trifida (I. trifida), and Ipomoea trlioba (I. trlioba), respectively. According to the phylogenetic relationships, they were divided into five subgroups. The protein properties, chromosomal location, phylogenetic relationships, gene structure, cis-elements in the promoter, and interaction network of these proteins were also analyzed; stress expression patterns were systematically analyzed; and real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis was performed. Ipomoea batatas starch synthase (IbSSs) were highly expressed in tuber roots, especially Ipomoea batatas starch synthase 1 (IbSS1) and Ipomoea batatas starch synthase 6 (IbSS6), which may play an important role in root development and starch biosynthesis. At the same time, the SS genes respond to potassium deficiency, hormones, cold, heat, salt, and drought stress. This study offers fresh perspectives for enhancing knowledge about the roles of SSs and potential genes to enhance productivity, starch levels, and resistance to environmental stresses in sweet potatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorghum and orange‐fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) flours were blended to produce composite flours at eight different ratios of 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, 30:70, and 20:80, respectively, whereas 100% sorghumflour was used as control. The physicochemical compositions, nutritional and functional properties, as well as color attributes of the composite flour blends were evaluated. The acquired data were analyzed using ANOVA, and the means were separated using the Duncan multiple range test. Significant differences (p <.05) were observed in the physicochemical and nutritional properties of the flour blends. The protein levels in the composite flour decreased as the proportion of OFSP flour increased. However, the levels of vitamins, particularly vitamins A and C contents of the composite flours increased with higher proportions of OFSP, ranging from 0.27 and 1.74 mg/100 g in sample S100 to 2.13 and 2.12 mg/100 g in sample S20O80, respectively. In contrast, an increase in the percentage of OFSP flour resulted in a decrease in the contents of vitamin B‐complex, particularly vitamins B2 and B6. These values decreased slightly from 0.19 and 1.98 mg/100 g in sample S100 to 0.16 and 0.03 mg/100 g in sample S20O80, respectively. Furthermore, as the proportion of OFSP flour increased, there was a reduction in the calcium levels from 17.39 mg/100 g in the 100% sorghum sample to 13.52 mg/100 g in the S20O80 sample. However, no particular trend was observed in, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus levels. Sample S50O50 had the highest percentage of essential and conditional amino acids, except for cysteine, valine, and phenylalanine. The findings also revealed significant variations (p <.05) in the composite flour samples' functional properties and color measurements. Substituting sorghum with OFSP in sorghum‐based food products would significantly increase their vitamin A content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Three sweet potato varieties with white-, yellow- and purple-fleshed root tubers were harvested at 100, 120, 140 and 160 days after planting (DAP). Their starch structural, thermal, pasting and digestion properties were measured to reveal the influences of harvesting dates on the physicochemical properties of sweet potato root tuber starch. Though starches from different varieties displayed some differences in physicochemical properties due to their different genetic backgrounds, they were influenced by harvesting date in similar ways. Starches isolated from root tubers at 100 and 160 DAP exhibited lower granule sizes than those at 120 and 140 DAP. The amylose content was higher in root tubers at 100 and 120 DAP than at 140 and 160 DAP. Starches from root tubers at 100 DAP exhibited CA-type X-ray diffraction patterns, and then the B-type crystallinity gradually increased at later harvesting dates. The different harvesting dates had no significant effects on the short-ranged ordered structure and lamellar thickness of starch, but the lamellar peak intensity decreased significantly at later harvesting dates. Starch had a lower gelatinization temperature and a wider gelatinization temperature range in root tubers at 140 and 160 DAP than at 100 and 120 DAP. The higher peak viscosity and lower pasting temperature were associated with the late harvesting date. The digestion of starch had slight differences among root tubers at different harvesting dates. The harvesting dates of root tubers played more important roles in starch properties than the variety. This study would be helpful for breeders, farmers and sweet potato starch users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]