Next Generation Sequencing and Genetic Analyses Reveal Factors Driving Evolution of Sweetpotato Viruses in Uganda.

Sweetpotato ( L.) is an essential food crop globally, especially for farmers facing resource limitations. Like other crops, sweetpotato cultivation faces significant production challenges due to viral infections.

Assessment of Cassava Pollen Viability and Ovule Fertilizability under Red-Light, 6-Benzyl Adenine, and Silver Thiosulphate Treatments.

Understanding pollen and ovule fertility as factors influencing fruit and seed set is important in cassava breeding. Extended daylength with red light (RL) and plant growth regulators (PGRs) have been used to induce flowering and fruit set in cassava without any reference to effects on pollen viability or ovule fertilizability. This study investigated the effects of field-applied RL and PGR on pollen viability and ovule fertilizability.

Gender mainstreaming in sweetpotato breeding in Uganda: a case study.

Purpose: In Uganda, sweetpotato [ (L.) Lam] is typically a "woman's crop," grown, processed, stored and also mainly consumed by smallholder farmers for food and income. Farmers value sweetpotato for its early maturity, resilience to stresses, and minimal input requirements.

Breeding Cultivars for Resistance to the African Sweetpotato Weevils, and in Uganda: A Review of the Current Progress.

In sub-Saharan Africa, sweetpotato weevils are the major pests of cultivated sweetpotato, causing estimated losses of between 60% and 100%, primarily during dry spells. The predominantly cryptic feeding behavior of spp. within their roots makes their control difficult, thus, host plant resistance is one of the most promising lines of protection against these pests.

Heterotic gains, transgressive segregation and fitness cost of sweetpotato weevil resistance expression in a partial diallel cross of sweetpotato.

Heterosis-exploiting breeding schemes are currently under consideration as a means of accelerating genetic gains in sweetpotato () breeding. This study was aimed at establishing heterotic gains, fitness costs and transgressive segregation associated with sweetpotato weevil (SPW) resistance in a partial diallel cross of sweetpotato. A total of 1896 clones were tested at two sites, for two seasons each in Uganda.

Decision tree scoring system to guide selection for consumer preference in sweetpotato breeding trials.

Background: Previously, a lexicon and protocol for quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) was established for the Uganda sweetpotato breeding program. The implication of QDA scores for priority sensory attributes on consumer preference should be determined to interpret results efficiently and make decisions effectively. The present study aimed to develop a gender-responsive decision tree to obtain an overall sweetpotato eating quality score to facilitate demand-led targeted breeding selection.

Targeting market segment needs with public-good crop breeding investments: A case study with potato and sweetpotato focused on poverty alleviation, nutrition and gender.

Crop breeding programs have often focused on the release of new varieties that target yield improvement to achieve food security and reduce poverty. While continued investments in this objective are justified, there is a need for breeding programs to be increasingly more demand-driven and responsive to the changing customer preferences and population dynamics. This paper analyses the responsiveness of global potato and sweetpotato breeding programs pursued by the International Potato Center (CIP) and its partners to three major development indicators: poverty, malnutrition and gender.

Household Processing Methods and Their Impact on Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activities of Sweetpotato Genotypes of Varying Storage Root Flesh Colours.

Sweetpotato storage roots, peeled and unpeeled, of varying flesh colours (white, cream, yellow, pale orange, deep orange, and purple) were spectrophotometrically evaluated for their bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities. Roots were boiled, steamed, baked, fried, or microwaved. The unpeeled roots had relatively higher (p < 0.

Combining ability and heritability analysis of sweetpotato weevil resistance, root yield, and dry matter content in sweetpotato.

Efficient breeding and selection of superior genotypes requires a comprehensive understanding of the genetics of traits. This study was aimed at establishing the general combining ability (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA), and heritability of sweetpotato weevil ( spp.) resistance, storage root yield, and dry matter content in a sweetpotato multi-parental breeding population.

Market Intelligence and Incentive-Based Trait Ranking for Plant Breeding: A Sweetpotato Pilot in Uganda.

Crop breeding programs must accelerate crop improvement, spur widespread adoption of new varieties and increase variety turnover they are to meet the diverse needs of their clients. More comprehensive quantitative approaches are needed to better inform breeding programs about the preferred traits among farmers and other actors. However, the ability of current breeding programs to meet the demands of their clients is limited by the lack of insights about value chain actor preference for individual or packages of traits.

The Potential of Sweetpotato as a Functional Food in Sub-Saharan Africa and Its Implications for Health: A Review.

Increasing urbanization in developing countries has resulted in busier lifestyles, accompanied by consumption of fast foods. The consequence is an increased prevalence in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Food-based approaches would be cheaper and more sustainable in reducing these NCDs compared to drugs, which may have side effects.

Discovery of a major QTL for root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) resistance in cultivated sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas).

Utilizing a high-density integrated genetic linkage map of hexaploid sweetpotato, we discovered a major dominant QTL for root-knot nematode (RKN) resistance and modeled its effects. This discovery is useful for development of a modern sweetpotato breeding program that utilizes marker-assisted selection and genomic selection approaches for faster genetic gain of RKN resistance. The root-knot nematode [Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood] (RKN) causes significant storage root quality reduction and yields losses in cultivated sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.

Development of a food product profile for boiled and steamed sweetpotato in Uganda for effective breeding.

This study sought to understand user preferences of raw, boiled and steamed sweetpotato, a staple food in Uganda. A sequential methodology involving state of knowledge review, gendered food mapping, processing diagnosis and consumer testing was used in Lira and Kamwenge districts. Preferred raw sweetpotato characteristics were large roots (≥ 3 cm diameter) with a sweet taste, smooth skin and hard texture, while mealiness, sweet taste and good sweetpotato smell were important attributes for boiled sweetpotato.

Quantitative trait loci and differential gene expression analyses reveal the genetic basis for negatively associated β-carotene and starch content in hexaploid sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.].

β-Carotene content in sweetpotato is associated with the Orange and phytoene synthase genes; due to physical linkage of phytoene synthase with sucrose synthase, β-carotene and starch content are negatively correlated. In populations depending on sweetpotato for food security, starch is an important source of calories, while β-carotene is an important source of provitamin A. The negative association between the two traits contributes to the low nutritional quality of sweetpotato consumed, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

Segregation of Hydroxycinnamic Acid Esters Mediating Sweetpotato Weevil Resistance in Storage Roots of Sweetpotato.

Resistance to sweetpotato weevils ( spp.) has been identified in several sweetpotato () landraces from East Africa and shown to be conferred by hydroxycinnamic acids that occur on the surface of storage roots. The segregation of resistance in this crop is unknown and could be monitored using these chemical traits as markers for resistance in F offspring from breeding programs.

Genetic analysis and association of simple sequence repeat markers with storage root yield, dry matter, starch and β-carotene content in sweetpotato.

Molecular markers are needed for enhancing the development of elite sweetpotato ( (L.) Lam) cultivars with a wide range of commercially important traits in sub-Saharan Africa. This study was conducted to estimate the heritability and determine trait correlations of storage root yield, dry matter, starch and β-carotene content in a cross between 'New Kawogo' × 'Beauregard'.