Evaluating effects of environmental and physical factors on sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas)

Multi-year, multi-location research is being conducted to evaluate environmental effects on the physiological characteristics of 'Beauregard', 'LA 07-146', and 'Orleans' storage roots. The locations differed in planting and harvest date, soil type, temperature, and watering regime (irrigation or rainfall). Roots will be evaluated green (newly harvested), after curing for 7 days at 80% humidity and 24 degrees C, and at 6 week intervals during the storage season from each site. A weather sampling station will be deployed at each site and will record: air temperature, humidity, soil temperature and moisture at 5 and 15 cm, and rainfall/overhead irrigation amounts. Five sites are being used for evaluation: Elberta, AL; Grand Prairie, LA; Montrose, AR; Wynne, AR; and Sikeston, MO. The characteristics being evaluated include weight loss, density (specific gravity), sugar content, dry matter, starch content (alcohol insoluble solids), carotenoid content, amino acid content, and phenolic content. Processors need a uniform product to sell to consumers. The different agroclimatic areas that sweetpotatoes are grown can affect the internal physiological characteristics of the storage root. This project will seek to identify specific environmental effects which positively and negatively impact sweetpotato quality throughout storage.