Cultivar-specific effects of pathogen testing on storage root yield of sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.

The accumulation and perpetuation of viral pathogens over generations of clonal propagation in crop species such as sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas,inevitably result in a reduction in crop yield and quality. This study was conducted at Bundaberg, Australia to compare the productivity of field-derived and pathogen-tested (PT)clones of 14 sweet potato cultivars and the yield benefits of using healthy planting materials. The field-derived clonal materials were exposed to the endemic viruses, while the PT clones were subjected to thermotherapy and meristem-tip culture to eliminate viral pathogens. The plants were indexed for viruses using nitrocellulose membrane-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and graft-inoculations onto Ipomoea setosa. A net benefit of 38% in storage root yield was realised from using PT materials in this study.Conversely, in a similar study previously conducted at Kerevat, Papua New Guinea (PNG), a net deficit of 36% was realised. This reinforced our finding that the response to pathogen testing was cultivar dependent and that the PNG cultivars in these studies generally exhibited increased tolerance to the endemic viruses present at the respective trial sites as manifested in their lack of response from the use of PT clones. They may be useful sources for future resistance breeding efforts. Nonetheless, the potential economic gain from using PT stocks necessitates the use of pathogen testing on virus-susceptible commercial cultivars.

Occurrence of LINE, gypsy-like, and copia-like retrotransposons in the clonally propagated sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.)

Retrotransposons are a class of transposable elements that represent a major fraction of the repetitive DNA of most eukaryotes. Their abundance stems from their expansive replication strategies. We screened and isolated sequence fragments of long terminal repeat (LTR), gypsy-like reverse transcriptase (rt) and gypsy-like envelope (env) domains, and two partial sequences of non-LTR retrotransposons, long interspersed element (LINE), in the clonally propagated allohexaploid sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) genome. Using dot-blot hybridization, these elements were found to be present in the ~1597 Mb haploid sweet potato genome with copy numbers ranging from ~50 to ~4100 as observed in the partial LTR (IbLtr-1) and LINE (IbLi-1) sequences, respectively. The continuous clonal propagation of sweet potato may have contributed to such a multitude of copies of some of these genomic elements. Interestingly, the isolated gypsy-like env and gypsy-like rt sequence fragments, IbGy-1 (~2100 copies) and IbGy-2 (~540 copies), respectively, were found to be homologous to the Bagy-2 cDNA sequences of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Although the isolated partial sequences were found to be homologous to other transcriptionally active elements, future studies are required to determine whether they represent elements that are transcriptionally active under normal and (or) stressful conditions.

Cultivar-specific effects of pathogen testing on storage root yield of sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas.

The accumulation and perpetuation of viral pathogens over generations of clonal propagation in crop species such as sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas, inevitably result in a reduction in crop yield and quality. This study was conducted at Bundaberg, Australia to compare the productivity of field-derived and pathogen-tested (PT) clones of 14 sweetpotato cultivars and the yield benefits of using healthy planting materials. The field-derived clonal materials were exposed to the endemic viruses, while the PT clones were subjected to thermotherapy and meristem-tip culture to eliminate viral pathogens. The plants were indexed for viruses using nitrocellulose membrane-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and graft-inoculations onto Ipomoea setosa. A net benefit of 38% in storage root yield was realised from using PT materials in this study. Conversely, in a similar study previously conducted at Kerevat, Papua New Guinea (PNG), a net deficit of 36% was realised. This reinforced our finding that the response to pathogen testing was cultivar dependent and that the PNG cultivars in these studies generally exhibited increased tolerance to the endemic viruses present at the respective trial sites as manifested in their lack of response from the use of PT clones. They may be useful sources for future resistance breeding efforts. Nonetheless, the potential economic gain from using PT stocks necessitates the use of pathogen testing on virus-susceptible commercial cultivars. .

Caracterización, evaluación y la aceptación de ocho accesiones de batatas (Ipomoea batatas L.) en la dieta alimenticia de los campesinos de la cooperativa Vicente Rodríguez de Masaya

En el presente trabajo se evaluaron y caracterizaron 8 accesiones de batatas Ipomoea batatas L. Los que fueron facilitados por el Programa de Recursos Genéticos Nicaragüense de la Universidad Nacional Agraria. Este ensayo se estableció en la Cooperativa Vicente Rodríguez, ubicada en el Empalme de Las Flores de Masaya, IV región, distante a 33 kilómetros de Managua. Fue establecido en un diseño de Bloques Completos al Azar, con 3 repeticiones entre junio de 1994 a febrero de 1995. Los objetivos planteados fueron: estudio de las propiedades culinarias de 8 accesiones de camote, en la dieta alimenticia del sector campesino de Masaya; caracterizar y evaluar preliminarmente 8 accesiones de camote lpomoea batatas L. bajo las condiciones agroclimáticas de Quebrada Honda, Masaya. Los caracteres del follaje: diámetro, longitud de entrenudo del tallo, forma y longitud de las hojas son muy similares. Mediante la caracterización morfológica para la identificación de duplicados, se llegó a la conclusión que ninguna de las 8 accesiones están duplicadas. La cobertura del suelo fue tomada a los 130 días después de la siembra, cuando el cultivo cubrió con el follaje los espacios entre surcos. En el estudio sobresalieron por su rendimiento las accesiones 2123, 176 y 1384. El diámetro de las raíces reservantes, el peso del follaje y el número de raíces por planta, puede tomarse como parámetros para buscar accesiones rendidoras. El resultado de la evaluación de la calidad culinaria realizada en las raíces reservantes fueron las accesiones: la más simple y amarga en cuanto al sabor de la raíz fue la accesión 2855, la más dulce 176, la más fibrosa 1437 y la accesión 1384 sin ninguna fibra, la que presentó mejor sabor fue la accesión 176 y respecto al tiempo de cocción las más rápidas de cocinar con leña a fuego moderado fueron las accesiones 176 con 21 minutos y 1437 con 22 minutos.

Caracterización y evaluación preliminar de seis genotipos de camote (Ipomoea batatas L.) con fertilización orgánica e inorgánica

Los pequeños y medianos productores están enfrentando un deterioro de sus niveles alimenticios por el drástico descenso de sus ingresos reales. Las políticas agrícolas siempre han dado mayor importancia a los cereales, lo cual hace que los pobladores los consuman en mayor cantidad. Por lo tanto, es prioritario hacer esfuerzos para la explotación eficiente de las posibilidades alimenticias y económicas que ofrece el camote (Ipomoea batatas L).Este estudio se condujo con el propósito de contribuir al desarrollo del cultivo del camote mediante la caracterización y evaluación preliminar de 6 genotipos con fertilización orgánica e inorgánica. El experimento fue realizado en el área experimental del Programa Recursos Genéticos Nicaragüenses (REGEN ), ubicado en el km 12 ½ Carretera Norte. Se utilizó un diseño en bloques completos al azar con arreglos en parcelas divididas con dos replicas; en el estudio se evaluaron dos tipos de fertilización (fertilización orgánica e inorgánica), mas un testigo (Sin fertilización), en 6 genotipos de camote. El bifactorial se organizó de forma tal que, en la parcela grande se estudiaron los fertilizantes y en las parcelas pequeñas se estudiaron los genotipos. Se utilizaron para la caracterización y evaluación 50 descriptores. En el estudio se pudo apreciar diferencias significativas entre los genotipos para la mayoría de los descriptores evaluados. Por otro lado, los diferentes tipos de fertilización estudiados no tuvieron ningún efecto en el rendimiento. En general, los caracteres de tallo y de raíz, (peso, diámetro y volumen) permitieron una buena discriminación entre genotipos, aunque dichas diferencias fueron mas marcadas en los caracteres de raíz los cuales pueden ser de mucha importancia para la caracterización y evaluación de genotipos de camote. La discriminación de descriptores se realizó mediante el análisis de componentes principales. El análisis determinó que el 70.38% de la variación total la aportan los 3 primeros componentes principales, A través del análisis de agrupamiento, el método de Ward y la distancia de R² semi parcial resultó en un fenograma que permitió la separación de 4 grandes grupos de genotipos claramente definidos, los que presentan características similares, Estos fueron: primer grupo conformado por Tanzania, el segundo por Jonathan, el tercero por los genotipos Costanero y Zapallo, y el cuarto por losgenotipos María Angola y Cañetano.

Estudios sobre Ipomoea batatas, L.V. : características físicas, composición química y calidad culinaria de los cultivares Bolivar, Criolla Amarilla y Morada INTA

p.17-27

Cell and nuclear degradation in sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] root meristems following exposure to salinity

Sodium chloride-induced cell and nuclear degradation in the root meristems of sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] were determined using fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry analysis. Two sweetpotato cultivars were grown in liquid Murashige and Skoog medium and subjected to 0 mM and 500 mM NaCl, with or without 15 mM CaCl2, for periods up to 24 h. Changes to the nuclei of root meristematic cells showed a similar pattern of damage to the nuclei using both fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry analysis. Damage occurring after only a few hours was followed by nuclear degradation at 24 h. Flow cytometry histograms showed a reduction in G1 and G2 nuclei and an increase in degraded nuclei in NaCl-stressed roots. Salinity-induced nuclear degradation was alleviated by the addition of CaCl2.

Avaliação e valorização de recursos agrícolas: avaliação nutricional e mineral de variedades tradicionais de batata-doce (Ipomoea batatas L.) provenientes da Madeira e Açores

Este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o intuito de avaliar nutricionalmente variedades agrícolas regionais madeirenses e açorianas de Ipomoea batatas L. (batata-doce). No total 18 amostras foram analisadas, entre as quais 11 são variedades provindas da Madeira e outras 7 provindas dos Açores. O maior objectivo deste estudo foi comparar a composição nutricional e mineral de um conjunto de variedades de batata-doce, valorizando assim os recursos agrícolas da Madeira e Açores. A caracterização nutricional e mineral dos rizomas, produzidos nestas regiões, proporcionou informação relevante para a valorização destes recursos. Sendo um rizoma tropical consumido habitualmente pela população e disponível todo o ano, torna essencial a sua avaliação. A análise laboratorial dos rizomas permitiu determinar um conjunto de características nutricionais. De um modo geral, os valores nutricionais médios detectados em rizomas de batata-doce destas duas regiões são de 93,64 g/100g de MS para o resíduo seco, 3,01 g/100g de MS para cinzas, 3,19 g/100g de MS para fibra (ADF), 1,21 g/100g de MS para gordura bruta, 3,20 g/100g de MS para proteína, 14,00 g/100g de MS para açúcares solúveis e 59,72 g/100g de MS para o amido. A análise mineral incluiu a determinação de fósforo, potássio, cálcio, magnésio, ferro, cobre, zinco, manganês e boro. Na variedade “De cenoura” (ISOP 1028), foi quantificado o nível de pro-vitamina A pela técnica de HPLC, que foi verificado ser 12,48 mg/100g em MS de β-caroteno. Os dados obtidos na análise nutricional foram usados para construir uma base de dados no NIRS (Near Infra-Red Spectroscopy) de modo a construir um modelo de previsão que possa predizer o valor nutritivo de um grande número de amostras em tempo reduzido, com um mínimo de impacto ambiental. Posteriormente, os dados obtidos através das análises nutricionais e minerais foram introduzidos no software estatístico SPSS 19.0 para determinar correlações e similaridades.

Effects of leaves of Ipomoea batatas (Convolvulaceae) on nest development and on respiratory metabolism of leaf-cutting ants Atta sexdens L. (Hym., Formicidae)

Laboratory colonies of the leaf-cutting ants Atta sexdens feed daily with leaves of Ipomoea batatas showed ant mortality and a significant decrease in the size of the fungal garden after the second week, with complete depletion of nests after 5 weeks of treatment. The mean oxygen consumption rate of these ants was higher than the control (ants collected from nests feed with leaves of Eucalyptus alba), suggesting a physiological action of the leaves of I. batatas on the ants in addition to the effect of inhibiting the growth of the fungal garden.

Comparações produtiva, econômica e energética de sistemas convencional, orgânico e biodinâmico de cultivo de batata-doce (Ipomoea batatas)

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA

Comparação entre ágar e amido como agentes gelificantes na micropropagação de batata doce Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Horticultura) - FCA

Stability of Carotenoids, Total Phenolics and In Vitro Antioxidant Capacity in the Thermal Processing of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas Lam.) Cultivars Grown in Brazil

Intervention strategies regarding the biofortification of orange-fleshed sweet potato, which is a rich source of carotenoids for combating vitamin A deficiency, are being developed in Brazil. This study was conducted to evaluate the concentrations of individual carotenoids, total phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity in the roots of four biofortified sweet potato cultivars that were raw or processed by four common heat treatments. HPLC, Folin-Ciocalteu, DPPH and ABTS assays were used. All cultivars showed high levels of carotenoids in raw roots, predominantly all-trans-beta-carotene (79.1-128.5 mg.100 g(-1) DW), suggesting a high estimated vitamin A activity. The CNPH 1194 cultivar reported carotenoids values highest than those of other cultivars (p < 0.05). The total phenolic compounds varied among cultivars and heat treatments (0.96-2.05 mg.g(-1) DW). In most cases, the heat treatments resulted in a significant decrease in the carotenoids and phenolic compounds contents as well as antioxidant capacity. Processing of flour presented the greatest losses of major carotenoids and phenolics. The phenolic compounds showed more stability than carotenoids after processing. There were significant correlations between the carotenoids and phenolic compounds and the antioxidant capacity.

Theoretical segregation ratios of qualitatively inherited characters for hexaploid sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.)

Bibliographical footnotes.

Effects of leaves of Ipomoea batatas (Convolvulaceae) on nest development and on respiratory metabolism of leaf-cutting ants Atta sexdens L. (Hym., Formicidae)

Laboratory colonies of the leaf-cutting ants Atta sexdens feed daily with leaves of Ipomoea batatas showed ant mortality and a significant decrease in the size of the fungal garden after the second week, with complete depletion of nests after 5 weeks of treatment. The mean oxygen consumption rate of these ants was higher than the control (ants collected from nests feed with leaves of Eucalyptus alba), suggesting a physiological action of the leaves of I. batatas on the ants in addition to the effect of inhibiting the growth of the fungal garden.