Transcriptomic analysis for the gamma-ray-induced sweetpotato mutants with altered stem growth pattern.

Introduction: Sweetpotato faces breeding challenges due to physiological and genomic issues. Gamma radiation is a novel approach for inducing genetic variation in crops. We analyzed the transcriptomic changes in gamma ray-induced sweetpotato mutants with altered stem development compared with those in the wild-type 'Tongchaeru' cultivar. Methods: RNA sequencing analyses were performed to identify changes in the expression of genes related to stem development. Results: Transcriptomic analysis identified 8,931 upregulated and 6,901 downregulated genes, including the upregulation of the auxin-responsive SMALL AUXIN UP RNA (SAUR) and three PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR 4 (PIF4) genes. PIF4 is crucial for regulating the expression of early auxin-responsive SAUR genes and stem growth in Arabidopsis thaliana. In the mutant, several genes related to stem elongation, including PIF4 and those involved in various signaling pathways such as auxin and gibberellin, were upregulated. Discussion: Our results suggest that gamma ray-induced mutations influence auxin-dependent stem development by modulating a complex regulatory network involving the expression of PIF4 and SAUR genes, and other signaling pathways such as gibberellin and ethylene signaling genes. This study enhances our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying stem growth in sweetpotato, providing valuable insights for genomics-assisted breeding efforts.

Genome-wide association study to identify novel loci and genes for Fusarium root rot resistance in sweet potato using genotyping-by-sequencing.

Fusarium root rot, caused by Fusarium solani, is a major post-harvest disease in sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.). An effective strategy for controlling this disease is the development of resistant varieties. In this study, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted on 96 sweet potato genotypes to identify novel candidate loci and dissect the genetic basis of Fusarium root rot resistance. Genotyping was performed using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS), and 44,255 SNPs were identified after filtering. The genotypes (n = 96) were evaluated through resistance tests in 2021 and 2022, separately and combined. The GWAS identified two significant SNP markers (LG3_22903756 and LG4_2449919) on chromosomes 3 and 4 associated with Fusarium root rot resistance, respectively. Lesion length showed significant differences between homozygous A and G alleles of LG3_22903756, which can potentially be used to develop molecular markers for selecting accessions resistant to Fusarium root rot. Expression analysis of 11 putative genes flanking the significant SNPs revealed the alteration in the expression of nine genes, indicating their possible involvement in Fusarium root rot resistance. The results of this study will aid in the marker-assisted selection and functional analysis of candidate genes for Fusarium root rot resistance in sweet potatoes.

Quality Characteristics of Sweet Potato Jelly Prepared Using the Enzymatic Saccharification Method.

In this study, jelly was prepared using saccharified sweet potatoes without sugar, and its quality characteristics were compared according to the sweet potato cultivar. Three sweet potato varieties, namely Juwhangmi (orange color), Sinjami (purple color), and Daeyumi (yellow flesh color), were used. The total free sugar and glucose contents of the hydrolysate were found to increase during the enzyme treatment. However, no differences in the moisture, total soluble solids, or textural properties were found among the sweet potato cultivars. Sinjami had high total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of 446.14 mg GAE/100 g and 243.59 mg CE/100 g, respectively, and it had the highest antioxidant activity among the cultivars. Based on the sensory evaluation, an overall preference appeared in the order of Daeyumi, Sinjami, and Juwhangmi cultivars. This result shows that jelly can be manufactured by saccharifying sweet potatoes, and it was confirmed that the characteristics of raw sweet potatoes had a great influence on the quality characteristics of the jelly. Further, the characteristics of raw sweet potatoes had a remarkable influence on the quality characteristics of the jelly.

High impacts of cultivar and home-cooking practice on the content of free myo-inositol, a bioavailable health-promoting cyclitol, in sweet potato.

Free myo-inositol is a bioavailable form of a cyclitol having various health-promoting activities. The impact of cultivar and home-cooking practice on the content of free myo-inositol in sweet potatoes (12 cultivars grown in 2 different locations) was studied. A GC-MS/MS method following in situ trimethylsilylation was established and validated to determine free myo-inositol. The established analytical method was sensitive, precise, and accurate. It was found that free myo-inositol content in sweet potato varied greatly (sevenfolds) with cultivar, ranging from 377.1 to 2628.3 mg/kg dw. A cultivar Poongwon-mi was found to be an exceptionally rich source of free myo-inositol (2628.3 mg/kg dw). Home-cooking practice markedly increased free myo-inositol content (maximum 240%). Baking showed the highest impact on the increase in free myo-inositol, followed by steaming, microwave cooking, and boiling, in decreasing order. This represents the first report of the remarkably high impact of cultivar and home-cooking practice on the free myo-inositol content in sweet potato. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The free myo-inositol content in sweet potato varied greatly with the cultivars. Poongwon-mi contained a surprisingly high content of free myo-inositol. Home-cooking dramatically increased the free myo-inositol content.

Biological activities of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) tips and tubers.

This study was conducted to evaluate the biological activities of sweet potato tips and tubers. Antioxidant activity of 2,2-azino-bis 93-ethlbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities had the highest value of 32.45 mg, AAE/g, and 15.10 mg AAE/g, respectively, in 'Pungwonmi' tips. Angiotensin converting enzyme I inhibitory activity ranged between 47.72% in 'Sinjami' tubers and 62.25% in 'Pungwonmi' tips. α-Glucosidase inhibitory activity had the highest value of 78.81% and 62.93% in 'Pungwonmi' tips and 'Juhwangmi' tubers, respectively. In particular, 'Pungwonmi' tips had the most effective inhibiting effect on intracellular reactive oxygen species levels in HepG2 cells. Wound healing assay result revealed that 'Sinjami' showed 75% wound healing effect. For skin whitening, 'Pungwonmi' tips showed 63% activity at 10 mg/ml. These results suggest that sweet potato tips and tubers can be used to develop functional food and cosmetic materials.

Incidence Rates of Root Rot in Sweetpotato Caused by Cultivation Soil and Soil Microorganisms During Storage Periods.

Sweetpotatoes require a storage period for year-round use and improved sweetness by starch degradation. However, long-term storage can cause root rot, and a large amount of sweetpotatoes can be discarded. Root rot is typically caused by pathogenic soil-borne Fusarium spp., and the development of root rot induced by the characteristics of cultivating soil in stored sweetpotato has not yet been identified. In this study, the effect of Fusarium spp. and microbial community in the cultivated soil on the root rot of sweetpotatoes was to be elucidated. Wounded sweetpotato were treated in soil cultures inoculated with F. solani or F. oxysporum for 2 days, and showed symptoms of root rot after 2 months of storage. The three study fields (Naju, Yeongam A, and B) were subjected to the same curing and storage treatments after harvest, and the incidence of root rot was 1.7- to 1.8-fold different after 3 months of storage. Across the three fields, concentrations of Fusarium spp. and of microbial communities differed according to the cultivation soil and period. In particular, Naju, which had the lowest incidence of root rot, had the lowest concentration of Fusarium spp. before harvest, and the smallest change in diversity of the microbial community during the cultivation period. However, tuberous roots harvested from the fields showed no significant differences in antioxidant activity or lesion size with the treatment of 106 conidia/ml F. solani. By solidifying the importance of cultivating soil and related microorganisms in the advancement of root rot of sweetpotato, our results may aid in preventing the decrease in the yield of cultivated sweetpotatoes through root rot control.

Comparative study on physicochemical properties of starch films prepared from five sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) cultivars.

Five different sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) cultivars (Daeyumi, Gogeonmi, Sincheonmi [SCM], Singeonmi, and Sinyulmi [SYM]) were used to extract sweet potato starch (SPS) for developing starch-based films. After the chemical composition and amylose contents of all SPSs were evaluated, the morphological, moisture, mechanical, and barrier properties of the SPS-based films were investigated. As one of the film characteristics, the X-ray diffractograms revealed that the SCM-based film with the highest amylose content (26.34%) had the highest relative crystallinity (24.31%). The SCM-based film also showed higher tensile strength (3.05-fold) and elastic modulus (2.38-fold) than the SYM-based film with the lowest amylose content (21.84%). The water vapor and oxygen permeabilities of the SPS-based films were negatively correlated with the amylose content. Thus, the SCM-based film was less permeable for water vapor (3.16-fold) and oxygen (1.81-fold) than the SYM-based film. These results demonstrated that the sweet potato cultivar, especially the amylose content, plays a significant role in determining the physicochemical properties of the SPS-based films.

Occurrence of Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) Wilt and Surface Rot Disease and Determining Resistance of Selected Varieties to the Pathogen in Korea.

Fusarium wilt and Fusarium surface rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum Schltdl are the major diseases of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) and was surveyed in different locations (Cheongju, Heanam, Iksan, Icheon, Kimje, Nonsan, Yeoungam, and Yeoju) in Korea from 2015 to 2017 in the field, after harvesting and in storehouse. The wilt incidence in the early stage represented 17.9%, 5.9%, and 8.3% in 2015, 2016, and 2017, respectively. Samples were collected, and the causal organism was isolated on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Ten pure cultures were stored at the Sweetpotato Research Laboratory, Bioenergy Crop Research Institute, Muan, Korea. Morphological analysis, along with molecular phylogeny of the sequences of internal-transcribed spacer (ITS) and elongation factor 1-α (EF-1α) genes and their combined phylogenetic analysis, confirmed the isolates as the Fusarium oxysporum Schltdl. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on sweetpotato stems, and storage roots by artificially inoculation methods, and the most virulent isolate was selected as SPL18019. A rapid screening method on 21 selected varieties for resistant variety selection was applied on stems. The Pungwanmi was found resistant to Fusarium wilt, whereas Annobeni was the most susceptible. On the other hand, six varieties were used to test surface rot resistance, and Yulmi and Yesumi were resistant and susceptible, respectively, to Fusarium surface rot.

Phylogeographic analysis of the full genome of Sweepovirus to trace virus dispersal and introduction to Korea.

Sweet potato is a vegetatively propagated crop that is produced for both growth in Korean fields and for export out of the country. The viruses that are present in introduced sweet potatoes can spread both domestically and to foreign countries. Determining the time and path of virus movement could help curtail its spread and prevent future dispersal of related viruses. Determining the consequences of past virus and sweet potato dispersal could provide insight into the ecological and economic risks associated with other sweet potato-infecting viral invasions. We therefore applied Bayesian phylogeographic inferences and recombination analyses of the available Sweepovirus sequences (including 25 Korean Sweepovirus genomes) and reconstructed a plausible history of Sweepovirus diversification and movement across the globe. The Mediterranean basin and Central America were found to be the launchpad of global Sweepovirus dispersal. Currently, China and Brazil are acting as convergence regions for Sweepoviruses. Recently reported Korean Sweepovirus isolates were introduced from China in a recent phase and the regions around China and Brazil continue to act as centers of Sweepovirus diversity and sites of ongoing Sweepovirus evolution. The evidence indicates that the region is an epidemiological hotspot, which suggests that novel Sweepovirus variants might be found.

Virus Incidence of Sweet Potato in Korea from 2011 to 2014.

A nationwide survey was performed to investigate the current incidence of viral diseases in Korean sweet potatoes for germplasm and growing fields from 2011 to 2014. A total of 83.8% of the germplasm in Korea was infected with viruses in 2011. Commercial cultivars that were used to supply growing fields were infected at a rate of 62.1% in 2012. Among surveyed viruses, the incidence of five Potyvirus species that infect sweet potato decreased between 2012 and 2013, and then increased again in 2014. Representatively, the incidence of Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV) was 87.0% in 2012, 20.7% in 2013 and then increased to 35.3% in 2014. Unlike RNA viruses, DNA viruses were shown to decrease continuously. The incidence of Sweet potato leaf curl virus (SPLCV) was 5.5% in 2003, 59.5% in 2011, and 47.4% in 2012. It then decreased continuously year by year to 33.2% in 2013, and then 25.6% in 2014. While the infection rate of each virus species showed a tendency to decline, the virus infection status was more variable in 2013 and 2014. Nevertheless, the high rate of single infections and mixed infection combinations were more variable than the survey results from 2012. As shown in the results from 2013, the most prevalent virus infection was a single infection at 27.6%, with the highest rate of infection belonging to sweet potato symptomless virus-1 (SPSMV-1) (12.9%). Compared to 2013, infection combinations were more varied in 2014, with a total of 122 kinds of mixed infection.

Preparation of slowly digestible sweet potato Daeyumi starch by dual enzyme modification.

Sweet potato Daeyumi starch was dually modified using glycogen branching enzyme (BE) from Streptococcus mutans and amylosucrase (AS) from Neisseria polysaccharea to prepare slowly digestible starch (SDS). Dually modified starches had higher SDS and resistant starch (RS) contents than control starch. The branched chain length distributions of the BE-modified starches indicated an increase in short side-chains [degree of polymerization (DP)≤12] compared with native starch. AS treatment of the BE-modified starches decreased the proportion of short side-chains and increased the proportion of long side-chains (DP≥25) and molecular mass. It also resulted in a B-type X-ray diffraction pattern and an increased relative crystallinity. Regarding thermal properties, the BE-modified starches showed no endothermic peak, whereas the BEAS-modified starches had a broader melting temperature range and lower melting enthalpy compared to native starch. The combined enzymatic treatment resulted in novel glucan polymers with slow digestion properties.

Effect of processing conditions on the content of cis/trans carotene isomers as provitamin A carotenoids in Korean sweet potato varieties.

The present investigation intends to evaluate the changes in the content of cis/trans carotene isomers as provitamin A carotenoids by steaming and roasting processes in the roots of four Korean sweet potato varieties viz. Shinzami, Younwhangmi, Chuwhangmi and Jinhongmi using a liquid chromatography with diode array detection and the negative ion atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometric (LC-DAD-APCI/MS) method and UV spectral pattern library created from several reference data. Except Shinzami, the content of all trans ß-carotenes was found to slightly decreased or remained constant when steamed or roasted. The content of cis α-/ß-carotenes was potentially increased about 2-fold or greater when raw or steamed and the content was slightly decreased while roasted. In Chuwhangmi, the content of 13-cis α-carotene and all trans α-carotenes were rapidly increased when steamed and slightly decreased when roasted. Chuwhangmi exhibited 27.2 mg/100 g DW content of all trans ß-carotenes when roasted and thus, it was considered as a relatively superior cultivar.