Bioscience Methods 2025, Vol.16, No.1, 1-10 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/bm 1 Review Article Open Access Latest Progress on the Effects of Drought, Salinity, and Temperature Stress on Sweet Potatoes and Their Resistance Mechanisms LinZhao1 , Xinhao Zhou2, Li Qiu3, Liping Tao4 1 Crop (Ecology) Research Institute of Hangzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China 2 Young Couple Family Farm in Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China 3 Zhejiang Yuhe Yueyue Agricultural Development Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China 4 People’s Government of Tianmushan Town, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China Corresponding email: zhaolin0227@163.com Bioscience Methods, 2025, Vol.16, No.1 doi: 10.5376/bm.2025.16.0001 Received: 23 Jul., 2024 Accepted: 30 Dec., 2024 Published: 15 Jan., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Zhao et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Zhao L., Zhou X.H., Qiu L., Tao L.P., 2025, Latest progress on the effects of drought, salinity, and temperature stress on sweet potatoes and their resistance mechanisms, Bioscience Methods, 16(1): 1-10 (doi: 10.5376/bm.2025.16.0001) Abstract Abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, and heavy metal toxicity pose significant challenges to global agriculture, impacting crop yields and food security. Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), an essential staple crop, is particularly affected by these stresses, necessitating enhanced tolerance mechanisms to maintain productivity. This study examines the physiological, molecular, and genetic mechanisms that support the abiotic stress tolerance of sweet potatoes, with a focus on key traits such as water use efficiency, osmotic regulation, and antioxidant defense. At the same time, specific genes and transcription factors involved in stress response pathways, including ABA and ROS signaling, as well as the role of epigenetic modifications in adapting to environmental stress, were also analyzed. Additionally, breeding strategies and biotechnological interventions such as CRISPR and marker-assisted selection are discussed, emphasizing their role in developing stress-resilient varieties. Case studies on drought and salinity-resistant sweet potato varieties highlight practical outcomes of current breeding programs. This study summarizes the limitations of existing methods and proposes directions for future research. Enhancing abiotic stress tolerance in sweet potato remains a crucial goal, with promising potential through integrated breeding and biotechnological approaches to support sustainable agriculture. Keywords Sweet potato; Abiotic stress tolerance; Drought resistance; Salinity tolerance; Molecular mechanisms 1 Introduction Abiotic stress, including drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, and oxidative stress, poses significant challenges to agricultural productivity worldwide (Tao and Han, 2024; Zhu and Shen, 2024). These stressors can severely limit crop growth, yield, and quality, leading to substantial economic losses and food insecurity. The increasing frequency and intensity of these stresses due to climate change further exacerbate the problem, necessitating the development of crops with enhanced tolerance to abiotic stresses (Fan et al., 2012; Demirel et al., 2020; Villalobos-López et al., 2022). Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a vital staple crop globally, known for its high nutritional value and adaptability to diverse environmental conditions. It ranks as the seventh most important food crop, providing essential nutrients and calories to millions of people, particularly in developing countries (Liu et al., 2023). Despite its resilience, sweet potato production is still significantly affected by abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and low temperatures, which can lead to reduced yields and compromised food security (Fan et al., 2015; Ren et al., 2020). Enhancing the abiotic stress tolerance of sweet potato is therefore crucial for stabilizing its production and ensuring food availability in stress-prone regions. This study seeks to highlight strategies for sweet potato to cope with various abiotic stresses by examining recent advancements in genetic, physiological, and molecular research, exploring the roles of specific genes and proteins-such as betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH), peroxidases (PRXs), and sucrose non-fermenting-1 related protein kinase-1 (SnRK1)-in enhancing stress tolerance, and discussing the potential of biotechnological
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