Bioscience Methods 2025, Vol.16, No.2, 60-69 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/bm 60 Case Study Open Access Case Study on Genetic Resource Utilization for Sweet Potato Breeding in China FangWang1, Yuxu Zhang2, Shijun Zhu1, Jinbo Zhou1, Chengqi Yan 1 1 Ningbo Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ningbo 315040, China 2 Zhejiang Wanli College, Ningbo 315100, China Corresponding email: yanchengqi651203@163.com Bioscience Methods, 2025, Vol.16, No.2 doi: 10.5376/bm.2025.16.0007 Received: 10 Feb., 2025 Accepted: 21 Mar., 2025 Published: 30 Mar., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Wang 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: Wang F., Zhang Y.X., Zhu S.J., Zhou J.B., Yan C.Y., 2025, Case study on genetic resource utilization for sweet potato breeding in China, Bioscience Methods, 16(2): 60-69 (doi: 10.5376/bm.2025.16.0007) Abstract Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a globally significant crop valued for its versatility, nutritional benefits, and resilience. In China, the development of improved sweet potato varieties plays a vital role in addressing food security, economic sustainability, and agricultural productivity. This study provides a comprehensive review of the genetic resources available for sweet potato breeding, including landraces, wild relatives, and modern breeding lines, with a focus on their collection, preservation, and utilization. We further analyze breeding programs in China, highlighting efforts to enhance yield, stress tolerance, and nutritional value through traditional and molecular breeding approaches. A dedicated case study demonstrates the practical application of local genetic resources in a regional breeding program, detailing the selection of parental lines, hybridization techniques, field trials, and multi-environment evaluations. Challenges related to resource access, intellectual property, and environmental adaptation are discussed, along with opportunities for collaboration and innovation. This research underscores the importance of genetic diversity and biotechnology in advancing sweet potato breeding, with recommendations to expand the genetic base and integrate cutting-edge techniques. The findings aim to support sustainable breeding strategies that meet the evolving needs of agriculture and consumers. Keywords Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam; Antioxidants; Chronic disease; Nutritional composition; Disease prevention 1 Introduction Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is a vital food crop globally, ranking as the sixth most important food crop worldwide. Originating from America, sweet potatoes have become a staple in many countries due to their rich nutritional profile and versatility in various culinary applications (Lee et al., 2019). This crop is particularly valued for its high content of sugars, slowly digestible/resistant starch, vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds such as carotenoids and polyphenols, which contribute to its health benefits, including the prevention of certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases. The global market for sweet potatoes is substantial, with China leading in production, reflecting the crop's significant economic and nutritional impact (Escobar-Puentes et al., 2022; Istri et al., 2023). In China, sweet potato breeding is of paramount importance due to the country's leading role in global production and the crop's contribution to food security and economic stability. The diverse phenotypic and genotypic traits of domesticated sweet potato varieties in China allow for the development of cultivars that are tailored to specific environmental conditions and consumer preferences. This genetic diversity is crucial for enhancing yield, disease resistance, and nutritional quality (Shen et al., 2019). For instance, studies have shown significant genetic variability among sweet potato genotypes, which can be harnessed to improve resistance to diseases such as sweet potato viral disease (SPVD) and to optimize yield under various climatic conditions (Lamaro et al., 2022). This breeding effort is essential for sustaining the crop's productivity and meeting the nutritional needs of the population (Swanckaert et al., 2021). The study aims to explore the genetic resources available for sweet potato breeding in China and evaluate their utilization in developing improved sweet potato varieties. Specifically, the study aims to assess the genetic diversity of sweet potato cultivars in China and identify key phenotypic and genotypic traits that contribute to yield, disease resistance, and nutritional quality. Additionally, the study evaluates the performance of various sweet potato genotypes under different environmental conditions. It also provides recommendations for breeding
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