Bioscience Methods 2025, Vol.16, No.2, 60-69 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/bm 61 strategies that can enhance the productivity and resilience of sweet potato crops in China. By achieving these objectives, the study seeks to contribute to the sustainable development of sweet potato breeding programs in China, ensuring the crop's continued role in food security and economic development. 2 Genetic Resources for Sweet Potato Breeding 2.1 Types of genetic resources available Landraces and traditional cultivars are crucial genetic resources for sweet potato breeding in China. These varieties have been cultivated over long periods and are well-adapted to local environmental conditions. They often possess unique traits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and specific taste or nutritional qualities. For instance, the study on Kam Sweet Rice highlights the importance of landraces in maintaining genetic diversity and unique traits that are absent in modern cultivars (Liu et al., 2022). Similarly, sweet potato landraces can provide a rich source of genetic variation that is essential for breeding programs aimed at improving crop resilience and productivity. Wild relatives of sweet potatoes are another valuable genetic resource. These plants often contain genes that confer resistance to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses, which can be introgressed into cultivated varieties. The importance of wild relatives is underscored by research on potato genetic diversity, where wild relatives contributed new and unique alleles to the gene pool, enhancing genetic diversity and breeding potential (Wang et al., 2019). Utilizing wild relatives in sweet potato breeding can similarly introduce beneficial traits that are not present in cultivated varieties. Modern breeding lines and hybrids represent the forefront of sweet potato breeding efforts. These lines are developed through systematic breeding programs that combine desirable traits from various genetic resources. The study on plant breeding history emphasizes the role of modern breeding techniques in developing high-yielding, disease-resistant cultivars (Bradshaw, 2017). In sweet potato breeding, modern lines and hybrids can be used to rapidly incorporate beneficial traits from landraces and wild relatives, leading to the development of superior cultivars. 2.2 National and international gene banks National and international gene banks play a critical role in the conservation and utilization of sweet potato genetic resources. These institutions collect, preserve, and provide access to a wide range of genetic materials, including landraces, wild relatives, and modern breeding lines. The research on potato genetic diversity in China highlights the importance of gene banks in maintaining a diverse genepool for future breeding programs (Wang et al., 2019). Similarly, gene banks for sweet potatoes ensure that valuable genetic resources are available for breeding efforts aimed at improving crop resilience and productivity (Bethke et al., 2017). 2.3 Challenges in genetic resource collection and preservation Despite the importance of genetic resources, there are several challenges in their collection and preservation. One major challenge is the loss of genetic diversity due to the replacement of traditional cultivars with modern high-yielding varieties, as noted in the study on plant breeding history (Bradshaw, 2017; Guan et al., 2021). Additionally, the natural habitats of many wild relatives are threatened by environmental changes and human activities, which complicated in situ conservation difficult. Ex situ conservation in gene banks also faces challenges such as maintaining the viability and genetic integrity of stored materials over long periods. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts to document, conserve, and utilize genetic resources effectively, ensuring their availability for future breeding programs (Hao et al., 2020). 3 Sweet Potato Breeding Programs in China 3.1 Overview of breeding objectives The primary objective of sweet potato breeding programs in China is to enhance both yield and quality. This involves selecting varieties that not only produce higher yields but also possess desirable traits such as improved taste, texture, and nutritional content. For instance, the development of transgenic sweet potatoes has shown promise in increasing yield and nutritional value, with varieties like 'Xushu 18' and 'Kokei' demonstrating enhanced resistance to pests and environmental stresses, thereby contributing to higher productivity (Imbo et al., 2016).
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