Bioscience Methods 2025, Vol.16, No.2, 60-69 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/bm 63 Figure 1 Location of the sweet potato accessions from around the world, highlighting China (Adopted from Su et al., 2017) 4.2 Crossbreeding and hybridization efforts Crossbreeding and hybridization are fundamental techniques in sweet potato breeding aimed at combining desirable traits from different parent lines. These methods have been employed to improve various traits such as starch quality and disease resistance. For example, crossbreeding efforts in potatoes have shown that hybridization can create wider genetic variation than the parent lines, leading to the selection of progenies with improved starch properties (Ahmed et al., 2019). Similarly, hybridization in sweet potatoes can be used to combine traits such as high yield, disease resistance, and improved nutritional content, thereby enhancing the overall performance of new cultivars (Zhang et al., 2021). 4.3 Role of biotechnology in genetic resource use Biotechnology plays a pivotal role in the utilization of genetic resources for sweet potato breeding. Techniques such as genome-wide assessment and molecular marker analysis facilitate the identification of valuable genetic traits and their incorporation into breeding programs. The use of specific length amplified fragment (SLAF) sequencing in sweet potato has enabled a detailed analysis of genetic diversity and the development of a core germplasm set, which serves as a valuable resource for breeding (Su et al., 2017). Additionally, molecular tools have been instrumental in identifying genes that control important traits, thereby accelerating the breeding process and improving the precision of trait selection (Machida-Hirano, 2015). 4.4 Integration of wild relatives into breeding programs The integration of wild relatives into sweet potato breeding programs is a strategy to introduce new genetic variations and desirable traits that are not present in cultivated varieties. Wild relatives often possess traits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and improved nutritional content, which can be beneficial for breeding programs. The genetic diversity present in wild relatives of potato, for example, has been successfully utilized to enhance the genetic base of cultivated varieties (Machida-Hirano, 2015; Pandey et al., 2021). By incorporating wild relatives into sweet potato breeding programs, breeders can tap into a wider genetic pool, thereby improving the adaptability and resilience of new cultivars to various environmental stresses. In conclusion, the effective utilization of genetic resources in sweet potato breeding involves a combination of strategies, including the assessment of genetic diversity, crossbreeding, the application of biotechnology, and the integration of wild relatives. These approaches collectively contribute to the development of improved sweet potato varieties that meet the demands of food security, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture (Ojwang' et al., 2023). 5 Case Study: Application of Local Genetic Resources in a Regional Breeding Program 5.1 Background and selection of genetic materials Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) is a crucial crop in China, playing a significant role in food security and agricultural sustainability. The selection of genetic materials for breeding programs is pivotal to enhancing crop yield, disease resistance, and adaptability to various environmental conditions. Recent studies have
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