Molecular Plant Breeding 2025, Vol.16, No.2, 133-145 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/mpb 142 Genomic studies have also shed light on sweet potato's genetic responses to environmental stresses. RNA-sequencing has revealed key genes linked to drought stress responses, emphasizing the importance of transcription factors and signaling pathways in stress adaptation. Similarly, transcriptome analyses under potassium-deficient conditions have identified differentially expressed genes involved in transcription regulation, hormone signaling, and plant defense mechanisms, all of which are critical for enhancing nutrient uptake and stress resilience. Genotype-by-environment interaction studies have identified promising sweet potato genotypes with traits such as high yields, increased dry matter content, and resistance to sweet potato virus disease. These findings highlight the potential of breeding programs to enhance crop performance in diverse environmental settings. Comparative analyses among cultivars have further revealed significant variations in nutrient composition and phytochemical content, underscoring their importance for nutritional improvement and global food security. Genomic research is pivotal in addressing future agricultural challenges for sweet potato cultivation by providing a detailed understanding of the genetic basis of key traits. The rich genomic resources generated through advanced sequencing techniques enable the identification of genes associated with yield, nutrient content, and stress tolerance, facilitating the development of improved varieties through molecular breeding and genetic engineering. The identification of genes linked to drought tolerance and potassium deficiency, for instance, paves the way for developing sweet potato varieties that maintain stable yields under challenging environmental conditions. Discoveries related to alternative splicing events and transcription factors involved in tuber development and nutrient accumulation further inform breeding strategies aimed at enhancing the crop’s nutritional quality. Genotype-by-environment interaction studies enhance our ability to select genotypes that thrive across various conditions, boosting the adaptability and resilience of sweet potato crops. Integrating genomic data with traditional breeding approaches accelerates the creation of high-yielding, nutrient-dense, and stress-tolerant varieties, contributing to global food security and the advancement of sustainable agriculture. Acknowledgments The authors sincerely thank the two anonymous peer reviewers for their valuable feedback and constructive suggestions on this study's manuscript. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors affirm that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Acharjee A., Chibon P., Kloosterman B., America T., Renaut J., Maliepaard C., and Visser R., 2018, Genetical genomics of quality related traits in potato tubers using proteomics, BMC Plant Biology, 18: 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-018-1229-1 Acharjee A., Kloosterman B., Vos R., Werij J., Bachem C., Visser R., and Maliepaard C., 2011, Data integration and network reconstruction with ~omics data using Random Forest regression in potato, Analytica Chimica Acta, 705(1-2): 56-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2011.03.050 Agarwal G., Kudapa H., Ramalingam A., Choudhary D., Sinha P., Garg V., Singh V., Patil G., Pandey M., Nguyen H., Guo B., Sunkar R., Niederhuth C., and Varshney R., 2020, Epigenetics and epigenomics: underlying mechanisms, relevance, and implications in crop improvement, Functional & Integrative Genomics, 20: 739-761. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10142-020-00756-7 Arisha M., Ahmad M., Tang W., Liu Y., Yan H., Kou M., Wang X., Zhang Y., and Li Q., 2020, RNA-sequencing analysis revealed genes associated drought stress responses of different durations in hexaploid sweet potato, Scientific Reports, 10: 12573. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-69232-3 Chen K., Wang Y., Zhang R., Zhang H., and Gao C., 2019, CRISPR/Cas genome editing and precision plant breeding in agriculture, Annual Review of Plant Biology, 70: 667-697. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-arplant-050718-100049 Das T., Anand U., Pal T., Mandal S., Kumar M., Radha, Gopalakrishnan A., Lastra J., and Dey A., 2023, Exploring the potential of CRISPR/Cas genome editing for vegetable crop improvement: An overview of challenges and approaches, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 120: 1215-1228. https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.28344
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