Plant Gene and Trait 2024, Vol.15, No.6, 305-313 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/pgt 311 efficient genetic improvements without the regulatory challenges associated with transgenic products. Understanding the genetic divergence and interrelationships among various agronomic traits will be crucial for planning effective breeding programs aimed at increasing tuber yield and quality. The advancements in sweet potato breeding for enhanced agronomic traits hold great promise for addressing food security, nutrition, and economic challenges. The successful identification and development of superior genotypes through multi-trait selection and stability analyses, combined with a market-oriented breeding approach, can lead to the release of new varieties that meet the diverse needs of different regions and populations. The incorporation of new breeding technologies will further accelerate the development of high-yielding, nutritionally enhanced, and environmentally resilient sweet potato varieties. Continued research and collaboration among breeders, researchers, and stakeholders will be essential to realize the full potential of sweet potato breeding programs and contribute to sustainable agricultural development. Acknowledgments The authors are very grateful to researcher Zhao L. for her multiple readings, and also thanks the two peer reviewers for their suggestions. Funding This research was supported by the Municipal Chief Agronomist Studio Project on “Technological Innovation and Integration for Quality Improvement and Efficiency Enhancement in Miniature Sweet Potato.” 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 Adly W., Niedbała G., EL-Denary M., Mohamed M., Piekutowska M., Wojciechowski T., El-Salam E., and Fouad A., 2023, Somaclonal variation for genetic improvement of starch accumulation in potato (Solanum tuberosum) tubers, Plants, 12(2): 232. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12020232 PMid:36678944 PMCid:PMC9865851 Agbim J., Afuape S., Ulasi J., and Keyagha E., 2022, Assessment of genetic parameters for important agronomic traits in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) germplasm in two agro-ecological regions of Nigeria, International Journal of Plant and Soil Science, 34(20): 693-708. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijpss/2022/v34i2031206 Beketova M., Chalaya N., Zoteyeva N., Gurina A., Kuznetsova M., Armstrong M., Hein I., Drobyazina P., Khavkin E., and Rogozina Е., 2021, Combination breeding and marker-assisted selection to develop late blight resistant potato cultivars, Agronomy, 11(11): 2192. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11112192 Budhlakoti N., Kushwaha A., Rai A., Chaturvedi K., Kumar A., Pradhan A., Kumar U., Kumar R., Juliana P., Mishra D., and Kumar S., 2022, Genomic selection: a tool for accelerating the efficiency of molecular breeding for development of climate-resilient crops, Frontiers in Genetics, 13: 832153. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.832153 PMid:35222548 PMCid:PMC8864149 Ebem E., Afuape S., Chukwu S., and Ubi B., 2021, Genotype × environment interaction and stability analysis for root yield in sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam], Front. Agron., 3: 665564. https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2021.665564 Escobar-Puentes A., Palomo I., Rodríguez L., Fuentes E., Villegas-Ochoa M., González-Aguilar G., Olivas-Aguirre F., and Wall-Medrano A., 2022, Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) phenotypes: from agroindustry to health effects, Foods, 11(7): 1058. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11071058 PMid:35407143 PMCid:PMC8997864 Gervais T., Creelman A., Li X., Bizimungu B., Koeyer D., and Dahal K., 2021, Potato response to drought stress: physiological and growth basis, Frontiers in Plant Science, 12: 698060. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.698060 PMid:34456939 PMCid:PMC8387673 Haque E., Shirasawa K., Suematsu K., Tabuchi H., Isobe S., and Tanaka M., 2023, Polyploid GWAS reveals the basis of molecular marker development for complex breeding traits including starch content in the storage roots of sweet potato, Frontiers in Plant Science, 14: 1181909. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1181909
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