Sustainable Sweetpotato Production in the United States: Current Status, Challenges, and Opportunities

Authors: George, Justin; Reddy, Gadi V.P.; Wadl, Phillip; Rutter, William; Culbreath, Julianna; Lau, Pierre; RASHID, TAHIR - Alcorn State University; Allan, Matthew; JOHANNINGSMEIER, SUZANNE - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA); Nelson, Amanda; Wang, Ming; GUBBA, AUGUSTINE - University Of Kwazulu-Natal; Ling, Kai-Shu; MENG, YAN - Alcorn State University; COLLINS, DANIEL - Alcorn State University; PONNIAH, SATHISH - University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff; Gowda, Prasanna

Submitted to: Agronomy Journal
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/2/2024
Publication Date: 2/2/2024
Citation: George, J., Reddy, G.V., Wadl, P.A., Rutter, W.B., Culbreath, J.R., Lau, P.W., Rashid, T., Allan, M.C., Johanningsmeier, S.D., Nelson, A.M., Wang, M.L., Gubba, A., Ling, K., Meng, Y., Collins, D.J., Ponniah, S.K., Gowda, P.H. 2024. Sustainable Sweetpotato Production in the United States: Current Status, Challenges, and Opportunities. Agronomy Journal. 116(2):630-660. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21539.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21539

Interpretive Summary: Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is a commonly grown storage root crop in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Sweetpotato production and consumption have increased significantly in the last two decades and have led to new cultivar development, expansion in acreage, and increased demand in the U.S and its export markets. Despite the known nutritional components and other health benefits, further research is needed to characterize the genetic diversity and chemical composition related to their storage root qualities, essential in developing consumer-preferred cultivars that offer host plant resistance against pests and pathogens. Transmission of bacteria and viruses by insect vectors, root damage caused by wireworms and white grubs, and low input management approaches exacerbate the spread of vegetatively propagated pathogens. Research efforts are required on developing non-pesticidal control approaches that can provide sustainable, and environmentally sound pest and disease management techniques, especially for socially disadvantaged small farmers in the United States. Moreover, climate change can significantly impact future production practices and yield and may directly or indirectly affect crop pests, weeds, and diseases. In this review, we discussed the current status, challenges, and future approaches associated with sweetpotato production practices, health-promoting properties of sweetpotato cultivars, value-added products, genetic diversity and germplasm, pest and disease management, weed and water management, pollination ecology and other agronomic and cultural practices that may impact sustainable sweetpotato production by small, organic, and large-scale growers.

Technical Abstract: Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is an important staple crop cultivated in over one hundred countries, and the vines and storage roots provide food for humans and livestock. Sweetpotato consumption and the demand for its value-added products have increased significantly in the last two decades and have led to new cultivar development, expansion in acreage, and increased demand in the U.S and its export markets. Despite the known nutritional components and other health benefits, further research is needed to characterize the genetic diversity and chemical composition related to their storage root qualities, essential in developing consumer-preferred cultivars that offer host plant resistance against pests and pathogens. Transmission of bacteria and viruses by insect vectors, root damage caused by wireworms and white grubs, and low input management approaches exacerbate the spread of vegetatively propagated pathogens. There is a critical need for research on non-pesticidal control approaches that can provide safe, effective, economical, sustainable, and environmentally sound pest and disease management techniques, especially for socially disadvantaged small farmers in the United States. Moreover, climate change can significantly impact future production practices and yield and may directly or indirectly affect crop pests, weeds, and diseases. In this review, we discussed the current status, challenges, and future approaches associated with sweetpotato production practices, health-promoting properties of sweetpotato cultivars, value-added products, genetic diversity and germplasm, pest and disease management, weed and water management, pollination ecology and other agronomic and cultural practices that may impact sustainable sweetpotato production by small, organic, and large-scale growers.