2019 ASHS Annual Conference

There is a resurgence of interest in sweetpotato production in South Carolina for processing and fresh market. Recently, there has been special interest in organically produced sweetpotato. This study, conducted in 2016 and 2017 in the coastal plain of South Carolina near Charleston was conducted to evaluate the performance of commercial cultivars and advanced breeding lines under different soil types, microenvironments and bare ground versus plasticulture growing conditions. In 2016 we evaluated 24 commercial and advanced breeding lines, and in 2017 14 lines were studied. Data collected were: total yield (bushels/acre), marketable yield (bushels/acre) percentage U.S. grade number 1 roots, percentage yield difference, percentage uninjured roots, wireworm, Diabrotica, and Systena (WDS) severity index, percentage flea beetle damage, percentage grub damage, percentage sweetpotato weevil damage, percentage root rot, percentage root cracking, percentage roots misshaped, and wireworm species diversity. Results were mixed over years and with regard to genotype, organic versus conventional cultural practice and bare ground versus plasticulture. Nevertheless, we identified several promising advanced breeding lines that performed well under all conditions.