Sweetpotato, with a global annual planting area of approximately 9 million ha, is the second most important tropical root crop. It is widely adapted, being grown in more than 110 countries. Early maturing varieties grow in 3-4 months. It is hardy and has multiple uses. Both roots and foliage are edible and provide energy and nutrients in diets. Distinct quality types have different uses, with orange-fleshed sweetpotato being valued for its extremely high provitamin A content, and other types used in varied fresh and processed forms. Sweetpotato is easily bred, as true seed is easily obtained and generation cycles are short. There are five objectives of this review. The first objective is to briefly describe recent production and utilization trends by region; the second is to review knowledge about the origin and genetic nature of sweetpotato; the third is to review selected breeding objectives. The fourth objective is to review advances in understanding of breeding methods, including: (i) generation of seed through polycross nurseries and controlled cross breeding; (ii) a description of a new accelerated breeding approach; (iii) recent efforts to systematically exploit heterosis; and (iv) new approaches of genomic selection. The fifth objective is to provide information about variety releases during the past 20 years in West, East and Southern Africa, South Asia, East and South-east Asia, China and the Pacific.

Sweetpotato is grown throughout the year in Mozambique but drought affects storage root yield and biomass productivity. The objectives of this research were to estimate the impact of genotype 9 environment interactions (G 9 E) in sweetpotato and select genotypes based on drought indices such as geometric mean, percent yield reduction, drought sensitivity index and harvest index. A total of 58 clones were evaluated during the dry season of 2006, 2008 and 2009. Two treatments were applied for this multi-year trial: full irrigation and without irrigation at the middle of root initiation growth stage. The field layout was a randomized complete block design with three replications. 'Jonathan', 'Resisto' and 'Tanzania' were the check cultivars in each treatment. Storage root and vine yields were recorded at harvest in the trials. Harvest index was computed from the yield data. The analysis of variance, regression and the additive main effects multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analyses, plus phenotypic coefficient of variation and ecovalence were used for dissecting the G 9 E and assessing the stability of each clone. Treatment, genotype 9 treatment and genotype 9 year (G 9 Y) interactions had highest contributions to the variation in storage root yield observed among clones. The stability of harvest index was significantly correlated with the absolute AMMI's IPCA1 and IPCA2 values for storage root yield. Cultivar performance varied within treatments. Four clones had significantly higher storage root yield (t ha -1 ) than 'Tanzania', the best check cultivar under drought. In conclusion, storage root yield (t ha -1 ) was negatively affected by drought and G 9 Y interaction. Harvest index stability and the geometric mean may be key to identify clones with storage root yield stability and high storage root yield under both treatments. At least two environments should be used at early breeding stages to consider harvest index in the early breeding cycle.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is responsible for at least 2 546 527 cases and 175 812 deaths as of April 21, 2020. Psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (AD) are common, chronic, inflammatory skin conditions, with immune dysregulation as a shared mechanism; therefore, mainstays of treatment include systemic immunomodulating therapies. It is unknown whether these therapies are associated with increased COVID-19 susceptibility or worse outcomes in infected patients. In this review, we discuss overall infection risks of nonbiologic and biologic systemic medications for psoriasis and AD and provide therapeutic recommendations. In summary, in patients with active infection, systemic conventional medications, the Janus kinase inhibitor tofacitinib, and biologics for psoriasis should be temporarily held until there is more data; in uninfected patients switching to safer alternatives should be considered. Interleukin (IL)-17, IL-12/23, and IL-23 inhibitors are associated with low infection risk, with IL-17 and IL-23 favored over IL-12/23 inhibitors. Pivotal trials and postmarketing data also suggest that IL-17 and IL-23 blockers are safer than tumor necrosis factor alpha blockers. Apremilast, acitretin, and dupilumab have favorable safety data and may be safely initiated and continued in uninfected patients. Without definitive COVID-19 data, these recommendations may be useful in guiding treatment of psoriasis and AD patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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SUMMARYSweetpotato breeding requires at least 5 years to obtain an advanced breeding clone for further testing with the goal of cultivar release. An accelerated breeding scheme (ABS) can be feasible if the genotype × year interaction is low. The objectives of the present study were to describe an ABS for sweetpotato and to investigate the efficiency of this breeding scheme for selecting high-yielding and well-adapted orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) cultivars with high β-carotene (BC) content. More than 198 500 seeds from two crossing blocks were germinated and rapidly multiplied for evaluation in observation trials at four breeding locations in Mozambique. Breeding clones with storage root yields above 10 t/ha were advanced to preliminary and advanced yield trials across four sites and for 3 years. As a result, 64 high-yielding OFSP breeding clones were selected and evaluated in four mega-environments following a randomized complete block design with three replicates at Angónia, Chókwè, Gurúè and Umbelúzi. Data from multi-environment trials were subjected to single site and combined analysis of variance as well as to stability analysis. The genotype × environment interaction was highly significant for storage root and vine yields, dry matter (DM) and BC content. Storage root yield and DM content for 15 OFSP breeding clones ranged from 14·9 to 27·1 t/ha and from 24·8 to 32·8%, respectively. BC content, iron and zinc ranged from 5·9 to 38·4, 1·6 to 2·1 and 1·1 to 1·5 mg/100 g dry weight, respectively. The OFSP breeding clones also met the culinary tastes required by local consumers in Mozambique. The proposed ABS seems to be an attractive scheme for genetic enhancement of sweetpotato.