Agronomic and Molecular Characterization of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam) Varieties in Nigeria

Abstract

Study’s Excerpt/Novelty This study addresses the breeding challenges of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) by utilizing agronomic, morphological, and molecular data to identify optimal parental combinations for enhanced cross-breeding. The research demonstrated significant variations and strong correlations among agronomic traits, with principal component analysis revealing complete variability at the fifth principal component. Key findings include the identification of TIS 8164 and TIS 0087/087 as closely related varieties, while molecular characterization highlighted Nwaoyinma and Umuspo 1 as promising parental combinations, providing a foundation for improved breeding strategies in sweet potato cultivation. Full Abstract Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam.); 2n = 6x = 90) is a significant root crop globally. However, breeding and cross-breeding of the crop are difficult due to its enormous, complex genome and highly heterozygous hexaploid genetic makeup. This study used data on agronomic traits and morphological and molecular characterization to determine the best parental combinations for improved breeding and cross-breeding of the crop. Agronomic traits analysis and morphological characterization were carried out in the research farm while molecular analysis was done in the molecular biology laboratory. Results of the study show significant variations (p-value = 0.000) and a strong positive correlation among the majority of the agronomic traits and morphological characters, principal component analysis shows 100% variability at the 5th principal component, a dendrogram of agronomic traits analysis shows that TIS 8164 and TIS 0087/087 varieties are about 76% similar and Dixon variety is approximately 66.67% similar to the Umuspo 1 and the Butter Milk varieties, morphological characterization shows 37% similarity between the Umuspo 1 variety and the TIS 8164 variety, polymorphic information content shows polymorphism of 42.86% for IBS166 primer, 28.5% for IB02 primer and 14.29% for IBS199 and Ibu4 primers respectively, a dendrogram of molecular characterization shows no similarity between the Umuspo 1 variety and the other variety and 100% similarity between the TIS 8164 and the TIS 0087/087 varieties. The study concluded that the Nwaoyinma and the Umuspo 1 varieties are good parental combinations