Assessment of the Current State of In Situ Conservation and Use of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) in Colombia

Abstract

Sweet potato is a valuable staple crop that guarantees food security to a large segment of the world population. The wide phenotypic and genetic variability of this species is an indication of its high adaptation capacity to diverse environmental conditions. In Colombia, it is a neglected and underutilized crop, mainly managed by traditional knowledge. The aim of this study was to recognize the contribution of in situ conservation and to characterize the habitats and the traditional uses to shed light on the design of their management and conservation strategies. Germplasm and data collection were conducted in the Caribbean and Andean regions of the country. This collection resulted in 750 accessions from 131 municipalities, belonging to 19 departments of the two regions. In these regions, sweet potato has been conserved in situ in a wide spatial and altitudinal distribution. The major collection sources were wild and cultivated habitats, which highlight the invaluable contribution of farmers and communities in the preservation of this species and its associated knowledge. In situ conservation seemed to be an efficient strategy for conserving and using plant genetic resources; therefore, it should be considered by conservation efforts. [germplasm collection, habitats, in situ conservation, Ipomoea batatas]

Biofortification of Kidney Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Crops Applying Zinc Sulfate and Ferric Sulfate: Pilot Crop in Colombia

“…Based on the above, one of the most important crops in Colombia is beans, which are found in different regions of the country, specifically in the Andean region in the departments of Huila, as the leading producer, followed by Antioquia, Boyacá, Santander, and Tolima. However, Bolívar and Nariño are also part of the top-producing departments [9][10][11]. Beans are one of the most consumed foods in Colombian households, with a high nutritional value of proteins and minerals, to the extent that in 2018 they yielded between 3 and 4 kg per capita.…”

“…The growth of beans comprises the vegetative stage, which includes germination, emergence, primary leaves and, the first and third trifoliate leaf, and the reproductive stage, which has pre-flowering, flowering, pod formation, pod filling, and maturation or physiological maturity [9][10][11][15][16][17]. Nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium fertilization with additives such as ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, urea, potassium sulfate, and organic matter, among other fertilizers, provide nitrogen, potassium, and calcium, and to a lesser extent, sulfur, magnesium, and phosphorus to the pod and stem of the bean, according to the mineral-contribution requirements [18].…”

On Farm Diversity and Genetic Erosion of Sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] inHaramaya District, East Haraghe, Ethiopia

“…There is a need to strengthen the conservation and sustainable use of plants and seed systems, and the crucial linkages between them, through a combination of appropriate policies, use of scienti c information, farmers' knowledge, and action. Traditionally, efforts to counter genetic erosion have concentrated on conserving seeds in crop genebanks (ex situ) [8,9]. Sweet potato is a versatile and important crop for food security [10], since its storage roots have a high content of dietary ber, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidant compounds (including phenolic acids, anthocyanins, tocopherols, and beta carotenes).…”

Sweet Potato Varietal Selection Using Combined Methods of Multi-Trait Index, Genetic Gain and Stability from Multi-Environmental Evaluations

“…Agrobiodiversity is key for making production systems more resilient [8], and its use in evaluations under multi-environmental conditions is an important step in the selection process for ideotypes identification [1]. Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) is an herbaceous species from Convolvulaceae family, and I. batatas is the only species with economic importance as crop [9]. Sweet potato is a staple crop and is cultivated worldwide using more than 7 million hectares and producing 88 million tons [10].…”

“…However, in Colombia, this crop remains neglected and underutilized. Despite its nutritional root quality and broad adaptability, it is still considered an alternative crop [9,12], although one which is being introduced into commercial agricultural production systems.…”