Abstract

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) stands as a vital crop globally, renowned for its nutritional value, adaptability to diverse environments, and resilience to challenging growing conditions. However, to meet the increasing demands of a growing population and mitigate the impacts of climate change, there is an urgent need to enhance the genetic potential of sweet potato cultivars. This review explores the utilization of genetics and genomics in sweet potato improvement, aiming to elucidate key advancements and potential avenues for further research and application. The review begins by elucidating the genetic diversity present within sweet potato germplasm, highlighting the importance of conserving and leveraging this diversity for breeding efforts. Next, it delves into the application of traditional breeding techniques, such as recurrent selection and hybridization, in developing improved cultivars with desirable traits such as high yield, disease resistance, and enhanced nutritional quality. Furthermore, the advent of modern biotechnological tools, including marker-assisted selection and genomic selection, has revolutionized sweet potato breeding by enabling precise trait introgression and accelerating the breeding process. Moreover, the review examines recent advancements in sweet potato genomics, including whole-genome sequencing and functional genomics studies, which have provided insights into the genetic basis of important agronomic traits and facilitated the identification of candidate genes for targeted breeding. The integration of genomic information with phenotypic data holds promise for deciphering complex trait architectures and designing strategies for trait improvement through gene editing and transgenic approaches.

Furthermore, the review explores the potential of leveraging wild relatives and ex situ collections for broadening the genetic base of sweet potato cultivars and enhancing their adaptability to changing environmental conditions. Collaborative efforts involving researchers, breeders, policymakers, and farmers are crucial for effectively translating genetic and genomic discoveries into practical breeding programs and deploying improved cultivars to address global food security challenges. In conclusion, harnessing the full potential of genetics and genomics offers unparalleled opportunities for sweet potato improvement, enabling the development of cultivars with enhanced productivity, nutritional quality, and resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. By leveraging genetic diversity, embracing innovative breeding strategies, and integrating cutting-edge genomic technologies, we can unlock the genetic potential of sweet potato and contribute to sustainable agriculture and food security worldwide.