ISHS Acta Horticulturae 583: I International Conference on Sweetpotato. Food and Health for the Future
GROWER-PARTICIPATORY SWEETPOTATO BREEDING EFFORTS IN NORTH CAROLINA |
| Authors: | G. Craig Yencho, K.V. Pecota, J.R. Schultheis, B.R. Sosinski |
| Keywords: | Ipomoea batatas, sweetpotato, breeding, grower participatory breeding, farmer participatory breeding |
| Abstract:
Sweetpotato, based on area and value, is the most important vegetable crop produced in North Carolina, and NC is the leading supplier of sweetpotatoes in the US producing ca. 218 thousand metric tons per year (ca. 35-40% of the national supply) worth an estimated $55.7 million. In 1997, we initiated a grower-participatory breeding effort to develop improved sweetpotato varieties for NC growers. This highly collaborative project involves researchers and extension specialists from NC State University, county extension agents, growers and industry representatives. Our variety development efforts are supported by the NC Sweetpotato Commission. To date, the project has been highly successful. This manuscript will describe our overall breeding efforts and it will focus on how this project has resulted in: 1) improved two-way learning between the breeding program and our clientele - growers; and 2) increased support and awareness of our conventional and genomics-based sweetpotato breeding and research efforts. | |
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