A Cultivation Method to Ensure Tuberous Root Formation in Sweetpotatoes (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.)

Abstract

Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) research requires a cultural technique that ensures tuberous root formation for elucidation of the morphogenesis mechanism . Single- root cuttings were grown in a hydroponic system, where the basal part of the root was exposed to the air and the distal part was immersed in nutrient solution . In all of the plants grown in the system, the nodal root swelled in the aerial space, and the thickened part revealed the anatomical characteristics of the tuberous root. The formation of the storage organ occurred earlier in initially thicker roots. After the storage organ initiation, number of leaves in the cuttings affected the thickening growth of the tuberous root .