Sweet Potato Descriptors 3.1 Country of characterization 3.1 NOT AVAILABLE 3.2 Site (Research institute) 3.2.1 Latitude NOT AVAILABLE 3.2.2 Longitude NOT AVAILABLE 3.2.3 Altitude NOT AVAILABLE 3.2.4 Name of farm or institute NOT AVAILABLE 3.3 Evaluators name and address NOT AVAILABLE 3.4 Planting date (in the form DDMMYYYY) 3.5 Harvest date (in the form DDMMYYYY) 3.6 Evaluation environment Environment in which characterization/preliminary evaluation was carried out 3.7 Percentage seed gemination [%] NOT AVAILABLE 3.8 Number of days to 50% field emergence NOT AVAILABLE 3.9 Planting site in field Give block, strip and/or row/plot number as applicable 3.10 Field spacing NOT AVAILABLE 3.10.1 Distance between plants in a row [cm] NOT AVAILABLE 3.10.2 Distance between rows [cm] NOT AVAILABLE 3.11 Soil taxonomic classification As detailed a classification as possible should be given. This may be taken from a soil survey map. State name (e.g. Alfisol, Podisol, Fluvisol, etc.) 3.12 Watering NOT AVAILABLE 3.13 Fertilizer (specify name and dose) 3.14 Plant protection (specify pesticides used and dose of each) 3.15 Climate NOT AVAILABLE 3.16 Notes Any other site-specific information 5.1 Country of characterization 5.1 NOT AVAILABLE 5.2 Site 5.2 (Research institute) 5.2.1 Latitude 5.2.1 NOT AVAILABLE 5.2.2 Longitude 5.2.2 NOT AVAILABLE 5.2.3 Altitude 5.2.3 NOT AVAILABLE 5.2.4 Name of farm or institute NOT AVAILABLE 5.3 Evaluators name and address 5.3 NOT AVAILABLE 5.4 Planting date 5.4 (in the form DDMMYYYY) 5.5 Harvest date 5.5 (in the form DDMMYYYY) 5.6 Evaluation environment 5.6 Environment in which characterization/preliminary evaluation was carried out 5.7 Percentage seed gemination [%] NOT AVAILABLE 5.8 Number of days to 50% field emergence NOT AVAILABLE 5.9 Planting site in field 5.9 Give block, strip and/or row/plot number as applicable 5.10 Field spacing 5.10 NOT AVAILABLE 5.10.1 Distance between plants in a row [cm] NOT AVAILABLE 5.10.2 Distance between rows [cm] NOT AVAILABLE 5.11 Soil taxonomic classification As detailed a classification as possible should be given. This may be taken from a soil survey map. State name (e.g. Alfisol, Podisol, Fluvisol, etc.) 5.12 Watering NOT AVAILABLE 5.13 Fertilizer (specify name and dose) 5.14 Plant protection (specify pesticides used and dose of each) 5.15 Climate NOT AVAILABLE 5.16 Notes Any other site-specific information 6.1 Storage root NOT AVAILABLE 6.1.1 Storage root formation Arrangement of the storage roots on the underground stems 1-Closed cluster 3-Open cluster 5-Dispersed 7-Very dispersed 6.1.2 Storage root stalk Length of stalk joining the storage roots to the stems 0-Sessile or absent 1-Very short (<2 cm) 3-Short (2-5 cm) 5-Intermediate (6-8 cm) 7-Long (9-12 cm) 9-Very long (>12 cm) 6.1.3 Number of storage roots per plant Average of ten plants 6.1.4 Variability of storage root shape NOT AVAILABLE 3-Uniform 5-Slightly variable 7-Moderately variable 6.1.5 Variability of storage root size NOT AVAILABLE 3-Uniform 5-Slightly variable 7-Moderately variable 6.1.6 Storage root cracking Average cracking shown in ten plants. Consider all cracks caused by growth and/or water stress. Specify reference or reference cultivar 0-Absent 3-Few cracks 5-Medium number of cracks 7-Many cracks 6.1.7 Latex production in storage roots Amount of latex observed after cross sectioning medium-sized storage roots 3-Little 5-Some 7-Abundant 6.1.8 Oxidation in storage roots Amount of browning due to oxidation observed 5-10 seconds after storage roots are cut in cross section. Specify reference or reference cultivar 3-Little 5-Some 7-Abundant 6.2 Quality characteristics NOT AVAILABLE 6.2.1 Storage root dry matter content [%] NOT AVAILABLE 6.2.2 Storage root nitrogen content [%] Use the Kjeldahl Method 6.2.3 Storage root crude fibre [% fresh weight] NOT AVAILABLE 6.2.4 Storage root starch content [% dry weight] NOT AVAILABLE 6.2.5 Storage root total alcohol soluble The phenol-sulphuric method is suggested 6.2.6 Storage root carotene content NOT AVAILABLE 6.2.7 Keeping quality of stored storage roots NOT AVAILABLE 3-Poor 5-Medium 7- Good 6.2.8 Sprouting ability Evaluate medium-sized storage roots after 30 days of storage. Record number of sprouts per root on ten average roots 6.2.9 Boiled storage root Description of these characters should be made on commercial size storage roots of approximately the same dimensions. Roots should be totally immersed in boiling water for approximately the same time for all the accessions compared. The average score of at least 3 people should be recorded 6.2.9.1 Consistency of boiled storage root NOT AVAILABLE 1-Watery 2-Extremely soft 3-Very soft 4-Soft 5-Slightly hard 6-Moderately hard 7-Hard 8-Very hard 9-Very hard and non-cooked 6.2.9.2 Texture of boiled storage root flesh NOT AVAILABLE 0-None 1-Some beige 2-Much beige 3-Slightly green or grey 4-Green 5-Grey 6-Beige and green 7-Beige and grey 8-Beige and purple 9-Purple 6.2.9.2 Undesirable colour of boiled storage root NOT AVAILABLE 0-None 1-Some beige 2-Much beige 3-Slightly green or grey 4-Green 5-Grey 6-Beige and green 7-Beige and grey 8-Beige and purple 9-Purple 6.2.9.4 Sweetness of boiled storage root flesh NOT AVAILABLE 1-Not at all sweet 3-Slightly sweet 5-Moderately sweet 7-Sweet 7.1 Reaction to drought Observe after 6 weeks without irrigation or rainfall in a soil without subsurface water and in a season of high evaporation (4-6 mm per day) 7.2 Reaction to flooding Late season flooding during storage root formation. The environmental conditions could consist of about 2 weeks' flooding (water-saturated soil) in a heavy soil 7.3 Reaction to heat Hot season with night temperatures of more than 22?. The yield comparisons could be versus yields obtained under cooler conditions 7.4 Reaction to salinity In a soil with salinity levels of more than 8 mmhos/cm. The yield comparisons could be versus yields obtained in soils with less than 2 mmhos/cm 7.5 Reaction to shade Shade conditions that reduce solar energy by about 30%. The yield comparisons could be versus yields obtained under full light 7.6 Reaction to soil pH below 5.0 In acid and heavy soils with pH below 5.0. The yield comparisons could be versus yields obtained under the same soil with supplemental calcium to raise the pH to a favourable level 7.7 Reaction to high soil temperature During a hot season with day temperatures with peaks of more than 40?. The yield comparisons could be versus yields obtained under cooler conditions 8.1 Insects NOT AVAILABLE 8.1.1 Sweet potato weevil Cylas formalis, Faust Cylas formicarius, Fabricius, Cylas formicarius elegantulus, Summers Cylas puncticollis Boheman Cylas sp. 8.1.2 Euscepes postfasciatus Fairmaire West Indian sweet potato weevil 8.1.3 Striped sweet potato weevil Alcidodes dentipes Oliver Alcidodes waltoni Boheman 8.1.4 Sweet potato wire worms Conoderus falli Lane Conoderus vespertinus Fabricius 8.1.5 Melanotus sp Wire worms 8.1.6 Chaetocnema confinis Crotch Sweet potato flea beetles 8.1.7 Flea beetles Systena blanda Melsheimer Systena elongata Fabricius Systena frontalis Fabricius 8.1.8 Sweet potato leaf beetles Typophorus nigritus nitidulus F. Typophorus nigritus viridicyaneus Crotch 8.1.9 Beetles or rootworms Diabrotica adelpha Harold Diabrotica balteata LeConte 8.1.10 Grubworm PhyllopMga ephilida Say Phyllophaga sp. Plectris aliena Chapin 8.1.11 Hornworm Defoliating caterpillar Agrius cingulatus Fabricius Acraea acerata 8.1.12 Aphids Aphis gossypii Glov. Myzus persicae Sulzer 8.1.13 Sweet potato whytefly Bemisia tabaci Gennadius 8.1.14 Sweet potato moth Herse convolvuli L 8.1.15 Moth Bedellia sommulentella Zellar Brachmia macroscopa Meyrick Prodenia litura F. 8.1.16 Sweet potato stem borer Omphisa anastomasalis Guernee 8.1.17 Other (specify in the NOTES descriptor, 11) 8.2 Nematodes NOT AVAILABLE 8.2.1 Root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood Meloidogyne javanica (Treub.) Chitwood Meloidogx/ne hapla Chitwood 8.2.2 Reniform nematode Rotylenchulus reniformis Linford and Oliveira 8.2.3 Sting nematode Belonolaimus longicaudatus Rau Belonolaimus gracilis Steiner 8.2.4 Brown ring rot Ditylenchus dipsaci (Kuhn) Filipjev Ditylenchus destructor Thorne 8.2.5 Root lesion nematode Pratylenchus coffeae (Zimmermann) Goodey 8.2.6 Other (specify in the NOTES descriptor, 11) 8.3 Fungi NOT AVAILABLE 8.3.1 Fusarium wilt or stem rot Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. batatas (Wr.) (Synd. & Hans.) 8.3.2 Fusarium surface rot Fusarium oxysporum Schlect. 8.3.3 Fusarium root rot Fusarium solani (Mart.-) Appel & Wr. 8.3.4 Sclerotial blight and circular spot Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. 8.3.5 Black rot Ceratocystis fimbriata Ell. & Halst 8.3.6 Scurf Monilochaetes infuscans Ell. & Halst. ex. Harter 8.3.7 Soft rot Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehr. ex. Fr.) (Lind.) Other Rhizopus species 8.3.8 Java black rot Diplodia gossypina (Cke.) 8.3.9 Diaporthe dry rot Diaporthe batatatis Harter & Field 8.3.10 Scab or spot anthracnose Elsinoe batatas (Saw.) Viegas & Jenkins 8.3.11 Leaf spot Phyllosticta batatas (Thuem.) Cbe. Cercospora batatae Zimrn. Septoria bataticola Taub. 8.3.12 White rust Albugo ipomoeae-panduratae (Schw.) Swing. 8.3.13 Foot rot Plenodomus destruens Harter 8.3.14 Charcoal rot Macrophomina phaseoli (Maubl.) Ashby 8.3.15 Other (specify in the NOTES descriptor, 11) 8.4 Bacteria NOT AVAILABLE 8.4.1 Pox or soil rot Streptomyces ipomoea (Person & W.T. Martin) (Waksm & HenricO 8.4.2 Bacterial stem and root rot Erwinia chrusanthemi Dupes 8.4.3 Bacterial wilt Pseudomonas solanacearum C.F. Smith 8.4.4 Notes (specify in the NOTES descriptor, 11) 8.5 Viruses NOT AVAILABLE 8.5.1 Feathery mottle (SPFMV) Common strain, Russet crack strain, Internal cork strain 8.5.2 Mild mottle virus (SPMMV) NOT AVAILABLE 8.5.3 Vein mottle virus (SPVMV) NOT AVAILABLE 8.5.4 Sweet potato virus disease (SPVD complex) NOT AVAILABLE 8.5.5 Other (specify in the NOTES descriptor, 11) 8.6 Mycoplasma NOT AVAILABLE 8.6.1 Witches broom NOT AVAILABLE 8.6.2 Other (specify in the NOTES descriptor, 11) 4.1 Gross morphology NOT AVAILABLE 4.1.1 Twining Ability of vines to climb adjacent stakes placed in those accessions showing twining characteristics 0-Non-twining 3-Slightly twining 5-Moderately twining 7-Twining 9-Very twining 4.1.2 Plant type Length of the main vines 3-Erect (<75 cm) 5-Semi-erect (75-150 cm) 7-Spreading (151-250 cm) 9-Extremely spreading (>250 cm) 4.1.3 Ground cover Estimated percentage of ground cover recorded 35-40 days after planting 3-Low (<50%) 5-Medium (50-74%) 7-High (75-90%) 9-Total (>90%) 4.1.4 Vine internode Average expression of at least three intemodes located in the middle section of the vine 4.1.5 Vine pigmentation Anthocyanin (purple) pigmentation present in the vines besides the green colour. The predominant colour should be evaluated considering the whole vine from base to tip. The secondary colour is more easily evaluated using younger vines 4.1.6 Vine tip pubescence Degree of hairiness of immature leaves recorded at the apex of the vines 0-Absent 3-Sparse 5-Moderate 7-Heavy 4.1.7 Mature leaf shape Described from leaves located in the middle section of the vine 4.1.8 Mature leaf size Length from the basal lobes to the tip of the leaves. Record the average expression of at least 3 leaves located in the middle section of the vine. 3-Small (<8 cm) 5-Medium (8-15 cm) 7-Large (16-25 cm) 9-Very large (>25 cm) 4.1.9 Abaxial leaf vein pigmentation Describe the most frequent expression of the distribution of anthocyanin (purple) pigmentation shown in the veins of the lower surface of leaves 1-Yellow 2-Green 3-Purple spot in the base of main rib 4-Purple spots in several veins 5-Main rib partially purple 6-Main rib mostly or totally purple 7-All veins partially purple 8-All veins mostly or totally purple 9-Lower surface and veins totally purple 4.1.10 Foliage colour Describe the overall foliage colour considering the colour of fully expanded mature and immature leaves of several plants. The variegation in leaf colour due to virus symptoms should not be recorded 4.1.11 Petiole length Average petiole length, from the base to the insertion with the blade, of at least 3 leaves in the middle portion of a main vine. 1-Very short (< 10 cm) 3-Short (10-20 cm) 5-Intermediate (21-30 cm) 7-Long (31-40 cm) 9-Very long (>40 cm) 4.1.12 Petiole pigmentation Distribution of anthocyanin (purple) pigmentation in the petioles of leaves. Indicate the most predominant colour first 1-Green 2-Green with purple near stem 3-Green with purple near leaf 4-Green with purple at both ends 5-Green with purple spots throughout petiole 6-Green with purple stripes 7-Purple with green near leaf 8-Some petioles purple, others green 9-Totally or mostly purple 4.1.4.1 Vine internode length NOT AVAILABLE 1-Very short (<3 cm) 3-Short (3-5 cm) 5-Intermediate (6-9 cm) 7-Long (10-12 cm) 9-Very long (> 12 cm) 4.1.4.2 Vine internode diameter NOT AVAILABLE 1-Very thin (<4 mm) 3-Thin (4-6 mm) 5-Intermediate (7-9 mm) 7-Thick (10-12 mm) 9-Very thick (> 12 mm) 4.1.5.1 Predominant vine colour NOT AVAILABLE 1-Green 3-Green with few purple spots 4-Green with many purple spots 5-Green with many dark purple spots 6-Mostly purple 7-Mostly dark purple 8-Totally purple 9-Totally dark purple 4.1.5.2 Secondary vine colour NOT AVAILABLE 0-Absent 1-Green base 2-Green tip 3-Green nodes 4-Purple base 5-Purple tip 6-Purple nodes 7-Other (specify in the NOTES descriptor, 4.4) 4.1.7.1 General outline of the leaf NOT AVAILABLE 1-Rounded 2-Reniform (kidney-shaped) 3-Cordate (heart-shaped) 4-Triangular 5-Hastate (trilobular and spear-shaped with the basal lobes more or less divergent) 6-Lobed 7-Almost divided 4.1.7.2 Leaf lobes type NOT AVAILABLE 0-No lateral lobes (entire) 1-Very slight (teeth) 3-Slight 5-Moderate 7-Deep 9- Very deep 4.1.7.3 Leaf lobe number Most leaves of sweet potatoes have two basal lobes and they should not be counted. Record the predominant number of lateral and central leaf lobes observed on the leaves located in the middle section of the vine. 4.1.7.4 Shape of central leaf lobe NOT AVAILABLE 0-Absent 1-Toothed 2-Triangular 3-Semi-circular 4-Semi-elliptic 5-Elliptic 6-Lanceolate 7-Oblanceolate 8-Linear (broad) 9-Linear (narrow) 4.1.10.1 Mature leaf colour NOT AVAILABLE 1-Yellow-green 2-Green 3-Green with purple edge 4-Greyish-green (due to heavy pubescence) 5-Green with purple veins on upper surface 6-Slightly purple 7-Mostly purple 8-Green upper, purple lower 9-Purple both surfaces 4.1.10.2 Immature leaf colour NOT AVAILABLE 1-Yellow-green 2-Green 3-Green with purple edge 4-Greyish-green (due to heavy pubescence) 5-Green with purple veins on uppec surface 6-Slightly purple 7-Mostly purple 8-Green upper, purple lower 9-Purple both surfaces 4.2 Storage root Record all storage root descriptors considering the most representative expression of the character shown in medium- to large-sized storage roots of several plants 4.2.1 Storage root shape Storage root outline shown in longitudinal section 1-Round - almost a circular outline with a length to breadth (L/B) ratio of about 1:1 2-Round elliptic - a slightly circular outline with acute ends. L/B ratio not more than 2:1 3-Elliptic - symmetrical outline with about the maximum breadth at equal distance from both ends which are slightly acute. L/B ratio not more than 3:1 4-Ovate - outline resembling the longitudinal section of an egg. The broadest part is at the distal end (i.e. away from the root stalk) 5-Obovate - inversely ovate outline. The broadest part is at the proximal end (i.e. close to the root stalk) 6-Oblong - almost rectangular outline with sides nearly parallel and corners rounded. L/B ratio about 2:1 7-Long oblong - oblong outline with a L/B ratio of more than 3:1 8-Long elliptic - elliptic outline with a L/B ratio of more than 3tol 9-Long irregular or curved 4.2.2 Storage root surface defects NOT AVAILABLE 0-Absent 1-Alligator-like skin 2-Veins 3-Shallow horizontal constrictions 4-Deep horizontal constrictions 5-Shallow longitudinal grooves 6-Deep longitudinal grooves 7-Deep constrictions and deep grooves 8-Other (specify in the NOTES descriptor, 4.4) 4.2.3 Storage root cortex thickness NOT AVAILABLE 1-Very thin (<1 mm) 3-Thin (1-2 mm) 5-Intermediate (2-3 mm) 7-Thick (3-4 mm) 9-Very thick (>4 mm) 4.2.4 Storage root skin colour Many freshly harvested storage roots should be washed and dried prior to evaluation. The most representative skin colour observed in the cultivar should be recorded. The equivalent values of a Munsell Color Chart are given in Appendix II for the colours used in these evaluations 4.2.5 Storage root flesh colour Describe from cross and longitudinal sections made about the middle of freshly harvested storage roots 4.2.4.1 Predominant skin colour NOT AVAILABLE 1-White 2-Cream 3-Yellow 4-Orange 5-Brownish orange 6-Pink 7-Red 8-Purple-red 9-Dark purple 4.2.4.2 Intensity of predominant skin colour NOT AVAILABLE 1-Pale 2-Intermediate 3-Dark 4.2.4.3 Secondary skin colour NOT AVAILABLE 0-Absent 1-White 2-Cream 3-Yellow 4-Orange 5-Brownish orange 6-Pink 7-Red 8-Purple-red 9-Dark purple 4.2.5.1 Predominant flesh colour NOT AVAILABLE 1-White 2-Cream 3-Dark cream 4-Pale yellow 5-Dark yellow 6-Pale orange 7-Intermediate orange 8-Dark orange 9-Strongly pigmented with anthocyanins 4.2.5.2 Secondary flesh colour NOT AVAILABLE 0-Absent 1-White 2-Cream 3-Yellow 4-Orange 5-Pink 6-Red 7-Purple-red 8-Purple 9-Dark purple 4.2.5.3 Distribution of secondary flesh colour NOT AVAILABLE 0-Absent 1-Narrow ring in cortex 2-Broad ring in cortex 3-Scattered spots in flesh 4-Narrow ring in flesh 5-Broad ring in flesh 6-Ring and other areas in flesh 7-In longitudinal sections 8-Covering most of the flesh 9-Covering all flesh 4.3 Inflorescence Although characters related to the flower are very important and not influenced by environmental conditions, there are strong differences among cultivars in their flowering ability. Flowering can be stimulated by water stress or trellis-work. However, in difficult cases grafting or chemical treatment might be needed 4.3.1 Flowering habit NOT AVAILABLE 0-None 3-Sparse 5-Moderate 7-Profuse 4.3.2 Flower colour NOT AVAILABLE 1-White 2-White limb with purple throat 3-White limb with pale purple ring and purple throat 4-Pale purple limb with purple throat 5-Purple 6-Other (specify in the NOTES descriptor, 4.4) 4.3.3 Flower size NOT AVAILABLE 4.3.4 Shape of limb NOT AVAILABLE 3-Semi-stellate 5-Pentagonal 7-Rounded 4.3.5 Equality of sepal length NOT AVAILABLE 1-Outer two shorter 2-Equal 4.3.6 Number of sepal veins Number of veins observed in the sepals. Record the most frequent number in ten typical flowers 4.3.7 Sepal shape NOT AVAILABLE 1-Ovate 3-Elliptic 5-Obovate 7-Oblong 9-Lanceolate 4.3.8 Sepal apex NOT AVAILABLE 1-Acute 3-Obtuse 5-Acuminate 7-Caudate 4.3.9 Sepal pubescence NOT AVAILABLE 0-Absent 3-Sparse 5-Moderate 7-Heavy 4.3.10 Sepal colour NOT AVAILABLE 1-Green 2-Green with purple edge 3-Green with purple spots 4-Green with purple areas 5-Green with purple areas 6-Some sepals green, others purple 7-Totally pigmented - pale purple 9-Totally pigmented - dark purple 4.3.11 Colour of stigma NOT AVAILABLE 1-White 5-Pale purple 9-Purple 4.3.12 Colour of style NOT AVAILABLE 1-White 3-White with purple at the base 5-White with purple at the top 7-White with purple spots throughout 9-Purple 4.3.13 Stigma exertion The relative position of the stigma as compared to the highest anther 1-Inserted (shorter than longest anther) 3-Same height as highest anther 5-Slightly exerted 7-Exerted (longer than longest anther) 4.3.14 Seed capsule set NOT AVAILABLE 0-None 1-Scarce 3-Sparse 5-Moderate 7-Profuse 4.3.3.1 Flower length [cm] NOT AVAILABLE 4.3.3.2 Flower width [cm] NOT AVAILABLE 4.4 Notes Any other information that could clarify plant description