Comparative Patterns of Dry Matter Production in Bushy and Spreading Sweet Potato Cultivars

SUMMARY Dry matter production in a bushy and spreading cultivar of sweet potato was studied in two trials comparing dry matter partitioning between plant components. The bushy cultivar, VSP-2, accumulated more tuber dry matter than the spreading cultivar, BNAS-51. The number and yield of tubers of VSP-2, was also greater but its foliage dry weight was less than that of BNAS-51. The vine and root dry weight of BNAS-51 increased with time but that of VSP-2 reached a peak about 10–12 weeks after planting. The tuber dry weight of BNAS-51 at harvest was similar to its foliage dry weight but that of VSP-2 was three times greater. The proportion of total dry matter partitioned to the tubers of VSP-2 was greater than that in BNAS-51 at all stages of growth.