Sweetpotato plant named ‘LA17-31’
A new variety of sweetpotato, identified as ‘LA17-31’ is disclosed having resistance to southern root-knot nematode and Fusarium wilt; an orange flesh, red-purple skin storage root and attractive zero to three or five lobed dark green leaves with purple venation and purple vines.
Latest THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY AND AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE Patents:
Genus and species name: Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.
Variety denomination: ‘LA17-31’.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONSweetpotatoes, unlike Irish potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), are not tuber propagated plants. A “tuber” is a short, thickened portion of an underground branch. Along a tuber “eyes” are found, each of which comprises a ridge bearing a scale-like leaf (analogous to a branch leaf) having minute meristematic buds in the axial of the leaf. By contrast, sweetpotato roots are developmentally and anatomically true roots, lacking meristematic buds, and are not derived from an underground branch. Sweetpotatoes do not form tubers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis invention pertains to a new and distinct variety of sweetpotato. This new and distinct sweetpotato variety demonstrates superior disease resistance to Fusarium wilt and is highly resistant to southern root-knot nematode, and exhibits storage roots with orange flesh and has ornamental foliage characteristics. It also demonstrates a dark green foliage and zero to three to five lobed leaves in comparison to ‘05-111’ with a lighter color foliage and entire leaf.
This new and distinct sweetpotato variety is characterized by storage roots with orange flesh, consistent shape, a red-purple skin, and dark green foliage.
This new variety of sweetpotato, named ‘LA17-31’, resulted from an open-pollinated cross performed in 2016 to the female parent ‘LA15-538’ (not patented). The female parent ‘LA15-538’ had green palmate leaves. ‘LA17-31’ was developed to provide a variety with storage root characteristics similar to ‘05-111’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,761 P3) and attractive foliage for ornamental use.
Plants of ‘LA17-31’ and variety ‘05-111’ can be differentiated. Leaves of ‘LA17-31’ are zero to three to five lobed. Most are three to five lobed. ‘05-111’ has an entire leaf with no lobes. Roots of ‘LA17-31’ are red-purple skin [7.5 R (red) R (purple) (2/8)] and can be differentiated from the light to medium rose skin of ‘05-111’. Color terminology used herein is in accordance with the MUNSELL® Book of Color (2003 Edition, Munsell Color, GretagMacbeth LLC, 617 Little Britain Road, New Windsor, N.Y. 12553-6148). The color descriptions and color illustrations are as nearly true as is reasonably possible. However, it is understood that both color and other phenotypic expressions described herein may vary from plant to plant with differences in growth, environment and cultural conditions, without any change in the genotype of the variety ‘LA17-31’.
‘LA17-31’ roots were stored during the winter in Chase, La. ‘LA17-31’ was planted the following spring, resulting in approximately 8-10 sprouts per root. Cuttings from the sprouts were transplanted successfully for asexual reproduction in Chase, La. Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by cuttings has shown that the unique features of this new sweetpotato were stable and that the plant reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation. Plants described herein were 90 days in age from planting in full sun field plantings.
A typical inflorescence of ‘LA17-31’ displayed two clusters of 4-5 flowers per peduncle. Peduncles were purple [7.5 R (red) P (purple) (2/4)], about 6-8 cm long, and about 3 mm in diameter. Individual flowers were about 3 cm long from the base of the calyx, and the corolla was 3 cm wide at the opening. The fused flower petals formed a pentagonal pattern with smooth edges. The inner throat of the corolla was purple [7.5 P (purple) (3/8)]. The inner and outer limbs of the corolla (corollas outermost area, distal from the calyx) were light purple [10 P (purple) (9/2)]. The five sepals comprising the calyx were elliptic with a cordate apex and green [2.5 G (green) Y (yellow) (5/4)] along the margins and mostly purple [7.5 P (purple) (4/6)]; three of these sepals were about 11.8 mm long and 5.0 mm wide. Two other sepals (interspersed) were about 9 mm long and 2.4 mm wide. Sepal margins were entire. Stigmata were about 1.0 cm long and light purple [10 P (purple) (9/2)] at the base before fading. Five stamens were inferior to the stigmata. There were small flag like tissue attached to stamen bases and similar in color to the outer corolla. A slight sweet fragrance was present. Mature seed capsules are round and 6.0 mm in length and width, and seeds are 3.5 mm round. One black [neutral 1.75] seed is produced on average per capsule.
EXAMPLE 1Tests Conducted
To confirm that ‘LA17-31’ was a new ornamental variety with storage roots, controlled tests (e.g., pathogen responses and yield) were conducted in Baton Rouge, La. ‘05-111’ was selected for comparison because of its importance in commercial United States orange flesh sweetpotato acreage. Diseases that commonly affect the growth of sweetpotatoes were selected to test for pathogen responses in both varieties. ‘LA17-31’ and ‘05-111’ were resistant to Fusarium wilt or stem rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum Schlect. f sp. batatas (Wollenw.) Snyd. & Hans. ‘LA17-31’ was susceptible and ‘05-111’ was intermediate to resistant for Streptomyces soil rot caused by Streptomyces ipomoeae (Person & W. J. Martin) Waksman & Henrici.
Nematode reproduction was measured in greenhouse tests. ‘LA17-31’ was highly resistant while ‘05-111’ was susceptible to race 3 of the southern root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White 1919) Chitwood 1949.
Storage roots have a storage life similar to ‘05-111’. There are no data on shipping or storage root market use.
‘LA17-31’ is drought and heat tolerant like ‘05-111’ and succumbs to death at freezing like ‘05-111’.
‘LA17-31’ has not been tested for novel insect resistance.
To determine yield production, complete-block trials using three replications of ‘LA17-31’ and ‘05-111’ were conducted in 2018 in Louisiana and Arkansas. ‘LA17-31’ and ‘05-111’ sweetpotato plants were transplanted in randomized complete-block trials at 31-cm spacings. Each block/plot was fertilized with approximately 250 pounds per acre of a mixed fertilizer comprising 13% N, 13% P2O5, and 13% K2O. ‘LA17-31’ was compared to ‘05-111’ at transplanting dates in June. Average yields were measured for the following grades of roots: U.S. #1 (51-89 mm in diameter, 76-229 mm long); Canner (25-51 mm in diameter, 51-178 mm long); and Jumbo (larger than U.S. #1 in diameter, length or both, and without objectionable defects). A typical marketable root of ‘LA17-31’ was 180-190 mm long, 60-70 mm in diameter, with mostly round-elliptic in shapes. The base or distal end tended to be more elongated in comparison to slightly rounder apex (proximal end). U.S. #1 roots typically weighed 150-190 g.
A mid-season transplanting date trial was conducted at Gilbert, La. in 2018. ‘LA17-31’ and ‘05-111’ were transplanted on Jun. 19, 2018 and harvested on Oct. 19, 2018 (123 days after planting). Average yields, measured as Metric Tons per Hectare (MT·ha−1), are shown for ‘LA17-31’ and ‘05-111’ in Table 2.
A mid-season transplanting date trial was also conducted at Wynne, Ark. in 2018. ‘LA17-31’ and ‘05-111’ were transplanted on Jun. 5, 2018 and harvested on Oct. 9, 2018 (127 days after planting). Average yields, measured as Metric Tons per Hectare (MT·ha−1), are shown for ‘LA17-31’ and ‘05-111’ in Table 3.
As shown in Tables 2-3, ‘LA17-31’ was competitive in yield in comparison to ‘05-111’ in regional trials at various planting dates. ‘LA17-31’ had harvestable roots approximately 120-130 days after planting, which is typical development time for sweetpotatoes and comparable to ‘05-111’. ‘LA17-31’ is not intended for commercial production but demonstrates competitive yield in comparison to a commercial orange flesh fresh market variety.
‘LA17-31’ should be a valuable commercial ornamental sweetpotato variety. ‘LA17-31’ has competitive yield in comparison to ‘05-111’ and represents a unique canopy type which produces edible red-purple skin, orange flesh roots.
Claims
1. A new and distinct variety of Ipomoea batatas plant named ‘LA17-31’ as described and illustrated in the specification herein.
Type: Grant
Filed: Feb 8, 2019
Date of Patent: Jul 28, 2020
Assignee: THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY AND AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE (Baton Rouge, LA)
Inventor: Don R. LaBonte (Baton Rouge, LA)
Primary Examiner: June Hwu
Application Number: 16/350,988
International Classification: A01H 5/06 (20180101); A01H 6/00 (20180101);