One of the flagship projects of the ARC on sweet potato enterprise development was funded by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. Du​ring 2014/15 cropping season, 123 sweet potato enterprises (106 sweet potato growers and 17 vine nurseries) were supported in six provinces and 543 beneficiaries were trained in sweet potato cultivation and business development. During 2017/18, peak vine dissemination was achieved as a total of 5 539 bags of vines of the ARC's sweet and dry informal market varieties were disseminated, which was enough to plant 123 ha. Training includes both specific and targeted courses for farmers. For example, specific training was given to 28 farmers from North West Province at Kgora, Vryburg and Brits and targeted training for 101 mothers at three locations in the OR Thambo district; as part of the Department of Social Development's program to reduce child malnutrition during October-November 2021. There is great potential that requires R&D investment if South Africa is to realise the full socioeconomic value of the crop to society. 

Contact: Ms Erika van den Heever and Dr Sunette Laurie.​

​​Sweet Potato Rural Development1.jpg​​Sweet Potato Rural Development2.jpg​Sweet Potato Rural Development3.jpg

​Publications:

  1. Hlerema IN. Studies on vine storage methods, planting technologies, paclobutrazol treatment, planting density and weevil management on sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L. LAM) cultivars promoted in South Africa. PhD Thesis. Alice: Dept of Horticulture, University of Fort Hare, 2021.
  2. HLEREMA, I.N., TARUVINGA, B., LAURIE, S.M., NDOU, P., EIASU, B. AND DU PLOOY C.P. 2018.  Cost Effectiveness and Influence of Storage Bag Type on the Quality of Sweet Potato Vines.  Journal of Agricultural Science 10(9): 47-54.
  3. KANDOLO, S.D., AVELING, T., VAN DER WAALS, J.E., TRUTER, M. & LAURIE, S.M. 2018. Effects of wetness duration, inoculum concentration and temperature on the development of Alternaria blight on transplants of sweet potato. Acta Horticulturae 1204: 211-217. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1204.27.
  4. Kandolo, S.D., Thompson, A.H., Calitz, F.J., Laurie, S.M., Truter, M., van der Waals, J.E. and Aveling, T.A.S. 2016. Field sensitivity of selected cultivars and fungicide efficacy against Alternaria blight of sweet potato. African Crop Science Journal 24(3): 235-243.  (Sep).
  5. LAURIE SM, NHLABATSI NN, NGOBENI HM, TJALE SS. The effect of in-field rain water harvesting on orange-fleshed sweet potato biomass and yield. J Agric Sci. 2017; 9(10):1-9. DOI:10.5539/jas.v9n10p1
  6. Laurie, S.M., Faber, M., and Claasen, N. 2018. Incorporating orange-fleshed sweet potato into the food system as a strategy for improved nutrition: the context of South Africa. Food Research International 104: 77-85.  doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2017.09.016 (Jan)
  7. Laurie, S.M., Mtileni, M.M., Mphela, W.M., and Tjale, S.S. 2017. Performance of informal market sweet potato cultivars in on-farm trials in South Africa. Open Agriculture 2(1): 431–441 https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2017-0047 (Sep)
  8. Laurie, S.M., Myeza, P.N., Mulabisana, M.J., Mabasa, K.G., Thompson, A., Greyling, R., Cloete, M. & Adebola, P.O. 2016. In vitro propagation and disease testing as a means of producing healthy planting materials to support root and tuber crops production in South Africa. Acta Horticulturae, 1113. ISHS 2016. DOI 10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1113.34.
  9. Laurie, S.M., Naidoo, S.I.M., Magwaza, L., Shimelis, H., Laing, M.D. 2020. Assessment of the genetic diversity of sweetpotato germplasm collections for protein content. South African Journal of Botany 132: 132-139 (August) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2020.03.041
  10. Magwaza LS, Naidoo SIM, Laurie SM, Laing MD, Shimelis H. 2016. Development of NIRS models for rapid quantification of protein content in sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) LAM]. LWT – Food Science and Technology 72: 63-70 (May) ISI 2.71.
  11. Moloto PI, Mosala M, Omolola A, Jideani A, Laurie SM. 2021. Optimization of hot-air drying conditions on functional properties of flour from dried South African sweet potato cultivars (Impilo and Bophelo) using response surface methodology. Food Science and Technology International (Campinas) 41(1):39-46. https://doi.org/10.1590/fst.28019 (Mar).
  12. MULABISANA, J., CLOETE, M., MABASA, K., LAURIE, S.M., OELOFSE, D. & REY, M.E.C. 2015. Genetic characterization of viruses infecting sweet potato in South Africa. Acta Horticulturae, 1105, 155-161. ISHS. DOI 10.17660/ActaHortic.2015.1105.22.
  13. MULABISANA, M.J., CLOETE, M., LAURIE, S.M., MPHELA, W., MASERUMULE, M.M., NHLAPO, T.F., COCHRANE, N.M., OELOFSE, D., REY, M.E.C. 2019. Yield evaluation of multiple and co-infections of begomoviruses and potyviruses on sweet potato varieties under field conditions and confirmation of multiple infection by NGS. Crop Protection 119: 102-112. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2019.01.009.
  14. MULABISANA, M.J., CLOETE, M., MABASA, K.G., LAURIE, S.M., OELOFSE, D. ESTERHUIZEN, L.L. & REY, M.E.C. 2018. Surveys in the Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa reveal novel isolates of sweet potato viruses. South African Journal of Botany: 114, 280-294.
  15. MULOVHEDZI NE 2017. Quantifying water use and nutritional water productivity of two sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) cultivars grown in South Africa. MSc thesis, University of Pretoria. https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/65920
  16. MULOVHEDZI NE, ARAYA NA, MENGISTU MG, FESSEHAZION MK, DU PLOOY CP, ARAYA HT, VAN DER LAAN M. 2020. Estimating evapotranspiration and determining crop coefficients of irrigated sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) grown in a semi-arid climate. Agric Water Manag. 2020; 233:106099. DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106099
  17. Mwanga, R.O.M., Swanckaert, J., da Silva Pereira, G., Andrade, M.I., Makunde, G., Gruneberg, W.J., Kreuze, J.F., David, M, De Beck, B, Carey, E., Ssali, R., Yencho, G.J., Utoblo, O., Gemenet, G.C., Otema, M., Yada, B., Chelangat, D.M., Oloka, O., Mtunda, K., Chiona, M., Koussao, S., Laurie, S.M., Campos, H., & Low, J.W. 2021. Breeding progress for vitamin A, iron and zinc biofortification, drought tolerance, and sweetpotato virus disease resistance in sweetpotato. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2021.616674 (15 Mar 2021).
  18. Naidoo, S.I.M., Laurie, S.M., Booyse, M., Mphela W.M., Makunde G.S., Shimelis, H., Laing, M.D. 2021. Combining ability, heterosis and heritability of sweetpotato root protein, β-carotene, sugars and mineral composition. Euphytica 217:109 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-021-02829-5 (May)
  19. Naidoo, S.I.M., Laurie, S.M., Shimelis, H., Laing, M.D. 2020. Agro-morphological characterisation of local and international sweetpotato germplasm from the South African collection. South African Journal of Plant and Soil 37(4): 308–320. DOI: 10.1080/02571862.2020.1791983 (Sep)
  20. NHLAPO, T.F., MULABISANA, J.M., ODENY, D.A., REY, M.E.C. & REES, D.J.G. 2018. First Report of Sweet potato badnavirus A and Sweet potato badnavirus B in South Africa. Plant Disease (online).
  21. NHLAPO, T.F., REES, D.J.G., ODENY, D.A., MULABISANA, J.M. & REY, M.E.C. 2018. Viral metagenomics reveals sweet potato virus diversity in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces of South Africa. South African Journal of Botany 117: 256-267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2018.05.024.
    NKOSI, B.Z. 2020. Characterisation of Fusarium oxysporum species complex associated with Fusarium wilt of sweet potato in South Africa. Master of Technology Dissertation. University of South Africa. South Africa.
    NYATHI MK, DU PLOOY C P, VAN HALSEMA GE, STOMPH TJ, ANNANDALE JG, STRUIK PC. The dual-purpose use of orange-fleshed sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas var. 'Bophelo') for improved nutritional food security. Agric Water Manag. 2019; 217:23-37. DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2019.02.029
    Phahlane, C.J., Laurie, S.M., Shoko, T., Manhivi, V.E., Sivakumar D. 2021. An evaluation of phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and antioxidant properties in leaves of South Africa cultivars, Peruvian 199062.1 and USA's Beauregard. Frontiers in Nutrition 8:773550. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.773550 (Nov) (ISI 6.5)
  22. Pofu, K.M., Mashela, P.W. and Laurie S. 2020. Host-status of twenty sweet potato lines to Meloidogyne species in South Africa. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Science 70(2): 135-139. https://doi.org/10.1080/09064710.2019.1678668
  23. Pofu, K.M., Mashela, P.W. and Laurie, S.M. 2016. Host status to Meloidogyne javanica in sweet potato cultivars: A potential threat in developmental projects. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B - Plant Soil Science 67(1):1-5 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09064710.2016.1220613 (Aug)
  24. Selokela LM, Laurie SM, Sivakumar D. 2021. Impact of different postharvest thermal processing on changes in antioxidant constituents, activity and nutritional compounds in sweet potato with varying flesh colour. South African Journal of Botany 144: 380-388 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2021.09.009. (Oct)
  25. Selaocoe, M.E., Adebola, P., Pillay M. and Laurie, S.M. 2019. Genetic diversity of South African sweetpotato germplasm using molecular markers. Journal of Crop Improvement 33(6):814-823. DOI: 10.1080/15427528.2019.1671930 (Oct).