Sweet potato seed program provides Arkansas farmers with high-quality seed stock

Sweet potatoes are propagated by stem cuttings, which makes the crop more susceptible to virus accumulation over time. More than 30 viruses are known to affect sweet potatoes. The use of virus-infected sweet potato slips for subsequent seasons can have a profoundly negative effect on a farmer’s operation, decreasing yield potential and profitability.

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s (UAPB) Sweetpotato Foundation Seed Program works to supply high-quality, virus-indexed planting materials to farmers in Arkansas and the South. The program includes a state-of-the-art biotechnology lab that allows researchers to develop and multiply virus-indexed sweet potato slips (planting materials) for use in the production of high-quality sweet potato seed stock.

During the 2023 planting season, UAPB helped propagate 2,039 tissue culture, virus-free sweet potato plants that were used to provide approximately 35,155 slips to Arkansas farmers. The university’s Extension staff worked with a network of 12 commercial growers, supplying them with virus-indexed sweet potato slips and technical assistance. Approximately 90% of the acreage under sweet potato production in Arkansas is supported by UAPB Extension. Through this program, two commercial growers in Arkansas planted 10 acres using UAPB virus-indexed slips. Roots harvested from this acreage will be used as seed material for the 2024 growing season.

Project supported by 1890 Extension funds.