The Anatomy of the Root System in West Indian Sweet Potato (Ipomoea Batatas (L.) Lam.) Cultivars

Abstract

The comparative anatomy of different root types including tuberous roots and tubers in the root system of a West Indian sweet potato cultivar cv. 049 is described, and tissue distribution in mature tubers compared with five other local cultivars. Anatomical events leading to tuber initiation and tuber growth to maturity are outlined and the anatomical specialization of the sweet potato tuberous root, particularly in the development of translocatory tissues in the ‘tuber stalk’ and in adventitious bud genesis, is described. Possible relationships between the anatomy of tuber development and final tuber yield are discussed.