Growth, yield, and quality of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) lam.) cultivars in the southeastern Anatolian and East Mediterranean Regions of Turkey

The study was carried out to determine the adaptation potential of sweet potato crops to different regions of Turkey. The study included 9 introduced genotypes of diverse origin and 2 local genotypes that were tested in 4 locations (Diyarbakir and Sanliurfa representing the southeastern Anatolia region, and Adana and Hatay representing the Mediterranean region) in 2000 and 2001. Haulm and storage root growth of the cultivars were monitored at monthly intervals. Total and graded storage root yield, and some quality parameters were determined at the final harvest. Although haulm and storage growth varied according to location and year, all cultivars showed rapid growth from the 90th to 120th day after planting (DAP), at all locations. Storage root formation started between the 30th and 60th DAP at all locations. Total storage root yield, according to cultivar, location, and year, varied from 6.72 to 112.60 t ha(-1), and the introduced genotypes produced higher yields than the local genotypes. Cultivars showed significant diversity in quality traits, such as dry matter content, alcohol insoluble solids content, protein content, and total carotenoid content. This study revealed that sweet potato could be adapted to both the Mediterranean and southeastern Anatolia regions of Turkey, and that high yield values could be achieved in these areas.