Relationship between bud number in seed branches and yield aspects of sweet potato

ABSTRACT Planting sweet potato branches with the appropriate bud number and disposition, below and above ground, can favor vegetative growth and yield that better fit the marketable standards. This study aimed to explore the influence of the number of buds and their distribution ratio, above and below ground level, on the agronomic and marketable components of sweet potato tuberous roots. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were arranged in a factorial scheme (3 x 5), with 2, 4, and 8 above-ground buds combined with 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 below-ground buds. Branches from the UZBD 06 accession (Canadense standard) were used. Vegetative, productive, and marketable traits of roots were evaluated. The use of branches with a greater number of buds above and below ground increased shoot dry biomass. Planting seed branches with 8 buds above and 8 buds below ground provided a greater number and production of marketable roots. The use of 10 buried buds increased root number and yield in the 150-450 g marketable classes, which the consumer market values the most.摘要：选取具备适宜芽数与地上、地下分布配置的甘薯插枝进行种植，可促进植株营养生长，提升块根产量，使产品更符合商品薯市场标准。本研究旨在探究芽数及其地上、地下分布比例对甘薯块根农艺性状与商品性状的影响。本试验采用随机完全区组设计，设置3次重复。试验处理采用3×5析因设计方案：地上芽数分别设置为2、4、8个，与地下芽数2、4、6、8、10个进行组合。试验所用插枝取自UZBD 06号种质（加拿大标准型）。研究对植株营养生长性状、产量性状及块根商品性状进行了测定。增加地上与地下的芽数，可提高地上部干物质积累量。采用地上8芽、地下8芽的插枝种植时，商品块根的数量与产量均达到最优。设置10个地下芽的处理，可提升150~450g这一消费者最青睐的商品薯分级的块根数量与产量。