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Reference · Crops

Convolvulaceae

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a perennial herbaceous crop belonging to the Convolvulaceae family. While commonly called a potato, it is botanically distinct and is valued for its starchy, sweet-tasting storage roots. It serves as a staple food source for millions of people worldwide, especially in developing nations.

Main sections

Ipomoea17 Dodder9 Distimake6 Erycibe5 Dichondra4 Evolvulus2 Decalobanthus1 Dichondra1 Distimake1 Falkia1 Hewittia1 Humbertia1
216 sections

What the section contains

Decalobanthus Decalobanthus 1 item Dichondra Dichondra J. R. et G. Forst 1 item Dichondra Dichondra 4 items Distimake Distimake Raf. 1 item Distimake Distimake 6 items Dodder Cuscuta 9 items Dwarf bindweed Convolvulus humilis Erycibe Erycibe 5 items Evolvulus Evolvulus L. 2 items Evolvulus alsinoides Evolvulus alsinoides Evolvulus arbuscula Evolvulus arbuscula Evolvulus tenuis Evolvulus tenuis Falkia Falkia 1 item Fernandes bindweed Convolvulus fernandesii Galatian bindweed Convolvulus galaticus Gennesaret dodder Cuscuta gennesaretana Giant dodder Cuscuta gigantea Globe dodder Cuscuta globulosa Goat's foot morning glory Ipomoea pes-caprae Hairy Morning Glory Ipomoea hirta Hairy morning glory Ipomoea hispida Hardwick's morning glory Ipomoea hardwickii Hawaiian dodder Cuscuta sandwichiana Hazel dodder Cuscuta coryli Hewittia Hewittia 1 item Humbertia Humbertia 1 item Hybrid bindweed Calystegia hybrids Imperial Morning Glory Ipomoea imperialis Ipomoea Ipomoea L. 17 items Ipomoea acanthocarpa Ipomoea acanthocarpa Ipomoea adenioides Ipomoea adenioides Ipomoea altissima Ipomoea altissima Ipomoea amoena Ipomoea amoena Ipomoea argentaurata Ipomoea argentaurata Ipomoea aristolochiaefolia Ipomoea aristolochiaefolia Ipomoea asarifolia Ipomoea asarifolia Ipomoea asperifolia Ipomoea asperifolia Ipomoea bolusiana Ipomoea bolusiana Ipomoea bullata Ipomoea bullata Ipomoea calobra Ipomoea calobra Ipomoea caloneura Ipomoea caloneura Ipomoea cholulensis Ipomoea cholulensis Ipomoea coptica Ipomoea coptica Ipomoea cordatotriloba Ipomoea cordatotriloba Ipomoea cordofana Ipomoea cordofana Ipomoea coscinosperma Ipomoea coscinosperma Ipomoea crassifolia Ipomoea crassifolia Ipomoea crassipes Ipomoea crassipes Ipomoea crespidiformis Ipomoea crespidiformis Ipomoea cristulata Ipomoea cristulata Ipomoea cymosa Ipomoea cymosa Ipomoea dealbata Ipomoea dealbata Ipomoea dichroa Ipomoea dichroa Ipomoea digitata Ipomoea digitata Ipomoea fastigiata Ipomoea fastigiata Ipomoea fulvicaulis Ipomoea fulvicaulis Ipomoea gracilis Ipomoea gracilis Ipomoea grandiflora Ipomoea grandiflora Ipomoea heterotricha Ipomoea heterotricha Ipomoea hildebrandtii Ipomoea hildebrandtii

Convolvulaceae

Originating from the tropical regions of Central and South America, the sweet potato has spread across all continents. It is now cultivated extensively in China, several African nations, and the United States. Its adaptability allows it to grow in various climates, although it performs best in frost-free, warm environments with plenty of sunshine.

Botanically, the plant features trailing stems and alternate leaves. The edible parts are adventitious roots that enlarge into tubers, which vary significantly in skin color and flesh texture. The crop is typically propagated vegetatively using slips (sprouts from the tubers) rather than seeds, which preserves the characteristics of the cultivar.

Regarding agricultural requirements, sweet potatoes thrive in well-drained, sandy loam soils with a pH between 5.8 and 6.2. They are heat-loving plants requiring a long growing season of at least 90–120 days. Proper irrigation is crucial during the establishment phase, while dry conditions are preferred as harvest approaches to improve storage quality.

Sweet potatoes are used in a variety of culinary applications, including baking, boiling, and frying, as well as in industrial processing for flour and animal feed. Common challenges in crop management include:

  • Pathogenic fungi such as Fusarium wilt and scurf.
  • Insect pests including sweet potato weevils, wireworms, and aphids.
  • Competition from weeds in the early growth stages due to slow initial development.