2025 - Your Commission at Work

YOUR RESEARCH COMMITTEE AT WORK

2024-2025 Research Projects

The Research Committee plays a vital role in safeguarding the health and sustainability of our industry. In partnership with NC State University, we are advancing a bold vision for the future—one grounded in field experience and practical expertise to deliver research that directly benefits growers. By ensuring studies remain relevant and applicable, the Committee helps position North Carolina sweetpotatoes as a world-class product for consumers at home and abroad. For FY 2024–25, a series of research projects were funded through grower assessments. Each year, updates on these projects are shared during the NC State Extension Sweetpotato Field Day and winter production meetings, offering members an inside look at ongoing work and the benefits expected for their operations. These events not only keep growers informed but also provide a valuable forum to ask questions, share field observations, and contribute insights that can strengthen research outcomes.

22-05 - Jennings, K.M.

23-01 - Xiang, L. Development of a Robotic System for Automated Sweetpotato Transplanting 3D Imaging System: Customize a high resolution, high-speed 3D imaging system for sweetpotato segment reconstruction. Image Analysis Algorithms: Develop algorithms for skeleton and keypoint identification and robotic grasping posture determination. Robotic Arm Optimization: Determine the optimal path and control parameters for robotic arms to grasp and insert sweetpotato segments into paper chain pots. This project aims to enhance the efficiency and safety of sweetpotato transplanting through advanced robotics and machine learning techniques.

Development of Weed Management Strategies in Sweetpotato Herbicide Tolerance: Determine the tolerance of new sweetpotato clones (resistant and non resistant to Guava root-knot nematode) to herbicides. Focus on new sweetpotato clone NC091105, which shows resistance to Guava root-knot nematode. Weed Survey : Survey commercial fields for weeds during critical stages of the sweetpotato growing season and rotational crops. Identify weeds that act as hosts for root-knot nematodes and determine their incidence rates. Weed Control Timing: Conduct studies to simulate postemergence weed control and evaluate the timing needed to prevent weeds from serving as hosts for GRKN. Weed Management Program: Develop and test weed management programs using new herbicides like bicyclopyrone and fluridone.

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