2025 - Your Commission at Work

YOUR RESEARCH COMMITTEE AT WORK

24-06 Schultheis, J.R.

25-02 Almeyda, C.V. and Auman, D.H.

Maximizing the Production of Sweetpotato Nuclear Stock through Light Intensity Optimization and IPM Programs Produce virus-tested nuclear stock plants of important sweetpotato cultivars. Evaluate cultivars for yield, quality, and trueness-to-type. Implement an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program for greenhouse production. Install an automated aeration system in greenhouses. Optimize light intensity for sweetpotato production under greenhouse conditions. Digestibility and Bioaccessibility of Protein from Sweetpotato Root and Leaf Measure protein content, extraction efficiency, in vitro digestibility, and bioaccessibility of sweetpotato root and leaf. Enhance knowledge of protein content and availability in sweetpotato products. 25-03 Allen, J.C.

Optimizing Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate for Sweetpotato Clones NC09-1105 with Guava Root Knot Nematode Resistance and NC15-728 with Yellow Interior Flesh in Preparation for Commercial Release Evaluate Nitrogen Rates: Determine optimal nitrogen fertilizer rates for high yield and quality of three sweetpotato clones (NC09-1105, NC15-0728, and Covington). Storage Quality: Assess the effect of nitrogen rates on the long-term storage quality of each clone. Measure moisture loss and decay over 10 months. Free Asparagine: Study the impact of nitrogen rates on free asparagine levels in sweetpotato flesh that affect acrylamide formation in fried products, this will be done in collaboration with USDA-ARS. Addressing Labor Challenges in NC Sweetpotato Production: Pathways to Automation and Cost Reduction I dentify opportunities to reduce labor costs. Determine tasks suitable for automation in sweetpotato production. This project aims to address the economic viability of automating sweetpotato production to reduce labor costs and improve efficiency. 25-01-Gutierrrez-Li, A.

25-04 Knuth M.J. and Quesada, L.M.

Cost Effectiveness of Postharvest Fungicide Management Strategies for Sweetpotato Packers

Cost-Benefit Analysis: Compare costs (fungicides, labor, storage) with benefits (reduced losses, improved quality). Financial Feasibility: Assess the affordability and practicality of treatments.

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