Influence of Planting Density on Sweet Potato Storage Root Formation by Regulating Carbohydrate and Lignin Metabolism
Qinggan Liang,
Hongrong Chen,
Hailong Chang,
Yi Liu,
Qinnan Wang,
Jiantao Wu,
Yonghua Liu,
Sunjeet Kumar,
Yue Chen,
Yanli Chen,
Guopeng Zhu
Affiliations
Qinggan Liang
Key Laboratory of Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crop in Hainan Province, School of Horticulture, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Hongrong Chen
Institute of Nanfan & Seed Industry, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510310, China
Hailong Chang
Institute of Nanfan & Seed Industry, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510310, China
Yi Liu
Key Laboratory of Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crop in Hainan Province, School of Horticulture, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Qinnan Wang
Institute of Nanfan & Seed Industry, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510310, China
Jiantao Wu
Institute of Nanfan & Seed Industry, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510310, China
Yonghua Liu
Key Laboratory of Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crop in Hainan Province, School of Horticulture, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Sunjeet Kumar
Key Laboratory of Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crop in Hainan Province, School of Horticulture, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Yue Chen
Key Laboratory of Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crop in Hainan Province, School of Horticulture, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Yanli Chen
Key Laboratory of Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crop in Hainan Province, School of Horticulture, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Guopeng Zhu
Key Laboratory of Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crop in Hainan Province, School of Horticulture, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
An appropriate planting density could realize the maximum yield potential of crops, but the mechanism of sweet potato storage root formation in response to planting density is still rarely investigated. Four planting densities, namely D15, D20, D25, and D30, were set for 2-year and two-site field experiments to investigate the carbohydrate and lignin metabolism in potential storage roots and its relationship with the storage root number, yield, and commercial characteristics at the harvest period. The results showed that an appropriate planting density (D20 treatment) stimulated cambium cell differentiation, which increased carbohydrate accumulation and inhibited lignin biosynthesis in potential storage roots. At canopy closure, the D20 treatment produced more storage roots, particularly developing ones. It increased the yield by 10.18–19.73% compared with the control D25 treatment and improved the commercial features by decreasing the storage root length/diameter ratio and increasing the storage root weight uniformity. This study provides a theoretical basis for the high-value production of sweet potato.
