Genomics and Applied Biology 2024, Vol.15, No.6, 285-295 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/gab 290 Figure 3 Starch granules from sweet potato storage roots (Adopted from Fan et al., 2021) Image caption: a Starch granule size distribution. b Descriptive diameters Dx10, Dx50, and Dx90 of starch granules. Dx10, Dx50, and Dx90 are the projected equivalent diameters below which 10%, 50, and 90% of the total volume of all particles analyzed is represented. c Scanning electron microscopy images of extracted starch. d Transmission electron microscopy images of starch granules in storage roots. WT wild type; IA4, IA7, and IA8 are three independent IbVP1 transgenic lines. Five-month-old storage roots harvested from the field were used for analysis (Adopted from Fan et al., 2021) 5.3 Observed genetic traits contributing to improved photosynthesis Several genetic traits have been observed to contribute to improved photosynthesis in sweet potato. Overexpression of the IbVP1 gene enhances phloem loading and sucrose transport, upregulating starch biosynthesis pathway genes such as AGPase and GBSSI, which are crucial for efficient photosynthesis and starch production (Fan et al., 2021). Additionally, the TCP transcription factors, particularly those targeted by miR319, play significant roles in leaf anatomical morphology, which directly impacts photosynthetic rates (Ren et al., 2021). The regulation of leaf polarity and development by transcription factors like IbNAC43 also affects photosynthetic efficiency, as seen in transgenic plants with altered leaf structure and reduced photosynthetic rates (Sun et al., 2023). 5.4 Implications for future breeding programs The insights gained from genetic studies on high-photosynthetic sweet potato varieties have significant implications for future breeding programs. By leveraging genetic markers and regulatory networks identified through eQTL and SNP analyses, breeders can develop new varieties with enhanced photosynthetic efficiency and yield. The overexpression of key genes such as IbVP1 and IbMYB1 can be employed to improve starch production and antioxidant capacity under various environmental conditions (Park et al., 2015; Fan et al., 2021). Additionally, understanding the genetic basis of leaf anatomical traits and their impact on photosynthesis can guide the selection of genotypes with optimal leaf morphology for improved photosynthetic performance (Ren et al., 2021). These strategies will enable the development of sweet potato varieties that are more resilient to stress and have higher productivity, contributing to food security and agricultural sustainability.
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