DEVELOPING SWEETPOTATO GERMPLASMS WITH INCREASED PROTEIN LEVELS AND IMPROVED VIRAL DISEASE RESISTANCE

To generate sweetpotato lines with higher nutritional value and increased yield, our objectives are 1). To generate Arabidopsis QQS and sweetpotato NF-YC4 transgenic sweetpotato to increase protein levels and disease resistance in sweetpotato roots via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method; 2). To generate sweetpotato via CRISPR/Cas9 targeted mutagenesis for overexpression of sweetpotato NF-YC4 to increase protein levels and disease resistance in sweetpotato roots; 3). To test the composition of protein and starch for the new sweetpotato varieties generated in objectives 1 and 2; 4). To test viral disease resistance for the new sweetpotato varieties generated in objectives 1 and 2. Successful execution of this project will significantly boost quality of life and environment in the underserved communities and enhance research and education capacities of Alcorn State University.