The root and shoot characteristics that enable sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) to grow in low phosphorus soils

This thesis investigated the ability of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L) LAM) to access and use P in low P soil conditions. Sweet potato tightly regulates internal P use allowing very low tissue P concentrations under a wide range of P supply, and has the ability to manage rhizosheath microbial communities for benefit under low- and high-P conditions. These findings will help to improve and stabilise storage root yield of sweet potato in both traditional subsistence agriculture and commercial high-input systems by selecting and breeding cultivars that enhance these traits.