Spring-Fall, 1991

 During the spring-fall of 1991, seven varieties were evaluated In a replicated trial. The varietle included Violal
 Tapato, Sunny, Eda, Picadito, Mc and Three Months. Similar procedures were followed as in previous trials. The
 varieties were harvested at 120 days after planting. Total and marketable yield data were collected for storage mot
 size and yield per plant.
 Consumer preference was determined by presenting boiled slices of each cultivar to a panel. The lices were
 assessed for color, appearance, softness, mouthfeel, sweetness, fiber and flavor.
 Total marketable yields were generally good, due to the low Incidence of weevil damage. Viola, Tapato and
 Sunny were the best-yielding varieties in terms of production of total and marketable storage roots (Table 19).
 Picadito produced the largest marketable tuber weighing an average of 438 g.
 A consumer preference panel rated Viola, Tapato and Sunny as having good culinary qualities, despite their
 relatively low sugar content. These three varieties were bred to produce in heavy soils in Puerto Rico.
 There was a negligible sweet potato weevil damage in all varieties. This was not attributed to weevil resistance
 or tolerance, but probably due to an escape mechanism. The plot was located In an area where sweet potato had
 not been established for a number of years.

 Table 19. Storage root yield and size of sweet potato varieties grown
 during spring-fall, 1991, at UVI-AES.

 Yield (t ha')' Root size' Roots/plant'
 Variety Total Marketable (g)

 Viola 19.5 a 16.2 a 266 be 1.8 a
 Tapato 16.4 a 14.2 a 275 be 1.5 ab
 Sunny 14.3 a 13.1 a 212 be 1.6 ab
 Eda 12.3 ab 10.5 ab 286 b 1.7 a
 Picadito 12.2 ab 11.3 ab 438 a 1.2ab
 Mc 3.8 b 3.3 b 188 c 0.8 ab
 Three Months 3.1 b 2.6 b 205 bc 0.6 b

 'Means within a column followed by the same letter are not significantly
 different by Duncan's Multiple Range Test, (P=0.05).


Spring-Fall, 1992

 This trial was conducted to evaluate additional sweet potato varieties, including the highest-yielding varieties
from the spring-fall, 1991, trial. Similar procedures were followed as in the previous trials, but the crop was harvested
at 150 days after planting. In addition, observations were made on ease of propagation, plant vigor and ability to
smother weeds.
 Plant foliage was harvested by cutting the main stem at ground level. Total foliage fresh weight was recorded
and sub-samples were oven-dried at 70*C to a constant weight, for dry matter determination. Marketable storage
roots were examined for sweet potato weevil damage. After harvest, sub-samples of storage roots were peeled,
sliced and dried at 70bC to constant weight for dry matter determination.
 Results presented In Table 20 show that varieties SKB-4, CS-2 and SKB-2 produced large quantities of fresh
foliage. The fresh and dry matter yields of foliage from these varieties were significantly higher than those of the
other varieties. The foliage of Perta had the highest percent dry matter, but this variety produced the least foliage.
Foliage yield was directly related to plant growth vigor and the ability to smother weeds which is important because
vigorous vine growth can considerably reduce the number of weeding. Sweet potato foliage can be consumed as
a leafy vegetable, fed to livestock or used as planting material.