Effect of Drought on Storage Root Development and Gene Expression Profile of Sweetpotato under Greenhouse and Field Conditions

Greenhouse and field culture systems were used to study the effect of drought conditions on the storage root (SR) formation in 'Beauregard' sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas). In the greenhouse culture system, drought was simulated by withholding water for 5 and 10 days after transplanting (DAT) cuttings in dry sand. Control plants received water at planting and every 3 days thereafter. In the field studies, natural drought conditions and selective irrigation were used to impose water deprivation during the critical SR formation period. Greenhouse drought for 5 and 10 DAT reduced the number of SRs by 42% and 66%, respectively, compared with the controls. Field drought resulted in a 49% reduction in U.S. #1 SR yield compared with the irrigated condition. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis showed differential expression of a set of sweetpotato transcription factors and protein kinases among greenhouse-grown plants subjected to well-watered conditions and water deficit during 5 DAT. A significant enhancement of expression was observed for known drought stress-associated genes such as an abscisic acid-responsive elements-binding factor, dehydration-responsive element-binding factor, and homeodomain-zip proteins. Members of calcium-binding proteins showed differential expression under drought stress. For the first time it is reported that knotted1-like homeobox and BEL1-like genes showed altered expression in response to drought stress under a greenhouse condition. In summary, the results suggest that water deprivation during the SR formation period influences root development and expression patterns of stress-responsive genes and those previously found associated with SR formation in sweetpotato.