Lin Zhao , Xinhao Zhou , Li Qiu , Liping Tao

1 Crop (Ecology) Research Institute of Hangzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China 2 Young Couple Family Farm in Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China 3 Zhejiang Yuhe Yueyue Agricultural Development Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China 4 People’s Government of Tianmushan Town, Lin'an District, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Bioscience Methods, 2025, Vol. 16, No. 1   doi: 10.5376/bm.2025.16.0001
Received: 23 Jul., 2024    Accepted: 30 Dec., 2024    Published: 15 Jan., 2025

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Zhao L., Zhou X.H., Qiu L., Tao L.P., 2025, Latest progress on the effects of drought, salinity, and temperature stress on sweet potatoes and their resistance mechanisms, Bioscience Methods, 16(1): 1-10 (doi: 10.5376/bm.2025.16.0001)

Abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, and heavy metal toxicity pose significant challenges to global agriculture, impacting crop yields and food security. Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), an essential staple crop, is particularly affected by these stresses, necessitating enhanced tolerance mechanisms to maintain productivity. This study examines the physiological, molecular, and genetic mechanisms that support the abiotic stress tolerance of sweet potatoes, with a focus on key traits such as water use efficiency, osmotic regulation, and antioxidant defense. At the same time, specific genes and transcription factors involved in stress response pathways, including ABA and ROS signaling, as well as the role of epigenetic modifications in adapting to environmental stress, were also analyzed. Additionally, breeding strategies and biotechnological interventions such as CRISPR and marker-assisted selection are discussed, emphasizing their role in developing stress-resilient varieties. Case studies on drought and salinity-resistant sweet potato varieties highlight practical outcomes of current breeding programs. This study summarizes the limitations of existing methods and proposes directions for future research. Enhancing abiotic stress tolerance in sweet potato remains a crucial goal, with promising potential through integrated breeding and biotechnological approaches to support sustainable agriculture.

Sweet potato; Abiotic stress tolerance; Drought resistance; Salinity tolerance; Molecular mechanisms