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Sweetpotato Production in the United States

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The Sweetpotato

The sweetpotato, Ipomea batatas (L.) Lam., is tropical in origin and was considered an important food plant for ancient civilizations in tropical America; however, the plant was not grown extensively by North American Indians. The sweetpotato became widely established in North America by the end of the 18th century (Edmond, 1971a). It was disseminated by explorers from Mexico and the West Indies after the discovery of America. Records indicate that the sweetpotato was grown by colonists in Virginia as early as 1648, and in Carolina and New England by 1723 and 1764, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sweetpotato Research Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Chase, LA 71324, USA

    T.P. Smith

  2. Cooperative Extension Service, University of California, Merced, CA 95340, USA

    S. Stoddard

  3. Pontotoc Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University, Pontotoc, PMS 38863 NC 27695, USA

    M. Shankle

  4. Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA

    J. Schultheis

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  1. T.P. Smith
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Virology, Agricultural Research Organization, Bet Degan, Israel

    Gad Loebenstein

  2. Sahrdaya College of Engineering, Teekay Villa, P.O. Karoor Via. Thazhekkad-680697, Trichur Dist.,, Kerala, India

    George Thottappilly

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Smith, T., Stoddard, S., Shankle, M., Schultheis, J. (2009). Sweetpotato Production in the United States. In: Loebenstein, G., Thottappilly, G. (eds) The Sweetpotato. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9475-0_14

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