Plant Breeding 130, 457—463 (2011)
x
 2011 Blackwell Verlag GmbH
Phenotypic characterization of sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] genotypes
in relation to prediction of chemical quality constituents by NIRS equations
V i n c e n t L E B O T 1 , A n d r é N D I A Y E 2 and R o g e r M A L A P A 3
1
Genetic Improvement of Vegetatively Propagated Crops Research Unit (UR 75), CIRAD-BIOS, 34398 Montpellier Cédex 5,
France, E-mail: vincent.lebot@cirad.fr; 2Université de Bordeaux 1, Sciences et Technologies, Campus Michel Serres, 47000
Agen, France; 3Vanuatu Agricultural Research and Technical Centre, VARTC, PO Box 231, Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu
With 5 figures and 3 tables
Received August 30, 2010/Accepted November 17, 2010
Communicated by T. Lübberstedt
Abstract
This study evaluates the potential of NIRS (near-infrared reflectance
spectroscopy) to predict the major constituents (starch, sugars, cellu-
lose, proteins and minerals) of the sweet potato root. Overall, 240
accessions were morphologically described, chemically analysed and
their NIR spectra recorded. No correlations were observed between
aerial and underground traits, and between morphological traits and
major constituents. Calibration equations, developed on 190 accessions,
showed high explained variances in cross-validation (r2cv) for starch
(0.82), sugars (0.91), proteins (0.89) and minerals (0.74) but no response
for cellulose (0.21). The predictions were tested on an independent set of
50 randomly selected accessions. The r2pred values for starch, sugars and
proteins were, respectively, of 0.71, 0.82 and 0.87 with ratios of
performance to deviation (RPD) of 2.11, 2.29 and 2.93. New calibration
equations developed on 240 accessions showed improved RPD values
for starch (2.65), sugars (2.75), cellulose (1.58), proteins (3.47) and
minerals (2.34), indicating that larger sets could improve prediction.
NIRS could be used in sweet potato breeding programmes to predict
starch, sugars and proteins contents in the roots.
Key words: Ipomoea batatas — NIRS — starch — sugars —
cellulose — proteins — minerals
Sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] is the seventh most
important crop in the world with an annual production around
9 Mt and a cultivated area of 110 Mha (FAO, 2009). It is
mostly a smallholder crop grown with limited inputs in
developing countries. It offers various products and diverse
uses ranging from consumption of fresh leaves or roots to
processing into starch, flour, noodles, colourants, alcohol and
animal feed. Storage roots are boiled or baked, and their
quality after cooking is a complex combination of colour,
flavour and texture (Loebenstein and Thottappilly 2009).
Sweet potato is a highly heterozygous hexaploid. Recurrent
selection is the most widely practiced breeding method. It allows
minor and recessive genes to be selected with a progressive
increase within a population. The capture of additive effects
consists in the clonal selection of genotypes and their hybrid-
ization in a polycross block via open-pollination or controlled
crosses. The numerous seedlings are then screened, and the best
are crossed with the best parents for another cycle. Breeding
programmes are focusing on pests and diseases resistance and
yield (Grüneberg et al. 2005), but they are also attempting to
improve the root quality (Wang 1982, Gibson et al. 2008).
Quality is mostly related to major constituents (starch,
sugars, fibres, proteins, minerals) and dry matter (DM) content
of the fresh root. Several studies have documented the
doi:10.1111/j.1439-0523.2010.01840.
significant variation in chemical composition of sweet potatoes
(Bradbury and Holloway 1988, Woolfe 1992, Komaki et al.
1998). Different markets and uses require different standards
based on different chemical compositions. For alcohol pro-
duction and starch extraction, an industrial variety must have
high DM and starch contents. For human fresh consumption,
flesh colour and good cooking quality are essential (Woolfe
1992). High DM content translates into improved starch
processing and longer shelf life. Starch content is determined
by the additive effect of polygenes, and its genetic improve-
ment necessitates facilities for routine analysis and screening of
numerous genotypes (Komaki et al. 1998). There is, unfortu-
nately, a negative correlation between crude protein content
and DM (Zhang and Li 2004). To increase consumption,
breeders are also attempting to reduce sugars levels. Costs and
labour involved in the chemical analyses of these major
constituents are important, and unless a simple screening tool
is available, it is difficult to include these chemical traits in
early selection of progeny.
Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) has been
used to predict major constituents contents in maize (Jiang
et al. 2007, Berardo et al. 2009), rapeseed (Zum Felde et al.
2007, Amar et al. 2009), sorghum (Hicks et al. 2002) and
wheat (Rakszegi et al. 2008). However, not much work has
been conducted on root and tuber crops, except on the
temperate potato (Haase 2006) and a preliminary study to
assess the sweet potato starch thermal properties and noodle
quality of 93 varieties in China (Lu et al. 2006). NIR spectral
fingerprints have also been used to differentiate wheat varieties
(Devaux et al. 1986), barley (Munck and Møller 2005), red
wine (Edelmann et al. 2001), strawberry (Kim et al. 2009) and
potato varieties (Bonierbale et al. 2009). These various studies
indicate that NIRS could be a useful tool for sweet potato
germplasm classification, varietal identification and selection.
In this study, we investigated the potential of NIRS as a tool
for characterization and as an alternative method for predict-
ing the major constituents of the storage root. The results and
their potential application for improving the quality of sweet
potato are discussed.
Materials and Methods
Morphological characterization: A total of 240 accessions were
studied, including 21 varieties and 219 hybrid lines maintained at the
Vanuatu Agricultural Research and Technical Centre (VARTC) on
wileyonlinelibrary.com
458
Santo Island, Vanuatu. Nine local varieties from different islands of
Vanuatu and twelve introduced varieties originating from six different
countries were used as parents in polycross plots. Breeding lines were
selected from populations obtained via open-pollination in different
cycles of an ongoing recurrent selection programme. Accessions were
chosen to represent the greatest morphological variation. All acces-
sions were planted at the same time in a common plot and were
harvested when mature, 3–4 months later. Their morphological
characterization involved 14 standardized descriptors and their coded
modalities. These included vine pigmentation, petiole pigmentation,
mature leaf colour, immature leaf colour, abaxial leaf vein pigmenta-
tion, mature leaf shape, general outline of the leaf, leaf lobes type,
storage root shape, storage root predominant skin colour, secondary
skin colour, predominant flesh colour, secondary flesh colour, distri-
bution of secondary flesh colour (CIP, AVRDC, IBPGR 1991).
Sample preparation: For each of the 240 accessions, one full storage
root was peeled and cut. Approximately 0.5–1 kg of fresh weight was
manually sliced into chips and oven dried at 60C for 48 h. DM
samples were split into two sub-samples: one sub-sample was used for
chemical analysis and the other for NIRS. Samples of 200 g were sent
to France for chemical analyses. Samples of approximately 50 g of
dried chips were milled into flour just after oven drying, and dried
chips were ground in a stainless kitchen steel mill (SEB, Ecully,
France) prior to NIRS analysis in Vanuatu.
The potential of using NIR spectral fingerprints to differentiate and
classify individual roots and varieties was tested. Twelve varieties
planted in the field (1 · 1 m) the same day were harvested together.
Three clones were selected at random within lines of ten plants per
variety. One full storage root was collected on three clones. Roots were
washed, peeled, cut into slices and separated in two sub-samples. One
was oven dried, and the other was frozen in a normal kitchen freezer to
compare the two processes. Samples were then freeze dried overnight
in a freeze drier Christ-Alpha 1-2 LD Plus (Martin Christ, Osterode,
Germany), and the resulting DM samples were ground into a fine
powder for NIRS analysis and spectra comparison between oven-dried
and freeze-dried samples.
Chemical analyses: Major constituents (starch, sugars, cellulose, N
and ash) were analysed by Laboratoire dÕAnalyses Agricoles Teyssier,
Bourdeaux, France, according to AFNOR (Association Française, the
French standards association) and/or EEC methods (AFNOR: http://
www.boutique.afnor.org). Following Norme Française (NF) V 18-109
for DM determination, samples were dried again to remove residual
moisture (measured as % of total dry weight), and the powder was
analysed on an oven-dried air basis. Moisture was therefore expressed
as a measurement of the sample prior to drying. All measurements
were then expressed in %DM, and the data were adjusted by the
residual moisture following oven drying. Starch was quantified using
Ewers protocol (NF ISO 10-520) corresponding to hydrolysis in HCl,
filtration and polarimetric measurement (specific rotation angle used:
185.7). Total sugars were quantified through the colorimetric method
of Luff Schoorl (CEE 98\54\CE). Crude cellulose (total fibres) was
measured by Weende method (NF V 03-040), which corresponds to
non-soluble organic residue obtained by sulphuric acid and alkaline
treatments. N content was calculated using the Kjeldahl method (NF
V 18-100). Estimation of total minerals content was obtained from
ashes produced at 550C (NF V 18-101). All analyses were performed
in duplicate with accepted mean coefficient of variation of ±3% for
starch, sugars, cellulose, and residual moisture and ±2% for proteins
(equivalent N), and ashes (minerals).
NIRS measurements and data pretreatment: Dry matter samples were
milled into flour, and granule size was homogenized using four sieves
with decreasing diameters until granules passed through the 106 lm
sieve. An ASD LabSpecPro spectrophotometer from Analytical
Spectral Devices Inc. (ASD Inc., Boulder, CO, USA) fitted with a
ÔmuglightÕ or high intensity source probe (HISP) (ASD Inc.) was used
V . L e b o t , A . N d i a y e and R . M a l a p a
for the measurement of all spectra over the wavelength range of 350–
2500 nm. On average, 6 g of homogenized flour was placed in an
individual cell and compacted with a tea spoon to eliminate air voids
within the sample. Each spectrum was obtained by averaging three
different cells (repetitions) per sample with 25 scans for each. A
reference reading (baseline) was taken when starting a session and
another every 30 min. All of the spectra were recorded in diffuse
reflectance as log(1/R) with respect to a LabsphereÕs Spectralon
material reflectance standard (Labsphere Inc., North Sutton, NH,
USA) that is a lambertian reflective PTFE (thermoplastic resin) with
high overall reflectance. For each sample, corresponding to individual
accession, three sub-samples were scanned 25 times each and then
averaged. The resulting averaged spectrum was recorded for the
accession. Overall, 240 spectra were recorded and converted to
absorbance using the INDICOTM software (ASD Inc.). To assess the
performance of the calibration, samples were separated in two sets: the
calibration and the prediction set. The prediction set was created by
randomly selecting 50 accession numbers (approximately 20% of total
240 acc.), and the calibration set contained 190 samples.
Data analysis: Morphological descriptions and major constituent
data were subjected to multivariate analysis using XLSTAT (version
6.02, 2009). Multivariate analysis (Principal Component) of the spectra
was conducted with GRAMS/AITM (version 8.0). The spectra and
reference data were mathematically modelled using PLSPlus/IQ
spectroscopy software (Thermo Electron Corporation, Marietta, OH,
USA). Using the values obtained with chemical analyses as the analyte
value, a separate calibration was made for each of the five major
constituents. Calibration of residual moisture was not attempted
because spectra were recorded in Vanuatu, just after oven drying the
samples, while residual moisture was measured in France on hygro-
scopic dry raw material. Partial least-squares (PLS) regression tech-
nique was used to develop a predictive model of the near-infrared part
of the spectra (1000–2500 nm). The optimum number of PLS factors
used for prediction was determined by full cross-validation and
prediction residual error sum of squares (PRESS). Additionally, light
scattering effects caused by particle size differences were corrected by
multiplicative scatter correction (MSC). The data were mean-centred
and the average spectrum calculated from all of the calibration spectra
and then subtracted from every calibration spectrum.
As part of the model process, a principal component analysis (PCA)
was used to check for gross spectral outliers. The Mahalanobis
distance of each spectrum to the mean spectrum of the group was
calculated, and the removal of outliers was based on distance H > 3
from the average spectrum of the file. Spectra and concentration
outliers were removed, and PLS was run again until the highest r2cv
(determination coefficient for cross-validation) corresponding to the
smallest standard error of cross-validation (SECV) were obtained. At
that point, factor loadings were used to determine which wavelengths
were important to correlate with concentrations to narrow down the
spectral region. For starch and sugars, the regions used were 1000–
2400 nm while for cellulose, proteins and minerals, the region was
1200–2400 nm. The PLS analysis was then conducted again on this
new region to obtain for each constituent, equations with higher
explanation of the total variability in the calibration values without
increasing the number of PLS factors used.
Statistical parameters used to evaluate models performances
included the standard error of calibration (SEC), the determination
coefficient for cross-validation (r2cv), the SECV, the determination
coefficient for prediction (r2pred) and the standard error of prediction
(SEP). SEC and SEP were calculated using Excel spreadsheet by
squaring the differences of the actual minus the predicted concentra-
tions for each sample in the calibration (SEC) and test (SEP) sets.
These values were then summed, and the sum was divided by the
number of samples (n). The square root of this value was used for SEC
and SEP. SEC describes the calibration set, and SEP describes the test
set composed of 50 samples not included in the calibration set. The
ratio of performance to deviation (RPD = SD/SECV) was also used
to evaluate performances of the models (with SD as the standard
Phenotypic characterization of sweet potato 459

deviation of the original chemical data in the calibration set (Williams 1

2003). Proteins
0.75

Results
0.5
Important variation was observed for all morphological traits.
Highest correlation coefficients were observed between vine
pigmentation and leaf petiole pigmentation (r = 0.783), gen- 0.25

F2 (21.74 %)
eral leaf outline and leaf lobes type (0.781), mature leaf shape Minerals
and leaf lobes type (0.693), abaxial leaf vein pigmentation and 0
immature leaf colour (0.501) and secondary flesh colour and Sugars Starch

distribution of secondary flesh colour (0.515). No significant –0.25

correlations were observed between aerial and underground
traits and also between aerial and roots traits (i.e. white or
–0.5
coloured flesh) and major constituent contents. Considering
that only correlation coefficients with absolute values higher
Cellulose
than 0.71 are biologically meaningful (Skinner et al. 1999), –0.75

these results are informative but present limited potential for

use as visual tools when screening germplasm for quality. –1
–1 –0.75 –0.5 –0.25 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1
Results from chemical analyses are presented in Table 1.
Although starch is by far the most important constituent (on F1 (44.61 %)
average 68.62% DM), it is also the least variable (CV% 9.64).
Total sugars, an important trait related to quality, is the most Fig. 1: Respective contribution of the five variables (major constitu-
variable (CV% 47.2) with one variety as low as 1.49% while ents) to the principal component analysis
the maximum was 28.05%. Cellulose, proteins and minerals
have comparable mean values with, respectively, 4.7, 5.7 and recommended varieties (Ib 180, TIB 042, SI 226, GV 129,
3.5% DM. Starch is significantly and positively correlated with PLY 018) selected for their appreciated quality (and used as
DM matter while sugars, cellulose and minerals are negatively parents in the Vanuatu breeding programme) were used as
correlated with DM. All other constituents (sugars, cellulose, references for comparison. These varieties presented very
proteins and minerals) are negatively correlated with starch. similar starch (68–70%DM) and sugars contents (9.8–
Sugars, proteins and cellulose are positively correlated with 13.5%DM). These five varieties were among the 240 acc.
minerals (Table 2). subjected to PCA and are all located, with others, within the
Principal component analyses conducted on the data matrix small circle near the right side of axis 1 in Fig. 2.
(240 acc. · 5 major constituents) reveal the respective contri- Principal component analysis (not shown) of spectra taken
bution of the five variables to the projection on axes 1 and 2 on 36 clones representing 12 varieties indicated that the three
totalizing 66.35% of the total variance (Fig. 1). Varieties with clones of the same variety are closer to each other than they are
high and low starch and sugars contents are clearly separated from clones of the other varieties, indicating that the spectral
by axis 1 on Fig. 2. The chemical compositions of five fingerprints between clones are fairly robust. Although it could
be expected that a storage root being a vegetative part of the
plant should present variation of the chemical composition
Table 1: Variation in major constituents within 240 accessions of between roots of a genotype, our experiment conducted on 12
sweet potato (in %DM) varieties indicates that there is none and that a single root is
Variable Mean Min. Max. Std Dev CV% representative of the genotype. Comparison of spectral data
obtained from oven-dried and freeze-dried samples of the same
DM%1 30.94 11.62 53.29 5.50 17.79 accessions showed no differences indicating that spectra taken
Starch 68.62 44.96 83.83 6.61 9.64
Sugars 10.31 1.49 28.05 4.87 47.20 on oven-dried samples are reliable for studying major constit-
Cellulose 4.71 1.15 13.21 1.99 42.26 uents in sweet potato root. However, the PCA conducted on
Proteins 5.71 2.67 10.20 1.25 21.94 the 240 spectra of each accession produced a projection on axis
Minerals 3.46 1.35 8.22 0.89 25.82 1 and 2 different than the one produced with the chemical data.
1 No obvious relation between the two PCAs was observed. For
% fresh weight. DM, dry matter.
example, spectra of accessions presenting similar chemical
compositions were not grouped together on the PCA of the
spectral data. Hierarchical classification analysis (using Euclid-
Table 2: Correlation coefficients between major constituents [Pearson ean distance) on the spectral data was analysed and compared
(n-1)] to the same conducted on the chemical data, but groups were,
here again, different and not comparable. Multivariate anal-
Variable Dry matter % Starch Sugars Cellulose Proteins
yses were conducted on matrices representing the 350–2500 nm
Starch 0.497** and the 1000–2400 nm regions, but no clear correspondence
Sugars )0.325** )0.812** with chemical data was revealed.
Cellulose )0.230** )0.304** 0.130 The confrontation of the NIR spectra and the chemical
Proteins )0.079 )0.282** 0.054 )0.086
Minerals )0.519** )0.421** 0.276** 0.238** 0.194**
values allowed the establishment of equations of calibration
for the prediction of starch, sugars and proteins (equivalent
**Significant at P = 0.01. N). The results are presented in Table 3. For starch, the SECV
460 V . L e b o t , A . N d i a y e and R . M a l a p a

3 2

138 55
209
53
154
2 27
127 128
34 95 161 194
126
147
79 3
97 36
33 185
89
188 37 193 21
141 181 129
1 5
32
155
143 35
150 190149
106
192 191 29
52206
115 197 31 96 22 73
174 145
118 117
102 151 76 20
157 142 1 136 43 92
6 14838
225
F2 (21.74 %)
80 68
61
186 87203 23 15
116 180 182
120 152 50105
134 459 130
39 183187
146 137 25 59
159 99 184
179 177
109 104 49195 16
75
207 164 229156 101
7416014 83
100 111 122
121 86 4 12113 51
114
110 77163 88 72
0 131 48
153 226 158 108
135 81 63
132 94
175 57 19 62 7
178
237 46 144 166 172 44
54 233 123 8465 140 91
169 112 235 66 47 13 202
56 133 78 17
67 205 204 71
168 170 107 98 10 189
11 60 70
239 119 139 176
64
199 227 125 208 85
234 40 165 69
240
–1 167
211
124
213 162
58 18
82
236
217 218 8
24216 21923142
238 214
103 212 210
222 41220
23030 93
215
223 228
200
–2 221
201
28 198
224
171 196 90

173
26
–3 232

–5 –4 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4
F1 (44.61 %)

Fig. 2: Principal component analysis of 240 accessions analysed for five major constituents (starch, sugars, cellulose, proteins and minerals)

Table 3: Statistical parameters of the calibration, validation and new calibration sets1

Validation
Calibration (n = 190) (n = 50) New calibration (n = 240)

Mean % HT PLS PLS

Constituents dry matter SD SEL± H>3 terms r2cv SECV SEC r2pred SEP RPD terms r2cv SECV SEC RPD

Starch 68.6 6.6 2.05 12 12 0.82 2.37 1.48 0.71 3.13 2.11 8 0.82 2.49 2.27 2.65
Sugars 10.7 5.3 0.32 8 11 0.91 1.55 1.20 0.82 2.31 2.29 10 0.86 1.77 1.77 2.75
Cellulose 4.1 1.4 0.12 6 3 0.21 1.26 – – – – 6 0.46 1.26 1.17 1.58
Proteins 5.8 1.3 0.12 12 9 0.89 0.39 0.34 0.87 0.44 2.93 10 0.91 0.36 0.30 3.47
Minerals 3.5 0.8 0.07 13 10 0.74 0.32 0.27 0.56 0.73 1.1 9 0.72 0.38 0.10 2.34
1
Wavelengths region for starch and sugars is 1000–2400 nm and 1200–2400 nm for cellulose, proteins and minerals.
SEC, standard error of calibration; SECV, smallest standard error of cross-validation; SEP, standard error of prediction.

(2.37) and SEC (1.48) values are not close enough to indicate SECV, SEC and SEP values (0.39, 0.34 and 0.44, respectively)
robust fitting. When SECV and SEP values differ significantly, and a high r2pred of 0.87 indicating good and robust prediction
this could be an indication that too many samples were with 87% of confidence. The RPD value above 2.5 also
removed during the modelling process. However, the SEP indicates a very good potential of prediction. Deviations of
(3.13) is not too distant, and the r2pred of 0.71 indicates an single samples are visualized in a scatter plot between
acceptable estimation of the equation accuracy on the valida- measured and predicted proteins values (Fig. 5). Minerals
tion samples. Deviations of single samples are visualized in a have a poor relationship with NIRS and could be predicted
scatter plot between measured and predicted starch values of with only 56% of confidence and a very low RPD value (1.1).
the 50 acc. in the test set (no outliers were removed) (Fig. 3). In Cellulose could not be satisfactorily predicted, and a very poor
terms of predictive performance, the equations for starch could r2cv (0.21) was obtained, limiting further calculations.
be considered as good with RPD parameters above 2. Some The r2pred values of starch, sugars and proteins are high
authors, however, claim that a RPD value of at least 3 is enough to allow good estimates of their contents. However,
necessary for efficient NIR reflectance predictions (Williams determination coefficients for the prediction sets (r2pred) cannot
and Norris 2001). The total sugars model presents similar reflect the whole situation because the range of the 50
SECV (1.55) and SEC (1.20) values, but the SEP is much accessions values in the prediction test set affects the coefficient
higher (2.31) although the r2pred is of 0.82. The RPD value value. SEP is, therefore, a better overall indicator. RPD
above 2 indicates, however, a good predictive potential for this between 2 and 2.5 for the starch and sugars models allow
equation. Deviations of single samples are visualized in a approximate quantitative predictions to be made. Values
scatter plot between measured and predicted sugars values above 2.5 for proteins are considered to be good models.
(Fig. 4). Proteins (measured as N equivalent) produce similar The number of terms is relatively low if we consider a general
Phenotypic characterization of sweet potato 461

85 R2 = 0.71 (190 + 50). These new models (Table 3) could not be

validated on an independent test. However, their RPD values
80 were improved, and their SECV and SEC values were close
enough to suggest fair and robust fitting for starch (2.49 and
NIR predicted starch

75
2.271, respectively), sugars (1.77 and 1.769) and proteins (0.36
and 0.30). The new model for proteins presented a RPD value
above 3, and such value indicates a very good predictive model
70
(Williams and Sobering 1993). RPD values for starch and
sugars were also above 2.5. These models will need to be
65
further tested on independent samples but present good
potential. Also, the selection of the first calibration set was
60 carried out by removing at random 50 samples for the test set.
The first calibration set has not covered the whole variation of
55 the data set. The second set gave better results, indicating that
50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85
a better sample selection might be helpful by selecting, for
Reference starch
example, on constituent concentration rather than a random
selection of numbers.
Fig. 3: Starch prediction comparison on independent test set (50 acc.)

Discussion
The correlation coefficients between morphological traits
25 R2 = 0.82 obtained in our study are similar to those reported from 310
sweet potato accessions in Argentina (Manifesto et al. 2010).
20 These results confirm that there are no significant correlations
NIR predicted sugars

between aerial and underground morphological traits. There

are also no correlations between aerial traits, the root storage
15
morphological traits and chemical compositions. For example,
all accessions presenting white root flesh are not rich in starch,
10 and all accessions presenting orange flesh are not necessarily
rich in sugars or DM or any other major constituents.
Therefore, it is not possible to develop efficient visual tools
5
to screen numerous accessions for quality.
Fresh sweet potato root quality is related to a certain
0 chemical composition. When the starch content is too high
5 10 15 20 25
(above 75%), the taste is considered as too floury and dry. In
Reference sugars
Vanuatu, a good ÔtableÕ variety has a starch content of
Fig. 4: Sugars prediction comparison on independent test set (50 acc.)
approximately 68–70% and sugars content around 10%. If the
total sugars content is higher, the variety is considered as too
sweet for regular consumption. These results confirm those
obtained in Taiwan (Wang 1982). Correlation coefficients
between major constituents indicate that breeding for
R2 = 0.87 increased DM and starch contents will reduce sugars, proteins
8
and minerals, and vice versa, selection focus on high sugars,
7
proteins and minerals contents will reduce starch and total
NIR predicted proteins

DM. Multi-population breeding is therefore needed to

6 improve these different traits.
In the present study, multivariate analysis (PCA and
5 hierarchical classification using Euclidean distance) conducted
directly on the spectral data could not be used for germplasm
4 classification. Also, genotypes classification by PCA on chem-
ical data could not be reproduced by a PCA on a NIRS data in
3 spite of significant PLS correlations by single chemical
calibrations. However, for barley for example, it has been
2 shown that such a PCA reproduction between a chemical PCA
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
on one side and a NIRS PCA on the other is extremely
Reference proteins
reproducible (Munck and Møller 2005, Munck et al. 2010).
Fig. 5: Proteins prediction comparison on independent test set (50 acc.) Selection of different NIRS interval by interval PCA could
represent an interesting approach (Munck et al. 2010).
Preliminary treatment of such data with Fast Fourier trans-
recommendation of 1 factor for every 10 samples in a model formation has also been reported to be useful (Devaux et al.
(Table 3). 1986, Kim et al. 2009) but was not attempted in the present
Calibrations were modelled again by adding to the calibra- study as the focus was on calibrations. Further research is
tion set the 50 accessions included in the validation set therefore needed.
462
When comparing the performance of the new calibration
models (with n = 240 acc.), the SECV values were, in most
cases, close enough to the SEP indicating fairly robust fitting,
and RPD values were also improved. Determination coeffi-
cients (r2pred) generally improve as the working range
increases. Consequently, if more range is added in the same
model, then it could improve coefficient values. Additionally,
when different samples are added, a larger spectral diversity is
described, and therefore, some samples might actually be
better spectrally described as the number of samples increases.
The protein content calibration is particularly interesting as
it can be further improved. Protein content is usually estimated
by multiplying the total N content by a standard conversion
factor of 6.25. However, the nitrogen to protein ratio does vary
according to the species considered and change with amino
acid content and mineral nitrogen and non-protein nitrogen.
For the present study, we decided to present our results
measured as total N as proteins. In the future, it would be
interest to improve the calibration models on the real protein
content that vary according to amino acids.
In most sweet potato breeding programmes, mass selection
results in the rapid accumulation of suitable genes but has to
be complemented with efficient screening techniques. For
many traits, their accurate measurement is often the weakest
operation. A common difficulty is to satisfy the requirements
of both the industry and the fresh market. Obviously, NIRS
could assist breeders in their choice and selection of the best
genotypes, based on the chemical composition requested by
the market (high starch, sugars or protein contents). NIRS
could also be used to characterize the thousands of germplasm
accessions existing in the world and to classify them in
chemotypes relevant to breeding objectives. For example, for
starch extraction, fresh table consumption, desert types or for
animal feed. Such physico-chemical characterization would be
useful to breeders. The models developed in the present study
show good accuracy, but it remains to be seen whether larger
sample sets will improve them to enable more precise predic-
tion. Further work should concentrate on validating the results
over different years. Other constituents such as amylose,
carotenoids or individual sugars should be investigated as well.
Acknowledgements
This research was financially supported by the Fond Français pour le
Pacifique and represents a part of the Sweet Potato Project funded by
French Aid to Vanuatu Ministry of Agriculture.
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