Variation of Flavonoid Content Among Sweetpotato Accessions

The objective of this study was to characterize and quantify five commonly occurring flavonoids (querectin, luteolin, apigenin, myricetin, and kaempferol) in storage roots and leaves of 10 sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas L. (Lam.)] accessions: SC1149, 'Excel', 'Vardaman', 'Hernandez', 'Picadito', 'Porto Rico', 'GA90-16', PI531116, NC98608 (Covington), and 'Beauregard' (B94-14-G2). The flavonoids were present in varying amounts (quercetin comprised greater than 79% and 55% of the mean flavonoid content in sweetpotato leaf and root samples, respectively) and were found to be more concentrated in the leaves (0.65% to 2.76% dry weight) than in the storage roots (0.27% to 1.69% dry weight). The results indicate significant variability in flavonoid content among different sweetpotato accessions, suggesting that there is the potential for genetic manipulation of sweetpotato to influence flavonoid content and profile through traditional breeding or biotechnological approaches.