Potassium content is the main driver for salinity tolerance in sweet potato before tuber formation

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is mostly grown in Asia, which accounts for 86% of global production. However, its production under threat by salinity. Little known about genotypic responses to salinity sweet potato. Phenotypic or physiological processes linked salt tolerance that could be developed into a reliable screening tool assist breeding have not yet been In hydroponic cultivation system, 12 contrasting genotypes were subjected 0, 50, 100 and 150 mM root zone (RZS). Genotypic thresholds dry matter accumulation the slopes additional reduction when RZS increased beyond threshold determined. Sodium, chlorine potassium (K) determined from above-ground biomass correlated with found. levels linearly negatively difference tissue K content at 75 control levels. Based on ability retain high increasing RZS, we propose based these experimental data can distinguish between salt-tolerant salt-sensitive indicate potential yield level genotypes.