Evaluation of Optimal Shoot Tip Removal Time on Tuber Yield and Nutritional Content of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Using a Pipeline Variety

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the least effecting time of shoot tip removal on sweet potato tuber yield and find the best tender shoot removal time, which has the highest nutritional content in sweet potato tender shoots to use as a leafy vegetable with the lowest effect for tuber growth.
Research Method: The experiment was established in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replicates and six treatments. Eighteen-inch piece of the tender shoot was removed from the apical ends of every branch of sweet potato (TJ 01 pipeline variety) vines on 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 weeks after planting (WAP). Removed tender shoots were cut into five node cuttings from basal ends and were taken as planting materials. Tips of tender shoots with less than five nodes were taken as leafy vegetables. The weight of both planting materials and leafy vegetable parts was considered as the fresh weight of tender shoots. Several tender shoots and fresh weight, number of planting materials, and fresh weight were recorded. Tuber yield was taken after 3½ months.
Findings: The number of tender shoots/ha and number of planting materials/ha were significantly higher than 10WAP while their fresh weights were not significantly different among treatments. Protein content was highest in 12WAP and 14WAP. The total weight of tubers/ha was higher than 10WAP. The best time to obtain tender shoots from sweet potato (TJ 01 pipeline variety) either as planting materials or leafy vegetables is 10WAP without adversely affecting tuber yield. 
Originality/Value: Since nutritionally valued sweet potato foliage is wasted after harvesting, identification of alternative uses will help to introduce sweet potato as a multidisciplinary crop.