The CleanSEED Project Objectives

  • Unify terminology and develop quality control standards for Clean Foundation Seed

  • Develop best practices for efficient Clean Foundation Seed production in both the laboratory and greenhouse

  • Develop new technological innovations to determine the presence of viruses on-site and determine best practices that minimize their source and reinfection rate

  • Conduct economic analysis and launch CleanSEED marketing campaign to increase awareness and adoption of Clean Foundation Seed

What is CleanSEED?

CleanSEED refers to foundation seed roots or plants produced from virus-tested plant material in a laboratory and sourced from a National Clean Plant Center (G0 plant material).

CleanSEED has been tested and found to be free of the following:

  • Sweetpotato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV)

  • Sweetpotato Virus C (SPVC)

  • Sweetpotato Virus G (SPVG)

  • Sweetpotato Virus 2 (SPV2)

  • Sweetpotato Leaf Curl Virus (SPLCV)

  • Sweetpotato Chlorotic Leaf Stunt Virus (SPCSV)

National Clean Plant Centers

Mississippi State University – https://www.mafes.msstate.edu/branches/north.asp?location=pontotoc

Louisiana State University – https://www.lsuagcenter.com/portals/our_offices/research_stations/sweetpotato

North Carolina State University – https://mpru.wordpress.ncsu.edu/

UC Davis – https://fps.ucdavis.edu/sweetpotatoprogram.cfm

University of Arkansas Pine Bluff – TBA

University of Hawaii Manoa – TBA

CleanSEED Project Updates

TBA

Fun Facts About Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes (scientific name lpomoea batatas) are often called “yams” in the United States.  However, true yams (Dioscorea sp.) are starchy edible roots that are white in color and have tough skin, which makes them difficult to peel.

Sweet potatoes grow under the soil while their leaves grow above the ground. 

Important Websites About Sweet Potato Nutrition

USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference

USDA National Nutrient Database – Sweet Potato – search for nutritional contents of various sweet potato products.

FAO – Roots, tubers, plantains and bananas in human nutrition – analysis of nutritive value of sweet potatoes and other staple crops.

Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) – a pro-nutrition advocacy group whose analysis of the relative nutritional value of common vegetables showed sweet potato to be the Number One vegetable for nutrition

“Sweet Potato Ranks #1 in Nutrition by CSPI”

 “Sweet Potatoes Pack a Powerful Punch!”

North Carolina Sweet Potato Nutrition – tabulated nutrient contents of the sweet potato.

Dr. Decuypere’s Nutrient Charts™ ~ Vegetables Chart – shows nutrient contents of sweet potatoes and other favorite fruits and vegetables.

Healthy Eating – The Diet Channel – Sweet Potatoes — one of 10 Best ‘Superfoods’; site also includes a library of children’s nutrition articles