Using enigmatic germplasm collections to investigate the role of polyploidy and introgression in the origin and evolution of the sweet potato (Ipomoea

Sweet potato is a vital staple food worldwide, particularly for small-scale farmers in drought-prone areas of the developing world, with Vitamin A-rich varieties proving an invaluable tool in combatting malnutrition. This project aims to resolve outstanding questions about the route to polyploidy, role of gene-flow, and development of edible storage roots in the origin and evolution of the sweet potato. Doing so will generate a comprehensive account of the evolutionary history and contemporary diversity of one of the world's most important crops and its closest relatives, and will also provide wider insights into the role of polyploidy and introgression in the processes of evolutionary adaptation and crop domestication. Such insights are of potential use in sustainably enhancing agricultural production by facilitating the incorporation of beneficial traits from crop wild relatives to promote Global Food Security and adaptation to environmental change.