Optimizing Sweet Potato Productivity through Precision Propagation by Vine Cutting Position and Variety Synergy in Tropical Nigeria

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) is critical for food security in developing nations, yet yields are limited by suboptimal propagation practices. Vine cutting is the main method, but interaction between varietal genetics and cutting position on growth and yield is poorly understood. This study investigated vine cutting position and variety effects on sweet potato performance in southeast Nigeria. A 2x2 factorial experiment, conducted in 2024 at University of Nigeria, used a randomized complete block design with three replications. Two varieties (Beauregard and Hannah) were propagated using 30 cm top (apical) and basal cuttings. Beauregard outperformed Hannah across all traits (P < 0.05), yielding 34.17% more roots (32. 55 vs. 24.26 Kg/plot), with larger tubers (13.22 cm vs. 12.40 cm length). Top part cuttings surpassed basal, with 87 % more roots (102.60 vs. 55.00 No./plot) and 72% higher yield (35.89 kg/plot vs 20.92 kg/plot). A significant genotype x cutting position interaction (p < 0.05) revealed Beauregard-Top part of vine cutting combinations as optimal achieving peak yield (44.97 Kg/plot) -123% higher than Beauregard-basal. Hannah showed stability but lower yields. Strong correlations emerged between root yield and both root number (r= +0.93) and stem count (r= +0.92), to establish them as reliable key yield predictors. GGE biplot confirmed revealed Beauregard-Top part of vine cutting as the highest yielding, most stable combination, and driving resources efficient tuber enlargement. In conclusion, top part cuttings of high performing varieties (e.g. Beauregard) synergistically enhance productivity though optimized physiological vigor. This precision propagation strategy offers small holder farmers a low input solution to sustainably intensify sweet potato production, addressing both yield gaps and climate resilience in tropical agroecologies.