Development of a resistance screening method for sweetpotato foot rot caused by <i>Diaporthe destruens</i>

spores/mL suspension around the base of each transplanted cuttings, consistently differentiated between resistant and susceptible cultivars and was subsequently adopted as the standard screening condition. Using this method, eight cultivars were evaluated and classified into four groups ranging from resistant to highly susceptible. Lesion length showed a strong positive correlation with disease severity and field incidence, thus validating the reliability of the test. The soil drenching method provides a practical and reproducible approach for conducting resistance screening throughout the year, thereby facilitating the advancement of breeding and genetic research on sweet potatoes.