Abstract In order to increase planted area and consumption of sweet potato, we need to have a variety of uses and improve various qualities of it. For example, it is expected to expand demand for sweet potato for table consumption by improving palatability of it. Sweetness is one of the most important factors that determines palatability of sweet potato. Here, we reviewed relevance between sweetness and other characteristics in storage roots and effect of growth conditions on free sugar content in them.
There was little correlation between free sugar content and characteristics related to yield and form of storage roots, while significant and positive correlation were observed between free sugar content and nitrogen, calcium and magnesium contents of them. Drought, low temperature and high nitrogen fertilizer condition in soil made free sugar content of storage roots higher. In addition, gelatinization properties of starch in them, which were involved in maltose content after heating, were also changed under different growth conditions. Therefore, it will be quite possible that improving cultivation method will make sweetness of storage root higher.

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