Genetic variability of 55 sweet potato clones, comprising commercial cultivars and collected accessions, was evaluated by using isozymes pattern and the genetic distance was estimated by multivariate analysis. Individual plants were grown in two liters pots filled with 3 parts of top soil: 2 parts of manure: 1 part of sand, totalizing three replicates. Harvest of young leaves and roots was initiated 45 days after planting. The isoenzymatic systems GOT, aEST, bEST, PGI, PGM and IDH for leaves and PRX, aEST, bEST, PGI, PGM and IDH for roots were estimated. The combination from the different enzymatic patterns and tissue analyzed enabled individual discrimination of 32 out of the 55 analysed clones. The 23 remaining clones were included in seven different groups, with base in the isoenzymatic phenotypes exhibited. The clones, within each of these groups, were considered materials of the same genotype, also on account of their similar morphological characteristics. The root aEST system showed the highest polymorphism, allowing the separation of 32 clones. The cluster Tocher's analysis joined the 39 clones in nine groups; the analysis by using the UPGMA method detected eleven groups of similarity. The clone called 46 formed an individual group when Tocher's analysis was applied and was the most divergent by the UPGMA method. Clone 46 with good commercial and production characteristics would be the primary choice for future breeding programs.
Ipomoea batatas; isozymes; electrophoresis; multivariate analysis
