Researchers discovered a specific gene called IbADCL1 that controls how much folate (a vital B vitamin) sweet potatoes store in their roots. By studying 26 different sweet potato varieties, scientists identified which ones naturally had more folate and which had less. When they increased this special gene in low-folate sweet potatoes, the folate levels jumped by nearly 200%. This discovery could help farmers grow sweet potatoes packed with more of this important nutrient that our bodies need for healthy cells and development.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: How sweet potatoes make and store folate (a B vitamin), and which genes control this process
- Who participated: 26 different varieties of sweet potatoes grown and analyzed in the laboratory; no human participants
- Key finding: A gene called IbADCL1 acts like a master switch for folate production. When scientists turned up this gene, sweet potatoes made 177-222% more total folate—nearly triple the original amount
- What it means for you: In the future, sweet potatoes bred with more of this gene could provide better nutrition, especially for people who need more folate (like pregnant women). However, these are lab results and haven’t been tested in real-world farming yet
The Research Details
Scientists compared 26 different sweet potato varieties to find which ones naturally contained high amounts of folate and which contained low amounts. They then used advanced laboratory techniques to examine the genes and chemical compounds in the sweet potato roots at different stages of growth. This helped them identify which genes were most active in the high-folate varieties. Once they found the key gene (IbADCL1), they tested it by inserting extra copies into low-folate sweet potatoes to see if it would increase folate production.
The researchers used two main approaches: first, they looked at which genes were turned on or off in different varieties (gene expression analysis), and second, they measured the actual folate compounds present in the roots (metabolite analysis). By combining these two approaches, they could pinpoint exactly which gene controlled folate production.
This type of research is called ‘functional validation’ because the scientists didn’t just observe that a gene was different—they actually tested whether changing that gene caused the expected change in folate levels.
Understanding which genes control folate production is important because it gives scientists a roadmap for improving crops. Instead of randomly breeding sweet potatoes hoping for more folate, they can now target this specific gene. This approach is faster and more reliable than traditional breeding methods.
This study used modern, well-established laboratory techniques for analyzing genes and chemicals. The researchers tested their findings by actually modifying the gene and observing the results, which is stronger evidence than just observing natural differences. However, the study was conducted in controlled laboratory conditions, not in actual farm fields, so real-world results may differ. The sample size of 26 varieties is reasonable for this type of screening study.
What the Results Show
When scientists increased the IbADCL1 gene in low-folate sweet potatoes, the total folate content increased dramatically—between 177% and 222% higher than normal sweet potatoes. This means the modified sweet potatoes had nearly triple the folate of the original varieties.
The researchers found that two specific types of folate were responsible for most of this increase: 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) and 5-formyltetrahydrofolate (5-FTHF). The 5-MTHF levels increased by 184-224%, while 5-FTHF levels increased by 40-142%. These are the forms of folate that are most useful for human health.
The study identified that the IbADCL1 gene acts as a ‘rate-limiting’ controller, meaning it’s the bottleneck that determines how much folate the plant can make. When you increase this gene, you remove that bottleneck and allow more folate to be produced.
The researchers discovered that high-folate and low-folate sweet potato varieties differed naturally in their IbADCL1 gene activity. The high-folate varieties (like Y25) naturally had more active versions of this gene, while low-folate varieties (like 968-19) had less active versions. This explains why some sweet potato varieties are naturally more nutritious than others.
This research builds on earlier studies showing that folate is important for human health and that plants can be bred for higher nutrient content. However, this is one of the first studies to identify the specific gene controlling folate in sweet potatoes. Previous research on other crops has shown that targeting specific genes can successfully increase nutrient levels, so these results fit with what scientists already knew about plant nutrition.
This study was conducted entirely in laboratory conditions with controlled environments, not in actual farm fields where weather and soil conditions vary. The results show what’s possible when you increase the gene, but farmers would need to test whether these modified sweet potatoes grow well in real conditions. Additionally, the study doesn’t yet show whether humans eating these higher-folate sweet potatoes would actually absorb and benefit from the extra folate. The research is also very recent (published in 2025) and hasn’t been independently confirmed by other research groups yet.
The Bottom Line
This research suggests that breeding or developing sweet potato varieties with increased IbADCL1 gene activity could be a promising way to improve nutrition. However, this is still early-stage research, and these modified sweet potatoes are not yet available for consumers. Anyone interested in getting more folate should currently focus on eating folate-rich foods like leafy greens, legumes, and fortified grains. Confidence level: Moderate (promising lab results, but needs real-world testing)
This research is most relevant for: plant scientists and agricultural researchers working on crop improvement; people with folate deficiency or increased folate needs (pregnant women, people with certain health conditions); food companies interested in developing more nutritious products; and farmers looking for ways to grow more nutritious crops. This research is NOT yet relevant for consumers making food choices today, since these modified sweet potatoes don’t exist commercially yet.
If this research leads to commercial products, it would likely take 5-10 years for scientists to fully test these modified sweet potatoes in real farm conditions, get regulatory approval, and bring them to market. In the meantime, people can get adequate folate from current food sources.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track daily folate intake in micrograms (mcg) from all food sources. The recommended daily amount is 400 mcg for adults. Users could log folate-rich foods (spinach, sweet potatoes, lentils, asparagus) and monitor whether they’re meeting daily targets.
- Users could set a goal to include one folate-rich food at each meal and use the app to track which foods they’re eating. As improved sweet potato varieties become available in the future, users could specifically track their consumption and note any health changes.
- Create a long-term tracking dashboard showing weekly average folate intake and trends over months. Users could also track energy levels and overall wellness to correlate with folate-rich diet changes. When new sweet potato varieties become available, users could add them to their food database and monitor consumption patterns.
This research describes laboratory findings about sweet potato genetics and is not yet applicable to consumer food choices. These modified sweet potatoes are not currently available for purchase or consumption. This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace advice from healthcare providers. Anyone with folate deficiency or special nutritional needs should consult with a doctor or registered dietitian. Future availability and safety of genetically modified sweet potatoes will depend on regulatory approval and additional testing.