LaBonte, D, I. Power, T. Watson, T.P. Smith, A.Q. Villordon, J.C. Gregorie, and L. Harvey. 2024. ‘Avoyelles’ Sweetpotato. HortScience 59:796-798.

LaBonte, D, C.A. A.Q. Villordon, T.P. Smith, L. Harvey, and . 2024. ‘Avoyelles’ Sweetpotato. HortScience (in press).

LaBonte, D, C.A. Clark, T.S. Smith, A.Q. Villordon, and C.S. Stoddard. 2021. ‘Vermillion’ Sweetpotato. HortScience 56:978-981.

Villordon A., J.C. Gregorie, and D. LaBonte. 2020. Variation in Phosphorus Availability, Root Architecture Attributes, and Onset of Storage Root Formation among Sweetpotato Cultivars. HortScience. 55:1903-1911.

Villordon, A., J.C. Gregorie, and D. LaBonte. 2020. Direct Measurement of Sweetpotato Surface Area and Volume Using a Low-cost 3D Scanner for Enhanced Identification of Shape Features Related to Processing Product Recovery. HortScience, 55:722-728.

Miyasaka, S.C. M. Wall, D. LaBonte, and A. Arakaki. 2019. Sweetpotato Cultivar Trials on Hawai‘i Island. HortTech 29:967-975.

Chen, J., M.J. Stout, J. Beuzelin, T.P. Smith, D. LaBonte, J.M. Murray, J.A. Davis. 2019. Host preference of sweetpotato weevil, Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Summers): an example of Hopkins’ host-selection principle. Arthropod Plant Interactions https:doi.org/10.1007/s11829-019-09704-0

Miyasaka, S., S. Motomura-Wages, I. Pulakkatu-Thodi, M. Melzer, C.A. Clark, D.R. LaBonte, and A. Villordon. 2018. Field performance of tissue-cultured, virus-tested ‘Okinawan’ sweetpotato and comparison with some promising cultivars in Hawai’i. HortTechnology 28:676-683.

Villordon, A., J.C. Gregorie, D. LaBonte, A. Khan, and M. Selvaraj. 2018. Variation in ‘Bayou Belle’ and ‘Beauregard’ sweetpotato root length in response to experimental phosphorus deficiency and compacted layer treatments. HortScience 53:1534-1540.

Solis, J., N. Baisakh, A.Q. Villordon, and D.R. LaBonte. 2016. Transcriptome profiling of beach morning glory (Ipomoea imperati) under salinity and its comparative analysis with sweetpotato. Plos One 11(2) e0147398. Doi::10.137/journal.pone.0147398.

• Development of new sweet potato cultivars
• Sweet potato molecular genetics

As a sweetpotato breeder and geneticist, I focus on developing new cultivars for the sweetpotato industry. This is a collaborative effort with several scientists at the LSU AgCenter. Although industry requirements change, high yield and disease resistance are always critical traits. The industry today is faced with two major challenges: increasing production costs and crop loss due to flooding. On the positive side, the industry is also enjoying increased consumer demand through new value-added products like French fried sweetpotatoes.

There are several ways we try to counteract higher production costs. Increased yield without increased cost is a classic goal that is difficult to achieve, given the high yield of today’s varieties, but we keep trying! Other, more subtle, options include improved shape and higher grade out. Although the demand for fresh, whole sweetpotatoes continues to increase, many sweetpotatoes are unsuitable because of minor shape imperfections. Increasing the percent of sweetpotatoes which can be sold is very important. The program also focuses on developing specialty type sweetpotatoes for the fresh market. These often sell at a premium and can improve economic return to a grower.

The genetics program is closely allied with the breeding program. Our current emphasis is to identify and characterize genes which are involved in disease resistance.

Plant breeding is by nature a cooperative endeavor. The sweetpotato scientific and extension group at the LSU AgCenter is closely involved in the evaluation and development of new cultivars. Our most recent release is LA 18-100 or Avoyelles, which set a new yield benchmark and makes excellent fries. It sizes quickly and can be harvested at 90-100 days instead of the typical 120 days. Another release is Orleans, a cultivar that looks very similar to the popular Beauregard cultivar, but with slightly higher yield due to improved shape. Our breeding program also released the popular Murasaki cultivar, which has a purple skin and white flesh. Specialty types represent a small but growing segment of the industry.

I team teach two classes - HORT 2860 – Growth and Development of Agricultural Crops, and HORT 7071 – Advanced Plant Genetics. I also coordinate the horticulture internship class, HORT 3000.

B.S., Eastern Illinois University
M.S., Eastern Illinois University
Ph.D., University of Illinois

Administration:

I currently serve as the director of the School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences.

Research Contribution:
Plant breeding is by nature a cooperative endeavor. The sweetpotato scientific and extension group at the LSU AgCenter is closely involved in the evaluation and development of new cultivars. Our most recent release is LA 07-146, which set a new yield benchmark and makes excellent fries. Another release is Orleans, a cultivar that looks very similar to the popular Beauregard cultivar, but with slightly higher yield due to improved shape. Our breeding program also recently released the popular Bonita cultivar, which has a pink-tan skin and white flesh. Specialty types represent a small but growing segment of the industry.

Teaching Experience:
I team teach two classes - HORT 2860 – Growth and Development of Agricultural Crops, and HORT 7071 – Advanced Plant Genetics. I also coordinate the horticulture internship class, HORT 3000.

Kaukura sweetpotato. 2021. Community Plant Breeding Rights grant number EU 57950.

Manihi sweetpotato. 2021. Community Plant Breeding Rights grant number EU 57951.

Tahiti sweetpotato. 2021. Community Plant Breeding Rights grant number EU 57952.

Sakura sweetpotato. 2021. Community Plant Breeding Rights grant number EU 57953.

LA 13-81 sweetpotato. 2021. Community Plant Breeding Rights grant number EU 57954.

LaBonte, D. 2020. Sweetpotato plant named ’LA17-31’. U.S. Plant Patent 32,020.

LaBonte, D. 2020. Sweetpotato plant named ’LA17-120’. U.S. Plant Patent 31,968.

LaBonte, D. 2020. Sweetpotato plant named ’LA17-40’. U.S. Plant Patent 31,969.

LaBonte, D. 2020. Sweetpotato plant named ‘LA15-527’. U.S. Plant Patent 32,002.

LaBonte, D. 2020. Sweetpotato plant named ‘LA17-54’. U.S. Plant Patent 32,003.

LaBonte, D., A. Q. Villordon, T.P. Smith., C.A. Clark. 2020. Sweetpotato plant named ‘LA 13-81’. U.S. Plant Patent 32,021.

LaBonte, D., A. Q. Villordon, C.A. Clark. 2020. Sweetpotato plant named ‘LA 08-21p’. U.S. Plant Patent 31,970.

Makatea sweetpotato. 2020. Community Plant Breeding Rights grant number EU 55439.

Tatakoto sweetpotato. 2021. Community Plant Breeding Rights grant number EU 54966.

LaBonte, D., C.A. Clark, and V. Primomo. 2018. Sweetpotato plant named ‘V12B.445’. U.S. Plant Patent 29,941 P3.

LaBonte, D., A. Q. Villordon, T.P. Smith., C.A. Clark. 2016. Sweetpotato plant named ‘LA 06-52’. U.S. Plant Patent 26,735.

LaBonte, D.R., C.A. Clark, A.Q. Villordon, and T Smith. 2015. LA 06-52 Sweetpotato. US PP 26735

LaBonte, D.R., C.A. Clark, A.Q. Villordon, and T Smith. 2015. LA 04-175 Sweetpotato. US PP 25308

LaBonte, D.R., C.A. Clark, A.Q. Villordon, and T Smith. 2013. LA 05-111 Sweetpotato. US PP 23761

LaBonte, D.R., C.A. Clark, A.Q. Villordon, and T Smith. 2013. LA 07-146 Sweetpotato. US PP 23785

LaBonte, D.R., C.A. Clark, A.Q. Villordon, and T Smith. 2010. Bonita Sweetpotato. US PP 22719.

LaBonte, D.R., C.A. Clark, and A.Q. Villordon. 2009. Murasaki-29 Sweetpotato. US PP 19955.

LaBonte, D.R., C.A. Clark, and A.Q. Villordon. 2009. Evangeline Sweetpotato. US PP 19710.