USDA 'Cascade': a multiple pest resistant, rose-skinned, creamy yellow-fleshed sweetpotato

Authors: Wadl, Phillip; Rutter, William; Jackson, D; SCHULTZ, LAURA - Washington State University; SHRESTHA, SHRESTHA - Washington State University; MILES, CAROL - Washington State University

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/29/2025
Publication Date: 9/8/2025
Citation: Wadl, P.A., Rutter, W.B., Jackson, D.M., Schultz, L., Shrestha, S., Miles, C. 2025. USDA 'Cascade': a multiple pest resistant, rose-skinned, creamy yellow-fleshed sweetpotato. HortScience. 60:1772-1774. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18853-25.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18853-25

Interpretive Summary: The sweetpotato cultivar USDA Cascade was developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Washington State University to provide a wireworm-resistant sweetpotato for Pacific Northwest growers. 'Cascade' has light rose-colored skin and creamy yellow colored flesh, with green leaves and vigorous vine growth. It is highly resistant to root-knot nematodes and soil dwelling insect pests, with good baking quality similar to 'Liberty' and yields comparable to 'Ruddy'. The baked roots of 'Cascade' have a mild flavor and cook to a yellow color. It is suitable for markets preferring a dry, mild-flavored sweetpotato and for organic growers and home gardeners.

Technical Abstract: The sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] cultivar USDA Cascade was jointly developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), U.S. Vegetable Laboratory (Charleston, SC) and the Washington State University, Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center (Mount Vernon, WA) to provide a wireworm-resistant sweetpotato for growers in the Pacific Northwest region (Wadl et al. 2025). ‘Cascade’ is a “dry-fleshed” type with light rose-colored skin and creamy yellow colored flesh. The leaves of ‘Cascade’ are green, entire, and reniform to cordate and vines exhibit vigorous growth with leaf canopies that are very dense. ‘Cascade’ is highly resistant to root-knot nematodes and soil insect pests. The storage roots of ‘Cascade’ are long elliptic and uniformly shaped with good baking quality and are of similar dry matter content and flesh color to ‘Liberty’ (Jackson et al. 2011). Yields of ‘Cascade’ are similar to ‘Ruddy’ (Bohac et al. 2002). The baked roots of ‘Cascade’ are dry with a mild flavor and cook to a yellow colored. Bedded and greenhouse grown roots of ‘Cascade’ produce an average of 15 uniform sprouts (slips) per root that transplant well. ‘Cascade’ is desirable for growers that serve markets that prefer a dry, mild-flavored sweetpotato and is suitable for organic growers and home gardeners.