ROOT PRODUCTION AND QUALITY ATTRIBUTES OF SWEETPOTATO GENOTYPES IN BRASÍLIA-DF, BRAZIL, DURING TWO CROPPING SEASONS

Abstract

The understanding of the adaptation of sweet potato cultivars to different environments and the efficiency of its production process in diverse growing systems are essential for best performance genotypes to be known. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate sweet potato cultivars for root production and quality attributes in two cropping seasons in Brasília-DF, Brazil. Nine sweet potato cultivars: BRS Amélia, Beauregard, Brazlândia Branca, Brazlândia Rosada, Brazlândia Roxa, BRS Cuia, Princesa, BRS Rubissol and a local variety were grown in a complete randomized blocks design with four replications. Characteristics related to root yield, quality and pest( insects) damage were evaluated. The cultivar Brazlândia Rosada stands out in relation to root yield (66.03 t ha-1 and 31.58 t ha-1 for first and second experiments, respectively) and also presented a good root shape index (2.00). There is no great genetic variability among cultivars for insect damage index, with cultivars BRS Amelia and BRS Cuia preseting less desirable shape characteristics.

Keywords

• ipomoea batatas (l.) lam
• yield
• insect damage
• roots shape index