Morphoagronomic characterization of sweet potato accessions from the germplasm bank of Embrapa hortaliças

Studies on the determination of genetic divergence among genotypes are important tools in breeding programs, contributing to the identification of parents with considerable productive potential. However, little is known about the combinatorial capacity of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) accessions and its adaptation to the different regions of Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the morpho-agronomic traits from 102 sweet potato accessions from the Germplasm Bank of Embrapa Hortaliças. The experiment was laid out as an augmented block design comprised of 102 treatments. Nineteen above ground traits were measured using descriptors for the respective parts. Estimated values of broad sense heritability were high for the traits mean branch length (95.75%), immature leaf color (85.06%), and predominant branch  color (90.57%). Coefficients of environmental variation were below 30.00% for all variables, except for branch weight (51.62%). The 102 clones analyzed presented broad genetic variability for the different traits evaluated, especially for branch weight, and branch length, and mature leaf color

Field adaptation of sweet potato genotypes enriched of β-carotene, in the state of Goiás

Most sweet potato genotypes marketed in Brazil have white, yellow or cream pulp color with negligible carotenoid contents. The use of beta-carotene rich sweet potato materials may contribute to improve people welfare, especially those at critical nutritional conditions. The yield-related traits and marketable tuber quality of 10 beta-carotene biofortified (or not) sweet potato genotypes were assessed in a Brazilian Cerrado area.  Differences for all traits were found, with some materials prevailing. However, four of them (CNPH 1190, CNPH 1206, CNPH 1210 and CNPH 1310) showed good adaptability. CNPH 1210 had the highest yield (52.21 ton ha-1), 4.28 times higher than the Brazilian sweet potato average yield. CNPH 1210 and CNPH 1310 had the highest tuber numbers and the most preferred mass class for consumers, and therefore, they furnished the best marketable genotypes. Nevertheless, the materials CNPH 1210 and CNPH 1310 (both orange-fleshed sweet potatoes) stood out for tuber market quality. Our results may stimulate organized civil society efforts to improve the production and consumption of beta-carotene-rich sweet potato materials in municipalities in the Brazilian Cerrado

Desempenho de cultivares de batata-doce para caracteres relacionados com o rendimento de raiz

A produtividade média nacional da batata-doce situa-se, atualmente, bem abaixo do potencial produtivo da cultura, predominando o cultivo de variedades locais e não melhoradas, que propiciam baixos rendimentos. Para melhorar essa condição, além de tratos culturais adequados, faz-se necessária a adoção de cultivares mais produtivos. Por essas razões, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o desempenho de cultivares de batata-doce para caracteres relacionados com o rendimento de raiz. Foram avaliados seis cultivares de batata-doce: Princesa, BRS Amélia, BRS Cuia, Brazlândia Roxa, Beauregard e BRS Rubissol, em um experimento conduzido em Canoinhas-SC. Mudas dos cultivares foram plantadas em condições de campo, nos anos de 2012 e 2013, no delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com três repetições; a parcela experimental foi composta por 11 plantas. Aos 150 dias após o plantio, as plantas de cada parcela foram colhidas e avaliadas para caracteres componentes do rendimento de raiz. De forma geral, os cultivares avaliados constituem boas opções para os produtores, com rendimentos médios acima da média nacional. Os cultivares Beauregard e BRS Rubissol destacam-se dos demais para os caracteres de rendimento de raiz. Os cultivares Princesa, BRS Amélia e BRS Cuia apresentaram desempenho intermediário quanto a raízes comerciais, principalmente no segundo ano de avaliação. O cultivar Brazlândia Roxa teve o pior desempenho para caracteres de rendimento de raiz aos 150 dias após o plantio, provavelmente por apresentar ciclo vegetativo mais longo

Reaction of squash and butternut squash genotypes to Phytophthora capsici

<p></p><p>ABSTRACT Phytophthora capsici causes significant losses in squash (Cucurbita moschata) and butternut squash (Cucurbita maxima), including root and crown rot, leaf blight and fruit rot, which can result in up to 100% loss in production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reaction of squash and butternut squash genotypes to P. capsici. Initially an experiment was conducted to evaluate the aggressiveness of isolates of P. capsici from different regions. Later two experiments were carried out in a greenhouse with 16 genotypes of C. moschata and seven of C. maxima in different years, using the most aggressive isolates, PCA 40 and PCA 43 identified as the most aggressive in a preliminary test. As control we used the hybrid cultivar Jabras and the pepper cultivar Cascadura Ikeda (susceptibility patterns to the pathogen). The genotypes were sown in pots of four liters containing autoclaved soil. Fourteen days later, plants were inoculated by depositing 3.0 mL of the suspension of 2.0x104 zoospores/mL in the soil, near to plant stem. The disease incidence was evaluated 8 days after inoculation. The experiments were conducted in a randomized block design with five replicates of four plants. The genotypes showed different levels of disease resistance, TX 10350, PHYT-043, CNPH-3001-1 and MAM-2523-1 stood out because they showed greater degree of resistance to P. capsici in both trials. However, none of the genotypes showed complete resistance. The results indicate the promising use of these genotypes to obtain resistant lines, aiming to obtain hybrid cultivars resistant to Phytophthora root rot.</p><p></p