Performance of sweet potato cultivars for yield and root quality in Sergipe, Brazil

Abstract

Sweet potatoes are traditionally grown in the northeastern region of Brazil and the state of Sergipe stands out for a large number of small producers in several municipalities. The aim of this study was to evaluate sweet potato cultivars to root yield in Umbaúba, SE. Eight sweet potato cultivars from Embrapa were evaluated in two experiments in the randomized block design with four replications, in the periods of July to November of 2013 and May to September of 2014. Were evaluated characteristics related to root yield, quality of root shape and insect damage. There is no great genetic variability among cultivars for average mass of commercial roots, percentage of roots with commercial mass in relation with total root mass. For characters that measure the number of roots, the shape index and damage by insects, there was great variation in the classification of cultivars in the two years of cultivation. The cultivars Beauregard, Brazlândia Branca, Brazlândia Rosada and Brazlândia Roxa show higher root yields, thus being the most recommended for the region among the eight cultivars evaluated.