Growth, fresh mass accumulation and distribution in new Brazilian potato cultivars

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to evaluate the plant growth curve of two new potato cultivars, to better understand the dynamics of the plant development throughout the growth cycle, and to subsidize management strategies. Field experiments were carried out in Canoinhas-SC, and Pelotas-RS, in the spring 2019. The new potato cultivars BRS F50 - Cecília and BRS F183 - Potira were compared with the standard cultivar widely grown in the country, Asterix. The experimental design was randomized complete blocks with four replications of plots composed of 43 useful plants, plus borders. Destructive samples of four plants per plot were carried out at 28, 42, 56, 70, 84, 98, and 112 days after planting. Morpho-agronomic characters were evaluated throughout the crop cycle, and the determination of tuber yield was done at its end, harvesting 15 plants per plot. Cecília presented a great development of the aboveground plant parts, and a high tuber yield. Potira also showed a good tuber yield, but was late in the plant development cycle, requiring specific studies on differentiated management of this character. In general, genotypes with a greater development of the aboveground plant parts are more productive, however, in this analysis it is not possible to consider only characters related to the leaf production or even the leaf area, but the plant structure as a whole, including stem development.