Agnaldo Df Carvalho

The quality and preparation of arracacha propagules are key factors affecting root yield; however, studies on this approach remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of propagule size and cutting on the yield of the cultivar Amarela de Senador Amaral and to compare its productive performance with that of other cultivars. Experiments were conducted in Canoinhas, Santa Catarina, using a randomized complete block design with seven replications and plots consisting of five plants. In the first experiment, three propagule sizes (large, medium, and small) were evaluated. In the second, medium-sized propagules were subjected to two treatments: bevel cutting and no cutting. In the third, the cultivar Amarela de Senador Amaral was compared with the cultivars BRS Rubia 41, BRS Catarina 64, and BRS Acarijó 56. The number of commercial roots, root mass, and average commercial root mass were assessed. It was observed that cutting the propagules increased the number of commercial roots and overall yield, although it reduced average root mass. Large and small propagules resulted in higher yields than medium-sized propagules. The cultivar BRS Acarijó 56 showed superior productivity and greater average commercial root mass compared with the other cultivars evaluated.

'BRS F21Braschips' is a potato chipping cultivar, with short oval tubers, shallow eyes, yellow and smooth skin, and light yellow flesh. It has high yield potential, while dry matter content averaged 0.2% less than ‘Atlantic’.The vine maturity and tuber dormancy are medium. Tubers are susceptible to greening. It has high resistance to PVY, partial resistance to early blight, and moderate susceptibility to late blight. It shows good resistance to common scab, and low susceptibility to tuber deformation by high temperature. 'BRS F21Braschips' was protected in 2025 by the Embrapa’s potato breeding program, developed by Embrapa Clima Temperado, in Pelotas-RS and Canoinhas-SC, and Embrapa Hortaliças, in Brasilia-DF, Brazil.

This work aimed to evaluate the performance of potato genotypes in different regions in the organic and conventional production systems. The effect of plant stem development on tuber productivity was also investigated. Experiments were carried out (a) during the2020 spring season in Canoinhas-SC in the conventional production system, (b) in an organic cropping system during the 2021 winter season in Brasília-DF, and in both (c) conventional and (d) organic production systems during the 2022 winter season in Brasília-DF, Brazil. Eleven advanced clones as well as the control cultivars Atlantic (suitable for chips production), Markies and Asterix (suitable for French fries) were evaluated for tuber yield traits, specific gravity, and for the number and length of plant stems. The experimental design was randomized blocks with three replications. A higher productivity of marketable tubers was generally obtained by genotypes with longer stems, i.e. taller and more vigorous plants. A higher specific weight of tubers was obtained by genotypes with lower number of stems, which produced a lower number of tubers with higher average mass. Clones with good performance in both conventional and organic production systems were identified. The clones F18-13-03 and F65-13-06 showed high tuber productivity in both systems and a tuber specific gravity equivalent to the controls for French fries Asterix and Markies. The clones F36-13-08, ORG 2156 and F88-11-01 did not show the highest productivity in any of the environments. They showed a high number of tubers per stem and, consequently, the tubers had a reduced average mass. The clones F36-13-08 and ORG 2156 presented a high number of stems, suggesting the possibility of gains in marketable productivity under differentiated sprouting management of the seed tubers.

‘BRS Gaia’ is a red-skinned potato cultivar with high dry matter and attractive tuber appearance. Its tubers are oval, with shallow eyes, slightly rough skin, yellow flesh and low susceptibility to post-harvest greening. The vine maturity and tuber dormancy are medium. It is moderately susceptible to late and early blight. ‘BRS Gaia’ has an intermediate level of resistance (tolerance) to bacterial wilt, which gives it a significant comparative advantage over traditional cultivars for disease management in areas infested by the bacteria Ralstonia solanacearum. It has low susceptibility to tuber deformation due to high temperature. Although the main destination is for the fresh market, ‘BRS Gaia’ can also be used by restaurants for fresh cut fries and for processing into shoestrings. 'BRS Gaia' was released in 2023 through Embrapa’s potato breeding program, developed by Embrapa Clima Temperado, in Pelotas-RS and Canoinhas-SC, and Embrapa Hortaliças, in Brasilia-DF, Brazil

The present study aimed to evaluate the plant growth curve of two advanced potato clones (F21-07-09 and F63-10-07) compared to two standard cultivars (Asterix and Atlantic), in order to describe the dynamics of plant development throughout the growing cycle, and to subsidize necessary differentiated management strategies. Field experiments were carried out in Canoinhas, SC, and Pelotas, RS, in the spring season of 2020. A randomized complete block design with four replications of plots composed of 48 useful plants, plus border plants, was used. Destructive sampling of four plants per plot was done 30, 44, 56, 72, 86, 100 and 114 days after planting. Morphoagronomic traits were evaluated throughout the growing cycle, and tuber productivity and frying quality were determined at the end of the crop cycle. A direct relationship of yield and quality of tubers with development of the aboveground part of the plants was observed. As for tuber production and frying quality, both clones outperform 'Asterix'. F63-10-07 showed potential to compete with 'Atlantic'. F63-10-07 and 'Atlantic' had a lower number of stems per plant, indicating the necessity of adjusting the plant density. The aboveground part development of the clones, especially F63-10-07, occurred later than ‘Asterix’, but quite simultaneously to ‘Atlantic’.

The objective of this work was to verify the reaction of potato clones and cultivars to root-knot nematodes in a field area naturally infested by the root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne incognita and M. ethiopica. Fifteen clones and five potato cultivars were evaluated, in addition to plots with okra and tomato susceptible species, in a field naturally infested with a Meloidogyne incognita and M. ethiopica population mixture, in an experimental field of Embrapa Hortaliças located in the Federal District, Brazil. The experiment was carried out from April to August 2022, in a randomized complete block design with four replications of five plants per plot. At the planting time, as well as when harvesting the genotypes, soil was collected to determine the initial and final nematode populations. When the plants were harvested, the total number of juveniles extracted from plant tissues (potato tubers and okra roots and tomato) was determined, as well as the calculation of the reproduction factor (RF), and the evaluation of tuber yield of the potato genotypes. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and grouping of means by the Scott-Knott test. The clones C2743-09-09, CH41, F119-12-01, F129-12-08, F63-10-13A, F65-13-06, F88-11-01 and OD38-06, and the cultivars Markies, Agata and Asterix were the least susceptible genotypes to field mix of the root-knot nematodes M. incognita and M. ethiopica. But combining a lower degree of susceptibility and good tuber productivity, clones MB54-02, F53-11-05, F63-10-13A, F65-13-06, OD38-06 stood out. The commercial cultivars Atlantic and Epagri Catucha presented greater multiplication of nematodes in the field than the other evaluated cultivars.

This study aimed to evaluate the plant performance of two advanced potato clones compared to two standard cultivars. Field experiments were carried out in Canoinhas-SC, Pelotas-RS and Brasília-DF. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with four replications of plots composed of 44 useful plants plus borders. Four plant samples per plot were collect 30, 44, 56, 72, 86 and 100 days after planting. Morpho-agronomic characters were evaluated throughout the crop cycle, and at the end of the crop cycle tuber yield and frying quality were determined. There was a direct relationship between tuber yield and shoot development. For these characters, both clones F63-10-07 and F21-07-09 presented superior values compared to the standard cultivars in Pelotas, and these together with ‘Atlantic’ were superior to ‘Asterix’ in Canoinhas. In Brasilia, the standard cultivars showed greater shoot development, but the final marketable yield was not statistically different. F63-10-07 and ‘Atlantic’ have a lower stem number per plant, indicating the need to manage this character to adjust the stem density in the field.

This work aimed to evaluate the performance of potato genotypes for tuber yield, processing quality traits, and plant vigor, under conventional and organic crop systems. The experiments in conventional system were carried out during the springs of 2018 and 2019 in Canoinhas-SC, while both conventional and organic crop systems were performed in 2020‘s winter in Brasília-DF, Brazil. Fourteen advanced clones, five of them selected in organic system (OS), and check cultivars Atlantic (chipping), Markies, and Asterix (french fry) were evaluated. A randomized complete block design with four replications was used. Clones F63-10-13A and EP121 performed well for tuber yield in all experiments. F129-12-08 presented a good frying quality, and F63-12-04 had a tuber yield and frying quality similar to ‘Asterix‘. OD38-06 had a tuber yield similar to ‘Asterix‘ and ‘Markies‘, and frying quality similar to ‘Markies‘. In general, the clones developed in the OS had better performance in that system, however some of them also performed well in the conventional system, while some developed in conventional system also performed well in the OS, such as F63-10-13A.

The average yield and quality of sweetpotato in Brazil are below the crop potential due to several traits that can be improved by plant breeding. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of sweet potato advanced clones with potential to be released as new cultivars, recommend cultivars with better attributes for grower's needs at the subtropical region of Brazil or to be used as parents in breeding programs. The genotypes MD1604002, MD1611010, MD1609023, MD1609024, MD1609026, and MD1610036 and cultivars Brazlândia Roxa, Beauregard, BRS Cuia, BRS Amélia, and BRS Rubissol, were evaluated during two seasons 2020/2021 and 2021/2022, in Canoinhas-SC. The experiments were conducted in complete randomized blocks design with four replications where plots were composed of three rows with 15 plants each, spaced 0.75 m apart with 0.35 m between plants. Storage roots were harvested 180 days after planting and evaluated for yield, appearance, insect damage, and shape characteristics. ‘BRS Rubissol’, the genotype MD1610036, with higher root yield, storage roots shape, appearance, and less susceptible to insect damage, and MD1609024, with a good root yield, similar or superior to cultivars Brazlândia Roxa, Beauregard, and BRS Amélia, stood out, and have potential to be cultivated in this region. ‘Brazlândia Roxa’ and genotype MD1611010 are potential sources of resistance genes to insect damage, which is one of the biggest challenges in sweetpotato production in Brazil.

‘BRS F50’ (Cecilia) is a yellow skin potato cultivar for the fresh market, with good tuber appearance and versatile culinary use. The tuber has oval shape, shallow eyes, and light yellow flesh. It has a relatively high dry matter and medium-low glucose content, giving possibility even to use for processing into shoestring fries. The vegetative cycle and dormancy are medium. The maturity and tuber dormancy are medium. ‘BRS F50’ (Cecilia) shows a very low external and internal tuber disorder incidence, except growing cracks under varying soil humidity. It is moderately resistant to late and early blight, which make it also suitable for organic production. ‘BRS F50’ (Cecilia) was released by Embrapa in 2022, and is a product of its potato breeding program, developed by Embrapa Clima Temperado, in Pelotas-RS and Canoinhas-SC, and Embrapa Hortaliças, in Brasília-DF, Brazil.