Selection of sweet potato genotypes for industry and in natura consumption from polycross

• Grant number: 19/18935-2
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): November 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): October 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Crop Science
• Principal researcher: Pablo Forlan Vargas
• Grantee: Isabele Orneles da Cruz
• Home Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Registro. Registro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Sweet potato is among the ten most important vegetables in the world. Already in Brazil is among the five major vegetables, in cultivation area. However, there are few cultivars developed in the country, especially for the state of São Paulo, which is the second largest state producing sweet potato. Thus, the development of a new cultivar becomes a key element in the process of modernization of the sweet potato production chain. Therefore, the objective is to evaluate the agronomic and physicochemical characteristics of sweet potato genotypes from uncontrolled cross-breeding. The study will be conducted at the São Paulo State University (UNESP), Campus of Registro. The experiment will be a randomized block design with four replications, consisting of 14 treatments (13 genotypes + control). Area preparation, planting and crop management will be carried out according to the recommendation for sweet potato. The branches of genotypes with eight to ten buds will be planted covering 2/3 of the branch with soil in previously made pits. At 135 days (4.5 months) the roots will be harvested and evaluated: total and commercial yield, root classification, percentage of commercial yield, dry mass content, dry mass yield, sugar content, starch content, yield of starch and estimated ethanol production. With the mean data will be performed analysis of variance (F test) and later the genotypes will be grouped by the Skott-Knott method 5% probability. It will also be calculated gain of selection and hierarchy of genotypes through ranks for each of the purposes of the study (industry and household consumption).