Author(s): LIMA, F. S. de O.; SANTOS, G. R. dos; CORREA, V. R.; SANTOS, P. R. R. dos; CORREIA, M. A. R.; NOGUEIRA, S. R.

Summary: The root knot nematode (RKN), Meloidogyne incognita, is widespread worldwide and a major pathogen of several cultivated crops. The use of resistant genotypes is the most effective and environmentally sound way to manage RKN. In this study, we screened 16 selected sweet potato cultivars including Amanda, Bárbara, Beatriz, Beauregard, Brazlândia Branca, Brazlândia Rosada, Brazlândia Roxa, BRS Amélia, BRS Cuia, BRS Rubissol, Carolina Vitória, Duda, Júlia, Marcela, PA-26/2009, and Princesa obtained from Embrapa and Universidade Federal do Tocantins? germplasm bank. Studies were conducted under greenhouse and field conditions and the agronomic performance of the cultivars was evaluated in a nematode and soilborne insect-infested field. All 16 sweet potato cultivars tested were rated as resistant to this nematode both under greenhouse and field conditions with reproduction factors < 1. In the field infested with M. incognita, sweet potato cultivars Duda, BRS Amélia, Beauregard, Brazlândia Rosada, and Brazlândia Roxa stood out as superior cultivars, with average yield ranging from 26 to 47 tons per ha. Overall, most cultivars exhibited a fusiform to near fusiform root shape, a good characteristic for the market, and were moderately affected by insects (attack incidence 1 to 30%). As global demand for energy continues to rise, selecting new cultivars of sweet potatoes with increased resistance to nematode diseases and with high yield will be important for food security and biofuel production.

Publication year: 2016

Types of publication: Journal article

Unit: Embrapa Acre

Keywords: Batata doce, Batatas, Crop yield, Cultivos de invernadero, Estufa, Greenhouse production, Helminto, Ipomoea Batatas, Meloidogyne incognita, Nematodo de la raíz, Nematóide, Nemátodo parasitario de las plantas, Performance, Plagas de plantas, Plant parasitic nematodes, Plant pests, Praga de planta, Rendimiento de los cultivos, Root-knot nematodes, Sweet potatoes, Variedade resistente