Spring planting favors yield of new Brazilian potato cultivar BRS F63 Camila

Vlandiney Eschemback Jackson Kawakami Aline M Genú Leonardo Z Anderle

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different planting dates on the morphological variables and yield of new potato cultivars. The treatments were three cultivars (Agata, BRS Clara and BRS F63 Camila) and three planting date (October, December and February), carried out in two crop years (2014/15 and 2015/16). Total and marketable yields, average mass of total and marketable tubers, growth period, leaf area index, number and dry weight of the tubers were evaluated. The first planting date resulted in higher yield than the third date. Cultivar BRS F63 Camila was the one with highest yield in this first planting date (47.4 t ha-1), due to greater number of tubers produced in relation to the other cultivars and to higher average tuber weight (166 g tuber-1) in relation to Agata (113 g tuber-1). In the second planting date, no difference in yield was observed among cultivars. In the third planting date, BRS Clara was the cultivar with highest yield (21.3 t ha-1), due mainly to higher average weight of tubers (105 g tuber-1) in relation to Agata (49 g tuber-1), a fact favored by the higher leaf area index and longer growth period of BRS Clara. Depending on the planting date, one should choose the cultivar that results in maximum yield potential, since it is a plant management with low cost and high yield impact. For the second planting date, any of the studied cultivars can be used.