Productivity and quality of sweet potato roots propagated by mini-cuttings with different trays and seedling ages

Antonio Ismael Inácio Cardoso,Juliana A Ramos,Maurício D Nasser,Pâmela G Nakada-Freitas,Karina Aparecida Furlaneto,Amarilis B Rós,Bruno Nm Martins,Rogério L Vieites

doi:10.1590/s0102-0536-20210203

Antonio Ismael Inácio Cardoso, Juliana A Ramos + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-0536-20210203

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Abstract

ABSTRACT The use of mini-cuttings is an option for obtaining sweet potato propagules of excellent quality. The objective of this research was to evaluate the production and quality of sweet potato roots propagated by mini-cuttings in different types of trays and ages of seedlings. Six treatments, resulting from the factorial 2x3, were evaluated: two types of trays (162 and 200 cells, with 31 and 18 mL of substrate per cell, respectively) and three ages of seedlings (39, 46 and 53 days after placement of mini-cuttings in trays), in a randomized block design, with five replications. Seedlings characteristics, production and quality of roots were evaluated. Higher number and dry weight of leaves per seedling were observed in the tray with 162 cells than in trays with 200 cells. The younger seedlings (39 days) had a lower number of leaves, dry weight of leaves, stem, roots ant total (leaves + stem + roots) than seedlings of other ages. There was no difference in root production depending on the type of tray, regardless of the age of the seedlings. For the 162-cell tray, the age of the seedlings did not affect the production of roots. On the other hand, for the 200-cell tray, higher roots production was observed on seedlings 39 days age compared to seedlings with 53 days. No differences were observed among the roots of different treatments for titratable acidity, and levels of sucrose, reducing sugars ant total sugars. It is recommended to avoid old seedlings, that is, it is recommended to use seedlings with a maximum of 43 days after planting of mini-cuttings for trays with 200 cells, while for trays with 162 cells no difference in root production was observed with the different ages of the seedlings.

Highlights

Produtividade e qualidade de raízes de batata-doce propagada por mini-estacas em diferentes bandejas e idades de mudas
The ideal seedling age can vary with the species and type of tray, because trays with larger cells allow the seedling to be kept for longer time in the nursery and to be transplanted with a larger size and number of leaves, increasing the competitiveness of the plants and reducing the time the plant remains in the field (Seabra Júnior et al, 2004)
Lower dry weight of roots and total per seedling were obtained in the tray with 200 cells only for older seedlings, 46 and 53 days old, while for younger seedlings (39 days) there was no difference between the trays (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Produtividade e qualidade de raízes de batata-doce propagada por mini-estacas em diferentes bandejas e idades de mudas. Objetivou-se com esta pesquisa avaliar a produção e a qualidade de raízes de batata doce propagada por miniestacas em diferentes tipos de bandejas e idades de mudas. Recomenda-se evitar a utilização de mudas velhas, ou seja, utilizar mudas com no máximo 43 dias após o plantio em bandejas com 200 células, enquanto que para bandejas com 162 células não foi observada diferença na produção de raízes com as diferentes idades das mudas. Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a vegetable of great economic importance in Brazil It is a perennial plant grown as an annual, normally propagated using the mature branches obtained at the end of the cycle. It increases the cost of each seedling

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