ROOT PRODUCTION AND QUALITY ATTRIBUTES OF SWEETPOTATO GENOTYPES IN BRASÍLIA-DF, BRAZIL, DURING TWO CROPPING SEASONS

The understanding of the adaptation of sweet potato genotypesto environmentsand the efficiency of its production process in diversegrowingsystems are essential for best performance genotypes to be known. Thus, the aim of this study wasto evaluate sweet potato genotypesforroot production and quality attributes in two cropping seasons in Brasília-DF, Brazil. Nine genotypesn wereevaluated: BRS Amélia, Beauregard, Brazlândia Branca, Brazlândia Rosada, Brazlândia Roxa, BRS Cuia, Princesa,BRS Rubissoland a local controlwere grownin a complete randomized blocksdesign with four replications.Characteristics related to root yield, quality and pest( insects) damagewere evaluated. The genotypeBrazlândia Rosada stands out in relation to root yield (66.03 tha-1and 31.58 t ha-1for first and second experiments, respectively) and also presented a good rootshape index(2.00). There is no great genetic variability among genotypesfor insect damage index, with genotypesBRS Amelia and BRS Cuiapreseting less desirable shapecharacteristics.No genetic variability was found among genotypesfor insect damage. GenotypesBRS Amélia and BRS Cuia presented the least desired root shapeindex.Under the conditions of this study regarding the characters evaluated, genotype Brazlândia Rosada presented superior results in terms of roots production and shape index.