PRODUCTION OF SWEET POTATO SEEDLINGS IN TROPICAL CLIMATE

Abstract

The sweet potato (Ipomoea potatoes) is a dicotyledonous vegetable with several varieties that adapt well to tropical climates. The initial development of seedlings can vary according to the cultivar and the climatic conditions during seedling development. The objective of this study was to evaluate seedlings of five sweet potato cultivars grown in the municipality of Ji-Paraná, Rondônia. The experimental design was completely randomized. It was composed of five treatments: the cultivars JNRX-1, JNRX-12, JN-White 1, and Canadian, acquired in the State of São Paulo, and the cultivar Beauregard, acquired in the local region. For the seedlings production, the branch plant matrix was cut, and the material was sectioned so that it presented a leaf accompanied by yolk and a fragment of the stem. This material was placed in transparent flasks containing drinking water at room temperature to root. Three days later, the material was removed from the container with water; it was then transferred to plastic bags containing a commercial substrate for vegetables and identified according to each cultivar. At 30 days after seedling preparation, the study analyzed: root length (cm), shoot length (cm), fresh root weight (g), fresh shoot weight (g), number of leaves, number of branches, and leaf area (cm²). The cultivars acquired in the state of São Paulo (JNRX-12, JNRX-1, JN White 1, and Canadian) developed well in the municipality's climatic conditions Ji-Paraná / Rondônia. They expressed similar or even higher values than cultivar Beauregard acquired in the local region. Results showed that the cultivars JNRX-12, JN White 1, and Canadian are recommended for seedlings production. This recommendation is due to the climatic conditions of the municipality of Ji-Paraná/RO. According to the evaluated characteristics, these cultivars presented longer root length, greater fresh mass root, and longer shoot length.