AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS, COOKING AND POSTHARVEST CONSERVATION FOR SELECTING SWEET CASSAVA CLONES1

Abstract

– The objective of this work was to evaluate the agronomic performance, cooking time and postharvest conservation of roots of sweet cassava clones, to select those superior to the Manteiga variety control, in the Baixo Sul region of Bahia state. A randomized block design in split plot scheme, with three replications was used. Eleven genotypes were evaluated at 10 and 12 months after planting. Considering the mean of two harvests, BRS Kiriris and Saracura showed total root yield (39.85 and 33.91 t ha-1, respectively) and commercial root yield (26.54 and 26.71 t ha-1) that are higher compared to Manteiga (total root yield: 28.06 t ha-1, commercial root yield: 16.95 t ha-1). However, both had cooking time (26.76 and 28.30 min, respectively) higher than that of Manteiga (23.89 min), and BRS Kiriris was unstable regarding the cooking percentage between 10 (91.67%) and 12 months (50%). BRS Aipim Brasil, 2003 14-11, BRS Kiriris, Eucalipto, Saracura and Manteiga were more tolerant to postharvest physiological deterioration. Although some of the evaluated clones presented good performance in the evaluated traits, by analyzing the set of traits, none of them shows sufficient superiority to be indicated as a potential substitute for Manteiga, grown in the Baixo Sul region of Bahia state.