Performance of advanced potato clones in different regions, and in organic and conventional production systems

This work aimed to evaluate the performance of potato genotypes in different regions in the organic and conventional production systems. The effect of plant stem development on tuber productivity was also investigated. Experiments were carried out (a) during the2020 spring season in Canoinhas-SC in the conventional production system, (b) in an organic cropping system during the 2021 winter season in Brasília-DF, and in both (c) conventional and (d) organic production systems during the 2022 winter season in Brasília-DF, Brazil. Eleven advanced clones as well as the control cultivars Atlantic (suitable for chips production), Markies and Asterix (suitable for French fries) were evaluated for tuber yield traits, specific gravity, and for the number and length of plant stems. The experimental design was randomized blocks with three replications. A higher productivity of marketable tubers was generally obtained by genotypes with longer stems, i.e. taller and more vigorous plants. A higher specific weight of tubers was obtained by genotypes with lower number of stems, which produced a lower number of tubers with higher average mass. Clones with good performance in both conventional and organic production systems were identified. The clones F18-13-03 and F65-13-06 showed high tuber productivity in both systems and a tuber specific gravity equivalent to the controls for French fries Asterix and Markies. The clones F36-13-08, ORG 2156 and F88-11-01 did not show the highest productivity in any of the environments. They showed a high number of tubers per stem and, consequently, the tubers had a reduced average mass. The clones F36-13-08 and ORG 2156 presented a high number of stems, suggesting the possibility of gains in marketable productivity under differentiated sprouting management of the seed tubers.