Brazilian potato production is based on cultivars originating from the USA and Europe; however, these cultivars were developed under different environmental conditions than those found in Brazil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adaptability and stability of 18 potato clones (MLG), developed by the Universidade Federal de Lavras, and four cultivars in six environments in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The following traits were evaluated: marketable tuber yield (MTY), specific gravity (SG), and tuber appearance (TA). Clones, environments, and the genotype × environment interaction had significant effects on all traits. The 98.13, and 62.86 % of the sum of squares from the G+G×E for MTY, SG, and TA, respectively. Three MLG clones had higher adaptability and stability, as well as better performance, than the cultivars, making them good candidates for release as cultivars.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a cool weather crop and one of the most important vegetables in the world, which is cultivated in temperate, subtropical, and tropical climates. Nearly all cultivated areas in Brazil use cultivars from temperate countries, resulting in lower performances particularly due to higher temperatures. The aim of this study was to identify clones that yielded better than foreign cultivars, both under high and mild temperature conditions. The study assessed 57 clones from the potato breeding program of the Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA), Brazil, and five check cultivars (Agata, Asterix, Atlantic, Cupido, and Markies). We evaluated the agronomic performance using the total and marketable tuber yield, dry matter content (DM), season length, and external tuber quality, in four experiments designing in a random complete block, during the seasons 2014 and 2015. The genotypes' stability, as well as the discrimination between environments, was performed using the GGE-Biplot method. Twenty heat-tolerant clones responded favorably to mild temperatures. This breeding program has generated clones more productive and better looking than commercial cultivars, for the different market segments: two for the fresh market (GMR 17-40; GMR 12-10), four for frozen French fries (CBM 07-78; CTB 03-02; GMR 15-42; SR2 35-05) and seven for potato chips

Bell pepper rootstocks with multiple resistance to soilborne diseasesGrafting has been increasingly used to overcome soilborne pathogens. The commercial rootstock hybrids AF-8253 (Sakata) and Fortaleza (Takii), as well as Embrapa's new hybrid, BRS Acará, were evaluated as rootstocks for the bell pepper hybrids Margarita (Syngenta) and Pampa (Clause) as scions, under natural infestation of Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum, as well as upon artificial inoculation with a) ten Ralstonia isolates, b) one Phytophthora capsici isolate, c) Meloidogyne incognita race 1, and d) Meloidogyne enterolobii (only rootstocks for c and d). Grafted bell peppers consistently showcased a higher productivity than did non-grafted ones under natural R. pseudosolanacearum infestation, and the rootstock genotype affected fruit size distribution. Rootstocks presented higher resistance than did commercial bell pepper hybrids (scions) for 6 out of 10 Ralstonia isolates. AF-8253 and BRS Acará displayed an immunelike response to P. capsici, while Fortaleza was moderately resistant (25% symptomatic plants) and the bell pepper hybrids (scions) were susceptible (100% symptomatic plants). Rootstocks were immune to M. incognita race 1, but slightly (AF-8253 and BRS Acará) or moderately (Fortaleza) resistant to M. enterolobii. Grafting with BRS Acará, as well as with AF-8253 or Fortaleza, is recommended for managing bacterial wilt, Phytophthora blight, and root-knot nematodes.

The present study aimed to evaluate the plant growth curve of two new potato cultivars, to better understand the dynamics of the plant development throughout the growth cycle, and to subsidize management strategies. Field experiments were carried out in Canoinhas-SC, and Pelotas-RS, in the spring 2019. The new potato cultivars BRS F50 - Cecília and BRS F183 - Potira were compared with the standard cultivar widely grown in the country, Asterix. The experimental design was randomized complete blocks with four replications of plots composed of 43 useful plants, plus borders. Destructive samples of four plants per plot were carried out at 28, 42, 56, 70, 84, 98, and 112 days after planting. Morpho-agronomic characters were evaluated throughout the crop cycle, and the determination of tuber yield was done at its end, harvesting 15 plants per plot. Cecília presented a great development of the aboveground plant parts, and a high tuber yield. Potira also showed a good tuber yield, but was late in the plant development cycle, requiring specific studies on differentiated management of this character. In general, genotypes with a greater development of the aboveground plant parts are more productive, however, in this analysis it is not possible to consider only characters related to the leaf production or even the leaf area, but the plant structure as a whole, including stem development.