ABSTRACT
The assessment of agronomic performance of cultivars is the first step to determine the potential for growing a crop in a particular area. However, systematic studies have not been conducted in order to determine the production potential of different genotypes of cassava for industry in the region of Unaí, Minas Gerais. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate twelve elite genotypes of cassava for industry in relation to agronomic performance and starch content variation during two harvest seasons in the Northwest region of Minas Gerais, in the municipality of Unai. Field experiments were performed in November 2010 and May 2012 (season 2010/2012) and November 2011 and May 2013 (season 2011/2013) in field plots located at the Agricultural School of Unai. Tweive months after planting, in each season, plant shoots were pruned to 10 cm from the soil. Eighteen months after planting the experimental plots, the genotypes were evaluated by collecting data on shoot weight, storage root yield, percentage of starch and estimation of starch yield. Data were subjected to analysis of individual and joint variance and mean test group. The results showed that the genotype variation was highly significant for all traits, all genotypes showed characteristics with potential for crops in the local conditions, as indicated by the high yield of storage roots, high weight of shoots, high starch content and high yield of starch with emphasis on genotype BGMC 996.
Key words:
Manihot esculentaCrantz; plant breeding; cultivar competition; starch; cassava flour
