Growth and dry matter accumulation and distribution in potato cultivars during the winter crop season

The objective of this work was to evaluate growth and dry matter accumulation and distribution of potato cultivars (Solanum tuberosum) Agata, Asterix, Atlantic, Markies, and Mondial, during the winter crop season. The experiment was carried out in Ita, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, from June to October 2008. A randomized complete block design with split-plots and four replications was used. Plots comprised the potato cultivars and subplots were established by plant sampling times: at planting and every seven days after emergence. All the cultivars show slow growth until the onset of the tuber bulking stage. However, Asterix, Atlantic and Markies are earlier than Mondial in obtaining the maximum rates of dry matter accumulation. The Asterix and Mondial cultivars have more leaves per plant, higher tuber yield, higher maximum accumulation rates and dry matter production, but Mondial is less efficient in dry matter alocation to the tubers than the other cultivars. The cultivars with higher maximum accumulation rates provided higher amounts of dry matter, even with shorter terms of the maximum accumulation rate.