Book HB 39_4

Research LÜDTKE, AC; DICK, DP; MOROSINO, L; KRAEMER, V. 2021. Productivity of lettuce in greenhouse as affected by humic and fulvic acids application in association to mineral fertilizer. Horticultura Brasileira 39: 444-450. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s0102-0536-20210414 Productivity of lettuce in greenhouse as affected by humic and fulvic acids application in association to mineral fertilizer Ana Cristina Lüdtke 1 ;ID Deborah P Dick 1,2 ;ID Luiza Morosino 2 ;ID Vicente Kraemer 2ID 1Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Depto. de Solos (UFRGS), Porto Alegre-RS, Brasil; [email protected] (author for correspondence); [email protected]; 2Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Instituto de química (UFRGS), Porto Alegre-RS, Brasil; [email protected]; [email protected] ABSTRACT RESUMO Humic substances (HS) have proved to be effective in improving Produtividade da alface em resposta à aplicação de ácidos the productivity of vegetable crops. We examined the effect of fúlvicos e ácidos húmicos associado a fertilizante mineral em commercial biostimulants rich in humic (HA) and fulvic acids (FA) casa de vegetação obtained from leonardite on agronomic efficiency and nutrient content in the leaves of lettuce (Lactuca sativa). A greenhouse experiment As substâncias húmicas (SH) têm se mostrado eficazes em was carried out employing 2.5-L pots containing Ultisol samples incrementar a produtividade de hortaliças. O objetivo deste trabalho that were supplied with commercial biostimulants rich in HA and foi avaliar o efeito de bioestimulantes comerciais ricos em ácidos FA, alone and in combination with NPK mineral fertilizer. The húmicos (AH) e fúlvicos (AF), obtidos de leonardita, na eficiência application of HS biostimulants associated to mineral fertilization to agronômica da cultura de alface e teor de nutrientes na planta. Foi the lettuce plants provided the greatest values of the studied variables, realizado um experimento em casa-de-vegetação em vasos de 2,5 L namely: plant height and diameter, leaf number per plant and root com amostras de Argissolo, aos quais foram aplicados bioestimulantes length. The combination of FA biostimulants and mineral fertilization comerciais ricos em AH e em AF, isoladamente e em combinação com increased the lettuce productivity relative to the inorganic fertilizer o fertilizante mineral NPK. A aplicação dos bioestimulantes à base de alone. The combined application of rich biostimulants FA and HA SH associada à fertilização mineral na cultura da alface apresentou os with NPK fertilizes influenced K and Fe uptake by the plants, and maiores valores das variáveis estudadas: altura e diâmetro de plantas, their accumulation in the aerial portion. Our results suggest that HS número de folhas por planta e comprimento de raiz. A combinação products potentialize the nutritional effect of the mineral fertilizer, do bioestimulante rico em AF e o fertilizante mineral aumentou a when applied in combination. produção da alface em relação à aplicação isolada do fertilizante inorgânico. A aplicação combinada dos bioestimulantes ricos em AF e em AH com o fertilizante NPK influenciou a absorção de K e Fe pelas plantas, e seu acúmulo na parte aérea. Nossos resultados sugerem que as SH potencializam o efeito nutricional do fertilizante mineral, quando aplicadas conjuntamente. Keywords: Lactuca sativa, humic acids, fulvic acids, biostimulant. Palavras-chave: Lactuca sativa, ácidos húmicos, ácidos fúlvicos, bioestimulantes. Received on January 5, 2021; accepted on August 10, 2021 Vegetable crops in Brazil span a in the cultivation of lettuce is a In recent years, new strategies land area of around 800 thousand common agricultural practice yielding and technologies have been studied ha and with an overall of 17.9 million satisfactory results for productivity. in order to improve the sustainability tons produce. One of the most prominent Leafy vegetables have a short cycle of agricultural ecosystems such as vegetables cultivated in Brazil is lettuce and therefore substrates rich in organic the application of HS-based products, (Lactuca sativa), one of the main matter and with high and immediate also called HS-biostimulants (García consumed leafy and most intensively nutrient availability are required. Thus, et al., 2018; Nardi et al., 2021), produced crops, with approximately mineral fertilizer applications at high which can prevent and/or reduce the 1.50 million tons each year (Brazilian rates are common in lettuce cultivation negative effects caused by excessive Horti & Fruti Yearbook, 2019). On a (Zandonadi et al., 2014). However, and continuous use of mineral fertilizer global scale, 26.9 million tons of lettuce the cost of mineral fertilizers and (Turan et al., 2021). were produced in the world in 2017 environmental pollution arising from (FAO, 2017). their frequent application compromise In this context, the use of HS-based environmental sustainability. biostimulants has been proposed as an The use of mineral fertilizers alternative for viable and to increment 444 Horticultura Brasileira 39 (4) October - December, 2021

Productivity of lettuce in greenhouse as affected by humic and fulvic acids application in association to mineral fertilizer vegetable production (Calvo et al., 2021). Moreover, the application of HS the productivity and nutrient content 2014; Nardi et al., 2021). Furthermore, may reduce the application of mineral in the leaves of lettuce cultivated in the foliar application of HS-based fertilizers due to their potential to form greenhouse. biostimulants associated or not with complexes and chelates (Calvo et al., mineral fertilizers has been investigated 2014), enhancing the increase in nutrient MATERIAL AND METHODS as an alternative to reduce the use of absorption by plants (Canellas et al., mineral fertilizers (Canellas et al., 2015; 2015). Kasemi (2013) assessed the A pot experiment was conducted Turan et al., 2021). vegetative and reproductive growth after in greenhouse (from September to applying a solution of HA and potassium November) located at the Faculty of Biostimulants are defined as any (K) jointly on cucumber leaves and Agronomy, Department of Soil Science substance or microorganism that, when verified that the composed fertilizer of the Federal University of Rio Grande applied to plants, enhances nutrition increased plant growth and number of do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil (30°04′26″S, efficiency, improves abiotic stress leaves, as well as plant reproduction 51°08′07″W). tolerance and/or crop productivity and and yield (dry mass). The effect of quality, regardless of its nutrients content soaking seeds with HS was examined The used soil was an Ultisol (Soil (Jardin, 2015). It is estimated that the by Baldotto et al. (2017) on maize (Zea Survey Staff), collected at the 0-10 cm world market of the biostimulants will mays), and an increase of the initial plant depth from an agriculture area cultivated grow by 10.4% in 2021, reaching an growth (viz., root and aerial biomass) with oat and ryegrass, limed two years application area of 24.9 million hectares was observed. The authors ascribed before. The main soil characteristics are: (with an increase of 11.7% on average this effect to the biostimulant action of organic C content = 16.4 g kg-1, pHH2O per year) (Wu, 2018). One of the main auxins from HS. (in water) = 5.6, P (Mehlich) = 8.4 mg advantages of the use of biostimulants dm-3; exchangeable cations: K = 110 is that little amounts of the product are Regarding nutrients absorption, mg dm-3, Ca = 7.2 cmolc kg-1, Mg = 3.1 required in order to promote relevant previous studies reported increased K cmolc kg-1, Al = 0.0 cmolc kg-1, potential changes in the physiological plant content in potato tubers when HS were acidity (H + Al) = 6.9 cmolc kg-1, texture: system and therefore reducing the applied to the soil. Furthermore, leaf 350 g kg-1 sand; 530 g kg-1 silt and 210 production costs (Jesus et al., 2016; application of HA solution increased g kg-1 clay. Nardi et al., 2021). HS extracted and K, Mn and Zn contents in the plant, isolated from different sources of thus suggesting that HA enhanced the The experimental design was organic matter are known to affect the absorption of the three elements (Suh completely randomized and involved physiological mechanisms of plants by et al., 2014a). Also, foliar application six different treatments with four boosting root and aerial growth and of HA in combination with a mineral replications each. Two different HS- increasing nutrient uptake (Canellas et fertilizer to garlic (Allium sativum) based commercial biostimulants, al., 2015; Nardi et al., 2021). Therefore, increased K, Mn and Fe contents of the obtained from leonardite, were used, HS-based products are considered plants (Denre et al., 2014). namely: Growmate PlantTM, rich in FA biostimulants (Zandonadi et al., 2014; (1.35% m/m) and Growmate SoilTM, Canellas et al., 2015) and may provide The effects of HS on plant growth rich in HA (1.44% m/m) (Growmate, a friendly economic and environmental have largely been studied by applying 2020). The solution density of both alternative to mineral fertilizers. nutrient solutions or liquid HS to plant products was 1.09 g/cm3. From now leaves (Kasemi, 2013; Denre et al., on, for discussion purposes, the product The supramolecular model for 2014; Canellas et al., 2015; Nardi et al., Growmate PlantTM will be referred as HS assumes that humic molecules 2021). Despite the good results obtained FA and Growmate SoilTM as HA. The bind to one another through weak from the use of HS-based biostimulants, chemical properties of the two HS-based interactions and hydrophobic bonds that the effectiveness of commercial biostimulants are summarized in Table can be easily broken by organic acids biostimulants on vegetables depends on 1 and were taken from the label of the in the rhizosphere, thereby releasing several factors such as the plant species, products. The employed treatments were bioactive substances and boosting plant the composition of the product used, Control (no fertilizer), HA, HA+NPK, development as a result (Zandonadi form of application (sprayed especially NPK, FA and FA+NPK, where NPK et al., 2014; Piccolo, 2016). These direct on the leaves), among others represents the mineral fertilizer. bioactive substances behave similarly (Nardi et al., 2021). This variability to auxins and can thus induce some of effects can prevent generalization, Each 2.5-L pot was filled with 2 kg physiological responses in plants so it becomes necessary to investigate soil before transplantation of a seedling (Canellas et al., 2015; Nardi et al., the effect of HS-biostimulants not only of lettuce (cultivar Veronica) containing 2021). sprayed on plants but also applied four leaves. For the treatments with directly to the soil. NPK addition, the mineral fertilizer HS contribute to crop quality and was incorporated into the soil mass at productivity by facilitating nutrient In this work, we examined the the recommended rate for lettuce crops uptake by roots, which boosts root influence of HS-based biostimulants (CQFS-RS/SC, 2016), namely: 100 growth and allows roots to explore alone and in combination with a mineral kg N ha-1 as urea distributed in four greater soil volumes (Nardi et al., fertilizer, applied directly to soil, on Horticultura Brasileira 39 (4) October - December, 2021 445

AC Lüdtke et al. applications; plus 100 kg P2O5 ha-1 and drying until constant weight in a stove effects was not investigated, literature 160 kg K2O ha-1, both being added to soil at 65°C for 72 hours. Aerial and root dry reports that HS stimulate the H+-ATPase in the pots two days prior to planting. mass (ADM and RDM) respectively, activity in the plasma membrane, For the treatments that included HS- were determined gravimetrically, a typical effect of auxins, and thus based biostimulants, the products were and thereafter the plant material was promote nutrient intake (Canellas et applied at the recommended rate of ground using a Willey type mill and al., 2015). 4 L ha-1. For this purpose, 20 mL of passed through a 40-mesh sieve. After either FA or HA commercial solution homogeneization, ADM and RDM Overall, FA+NPK treatment were diluted in 1 L distilled water, and materials were packed in bags, properly provided the greatest values for plant each pot received 5 mL of solution one labelled and stored in a dry chamber attributes at 48 DAT. These values day after NPK addition (if that was until analysis. differed from those of the Control the case). A single dose of HA- or FA- treatment from the 14 DAT for NF, 21 based biostimulant was applied using a Contents of macro- and DAT for plant height and diameter, and graduated pipette, in a small cavity of micronutrients ofADM were determined 35 DAT for RL (Table 2). The greater the soil surface of around 5 mm depth. at 48 DAT, by ICP-OES (Perkin Elmer effect of FA+NPK treatment on the One day after incorporation of HS-based 8300 Dv) in the extracts of nitro- lettuce productivity may be assigned biostimulants into the soil, the seedlings perchloric acid digestion (Tedesco et al., to the stimulation of secondary roots were transplanted. 1995). Nutrient accumulation in shoots growth by FA as verified by Canellas was calculated based on dry mass and et al. (2015), which in turn may have The plants were monitored on a the nutrient contents. enhanced the absorption of the nutrients weekly basis for number of leaves supplied by the NPK fertilizer. Similar (NL), height and diameter. Plant height The experimental results were behavior was observed with maize was measured between the bottom of submitted to analysis of variance plants after the combined application the plant lap and the highest leaf top (ANOVA) and the means compared via of FA and NPK (Sootahar et al., 2019). with a centimeter-graduated ruler. Plant Tukey’s test at 5% significance level. diameter was also measured with a ruler. The statistical software Sisvar (Ferreira, Interestingly, the HA+NPK Soil moisture content was adjusted 2011) was used to analyze the data. treatment did not differ from the NPK, to 80% field capacity (determined HA and FA treatments regarding NL, previously according to Tedesco et al., RESULTS AND DISCUSSION plant height or plant diameter, but 1995) and kept constant by monitoring presented the greatest root length at pot weight daily and adding water Regarding plant related variables 48 DAT. Possibly the effect of HA in if needed. In this way, no lixiviation (Table 2), all tested treatments presented the absorption of nutrients, as reported neither hydric stress occurred. Weeds greater values than those shown by by other authors (Canellas et al., 2015; were managed manually whenever control at 48 DAT, except HA treatment Turan et al., 2021) may also have necessary. for plant height (Table 2). For both enhanced the absorption of nutrients number of leaves and plant diameter the from NPK. But, in opposite to the FA Four plants per treatments were values decreased in the order: FA+NPK in the FA+NPK treatment, it did not harvested at 21, 35 and 48 days after > NPK = HA+NPK = HA=FA > Control. promote their translocation within the transplant date (DAT) of seedlings For plant height the effect decreased in plant (Nardi et al., 2021). for separation of their root and aerial the order FA+NPK > NPK = HA+NPK portions. Roots were extracted from the = FA > HA = Control, whereas for root According to the standards of the pots, carefully stripped of soil, washed length the observed order was HA+NPK Brazilian program for horticulture and dried on paper to measure their ≥ FA+NPK = HA ≥ NPK = FA > Control standardization (Hortibrasil, 2019), the length (RL). Then, plants were weighed (Table 2). Our results clearly show that plants harvested in our experiment at the on a 0.001 g precision analytical balance HS-based biostimulants, when applied end of the lettuce cycle are within the (Digimed, DG-500) to determine aerial isolated, exerted similar effect as the commercial standards for this vegetable, and root fresh mass (AFM and RFM, mineral fertilizer. Even though in the regardless of the type of fertilizer used. respectively). The two plant fractions present study the mechanism of these were conditioned in paper bags for The HA+NPK, FA+NPK and NPK treatments led to an increase of aerial fresh mass (AFM) at 21 DAT relative Table 1. Chemical characteristics of the two HS-based biostimulants1. Porto Alegre, UFRGS, 2013. Biostimulants OC2 P Ntotal K Ca Mg Cu Mn Fe Zn (g kg-1) (mg kg- 1) pH Growmate PlantTM3 310 52.1 9.7 1.3 0.3 6.4 0.01 0.01 24.64 23.8 6.6 Growmate SoilTM3 398 54.5 9.7 5.9 0.3 7.1 0.01 0.01 47.38 27.0 6.6 1Information given by the biostimulants producer.: Growmate (2020); 2OC= organic carbon. 446 Horticultura Brasileira 39 (4) October - December, 2021

Productivity of lettuce in greenhouse as affected by humic and fulvic acids application in association to mineral fertilizer to the other three treatments (Figure al., 2014b; Rodrigues et al., 2018). RFM and RDM at 35 and 48 DAT. The 1a). However, the ADM value obtained None of the HS biostimulants isolated effect of HS on root mass has with the FA+NPK treatment was not been recorded previously in pineapples significantly different from the one influenced RFM or RDM at 21 DAT (Baldotto et al., 2010) and maize used as Control treatment at 21 DAT (Figures 1c and 1d). However, the (Baldotto & Baldotto, 2016). (Figure 1b). The higher accumulation two combined treatments (HA+NPK of water observed under the FA+NPK and FA+NPK) provided the greatest Concerning the analysed macro treatment is probably associated with FA acting in the plant metabolism, inducing Table 2. Number of leaves (NL), plant diameter, plant height and root length (RL) of the six the reduction of stomata opening and treatments during the lettuce growth cycle. Porto Alegre, UFRGS, 2013. transpiration, thus reducing water loss (Geng et al., 2020). The NPK and Days Control HA HA+NPK NPK FA FA+NPK HA+NPK treatments exhibited the greatest aerial dry mass (ADM) as a Number of leaves result of promoting water and nutrient uptake. Previously, Baldotto & Baldotto 0 4ns 4ns 4ns 4ns 4ns 4ns (2016) found out that maize (Zea mays) responded favorable to HA when 21 8.5ab 9ab 10.2ab 9.75ab 9ab 10.7a applied to seeds prior to planting as an increase of 41% dry matter relative to 35 15.7bc 13.2c 15.7bc 18.5ab 12.7c 22.2a their Control treatment (no HA added) was observed. 48 18.2c 20.7bc 22.2b 24ab 22.5b 27.5a Neither AFM nor ADM differed Diameter (cm) among treatments or from the Control values at 35 DAT (Figures 1a and 0 5ns 5ns 5ns 5ns 5ns 5ns 1b). Also, AFM at the end of the experiment (48 DAT), decreased in 21 16.3b 15.1b 16.1b 23.5a 14.8b 24.1a the following sequence: FA+NPK ≈ NPK > HA+NK ≈ HA ≈ FA > Control. 35 20.5c 27.1b 25.5b 26.1b 23.8bc 33.3a However, the greatest productivity in terms of ADM was obtained with the 48 24.7c 30.5b 29.2b 28.7b 29.7b 34.7a combined treatments (HA+NPK and FA+NPK), followed by NPK and HA Plant height (cm) (Figure 2b). This result reinforces the effect of the two HS biostimulants (HA 0 5ns 5ns 5ns 5ns 5ns 5ns and FA) when applied jointly with the inorganic fertilizer (NPK). Stimulating 21 7.1b 7.6b 11.0a 9.1ab 7.7b 10.7ª effects of foliar application of FA and HA on ADM of tomato (Lycopersicon 35 8.5d 11c 13.5a 13.2ab 11.5bc 14.7ª esculentum) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) crops have been reported early (Suh et 48 11.5b 12.2b 13.5ab 13.7ab 13.7ab 15.2ª Root length (cm) 21 9.7b 10.1b 15.0a 14.0ab 11.7ab 13.5ab 35 15.7b 18.2ab 22.0a 20.2ab 18.2ab 22.2a 48 16.5c 24.2ab 27.0a 22.2b 21.2b 24.2ab Means followed by the same letter were not significantly different at p < 0.05, Tukey’s test. ns= not significant. Control, without fertilizer; Humic acids (HA); HA+NPK; NPK; Fulvic acids (FA); FA+NPK. Table 3. Macro- and micronutrient contents of aerial dry mass in lettuce plants, obtained with the six experimental treatments at 48 DAT. Porto Alegre, UFRGS, 2013. Treatments N P K Ca Mg S Cu Zn Mn Fe B (g kg-1) (mg kg-1) Control 19.2ns 2.8ns 19.8b 9.1ns 4.2ab 2.3a 5.2ab 35.5ns 113.2c 208.2c 34.1ns HA 23.5ns 3.4ns 21.1b 8.6ns 5.5a 2.3a 7.4ab 29.6ns 116.5bc 246.1c 34.3ns HA + NPK 17.4ns 3.5ns 27.0ab 8.5ns 3.4b 1.8b 4.2b 39.5ns 183.5a 671.4a 32.4ns NPK 19.6ns 3.2ns 22.4b 8.2ns 3.2b 2.6a 4.6b 30.2ns 139.5abc 329.3bc 32.1ns FA 21.1ns 3.4ns 26.1ab 9.1ns 5.4a 2.4a 7.1ab 28.1ns 182.2ab 343.2bc 33.3ns FA + NPK 17.1ns 3.2ns 35.4a 10.5ns 4.3ab 1.7b 4.3b 44.3ns 198.3a 566.5b 34.2ns Means followed by the same letter in each column were not significantly different at p < 0.05, Tukey’s test. ns= not significant; Control, without fertilizer; Humic acids (HA); HA+NPK; NPK; Fulvic acids (FA); FA+NPK. Horticultura Brasileira 39 (4) October - December, 2021 447

AC Lüdtke et al. nutrients in the lettuce leaves, only K Baldotto et al. (2009) previously found Thus, HA+NPK almost doubled the content differed among treatments at out that HS application was increasing Fe content obtained with NPK, while the end of the experiment (Tables 3 K contents in pineapple leaf dry mass FA+NPK increased 1.7 times the Fe and 4). Thus, FA+NPK treatment led by 50%. As far as micronutrients concentration in ADM. These results to a K content of 35 g kg-1 that was concentrations are concerned, only suggest that FA boosted K uptake from significantly higher than the values Fe in combined treatments differed the inorganic fertilizer, while both for NPK, HA and Control treatments. from the NPK treatment (Table 4). HA and FA stimulated Fe uptake. The Table 4. Accumulated concentration of macro- and micronutrient in aerial dry mass in lettuce plants as obtained with the six experimental treatments at 48 DAT. Porto Alegre, UFRGS, 2013. Treatments N P K Ca Mg S Cu Zn Fe Mn B (mg plant-1) Control 121.1b 15.0d 116.4c 59.7d 0.22ns 1.29b 0.70d 0.21e HA 177.3a 22.8cd 158.4c 66.9cd 29.6c 13.6c 0.03b 0.22ns 1.86b 0.88cd 0.26de HA+NPK 189.9a 33.5ab 302.2b 89.8b 38.7bc 16.6bc 0.05ab 0.43ns 7.37a 2.01ab 0.35ab NPK 187.8a 31.4abc 214.6bc 82.4bc 41.7ab 16.7abc 0.05ab 0.29ns 3.21b 1.36bcd 0.33bc FA 176.4a 25.6bc 213.4bc 78.3bcd 38.7bc 20.2a 0.06a 0.23ns 2.82b 1.50bc 0.28bc FA+NPK 201.1a 39.5a 415.8a 120.5a 41.6ab 19.2ab 0.06a 0.52ns 6.73a 2.36ª 0.38a 49.6a 19.3ab 0.05ab Means followed by the same letter in each column were not significantly different at p < 0.05, Tukey’s test. ns= not significant; Control, without fertilizer; Humic acids (HA); HA+NPK; NPK; Fulvic acids (FA); FA+NPK. Figure 1. Aerial fresh mass (AFM) (a) and dry mas (ADM) (b); root fresh mass (RFM) (c) and dry mass (RDM) (d) in lettuce plants from six treatments at 21, 35 and 48 DAT. Means followed by the same letter were not significantly different at p < 0.05, Tukey’s test. *not significant; DAT= days after transplanting. Control, without fertilizer; Humic acids (HA); HA+NPK; NPK; Fulvic acids (FA); FA+NPK. Porto Alegre, UFRGS, 2013. 448 Horticultura Brasileira 39 (4) October - December, 2021

Productivity of lettuce in greenhouse as affected by humic and fulvic acids application in association to mineral fertilizer formation of Fe-humic substances production, field studies should be DENRE, M; SOUMYA, GH; KHEYALI, SH. complexes probably promoted Fe carried out. 2014. Effect of humic acid application availability in soil, increasing its on accumulation of mineral nutrition and absorption and facilitating its movement ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS pungency in garlic (Allium sativum L.) and translocation into plants (Zanin et International Journal of Biotechnology and al., 2019). This research was funded by the Molecular Biology Research 5: 7-12. Brazilian Council for Scientific and The FA-rich biostimulant possibly Technological Development (CNPq) FAO. FOOD AND AGRICULTURE increased K uptake by activation of by granting scholarship to Ana Cristina ORGANIZATION. 2017. Date of lettuce y H+-ATPases that, in turn, increased the Lüdtke (M.Sc.), Deborah Pinheiro Dick chicoria. FAOESTAD (en linea) available electrochemical proton gradient and (Researcher) and Luiza Morosino and at: http://www.fao.org/faostat/es/#data/QC. thus enhancing ion transport across Vicente Kraemer (undergraduate). The Accessed April 02, 2020. cell membranes via secondary routes authors thank NUTRICELER-Soluções (Baldotto et al., 2009; Canellas et al., Nutricionais (Itapeva, São Paulo) FERREIRA, DF. 2011. Sisvar: a computer 2015). In relation to Fe, its increased for supplying samples of HS-based statistical analysis system  Ciência e affinity for large humic micelles (i.e. biostimulant Growmate SoilTM and Agrotecnologia 35: 1039-1042. HA) relative to small humic micelles Growmate PlantTM. (i.e. FA) (Santana et al., 2011) may GARCÍA, AC; TAVARES, OCH; BALMORI, have facilitated its chelation and hence REFERENCES DM; SANTOS, VA; CANELLAS, LP; increased its availability for absorption GARCIA-MINA, JM; BERBARA, RLL. by roots with the HA+NPK treatment. BALDOTTO, LEB; BALDOTTO, MA; 2018. Structure-function relationship of CANELLAS, LP; SMITH, RB; OLIVARES, vermicompost humic fractions for use in In this work, HS-based biostimulants FL. 2010. Growth promotion of pineapple agriculture. Journal of Soils and Sediments were found to perform on par with ‘Vitória’by humic acids and Burkholderia spp. 18: 1365-1375. mineral fertilizer in relation to lettuce during acclimatization. Revista Brasileira de production on an agricultural Ultisol. Ciência do Solo 34: 1593-1600. GENG, J; YANG, X; HUO, X; CHEN, J; LEI, The preliminary results reported in this S; LI, H; LANG, Y; LIU, Q. 2020. Effects study indicate that the application of FA BALDOTTO, LEB; BALDOTTO, MA; of controlled-release urea combined with and/or HA has a significant biostimulant GIRO, VB; CANELLAS, LP; SMITH, RB; fulvic acid on soil inorganic nitrogen, leaf effect on several examined variables: OLIVARES, FL. 2009. Desempenho do senescence and yield of cotton. 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Available at: HA, thus triggering H+-ATPases to http://www.hortibrasil.org.br/ classificacao/ a greater extent, but this hypothesis BALDOTTO, MA; SOUZA, AC; VIANA, alface/alface.html. Accessed April 19, 2019. requires testing. The application of MCM; ALMEIDA, DD; BALDOTTO, LEB. FA-rich biostimulant combined with 2017. Bioatividade das substâncias húmicas JARDIN, P. 2015. Plant biostimulants: definition, NPK fertilizer also influenced K and extraídas de solos manejados com integração, concept, main categories and regulation. Fe uptake by the plants and also, their lavoura, pecuária e floresta. Revista Ceres 64: Scientia Horticulturae 196: 3-14. accumulation in the aerial portion. 540-547. In the presence of NPK, the FA-rich JESUS, AA; LIMA, SF; VENDRUSCOLO, EP; biostimulant boosted K uptake and the BRAZILIAN HORTI & FRUTI YEARBOOK. ALVAREZ, RCF; CONTARDI, LM. 2016. HA-rich biostimulant Fe uptake. Our 2019. 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NARDI, S; SCHIAVON, M; FRANCIOSO, However, to confirm the applicability CANELLAS, LP; OLIVARES, FL; AGUIAR, O. 2021. Chemical structure and biological of HS-based biostimulant for lettuce NO; JONES, DL; NEBBIOSO, A; MAZZEI, activity of humic substances define their role as P; PICCOLO, A. 2015. Humic and fulvic plant growth promoters. Molecules 26: 2256. acids as biostimulants in horticulture. Scientia Horticulturae 196: 15-27. PICCOLO, A. 2016. In memorian prof. FJ Stevenson and the question of humic COMISSÃO DE QUÍMICA E FERTILIDADE substances in soil. Chemical and Biological DO SOLO - CQFS-RS/SC. 2016. Manual de Technologies in Agriculture 3: 23. calagem e adubação para os Estados de Rio Grande do Sul e de Santa Catarina. 11.ed. RODRIGUES, LU; SILVA, RR; FREITAS, Porto Alegre: SBCS, Núcleo Regional Sul. GA; SANTOS, ACM; TAVARES, RC. 2018. Ácidos húmicos no desenvolvimento inicial de alface. Pesquisa Aplicada & Agrotecnologia 11: 101-109. 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Research PERRUD, AC; BAVARESCO, LG; ZEIST, AR; LEAL, MHS; SILVA JÚNIOR, AD; RESENDE, JTV; SILVA, ML; TOROCO, BR. 2021. Relationship between bud number in seed branches and yield aspects of sweet potato. Horticultura Brasileira 39: 451-457. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s0102-0536-20210415 Relationship between bud number in seed branches and yield aspects of sweet potato Amanda C Perrud 1ID; Lorrayne G Bavaresco 1ID; André R Zeist 2 ;ID Murilo HS Leal 1 ;ID André D Silva Júnior 1 ;ID Juliano TV de Resende 3 ;ID Marcio L da Silva 1 ;ID Bruno R Toroco 1ID 1Universidade do Oeste Paulista (UNOESTE), Presidente Prudente-SP, Brasil; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; 2Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis-SC, Brasil; [email protected]; 3Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Londrina-PR, Brasil; [email protected] ABSTRACT RESUMO Planting sweet potato branches with the appropriate bud number Relação entre número de gemas nas hastes e aspectos de and disposition, below and above ground, can favor vegetative produção da batata-doce growth and yield that better fit the marketable standards. This study aimed to explore the influence of the number of buds and their O plantio de hastes de batata-doce com o número e disposição distribution ratio, above and below ground level, on the agronomic adequados de gemas, abaixo e acima do solo, pode favorecer o and marketable components of sweet potato tuberous roots. The crescimento vegetativo e a produção que melhor atendem aos experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design padrões comercializáveis. Este estudo teve como objetivo explorar with three replications. The treatments were arranged in a factorial a influência do número de gemas e sua proporção de distribuição, scheme (3 x 5), with 2, 4, and 8 above-ground buds combined with acima e abaixo do nível do solo, sobre os componentes agronômicos 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 below-ground buds. Branches from the UZBD 06 e comercializáveis de raízes tuberosas da batata-doce. O experimento accession (Canadense standard) were used. Vegetative, productive, foi conduzido em delineamento de blocos ao acaso com três and marketable traits of roots were evaluated. The use of branches repetições. Os tratamentos foram arranjados em esquema fatorial (3 with a greater number of buds above and below ground increased x 5), com 2, 4 e 8 gemas acima do solo combinadas com 2, 4, 6, 8 e shoot dry biomass. Planting seed branches with 8 buds above and 10 gemas abaixo do solo. Foram utilizadas ramas do acesso UZBD 8 buds below ground provided a greater number and production of 06 (padrão canadense). Foram avaliadas as características vegetativas, marketable roots. The use of 10 buried buds increased root number produtivas e comercializáveis das raízes. O uso de ramas com maior and yield in the 150-450 g marketable classes, which the consumer número de gemas acima e abaixo do solo aumentou a biomassa seca market values the most. da parte aérea. O plantio de ramas com 8 gemas acima e 8 gemas abaixo do solo proporcionou maior número e produção de raízes comercializáveis. O uso de 10 gemas enterradas aumentou o número de raízes e o rendimento nas classes comercializáveis de 150-450 g, mais valorizadas pelo consumidor. Keywords: Ipomoea batatas, marketable classes, tuberous roots, Palavras-chave: Ipomoea batatas, classes comerciais, raízes propagation structure. tuberosas, estrutura de propagação. Received on December 21, 2020; accepted on October 14, 2021 Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is Teshome et al., 2020). Among these techniques, the use of an economically important crop, Sweet potato yields approximately proper propagation structures may be the fourth most consumed vegetable in the first and most important step in this Brazil. It serves as human and animal 14.00 t ha-1 in Brazil, above the process. Nonetheless, farmers neglect food, as well as raw material for the world average estimated at 11.40 this step, giving little importance to industry and biofuel production (Vargas t ha-1 (FAO, 2020). Nevertheless, the choice and preparation of seed et al., 2017, 2018). Being a rustic plant, Brazilian productivity is low compared branches (planting vines) for setting originated in Central America, sweet to countries such as Portugal (25.42 up commercial areas (Thompson et al., potato is widely adapted to various soil t ha-1), Egypt (33.57 t ha-1), Australia 2017). types, in addition to being tolerant to (36.42 t ha-1), and Senegal (40.41 drought and high temperatures, which t ha-1). One way to improve sweet In tropical and subtropical regions, allow its cultivation in different regions potato yield and quality is to adopt sweet potato is propagated vegetatively, of the world (Santos Junior et al., 2020; appropriate management techniques in usually through seed branches or the production fields (Yan et al., 2017). unrooted stem cuttings (Loebenstein, Horticultura Brasileira 39 (4) October - December, 2021 451

AC Perrud et al. 2015). Farmers usually plant 30-40 marketable classes. The scarcity of Germplasm Bank of the University of cm long seed branches, often taken technical-scientific information to Western São Paulo from the shoot tip from plants grown in commercial achieve better yield and quality of of plants kept in maintenance nurseries, production fields. The branches are marketable roots entails the need for free of pathogens and pest arthropods. obtained from the shoot tip of the studies to strengthen the sweet potato parent plant and are then distributed in production chain (Mukhopadhyay et al., In soil preparation, two heavy plows planting windrows, burying half under 2011; Echodu et al., 2019). Considering and three light harrowings were carried the ground (Santos & Ferreira, 2018; the above information, this work aimed out. Crop treatments, liming, and base Nasser et al., 2020). Bud number in to evaluate the influence of the number and cover fertilization were performed seed branches can vary depending on of buds in seed branches and their according to the soil chemical analysis plant genotype, age, nutritional status, distribution ratio, above and below and following recommendations for the environmental conditions, and water ground level, on the agronomic and crop (Echer et al., 2015). Fertilization availability (Bunphan & Anderson, marketable components of sweet potato was done in the planting furrow, 2019). However, when farmers plant tuberous roots. applying 20 kg ha-1 of N, 80 kg ha-1 P2O5, sweet potato seed branches based on and 60 kg ha-1 K2O. Topdressing was vine length, they disregard that bud MATERIAL AND METHODS divided into two applications of 30 kg number and disposition in the ground ha-1 of N and K2O at 30 and 60 days after can affect plant survival, arrangement The experiment was conducted in the planting. The experiment was irrigated in the field, and growth and productive spring-summer cycle of 2019/2020 in using a micro-sprinkler according to performance (Beyene et al., 2015). the Center for Studies in Vegetables and the crop water requirements. Weeds Fruits of Western São Paulo University were controlled manually and, for Using vines with an adequate bud UNOESTE (22°07”S, 51º27”W, 413 the control of arthropod pests and number favors early vegetative growth m altitude). According to Köppen’s diseases, flutriafol and casugamycin and anticipates tuberous root formation classification, the climate of this area were applied preventively, according to compared with stem cuttings with fewer belongs to the Aw type, with 25°C the manufacturer’s recommendations. buds. Thus, vine size must be specific for average annual temperature and 1400- each cultivar and growing environment. 1500 mm average annual precipitation, After 140 days of planting, shoots Too long branches can generate waste hot and humid summers and mild and and tuberous roots were harvested. To of propagating material, while shorter dry winters. The soil is classified as obtain shoot dry biomass, the leaves ones can delay plant establishment and Dystrophic Red Argillosol of medium and branches were oven-dried at 65ºC result in poor productive performance texture (Embrapa, 2018). until obtaining constant weight. The (Essilfie et al., 2016). Regarding the material was then weighed on a 0.0001 g buried vine portion, the higher or lower Soil was sampled in the 0-0.20 m precision scale. Marketable root number number of buds inside the soil can depth layer for chemical analysis, with and yield were obtained by counting influence tuberous root yield and quality the following results: pH 5.1 CaCl2, 9.7 and weighing roots on a scale with a (Rós, 2017; Azevedo et al., 2000). The mg dm-3 of P, 19 mmolc dm-3 of H+Al, precision of 0.01 g. Marketable roots number of above-ground buds can also 2.0 mmolc dm-3 of K, 7.0 mmolc dm-3 were defined as tuberous roots with influence vegetative development and of Ca, 3.3 mmolc dm-3 of Mg, and 12.3 more than 80 g, uniform shape, without production. However, no studies have mmolc dm-3 of base saturation. mechanical damage or damage from been reported on the influence of above- pests or cracks (Embrapa, 1995). The ground bud number in planting vines. The experiment was conducted average mass of marketable roots was in a randomized block design with determined by the relationship between To better serve the export market, a 3 x 5 factorial scheme and three production and number of marketable attention should be paid to tuberous replications. The treatments consisted roots. The marketable tuberous roots roots weight, in which the range of 300- of planting vines (seed branches) with were individually weighed and classified 450 g is the most valued by the market. three numbers of above-ground buds in the classes: 80-150 g, 151-300 g, 301- Thus, an essential aspect in sweet potato (2, 4, 8) and five numbers of below- 450 g, 451-600 g, 601-850 g, and above production is yield linked to marketable ground buds (2, 4, 6, 8, 10), totaling 850 g. classes. Although there is evidence that fifteen treatments. The combination of vine size at planting contributes to the bud numbers above and below ground The obtained data were tested average mass and yield of sweet potato ranged from 4 to 18 buds per vine. for normality and homogeneity of (Beyene et al., 2015; Thompson et al., The useful area of each plot was 4 m², residual variances by the Lilliefors 2017), conflicting results are shown in containing 10 seed branches, with 0.33 and Bartlett tests, respectively. Once the literature (Rós, 2017). m between plants and 1.0 m between these assumptions were met, the data windrows (0.4-0.5 m high). The plant were subjected to the F test through Studies aiming to define the ideal material used consisted of branches analysis of variance, observing the size of planting vines generally consider of the Canadense standard accession factorial scheme. Data referring to the yield components, neglecting UZBD 06 belonging to the Vegetable above-ground bud number per vine important commercialization aspects, and commercial grades were compared such as those related to sweet potato by mean comparison tests (P ≤ 0.05). 452 Horticultura Brasileira 39 (4) October - December, 2021

Relationship between bud number in seed branches and yield aspects of sweet potato The data referring to below-ground diet due to the high percentage of crude the soil, representing potential sources bud number per vine were subjected protein and digestibility (Monteiro, of adventitious root development and to regression analysis, estimating the 2007; Massaroto, 2008). storage root formation. On the other maximum or minimum points of the hand, Rós (2017) did not observe the function. Statistical analyses were More marketable roots were influence of the number of buried buds performed using the AgroEstat program produced using vines containing 8 on the number and yield of marketable (Barbosa & Maldonado Junior, 2010). above-ground and 8 below-ground sweet potato roots when evaluating 2, 4, buds, reaching an estimated maximum 6, and 8 buds below ground. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION of 85,965 roots ha-1 (Figure 2A). On the other hand, the smallest number Tuberous roots develop from An interaction was observed between of buried buds caused an average preformed and undamaged root number of buds above and below ground reduction of 39.62% in tuberous roots primordia of nodes contained in sweet for all studied characters. Planting vines number, resulting in 47,407 roots ha-1. potato vines (Belehu et al., 2004). with more buds above and below ground Through the regression equation, it According to Ma et al. (2015), the increased sweet potato shoot biomass was possible to infer that the highest nodal position significantly affects sweet by 112.16% and 87.43%, respectively, yield of marketable sweet potato roots potato root number and development, compared to the lower number of buds was obtained with the combination of with a higher root initiation capacity tested (Figure 1). The greater vegetative 8 and 7 buds, above and below ground, from the 9th to 13th node of seed growth of plants can be attributed to the respectively, with a production of 35.77 branches than younger nodes located rapid initial formation of new leaves and t ha-1 (Figure 2B). between the 3rd and 8th positions. Our shoots from pre-existing meristematic results corroborate this statement; the buds in the branches, allowing greater It is assumed that vines with fewer combination of the highest number of photosynthetic capacity and efficiency buds require more time to establish in buds above and below ground allowed in energy assimilation. In addition, the field, resulting in lower yields (Muli more basal buds to be buried, which the higher number of buried buds can & Mwakina, 2016). Beyene et al. (2015) may have accelerated root initiation and provide higher emission of adventitious evaluated the use of 5, 7, and 9 buds per improved the productive performance roots, increasing the potential for water planting vine and found an increase in of the plants. and nutrient absorption and favoring shoot biomass production and a greater the vegetative development of plants number of sweet potato tuberous roots The relationship between marketable (Belehu et al., 2004). as the bud number per vine increased. roots number and production showed a Likewise, Essilfie et al. (2016), in a decline in the average mass of tuberous Due to its highly ramified root study using 4, 5, and 6 buds per vine, roots with the increase in buried buds. system, sweet potato has a high capacity reported that greater number of buds per The combination of 4 buds above and for soil exploration, making it more vine led to higher yield of marketable 2 buds below ground provided greater efficient in nutrient absorption and sweet potato roots. root mass (560.0 g). On the other exportation (Guimarães et al., 2018). hand, the use of 4 to 8 buried buds Thereby, the combination of 8 buds Thompson et al. (2017) obtained allowed similar performances, with above and 10 buds below ground has better plant establishment, number of roots having an average mass of 444.0 the potential to produce more biomass. tuberous roots, and sweet potato yield, g. The production of sweet potato with Besides providing important attributes to planting 16-27 cm long vines containing lower average mass was observed the plant physiology, shoot biomass is an an average of 7 to 9.8 buds per stem using 10 buried buds, with 356.0 g excellent food to be included in animals’ cutting. According to these authors, the root-1 (Figure 2C). Similar results were increase in sweet potato yield due to the observed by Fernandes et al. (2021), in use of long planting vines is associated a study carried out in the state of São with greater number of buds buried in Figure 1. Sweet potato shoot dry biomass according to the number of above- and below-ground buds in seed branches. Means followed by the same letter over the columns do not differ by Tukey’s test (P ≤ 0.05). Presidente Prudente, UNOESTE, 2020. Horticultura Brasileira 39 (4) October - December, 2021 453

AC Perrud et al. Figure 2. (A) Number of marketable roots (NCR), (B) total mass of marketable roots (yield; MCR), and (C) average mass of marketable roots (MCR/NCR) of sweet potato according to the number of above- and below-ground buds in seed branches. Means followed by the same letter over the columns do not differ by Tukey’s test (P ≤ 0.05). Presidente Prudente, UNOESTE, 2020. Paulo, planting cv. Canadense with 40 (source) and capacity to accumulate classifications of 301-450 g, 151-300 g, cm long seed branches and burying 3-4 photoassimilates in the roots (drain). and 151-450 g, when 2, 4, and 8 buds internodes, resulting in sweet potato As a perennial plant with continuous above ground were planted, respectively root yield greater than 32 t ha-1, with an tuberization, sweet potato needs a (Figure 3). Compared to the other average weight of 392.8 g. balance between input and demand for treatments, planting vines with 8 above- photoassimilates (Erpen et al., 2013). ground buds provided a greater number Generally, the average root mass is The translocation of photoassimilates and production of marketable roots in related to growth parameters, such as presents high competition between root classes from 151 to 850 g (Figure 3). fresh and dry shoot biomass (Guimarães and shoot. Therefore, greater vegetative et al., 2002). Guimarães et al. (2018) growth may cause a small individual Regarding the number of buds below observed that sweet potato genotypes cumulated balance in storage roots ground, 10 buried buds led to greater with higher average root mass have (Pérez-Pazos et al., 2021). Furthermore, number and production of marketable higher fresh and dry shoot mass. The the greater number of tuberous roots roots in the 80-450 g classes and lower same result was observed by Oliveira increases the number of dependent yield in the >850 g class. For weight et al. (2015), which showed that some drains on the shoot, reducing the fraction classes between 451 and 850 g, the use genotypes had an increasing relationship of assimilates for each root. Therefore, of 8 below-ground buds was highlighted, between shoot dry mass production and the increase of roots with smaller caliber with 28,149 marketable roots ha-1 and root yield. In the present study, it was can cause a reduction in yield. However, 16.56 t ha-1. The reduction of below- also verified that greater plant shoot was consumer preference for smaller roots ground buds increased the number of related to higher number of tuberous and their higher commercial market marketable roots weighing more than roots; however, the average mass was value can compensate for this reduction. 850 g; consequently, the production of reduced. these roots also increased, mainly with Maximum values of marketable the use of 2 buried buds, reaching 7.14 Sweet potato yield is related to roots number were observed in the t ha-1 (Figure 4). the plant photosynthetic potential 454 Horticultura Brasileira 39 (4) October - December, 2021

Relationship between bud number in seed branches and yield aspects of sweet potato Figure 3. (A) Number of marketable roots (NCR) and (B) total mass of marketable roots (yield; MCR) of sweet potato that fitted marketable classes according to the number of above-ground buds in seed branches. Means followed by the same letter over the columns do not differ by Tukey’s test (P ≤ 0.05). Presidente Prudente, UNOESTE, 2020. Figure 4. (A) Number of marketable roots (NCR) and (B) total mass of marketable roots (yield; MCR) of sweet potato that fitted marketable classes according to the number of below-ground buds in seed branches. Means followed by the same letter over the columns do not differ by Tukey’s test (P ≤ 0.05). Presidente Prudente, UNOESTE, 2020. Horticultura Brasileira 39 (4) October - December, 2021 455

AC Perrud et al. From this work, it was observed Scientiarum. Agronomy 22: 901-905. GUIMARÃES, LM; OLIVEIRA, AP; BERTINO, that the increase in bud number AMP; BELEM, AB; FIGUEREDO, JP. provides greater yield of marketable BARBOSA, JC; MALDONADO JUNIOR, W. 2018. Fitomassa e produção em genótipos roots weighing between 150 and 400 2010. AGROESTAT: Sistema para análises de batata-doce na região do brejo paraibano. g, which are the most valued in the estatísticas de ensaios agronômicos. Versão Agropecuária Técnica 39: 8. commercialization of fresh sweet 1.0. Jaboticabal: Unesp. potato. On the contrary, the use of GUIMARÃES, VF; ECHER, MM; MINAMI, K. fewer nodes increases the production BELEHU, T; HAMMES, PS; ROBBERTSE, PJ. 2002. Seedlings production and yield of beet of tuberous roots with greater individual 2004. The origin and structure of adventitious plants. Horticultura Brasileira 20: 505-509. weight, which can be used in industrial roots in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas). processing (Silva et al., 2008; Massaroto Australian Journal of Botany 52: 551. LOEBENSTEIN, G. 2015. Chapter two - Control et al., 2014; Nogueira et al., 2016). of sweet potato virus diseases. Advances in Unfortunately, sweet potato lacks BEYENE, K; NEBIYU, A; GETACHEW, Virus Research 91: 33-45. official classification standards, making M. 2015. Effect of number of nodes and it challenging to value tuberous roots storage duration of vine cuttings on growth, MA, J; ALONI, R; VILLORDON, A; LABONTE, with greater uniformity of weight and yield and yield components of sweet potato D; KFIR, Y; ZEMACH, H; SCHWARTZ, A; size. Therefore, the commercialization (Ipomoea batatas L.) at Jimma, southwest ALTHAN, L; FIRON, N. 2015. Adventitious of sweet potato is often carried out based Ethiopia. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and root primordia formation and development on the average weight of roots in the Healthcare 5: 22. in stem nodes of ‘Georgia Jet’ sweetpotato, package, establishing a difference in Ipomoea batatas. American Journal of Botany relation to the average, which can vary BUNPHAN, D; ANDERSON, WF. 2019. Effect 102: 1040-1049 by 25% (CEAGESP, 2014). However, of planting pattern and season on some 300-450 g sweet potatoes are the most agronomic performances and yield of sweet MASSAROTO, JA. 2008. Características valued by the consumers market and potato cv. Japanese Orange. Australian agronômicas e produção de silagem de clones the most desired by more demanding Journal of Crop Science 13: 1067-1073. de batata-doce. Lavras, BR: UFLA. 73p export markets, such as those in the (Ph.D. Thesis). United Kingdom. CEAGESP. 2014. Companhia de Entrepostos e Armazéns Gerais de São Paulo. Available MASSAROTO, JA; MALUF, WR; GOMES, Several aspects must be considered at < http://www.ceagesp.gov.br/>. Accessed LAA; FRANCO, HD; GASPARINO CF. when choosing the number of buds of October 29, 2020. 2014. Desempenho de clones de batata-doce. sweet potato seed branches, such as the Ambiência 10: 73-81. form of commercialization, fresh or ECHER, FR; CRESTE, JE; TORRE, EJR. processed. Planting vines with a greater 2015. Nutrição e adubação da batata-doce. MONTEIRO, AB. 2007. Silagens de cultivares e number of buds above and below ground Presidente Prudente, BR: UNOESTE. 94p. clones de batata doce para alimentação animal favors the production of sweet potato visando sustentabilidade da produção agrícola shoot biomass. Although Canadense ECHODU, R; EDEMA, H; WOKORACH, G; familiar. Cadernos de Agroecologia 2: 2. standard genotypes are mainly used to ZAWEDDE, C; OTIM, G; LUAMBANO, N; commercialize tuberous roots, producers ATEKA, EM; ASIIMWE, T. 2019. 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New cultivar FAGHERAZZI, AF; GRIMALDI, F; KRETZSCHMAR, AA; RUFATO, L; SANTOS, MFS; SBRIGHI, P; LUCCHI, P; BARUZZI, G; FAEDI, W. 2021. Pircinque: new strawberry cultivar for Brazilian producers. Horticultura Brasileira 39: 458-463. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s0102-0536-20210416 Pircinque: new strawberry cultivar for Brazilian producers Antonio Felippe Fagherazzi 1 ;ID Fernanda Grimaldi 1 ;ID Aike Anneliese Kretzschmar1ID; Leo Rufato 1 ;ID Marllon Fernando S dos Santos 1 ;ID Paolo Sbrighi 2 ;ID Pierluigi Lucchi 2 ;ID Gianluca Baruzzi 2 ;ID Walther Faedi 2ID 1Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina(CAV-UDESC), Lages-SC, Brasil; [email protected]; fernandagrimaldi@outlook. com; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; 2Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria - Centro di Olivicoltura, Frutticoltura e Agrumicoltura (CREA-OFA-FRF), Forlì, Via La Canapona 1bis, 47122 – Forlì (FC), Itália; [email protected] ABSTRACT RESUMO The strawberry cultivar ‘Pircinque’ was developed by the Pircinque: nova cultivar de morangueiro para os produtores breeding program of Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura brasileiros e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria - Centro di Olivicoltura, Frutticoltura e Agrumicoltura (CREA-OFA-FRF), an Italian research A cultivar de morangueiro ‘Pircinque’ foi desenvolvida pelo entity, and introduced in Brazil in 2013 by the Centro de Ciências programa de melhoramento genético do Consiglio per la Ricerca Agroveterinárias da Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (CAV- in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria - Centro di UDESC). In the breeding program in which it originated, ‘Pircinque’ Olivicoltura, Frutticoltura e Agrumicoltura (CREA-OFA-FRF) da was selected for plant rusticity and resistance to soil pathogens. It can Itália, e introduzida no Brasil em 2013 pelo Centro de Ciências be cultivated where soil sterilization techniques are not used. In Brazil, Agroveterinárias da Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (CAV- the cultivation of ‘Pircinque’ has shown to be promising in the major UDESC). No programa de melhoramento em que foi originária, strawberry producing regions. The main characteristics that allowed ‘Pircinque’ foi selecionada pela rusticidade da planta e resistência the development of this cultivar among the growers were plant vigor, aos patógenos de solo, sendo indicada para o cultivo, em terrenos productivity, rusticity, flavor, pulp firmness, crispness, sweetness onde não são realizadas técnicas de esterilização do solo. No Brasil, and fruit color. When grown with excessive nitrogen fertilization o cultivo de ‘Pircinque’ tem se mostrado promissor nas principais fruit sensitivity to Botrytis cinerea fungal attack has been found, regiões produtoras de morango. As principais características que and a high vegetative plant growth. Due to fruits peculiarity, many permitiram o desenvolvimento desta cultivar junto aos produtores growers make differentiated sales, adding value to quality product. foram vigor da planta, produtividade, rusticidade da planta, sabor, Also, due to the high post-harvest period, many growers allocate part firmeza de polpa, crocância, doçura e coloração das frutas. Quando of the production to more distant locations. These characteristics are cultivada com excesso de adubação nitrogenada, tem-se verificado determinant for the cultivar Pircinque be distinguishable from other sensibilidade das frutas ao ataque do fungo Botrytis cinerea, e a um strawberry cultivars already marketed in Brazil. The cultivar was elevado crescimento vegetativo da planta. Devido à peculiaridade das registered at the Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento frutas, muitos produtores realizam vendas diferenciadas, agregando (MAPA) in 2016, and the commercialization of plants started in 2017 valor ao produto de qualidade. Também, pelo elevado período de with five nurseries accredited to produce and market ‘Pircinque’ pós-colheita, muitos produtores destinam parte da produção para plants throughout Brazil. locais mais distantes. Estas características são determinantes para que a cultivar ‘Pircinque’ seja distinguível das demais cultivares de morangueiro já comercializadas no Brasil. A mesma foi registrada junto ao Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (MAPA) em 2016 e a comercialização das mudas de ‘Pircinque’ teve início no ano de 2017 com cinco viveiros credenciados para produzir e comercializar as mudas em todo território brasileiro. Keywords: Fragaria x ananassa, breeding, cultivars introduction, Palavras-chave: Fragaria x ananassa, melhoramento, introdução de cultivares, adaptabilidade genética. genetic adaptability. Received on February 4, 2021; accepted on October 1, 2021 Currently, fresh fruit Brazilian world fruit producer (ABF, 2017). and strawberry) (Fagherazzi et al., production is estimated at an Of the total volume produced with 2017b). Of these, strawberry is the main annual volume of 45 million tons on fruit trees, only 0.4% come from the species under cultivation in Brazil, with a cultivated area of about 2.7 million species that make up the small fruits approximately 4,500 hectares and an hectares, making Brazil the third largest group (blackberry, blueberry, raspberry annual production of around 165,440 458 Horticultura Brasileira 39 (4) October - December, 2021

Pircinque: new strawberry cultivar for Brazilian producers tons (FAOSTAT, 2020). Frutticoltura e Agrumicoltura (CREA- city of Cesena (FC). In the first plants OFA-FRF) began in 2012 and aims to generation obtained by crossing, in The main Brazilian strawberry introduce Italian strawberry genotypes 2006, in the city of Scanzano Jonico, the producing poles are located between in Brazil. The CREA-OFA-FRF genetic PIR genotype 04.228.05 was selected the 20° and 32° south latitude parallels improvement program began in 1960 in the genetic field of ‘seedlings’ due to (Fagherazzi et al., 2014). Due to the and since then more than 30 strawberry the characteristics of growth habit, plant country high edaphoclimatic diversity, cultivars have been created. Currently, rusticity, large, uniform and conical the small cultivars number available CREA-OFA-FRF coordinates eight shape fruits, and the plant sensitivity to producers becomes one of the main genetic improvement programs located to the short photoperiod (Faedi et al., difficulties for the strawberry trees’ in the main Italy strawberry producing 2014). development (Oliveira & Scivittaro, regions (Baruzzi et al., 2017). 2011). Therefore, it is important to Creators: Dr. Walther Faedi, Dr. encourage national genetic improvement Criteria to define, choose and/or Gianluca Baruzzi (Faedi et al., 2014). programs, as well as the introduction of indicate a new cultivar are numerous, new strawberry cultivars developed in however the main aspects sought Rights ownership: CREA-OFA- other countries (Oliveira & Scivittaro, by strawberry genetic improvement FRF and Piraccini Secondo Ltda. 2011). In the last seven years, ten programs for plant characteristics new cultivars were registered on the are productivity, vigor, fruiting habit, Commercial management and National Cultivar Registry (NCR) of precocity, production seasonality, intellectual property: In the European the Agriculture, Livestock and Supply cold resistance, high temperatures Union under the responsibility of Ministry, (ALSM), namely: ‘Cristal’ tolerance and diseases and pests’ CREA-OFA-FRF and in Brazil by (2010), ‘Flórida Fortuna’ (2011), resistance (Castro, 2004). For fruits, UDESC. ‘Sabrina ‘ (2012), ‘Benicia’ (2013), the characteristics flavor, aroma, ‘Florida Elyana’ (2013), ‘Mojave’ crunchiness, size, uniformity, shape, Introduction: in 2013 UDESC (2013), ‘Sweet Ann’ (2013) and ‘PRA pulp firmness and epidermis color, introduced in Brazil eleven strawberry Estiva’, ‘Jonica’ and ‘Pircinque’ in 2016 brightness, soluble solids content, genotypes from different genetic (MAP, 2017). acidity and resistance to rot are desired improvement programs of CREA- (Castro, 2004). Strawberries qualitative OFA-FRF, including the cultivar In Brazil, strawberry production is characteristics are not only based on ‘Pircinque’, which at that time was a concentrated in the Albion, San Andreas uniformity, size and color, but also on newly disseminated cultivar in Italy. and Camarosa cultivars, which together the complex balance between sweetness, represent approximately 60% of fruit aroma and texture (Jouquand et al., Seedling propagation and sale: crops. Due to the large geographic area 2008). in the European Union, the nurseries where strawberry is cultivated, and due to licensed by CREA-OFA-FRF are: the different specific conditions of each Given the above, the objective of Viveiro COVIRO, APOFRUIT Itália location, there are few cultivars used by this research was to validate in Brazil and Piraccini Secondo Ltda. In Brazil, producers (Fagherazzi et al., 2017b). the use of the Italian strawberry cultivar the nurseries licensed by UDESC are: There is a lack of cultivars adapted for ‘Pircinque’, making it a new cultivation Viveiro Fragaria Brasil, Viveiro Pasa, the different cultivation locations and for option for strawberry producers. Viveiro Amauri Donizetti De Moraes, the various cultural techniques that are Viveiro Airton Donizetti Binoti and used by the producers, as all the cultivars VARIETAL HISTORY Viveiro de mudas Irmãos Baptistella used for fruit production come mainly Ltda. from United States genetic improvement Origin: ‘Pircinque’ cultivar was programs. So there are no cultivars created in Italy by CREA-OFA-FRF VARIETAL DESCRIPTORS developed especially for the Brazilian through a public-private genetic climate and soil conditions (Carpenedo improvement program in partnership Plant: ‘short day’ cultivar, with et al., 2016). with Piraccini Secondo Ltda Company. semi-erect growth habit and high leaf The objective of this genetic density, vigor and hardiness (Figure Due to the limited availability of improvement program is the search for 1A). strawberry cultivars with Brazilian strawberry cultivars widely adapted producers, Santa Catarina State to the edaphoclimatic conditions of Leaves: large, light green color, low University, through the Agricultural Metaponto, a locality established in or almost absent internerval bulging, Sciences Center (ASC-UDESC) signed the Basilicata Region, southern Italy medium brightness and no variegation an “Agreement for the experimentation (Baruzzi et al., 2017). (Figure 1B). and dissemination of Italian strawberry genetic material in Brazil”. This ‘Pircinque’(selection PIR 04.228.05) Central leaflet: same length in cooperation agreement between was originated from a controlled relation to width, base shape classified UDESC and Consiglio per la Ricerca crossing between the cultivars Nora as acute, crenated margin and flat shape in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia x Ventana, carried out in 2004, in the in cross section. Agraria - Centro di Olivicoltura, Petiole: long length and with hair in the perpendicular position. Inflorescence: with small flowers Horticultura Brasileira 39 (4) October - December, 2021 459

AF Fagherazzi et al. amount. so that the leaves and plants are not and avoid the use of organic compounds Flower: large diameter, larger exposed to dehydration. For the best rich in nitrogen in ‘base fertilization’. productive performance, it is advisable Excessive vigor in plants can directly calyx in relation to the corolla and with that the planting window be completed favor the increase in leaf area and cell stamens presence. by the first half of May, allowing turgor, creating a favorable condition the stages of induction and floral for the entry of diseases, especially Fruit: pulp and heart color classified differentiation to be uninterrupted by gray mold caused by the fungus as light red (Figure 1C), firm fruit, very adverse weather conditions, such as Botrytis cinerea, and for decreasing large, uniform conical shape, much the lack of winter cold (Manakasem & the firmness of fruit pulp. Studies also longer than wide, uniform medium red Goodwin, 2001). ‘Pircinque’ cultivar report that excessive doses of nitrogen color, strong shine (Figure 1D), achenes can be grown in soil and/or in different can increase the acidity of strawberry positioned below from the surface level, off-ground cultivation systems. fruits, decrease fruit production and the prominent insertion of the chalice, crown diameter of plants (Andriolo et sepals upwards (direction opposite to the Planting density: in the soil it can al., 2011). Better control of nitrogen fruit), equal diameter of the chalice and vary from 40 to 60 thousand plants per levels can positively influence plant median adhesion to the chalice. hectare, different spacing between plants development without intensifying the and rows being adopted: 30 x 30 cm; stimulus for vegetative growth (Otto et AGRONOMIC 30 x 35 cm; 30 x 40 cm; 30 x 50 cm; al., 2009). On the other hand, the plants 35 x 40 cm; 40 x 40 cm. For off-ground of the ‘Pircinque’ cultivar demonstrate DESCRIPTORS cultivation, it is advisable to use a to be more demanding for the nutrients density of five to seven plants per linear calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and Planting: preferably carried out meter (13 to 20 cm spacing between micronutrients. under mild temperature conditions plants). Due to the characteristics of the (<7°C). It is recommended that planting cultivar, it is advisable to adopt spacing Production: can start from 45 days starts in March for the southern region. that provides lower plant densities per after the planting date in places with For places with high temperatures hectare or per linear meter. ‘hot’ climate, and around 120 days after (>25°C), in plantings to be carried out planting in places with ‘cold’ climate, with bare-root fresh plants containing Nutrition: due to the rusticity and with severe winters. leaves, it is essential to use sprinkler, plant high vigor, it is recommended to micro-spray, or mist irrigation systems, reduce the use of nitrogen fertilizers Harvest: due to the qualitative characteristics of the fruit, especially Figure 1. Characteristics of plants (A and B) and fruits (C and D) of strawberry cultivar the high pulp firmness and uniform ‘Pircinque’. Lages, CAV-UDESC, 2018. red color, it is advisable to harvest ‘Pircinque’ fruits when they reach almost all of the surface of the epidermis with an intense red color. Post-harvest: due to the high pulp firmness characteristic of the cultivar, the fruits have a long shelf-life and the uniform red color is maintained during cold storage (Faedi et al., 2014). However, the pulp firmness and post-harvest characteristics may be influenced by the environment and cultural treatments, especially irrigation, nutrition and fruit harvesting point (Santos, 1999). Commercialization: due to the qualitative characteristics of the fruits, which meet the main demands of producers and consumers, their commercialization can be carried out in a differentiated way, adding value and building consumer loyalty. Diseases: as it is a rustic cultivar with an expansive root system, the plant’s tolerance to soil pathogens and to the attack of mites is verified, making it a cultivation possibility for 460 Horticultura Brasileira 39 (4) October - December, 2021

Pircinque: new strawberry cultivar for Brazilian producers organic producers. On the other hand, it nursery, which had the National Register productivity compared to ‘Albion’, is susceptible to Botrytis cinerea (grey of Seeds and Seedlings (RENASEM). however, not differing from ‘Camarosa’. mold) and Sphaerotheca macularis The practices adopted in the research In terms of soluble solids, the ‘Pircinque’ (powdery mildew) (Faedi et al., 2014). were conventional soil cultivation, cultivar performs better than the other in a cover system with low tunnels. cultivars for both agricultural cycles. AGRONOMIC The experimental design used was We also observed in ‘Pircinque’ randomized blocks, with four plots greater fruit pulp firmness, superior PERFORMANCE containing 11 useful plants. or similar to ‘Albion’ and superior to ‘Camarosa’. ‘Pircinque’is characterized Through cultivar comparison We observed in ‘Pircinque’a smaller by the balance of the main desired studies, it is possible to judge and number of fruits emitted per plant, characteristics, productivity associated indicate which cultivars are adapted differing from ‘Camarosa’, the cultivar with the quality of the fruit. to specific locations as a function that emitted more fruits in the two of edaphoclimatic conditions and evaluation cycles (Table 1). In current In the second study with ‘Pircinque’, cultivation techniques (Baruzzi et al., genetic improvement programs, an comparing the use of plug plant and 2017). important characteristic is the size of bare-root fresh plants, no significant the fruits. It is preferable for a cultivar difference was observed in the main To validate the performance of to emit less fruits, as long as they are characteristics evaluated during the ‘Pircinque’cultivar in Brazil, the present larger. Thus, a producer would have two agricultural cycles (Table 2). Thus, study was conducted in two cultivation less demand in labor to carry out the for the “Planalto Sul” Santa Catarina cycles (2014/2015 and 2015/2016) in harvests. For the characteristic of fruits region, in ‘Pircinque’ cultivation the Santa Catarina “Planalto Sul” region, fresh mass, we verified in the cultivar type of seedling used by the producer is where the ‘Pircinque’ cultivar was ‘Pircinque’ fruits of larger size during independent, however, he can opt for the subjected to two different studies: a) the 2014/2015 cycle, while in the seedling with a lower acquisition cost. comparison test with the cultivars most 2015/2016 cycle similar performance used by Brazilian producers (Camarosa was observed in three cultivars. Previous studies have already and Albion); and b) to evaluate the compared ‘Pircinque’ cultivar behavior response of ‘Pircinque’ cultivated with For total production variable, the in other countries. In a study comparing two different types of seedlings (bare- cultivar ‘Pircinque’ did not differ from six cultivation sites (four in the Huelva root fresh plants). For both studies, the the cultivars ‘Albion’ and ‘Camarosa’ Region, Spain; and two in the Basilicata seedlings were produced by a national during the first evaluation cycle; in the Region, Italy), in comparison with 11 second cycle, it showed 25% higher other strawberry cultivars (Amiga, Antilla, Benicia, Camarosa, Florida Table 1. Mean values of number of fruits (NF), fruit weight (FW), total production (TP), Fortuna, Fuentepina, Mojave, Primoris, soluble solids (SS) and pulp firmness (PF) of the cultivars evaluated during two growing San Andreas, Sabrosa® Candonga and cycles. Lages, CAV-UDESC, 2018. Splendor), ‘Pircinque’was characterized as a vigorous cultivar, with high Cultivar Planting NF FW TP SS PF productivity, with large, very sweet (un plant-1) (g fruit-1) (g plant-1) (°Brix) (g) and firm fruits, standing out together with the cultivars Primoris, Camarosa Cycle 2014/2015 and Sabrosa® Candonga (Medina et al., 2014). Albion 45.0 ab 19.6 b 748.6 ns 7,2 b 310 b In another research carried out in Camarosa 08/04/2014 48.3 a 18.9 b 730.5 7,4 b 290 b Southern Italy, the ‘Pircinque’ cultivar obtained the highest total production Pircinque 41.0 b 22.2 a 744.3 8,5 a 350 a (809 g plant-1), fresh fruit mass (30.6 g fruit-1), texture (575 g), sucrose (2.3 Average - 44.7 20.2 741.1 7,7 317 g)/100 g), fructose (2.2 g/100 g) and glucose (2.5 g/100 g) compared to DMS (0,05) - 5.0 2.5 231.2 0,7 25 ‘Camarosa’ and ‘Sabrosa-Candonga®’ cultivars (Faedi et al., 2014). In Brazil, CV (%) - 4.5 4.9 12.4 3.7 3.2 a study comparing six strawberry cultivars (Camarosa, Oso Grande, Cycle 2015/2016 Strawberry Festival, Albion, Jonica and Pircinque) under the conditions of Albion 37.6 c 18.6 ns 674.3 b 6.5 b 324 ab the “Planalto Sul Catarinense” found in the ‘Pircinque’ cultivar the highest Camarosa 10/04/2015 65.0 a 17.2 959.6 a 5.7 c 309 b correlations between ‘pulp firmness’ (g fruit-1 ) x total production (g plant-1)’; Pircinque 49.6 b 19.2 838.3 a 7.8 a 357 a Average - 50.7 18.4 824.1 6.7 330 DMS (0.05) - 7.3 2.5 137.3 0.7 35 CV (%) - 5.0 4.8 5.7 4.0 3.7 *Means followed by the same letter in the column do not differ statistically from each other by the 5% level Tukey test probability of error; DMS= minimum significant difference. ns not significant. Horticultura Brasileira 39 (4) October - December, 2021 461

AF Fagherazzi et al. Table 2. Mean values of number of fruits (NF), fruit weight (MF), total production (PT), ACKNOWLEDGMENTS soluble solids (SS) and pulp firmness (PF) of the strawberry cultivar ‘Pircinque’ cultivated with different types of plants during two growing cycles. Lages, CAV-UDESC, 2018. The authors thank the rural producers who contributed to the development of Pircinque Planting NF FW TP SS PF the ‘Pircinque’ cultivar, and the public (un plant-1) (g fruit-1) (g plant-1) (°Brix) (g) and private research and extension entities, CAV-UDESC, UDESC, CREA- Cycle 2014/2015 OFA-FRF, FAPESC, CAPES, CNPq, IFRS, IFSC, UCS, EMBRAPA, MAPA, Bare root 08/04/2014 67.3ns 19.7 826 8.7 415 CENARGEM, EPAGRI, EMATER-RS, EMATER-MG, Nursery Fragaria Brasil, Plug Plant 08/04/2014 71.6 20.2 976 8.5 393 Nursery Pasa, Nursery Amauri Donizetti de Moraes, Nursery Airton Donizetti Average - 69.5 19.9 901 8.6 404 Binoti, Nursery of seedlings Irmãos Baptistella Ltda., and the company DMS (0.05) - 11.1 4.2 247 0.6 54 Piraccini Secondo Ltda., for the support, promotion of research, granting of CV (%) - 7.1 9.3 12.0 3.1 5.8 scholarships and in the assistance and execution of the activities carried out. Cycle 2015/2016 REFERENCES Bare root 10/04/2015 46.5 ns 19.8 805 8.1 437 ABF – Anuário Brasileiro de Fruticultura. 2017. Plug Plant 10/04/2015 49.4 19.0 878 7.8 416 Santa Cruz do Sul. 49p. Average - 47.9 19.4 841 8.0 427 ANDRIOLO, JL; ERPEN, L; CARDOSO, FL; COCCO, C; CASAGRANDE, GS; JÄNISCH, DMS (0.05) - 23.0 2.7 83 1.3 168 DI. 2011. Nitrogen levels in the cultivation of strawberries in soilless culture. Horticultura CV (%) - 13.6 4.0 2.8 4.8 11.2 Brasileira 29: 516-519. *Means followed by the same letter in the column do not differ statistically from each other BARUZZI, G; BALLINI, L; BARONI, G; by the 5% level Tukey test probability of error; DMS= minimum significant difference. BIROLLI, M; CAPRIOLO, G; CARULLO, ns not significant. A; D’ANNA, F; FUNARO, M; LUCCHI, P; MAGNANI, S; MALTONI M; SBRIGHI, ‘soluble solids (°Brix) x total production Moraes, Socorro-SP, phone (19) 99753 P; TURCI, P; FAEDI, W. 2017. Updates (g plant-1)’ and between ‘soluble solids 6440; Airton Donizetti Binoti Nursery, on Italian strawberry breeding programs (°Brix) x pulp firmness (g fruit-1)’ Socorro-SP, phone (19) 99148 2994; coordinated by CREA-OFA-FRF. Acta (Fagherazzi et al., 2017a). and Seedling Nursery Irmãos Baptistella Horticulturae, 1156: 179-184. Ltda, Itatiba-SP, phone (11) 97547 2989. REGISTRATION, CARPENEDO, S; ANTUNES, LEC; TREPTOW, Basic plant and matrices: the RO. 2016. Caracterização sensorial de PROTECTION, basic plants of the ‘Pircinque’ cultivar morangos cultivados na região de Pelotas. are registered with the Agriculture Horticultura Brasileira 34: 565-570. COMMERCIAL Ministry under registration number SC-0123/2017 and are maintained by CASTRO, RL. Melhoramento genético do DISSEMINATION AND the Fruit Growing sector, at the UDESC morangueiro: avanços no Brasil. 2004. In: Agricultural Science Campus. The basic SIMPÓSIO NACIONAL DO MORANGO, LICENSING plant is cultivated for the propagation 2.; ENCONTRO DE PEQUENAS FRUTAS of new plants and for the collection E FRUTAS NATIVAS DO MERCOSUL, L, CREA-OFA-FRF and Piraccini of meristems, which will serve to Pelotas. Palestras ... Pelotas: Embrapa Clima Secondo Ltda. company, delegated to produce mother plants through in vitro Temperado, 2004. p.22-36. UDESC the right to register, protect, cultivation. disseminate and commercially exploit FAEDI, W; BARUZZI, G; LUCCHI, P; the intellectual property of the ‘Pircinque’ For more information: other MAGNANI, S; CARULLO, A; MALTONI, cultivar for the Brazilian territory. The information can be requested and/or ML; MIGANI, M; SBRIGHI, P. 2014. The cultivar has been registered with the accessed through the following media: new ‘Pircinque’ strawberry cultivar released National Cultivar Registry (RNC) since under Italy’s PIR Project. Acta Horticulturae 03/23/2016 under number 35355 and Correspondence: Centro de Ciências 1049: 961-966. with the intellectual property protection Agroveterinárias da Universidade do certificate number 20180069. Estado de Santa Catarina, CAV-UDESC, FAGHERAZZI, AF; BORTOLINI, AJ; ZANIN, Av. Luiz de Camões, 2090, Bairro Conta DS; BISOL, L; SANTOS, AM; GRIMALDI, Currently, UDESC has licensed Dinheiro, 88520-000, Lages-SC. F; KRETZSCHMAR, AA; BARUZZI, G; five nurseries to produce and market FAEDI, W; LUCCHI, P; RUFATO, L. 2017a. ‘Pircinque’ seedlings. They are: Viveiro Phones: +55 (49) 3289 9179, (49) New strawberry cultivars and breeding Fragaria Brasil, Pouso Alegre-MG, 3289 9159 and (49) 3289 9173. activities in Brazil. Acta Horticulturae 1156: phone: (35) 99704 5678; Viveiro Pasa, 167-170. Farroupilha-RS, phone (54) 99913 Website: http://www.cav.udesc.br 2223; Nursery Amauri Donizetti De FAGHERAZZI, AF; COCCO, C; ANTUNES, E-mail: fruticulturaudesc@gmail. com 462 Horticultura Brasileira 39 (4) October - December, 2021

Pircinque: new strawberry cultivar for Brazilian producers LEC; SOUZA, J; RUFATO, L. 2014. La GOODNER, K. 2008. A sensory and chemical ARANDA, JML; BARUZZI, G; FAEDI, W; fragolicoltura brasiliana guarda avanti. analysis of fresh strawberries over harvest CAPRIOLO, G; CARULLO, A; FUNARO, Rivista di Frutticoltura e di Ortofloricoltura dates and seasons reveals factor that affect M. 2014. New strawberry cultivars tested 75: 20-24. eating quality. Journal of the American Society in Spain and south Italy. Acta Horticulturae for Horticultural Science 133: 859-867. 1049: 471-474. FAGHERAZZI, AF; KRETZSCHMAR, AA; MACEDO, TA; VIGNOLO, GK; ANTUNES, MANAKASEM, Y; GOODWIN, PB. 2001. OLIVEIRA, RP; SCIVITTARO, WB. 2011. LEC; KIRSCHBAUM, DS; GIMENEZ, Responses of dayneutral and Junebearing Desempenho produtivo de cultivares de G; ZOPPOLO, R; JOFRÈ, F; RUFATO, L. strawberries to temperature and daylength. morangueiro. Scientia Agraria 12: 69-74. 2017b. La coltivazione dei piccoli frutti in The Journal of Horticultural Science and Sud America: non solo mirtilli. Rivista di Biotechnology 76: 629-635. OTTO, RF; MORAKAMI, RK; REGHIN, MY; Frutticoltura e di Ortofloricoltura 85: 02-05. CAÍRES, EF. 2009. Cultivares de morango MAPA - Ministério da Agricultura pecuária de dia neutro: produção em função de doses FAOSTAT, 2020. Área colhida, rendimento e e Abastecimento. 2017, 23 de maio. de nitrogênio durante o verão. Horticultura produção nos principais países produtores CultivarWeb, Registro Nacional de Cultivares Brasileira 27: 99-110. de morangueiro. Available < http://www.fao. (RNC). Available http://extranet.agricultura. org/faostat/en/#data/QC >. Accessed June gov.br/php/snpc/cultivarweb/cultivares_ SANTOS, AM. 1999. Melhoramento genético do 29, 2021. registradas.php morangueiro. Informe Agropecuário Morango: tecnologia inovadora, Belo Horizonte, 20: JOUQUAND, J; CHANDLER, C; PLOTTO, A; MEDINA, JJ; MIRANDA, LD; SORIA, C; 24-29. Horticultura Brasileira 39 (4) October - December, 2021 463