Desempenho fitosanitario de clones de batata quanto a severidade de Alternaria solani em Bambui–MG

Abstract

Potatoes are one of the most commercially important vegetables in Brazil and stand out globally for their high nutritional value and versatility. Nationally, potato farming faces severe climatic challenges which, in 2024, drove prices to record levels due to the vigor of seed potatoes and water irregularities. In this context, cultivar selection is strategic, considering the intended use (table or industrial) and climatic adaptation. Among the main biotic limiting factors, early blight (Alternaria solani) stands out, which, under tropical conditions and in the absence of adequate management, can cause losses of up to 100%. Intensive chemical control, although predominant, increases costs and environmental risks, making genetic resistance the most sustainable alternative. Therefore, the objective of this work is to evaluate the phytosanitary performance of potato clones regarding the incidence and severity of A. solani in the municipality of Bambuí–MG. The experiment was conducted in Bambuí-MG, using a Randomized Complet Block Design (RCDB) with four clones from the PROBATATA/UFLA program: T1- Clone 25-06; T2- Clone 03-10; T3 - Clone 24-13; T4 - Clone 25-08. Severity assessment was performed 89 days after emergence (DAE), a period that encompasses the peak of epidemic development, using a diagrammatic scale. The results revealed significant variations among the genotypes, highlighting the existence of genetic variability. Clone 03-10 showed the highest susceptibility, reaching 90.6% of damaged leaf area. In contrast, clones 25-08 and 24-13 stood out for their high resistance potential, with severity indices of 12.2% and 18.7%, respectively. It is concluded that clones 25-08 and 2413 are promising for breeding programs and commercial cultivation, and multi-site tests are recommended to validate the stability of this resistance against different environmental variations.