Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a rustic horticultural crop with high production potential. However, the crop is susceptible to many pests and diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate 10 genotypes of sweet potato regarding their yield and resistance to soil insects, under Brazilian cerrado soil conditions. Genotypes were selected from the Sweet Potato Germplasm Bank of Embrapa Hortaliças. The experiment was conducted at Água Limpa Farm, belonging to University of Brasilia (UnB), and consisted of a randomized block design, with 10 treatments (genotypes), 10 plants per plot, and four replications. The following traits were analyzed: number of perforations per root, incidence of roots injured by insects, plant resistance degree, root shape, total and marketable root yields, root peel color, root pulp color, pulp total soluble solids, pulp titratable acidity, pulp TSS/TA ratio, pulp moisture, and pulp starch yield. Genotype CNPH 53 (26.78 t ha-1) presented total root yield greater than the commercial variety Brazlândia Rosada (17.54 t ha-1). Genotype Santa Sofia (11.77 t ha-1) and Brazlândia (13.5 t ha-1) had similar marketable root yields. CNPH 53 showed the best agronomic performance, exhibiting moderate susceptibility to soil insects and root shape meeting the market standards. It also had low pulp TA (2.53%); high pulp TSS (12.25 °Brix) and pulp TSS/AT ratio (4.24); pulp moisture content close to 70%; and the highest pulp starch content (11.98%). The traits number of perforations per root, root shape, and pulp TA presented heritability values close to 70%. Marketable root yield, pulp moisture, and pulp starch content demonstrated heritability values greater than 90% and CVG/CVE greater than 1.

The main strawberry cultivars grown in tropical regions originated from breeding programs developed in temperate countries, which limit the expression of their maximum productive potential when grown in warm climates. Additionally, strawberry cultivation in these regions depends almost entirely on imported strawberry young plants, increasing production costs. Obtaining adapted cultivars with a lower requirement for the accumulation of chilling hours is the main objective of breeding programs in the southern hemisphere. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate short-day strawberry genotypes, pre-selected based on yield and fruit quality components through multivariate analysis, for cultivation in tropical conditions. Two experiments were performed. In the first one, 36 pre-selected genotypes and their parents were assessed based on productive traits (total fruit mass, commercial fruit mass, and mean mass of commercial fruits), soluble solids content, and fruit firmness. For selection, multivariate analysis was applied using the genotype (ideotype) selection index and principal component analysis. In the second experiment, the fruit of the best-ranked genotypes, the parents, and the Camarosa and Dover cultivars were assessed for soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), SS/TA ratio, ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds, and total anthocyanins. To identify the most promising genotypes, the data were analyzed using principal component analysis. The RVFS06CR-105, RVDA11CR-61, RVDA11CR-125, and RVCS44CR-130 were the most promising genotypes for cultivation in tropical conditions, based on yield and fruit quality components. The means found for these genotypes were higher than the commercial cultivars Dover, Camino Real, and Camarosa. The use of multivariate analysis was efficient in selecting the genotypes, with repeatability of information between the methods guaranteeing consistency in the information. The selected genotypes had higher yields than those used as the control, which is a promising result considering the independence in relation to genetic material, mainly in the expansion of the cultivation area in the tropical regions of the southern hemisphere. In addition, these genotypes are being evaluated in different tropical climate regions with the aim of validating them for submission to the registration and release process for farmers. Additionally, they are being used as a source of genes for crossings and new selections.