Avaliação do desempenho de quinze genótipos de mini alface

Abstract

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) belong to Asteraceae (Compositae) family and is considered one of the most important vegetable crops in Brazil, despite climatic differences and consumption habits. Lettuce crops is preferably carried out in mild climate, however, it presents a wide adaptation to different climatic conditions, with successive crops possibility in the same year. In Brazil, mini lettuce is a growing and promising market niche, which has attracted interest from some producers, consumers and restaurants. The aim of this study was to evaluate fifteen lettuce cultivars (Barlach, Cousteau, Excite, Klee, Sartre, Triplex, Xandra, Bruma, Escarcha, Jonction, Kiribati, Mondai, Rosaine, Rouxai and Tudela), in spring season, in Recife municipality, PE, Brazil, to determine whether cultivars are suitable for crop large-scale production in one of the warmer season of region. The experiment was carried out in the months of September to November using a randomized complete block design with 15 cultivars and five replicates. The characteristics germination percentage, number of leaves, diameter and height plant (cm), commercial fresh mass (g) and early elongation of floral stem susceptibility were evaluated. The germination of cultivars evaluated didn’t present significant difference at 5% probability level of tukey test. The data indicate that lettuce cultivars of Rosaine (cos), Kiribati (oak leaf), Jonction and Triplex (crisp), Sartre (butter head), and Escarcha and Bruma (iceberg) were the highest productivity in their respective commercial groups. None of the cultivars evaluated present elongation of floral stem lettuce precocious.