Abstract Twenty six sweet cassava clones were evaluated in two agricultural years, in randomized block design, with 3 replications and plots with 25 plants. The harvests were at 12 months after planting, in both years. The traits evaluated were root yield (RY), dry matter content (DMC), total carotenoids content (TC), β-carotene content (BC), trans-β-carotene content (TrBC) and total cyanide content (TCy). Genotype was significant (P<0.05) in all traits. Broad-sense heritability estimates at the plot level ( h m g 2 ) ranged from 77% (RY) to 93% (TC and TrBC), while the accuracy ranged from 0.88 (RY) to 0.96 (BC and TrBC). The genetic correlations among TC, BC and TrBC were high (0.96 to 0.99) and significant, and the genetic correlations involving these traits and TCy were negative. These results demonstrate the existence of great genetic variability in characteristics important to cassava biofortification and, consequently, great perspectives in the breeding for this purpose.

Abstract The new cassava variety ‘BRS Novo Horizonte’ was developed and released in Bahia, Brazil for industrial use, particularly for starch production. The fresh and dry root yields were 39% and 44% higher, respectively, than those of local varieties. The root quality traits allowed the extraction of high-quality starch. The variety is also adapted for mechanized cropping systems.

Com o objetivo de identificar novas variedades para consumo humano, na forma de raízes frescas, 26 variedades de mandioca (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) foram avaliadas aos 8, 10 e 12 meses após o plantio, quanto à produtividade de raízes, teores de amido, de matéria seca e de cianeto, o tempo de cocção e à deterioração pós-colheita. A produtividade, os teores de amido e de matéria seca das raízes variaram entre as variedades, e entre as épocas de colheita. Aproximadamente, 81% das variedades continham teores de cianeto dentro dos limites aceitáveis (inferior a 100 mg/kg de polpa crua) para consumo na forma de raízes frescas (método enzimático). Apenas oito variedades cozinharam até 30 minutos em todas as épocas de colheita, nos dois anos de avaliação. A deterioração pós-colheita ocorreu em todas as variedades quando armazenadas sob condições ambiente. Houve correlação positiva entre a matéria seca e o amido (r = 0,9826) e entre a época de colheita e o tempo de cocção (r = 0,7304). Entre amido e o tempo de cocção a correlação foi negativa (r = -0,0570). As variedades Três meses e Caiabana são promissoras para consumo humano na forma de raízes frescas.

This work aimed to select new cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) varieties for human consumption as fresh roots. A total of twenty six varieties were evaluated after eight, ten and twelve months after planting. Parameters were assessed as follow: root productivity, starch, dry matter and cyanide contents, cooking and post-harvest deterioration. Root productivity, starch and dry matter contents varied among varieties and among harvest period. Nearly 81% of the varieties presented cyanide content within the acceptable limits for consumption as fresh roots (less than 100 mg/kg of raw pulp), by the enzymatic method. Only eight varieties presented cooking up to 30 minutes during the experimental evaluation in all harvest period. All varieties tested behaved as susceptible to post-harvest deterioration when stored under environmental conditions. Correlations between starch and dry matter contents (r = 0.9826) and between harvest periods and cooking (r = 0.7304) were positive. Correlation between starch content and cooking was negative (r = -0.0570). Varieties Três meses and Caiabana were the best for human consumption as fresh roots.