Commercial characterization of 'Londrina'carrot roots on six cycles of selectionCommercial characterization of 'Londrina'carrot roots on six cycles of selection

Abstract

Carrot is a crop for mild climate but after development of cultivars with heat tolerance, it is cultivate in Brazil during all year long. However, factors as: temperature, relative air humidity, photoperiod, harvest time and consumers preference must be observed at the moment of correct cultivar choice for each region and sowing season. This work was carried out to observe commercial parameters and root production from six selection cycles of Londrina cultivar, comparing them to Brasíla cultivar with the purpose of obtaining informations about the cultivars used by carrot growers in Londrina county-PR. The research was set up at the campus of Universidade Estadual de Londrina, since February till June, 2003. There evaluations were done about flowering characteristics (%), coloration, length, diameter, shape, fresh mass and root yield. Experimental design was randomized blocks, with seven treatments and five replications. The plants obtained after six selection cycles of 'Londrina' carrot produced roots with commercial characteristics for coloring, length, diameter and shape, complying consumers demand, similar to that Brasília cultivar, showing to be a promising selectionl to introduce on national market as a cultivar, indicated for regions with similar local characteristics.