CULTIVO DE MANDIOCA (Manihot esculenta CRANTZ) EN INVERNADERO: EFECTOS SOBRE EL RENDIMIENTO Y LA CALIDAD DE RAÍCES TUBEROSAS

Due to the strong interaction between ambient temperature and cassava yields, in subtropical regions greenhouse culture can be considered as an appropriate production technology in order to increase root yield and anticipate harvest. The aim of this work was to evaluate quantitatively and qualitatively the production of cassava storage roots (SR) in a sandy soil of Corrientes, Argentina, under greenhouse. For this purpose, temporal variations of yield components, harvest index (HI), contents of starch, protein, crude fiber and minerals in SR of three cassava cultivars (Blanca de Santa Catarina, Ramada Paso and Rocha) were studied. The experiment was conducted under a randomized complete block design with three replications. SR fresh weight per plant showed a significant genotype-time interaction. The number of SR significantly varied between cultivars and remained constant over time in each one of them. All IC obtained exceeded 0.5 after 193 days of plantation. The starch content did not differ between genotypes, while Blanca de Santa Catarina and Rocha yielded the earliest. There were negative relationships between time and protein content and crude fiber, and a very high association between the last ones. No statistical differences in mineral content with respect to time were recorded. It is feasible to produce cassava in greenhouses achieving high yields and early harvests.