The objective of this work was to evaluate the production of potato basic minitubers in three hydroponic systems: aeroponic, DFT (deep flow technique) and NFT (nutrient film technique), using cultivars Agata and Monalisa. The experiment was carried out under protected cultivation, from May to September, 2005, in Jaboticabal, São Paulo State, Brazil, in a completely randomized block design, with split-plots. The hydroponic systems were assigned to the experimental plots, whereas cultivars were assigned to sub-plots. Tuber fresh weight and longitudinal diameter were not influenced by the hydroponic systems, with average values of 6,2 g and 30,2 mm, 6,3 g and 30,0 mm, 6,8 g and 31,0 mm, for hydroponic systems NFT, DFT and aeroponic, respectively. Between cultivars, Monalisa presented larger longitudinal diameter and fresh mass (32,2 mm and 7,1 g), significantly superior when compared to Agata (28,6 mm and 5,8 g). Minituber yield per plant and m² was significantly higher in the aeroponic system (49,3 e 874,4) in comparison the NFT (39,5 e 246,6) and DFT systems (41,6 e 458,0), respectively. Results indicate that basic potato minitubers can be efficiently produced using the hydroponic systems evaluated in this work. Among them, the aeroponic system presented the best results.
Solanum tuberosum; aeroponycs; DFT; NFT; soilles production; repeated harvesting
