ABSTRACT
Among the types of lettuce currently cultivated, crisphead lettuce has exceeded, which aims to serve mainly the networks of fast food. In order to evaluate the productive behavior of lettuce cultivars in Sub-Middle of São Francisco Valley, Pernambuco State, Brazil, two experiments were carried out, in 2013 and 2014. Randomized blocks with twelve genotypes in 2013 and twenty-two genotypes in 2014, with three replications, were evaluated. Total and commercial production per plant; total and commercial productivity; circumference of the commercial "head" and stem length in each year of cultivation were obtained. On both experiments the cultivars were evaluated through joint analysis. For the 2013 crop, total production and productivity showed significant differences between treatments, wherein Havassu (940 g/plant and 78.3 t/ha), Perovana (922 g/plant and 76.8 t/ha), Laurel (903 g/plant and 75.2 t/ha) and Balsamo (875 g/plant and 72.8 t/ha) were the genotypes that exceeded. In 2014, fresh mass and total productivity ranged between 526 and 816 g/plant and 43.8 and 67.9 t/ha, Laurel (816 g/plant and 67.9 t/ha) and Silvana (809 g/plant and 67.4 t/ha) presenting the best results, with no difference among them. For joint analysis, every evaluated characteristic was significantly affected by the interaction between the factors, year and cultivars. We concluded that the cultivation of crisphead lettuce is viable in the region. The cultivars Ironwood, Havassu, Laurel, Flora, Perovana, Raider Plus, Balsamo and Silvana are the most indicated.
Keywords:
Lactuca sativa; yield; competition; adaptation.