V I :-" ~ s": C':
>\~ ggj 4*X
V
Progress Report No. 126
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
Lowell T. Frobish, Director
Auburn University, Alabama
May 1995
r
F
~
i
A
a
1994
Commercial,
,-,:v able
v t
Vand
ty
i nals
C
:_ ii
~d8~a~m&
Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 
1
Fall 1994 Weather Highlights 
............................................................................................ 
2
Broccoli Evaluation Conducted as 
a First and Double Crop ...............................................
4
Chinese Cabbages Do Well In 
Cabbage Variety Trial ............................................ 
........ 7
Sweetpotato Breeding Lines 
Show Good Yield Potential for 
Alabama .............................. 10
Appendix .................................................................................................................... 
12
A uthors ........................................................................................................................................ 
13
FIRST PRINTING 3M, MAY 1995
Information contained herein is available 
to all persons without regard to race, color, 
sex, or national origin
Introduction
A U Commercial Vegetable Variety Trial Program
Receives Strong Support from AAES and the Vegetable Industry
ERIC SIMONNE
The Fall Commercial Vegetable Variety
Trial report marks the completion of the first
year of the renewed vegetable variety trial pro-
gram at Auburn University. Over 250 culti-
vars of 14 different vegetable crops were
evaluated at eight outlying units of the Ala-
bama Agricultural Experiment Station
(AAES). Cultivars were gathered from 20 seed
companies, state agencies, or research insti-
tutions. Commercial varieties, along with a
few advanced experimental lines, were evalu-
ated. Testing of advanced breeding lines pro-
vides an evaluation of improved genotypes be-
fore their seeds become commercially avail-
able to the growers.
Growers, researchers, extension personnel,
and other members of the vegetable industry
have recognized the usefulness of the infor-
mation generated by Auburn's variety trial
program. Diversity, quality, and timeliness of
the information are important to profession-
als who have interest in cultivar evaluation.
The spring and fall 1994 commercial variety
trial reports were available within six months
after the last harvests. This much-needed
quick turn around is the result of a team ef-
fort.
The sales and technical representatives of
the major seed companies supplied a diverse
collection of entries. Personnel at the outly-
ing units of AAES gave continuous support
to the program. Substation secretaries pro-
vided an electronic version of the data and sent
it to campus for immediate processing. The
Office of Research Information staff edited
and published the final report.
Variety testing is a continuous process and
additional evaluations are necessary to iden-
tify the varieties best adapted to Alabama
growing conditions. More information on the
performance of vegetable varieties will be
made available to Alabama vegetable grow-
ers in the future. Results of the 1994 Spring
Vegetable Variety Trials or additional copies
of this report are available at the Office of
Research Information at (334) 844-4877.
2 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
Fall 1994 Weather Highlights
KARL-HARKER AND ELLEN BAUSKE
Vegetable variety trials were conducted from Sep-
tember to December at the E.V. Smith Research Cen-
ter (EVSRC) in Shorter, Piedmont Substation (PS) in
Camp Hill, Chilton Area Horticulture Substation
(CAHS) in Clanton, North Alabama Horticulture Sub-
station (NAHS) in Cullman, and Sand Mountain Sub-
station (SMS) in Crossville.
Overall, the fall 1994 growing season was char-
acterized by a wet October and unusually late dates
for the first hard freeze (under 28F). Temperatures
were slightly below normal in August and September,
and slightly above normal in November and Decem-
ber.
At EVSRC, cooler and drier than normal weather
prevailed during August and September (Figure 1).
Temperatures averaged IFT below normal with rain-
fall one to two inches below normal. Rain was reported
on only six days during September. October was un-
usually wet with rain reported on 12 days of the month
for a total of 4.75 inches. This total was more than
two inches above normal. November and December
were warm months with temperatures averaging al-
most 4*F above normal. The first hard freeze of the
fall occurred on Nov. 24 with a low of 26F reported.
This was-about a week later than average. November
and December were drier than normal. December was
particularly dry as rain fell on only five days of the
month with only about half of the normal rain reported.
August and September were cooler than normal
at PS (Figure 2). Temperatures averaged 2*F below
normal in August and 3*F below normal in Septem-
ber. Rain totals were slightly less than normal during
these-two months. October had more than twice the
normal amount of rain; rain was reported on 13 days
of the month. October averaged about 2*F below nor-
mal. Temperatures in November and December aver-
aged about 2?F above normal. The first hard freeze
did not occur until the morning of Nov. 24. The aver-
age date of the first hard fall freeze is Nov. 11. No-
vember and December were considerably drier than
normal with only 2.88 inches of rain reported in No-
vember and 3.21 inches in December.
At CAHS, August and September were drier and
cooler than normal (Figure 3). Temperatures averaged
about 2?F below normal. Rain totals for each month
were in the two- to three-inch range, which was one
to two inches less than normal. October averaged near
normal for both temperature and rainfall. November
and December was much warmer than normal with
temperatures-3-4F above normal. The first hard freeze
did not occur until Dec. 12. The average date of the
first hard freeze is Nov. 9. November and December
rain totals were each about one inch less than normal.
Temperatures at NAHS averaged about 2?F below
normal in August and September while rain totals were
near normal (Figure 4). October was unusually wet
with rain reported for almost half the month. The Oc-
tober rain total of almost seven inches was twice the
normal amount. In November and December, rainfall
was nearly normal and temperatures averaged 3-4F
warmer than normal. The first hard freeze did not oc-
cur until Nov. 24. Typically, the first hard freeze oc-
curs around Nov. 6 and has only a 10% chance of oc-
curring after Nov. 20.
At SMS, August and September averaged cooler
than normal with maximum temperatures as much as
3-4"F below normal (Figure 5). August was relatively
dry, but several heavy showers fell during September.
October was wet with rain falling on almost half of
the days of the month. The frequent rains resulted in
cooler than normal daytime temperatures but warmer
than normal nighttime temperatures. Rains were less
frequent and lighter than normal during November and
December along with warmer than normal tempera-
tures. The first hard freeze did not occur until Nov.
24. The average date of the first hard freeze is Nov. 6.
FALL 1994 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 3
Precipitation, in.
71 -I
Temperature, OF
]80
Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Figure 1. Shorter
Precipitation, in.
70
65
60
55
50
45
35
Temperature, OF
180
Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Figure 2. Camp Hill
70
65
60
55
50
45
35
Precipitation, in. Temperature, OF
m40
F-1 17
Precipitation, in.
70
65
60
55
50
45
35
Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Figure 3. Clanton
Temperature, 
0
F
80
-75
-70
65
60
55
50
45
- - 35
Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Figure 4. Cullman
Total monthly precipitation, average temperatures,
and normal precipitation and temperatures (30-year
averages) for (1) the EXV. Smith Research Center, (2)
Piedmont Substation, (3) Chilton Area Horticulture
Substation, (4) North Alabama Horticulture Substation,
and (5) Sand Mountain Substation.
LI1994 precipitation
LINormal precipitation
-i-1994 temperature
-- Nrmaltemperature
Precipitation, in.
7'1
Temperature, OF
80:
Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Figure 5. Crossville
70
65
60
55
50
45
35
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
Broccoli Evaluated 
as a
First and Double-Crop
ERIC SIMONNE, JIM BANNON, JOHN EASON, MARLIN HOLLINGSWORTH,
JOSEPH KEMBLE, JOHN OWEN, JIM PITTrrs, MARVIN RUF, KENNETH SHORT, AND JAMES 
WITT
Broccoli variety trials were conducted using plas-
tic mulch and drip irrigation at the Horticulture Unit
of the E.V. Smith Research Center (EVSRC) in
Shorter, the Piedmont Substation (PS) in Camp Hill,
the Chilton Area Horticulture Substation (CAHS) in
Clanton, the North Alabama Horticulture Substation
(NAHS) in Cullman, and the Sand Mountain Substa-
tion (SMS) in Crossville. While most fall broccoli in
Alabama is grown on bare ground or new plastic mulch
(as a first crop), the potential exists for broccoli pro-
duction follow-
ing a spring crop
on the same 
TABLE 1. CROPPING 
SYSTEMS USE]
on the same
plastic. This 
Location 
Plastic Color
practice is 
re- PS ........................ 
........ Black
ferred to as 
SMS .............................. 
Black
double-crop- EVSRC' ...................... Black
ping. Therefore, CAHS' ..............
Black
the evaluation of 
NAHS' ............................... 
White
selected broccoli 'Double-cropping.
varieties was 
2
Each in half of the 
field.
done as a first
crop and as a double-crop (Table 1).
At all locations, six-week-old broccoli were trans-
planted on Sept. 9 in staggered, double rows 14 inches
apart at an in-row spacing of 18 inches. Plots were 20
feet long and contained 26 plants, which created a
stand of approximately 15,000 plants per acre.
For broccoli grown as a first crop (at PS and SMS),
soils were fertilized according to the recommendations
of the Auburn University Soil Testing Laboratory.
Names of chemicals are mentioned only for describ-
ing the production practices used. This represents nei-
ther a recommendation nor an endorsement of these
products. Recommendations for pest and weed con-
trol in vegetable production in Alabama may be found
in 1PM Commercial Vegetables: Insect, Disease,
Nematode and Weed Control Recommendations (Pub-
lication 94IPM-2, Alabama Cooperative Extension
Service).
At PS, a 13-13-13 fertilizer was broadcast at a rate
of 400 pounds per acre before the beds were formed.
Because the field was fallow for several years, fumi-
gation was not needed. Beginning three weeks after
transplanting, a 20-10-20 water-soluble fertilizer was
injected weekly at a per-acre rate of 12 pounds of ni-
trogen (N), six pounds of phosphorus (P), and 12
pounds of potassium (K). Insect control included two
applications of Dimethoate at (four ounces per acre),
four applications of Pounce 3.2 EC (1.6 ounces per
acre), and one
application of
BROCCOLI CULTIVAR 
EVALUATION 
Lannate (7.2
Previous Crop ounces per
None 
acre).
None At SMS, a
Bell Pepper 9-7-22 fertil-
Squash and Bell Pepper' izer was broad-
Tomato and Bell Pepper
2  
cast preplant at
a rate of 600
pounds per
acre. Beds were
formed on Sept. 7. No additional fertilizer was injected.
Plants were sprayed twice with Lannate at a rate of
eight ounces per acre.
Broccoli was grown as a double-crop at EVSRC,
CAHS and NAHS. Previous crops were sprayed with
Roundup (at a rate of approximately one gallon per
acre) and mowed to remove the dry shoots. New holes
were punched for broccoli establishment.
At EVSRC, fertilization consisted of injections of
41 pounds per acre of potassium nitrate (13-0-44) on
Sept. 9 and 26, Oct. 10 and 24, and Nov. 8 and 21. In
addition, 27 pounds of 20-20-20 were applied on Sept.
19, Oct. 3 and 17, and Nov. 1 and 15. Insect control
consisted of applications of Dipel (three pints per acre)
on Sept. 16, 26, 28, and 30; Lannate LV (three pints
per acre) on Sept. 19 and Oct. 4; and AsanaXL (seven
ounces per acre) on Sept. 26, 28, and 30, and Oct. 11
and 18. Fungicides used were Bravo 720 (two pints
D IN
FALL 1994 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 
5
per acre) on Sept. 16; Kocide 101 (two pounds per
acre) on Sept. 20; and Ridomil MZ 58 (two pounds
per acre) on Sept. 20.
At CAHS, 30 pounds each of N, P, and K were
injected on Sept. 6 after mowing the previous crop.
Fertilizer was thereafter injected at a rate of six pounds
of N per acre from 20-20-20 on Oct. 4 and 25, and
from potassium nitrate (13-0-44) on Sept. 12, Oct. 11,
and Nov. 9. Fungicide applications consisted of Bravo
720 (one pint per acre) on Sept. 13, Oct. 24 and 31,
and Nov. 8 and 12. Insect control was provided by
applications ofLannate LV (one pint per acre) on Sept.
13, Oct. 24 and 31, and Nov. 8 and 12; and Dipel
(two pints per acre) on Oct. 24 and 31, and Nov. 8.
At NAHS, ammonium nitrate was injected at a rate
of 50 pounds per acre on Sept. 27 and Oct. 3. Insecti-
cidal treatments included Asana (9.6 ounces per acre)
on Sept. 19 and 26 ; Javelin (one pound per acre) on
Sept. 26 and Oct. 3; and Lannate (one quart per acre)
on Oct. 3. Bravo 720, a fungicide, was applied at a
rate of one-half pint in 50 gallons of water per acre on
Oct. 10, 17, 24, and 31, and Nov. 7.
At all locations, broccoli heads were harvested and
graded when they reached six inches in diameter. Har-
vest dates were Nov. 8 and 21, and Dec. 1, 8, and 13
at EVSRC; Nov. 1, 16, and 22, and Dec. I and 15 at
CAHS; Nov. 14, 17 and 21, Dec. 2, and Jan. 10 at PS;
Nov. 16 and 21, and Dec. 21 at NAHS; and Nov. 18,
22, and 30, and Dec. 6, 13, and 21 at SMS.
Marketable weight (in numbers of 23-pound car-
tons) and corresponding number of heads were re-
corded (Table 2, 3). To account for the difference be-
tween first and double-crop, corrected yields were cal-
culated by adjusting for stand. These estimates may
be useful to compare variety performance across lo-
cations and cropping systems.
TABLE 2. ACTUAL AND CORRECTED NUMBER OF 23-POUND BOXES, MARKETABLE YIELD,
AND NUMBER OF MARKETABLE HEADS OF BROCCOLI GROWN ON PLASTIC AS A FIRST CROP
Variety Seed Actual Marketable Marketable Corrected
Source 23-lb. Boxes Yield Heads 23-lb. Boxes'
No./a. Lb./a. No./a. No./a.
Piedmont Substation
Pinnackle ........................ Takii 212 4,868 7,841 224
Mariner ........................... Petoseed 181 4,165 8,168 190
Landmark ........................ Takii 164 3,761 8,276 202
Nun 0945 ........................ Nunhems 160 3,689 6,643 217
Green Comet ............... Takii 144 3,302 7,296 176
Olympus ............................ Takii 143 3,281 6,207 160
Eureka................................ Stokes 140 3,213 6,207 177
Citation .............................. Harris Seeds 130 2,995 5,881 202
Premium Crop ................... Takii 127 2,927 6,098 176
Paragon.............................. Stokes 123 2,818 5,990 143
Everest ............................... Rogers 119 2,736 5,445 165
PSX 10990 ........................ Petoseed 111 2,546 4,901 144
Greenbelt ........................... Rogers 99 2,287 4,901 159
Sand Mountain Substation
PSX 10990 ........................ Petoseed 153 3,520 7,405 224
Green Comet ..................... Takii 141 3,250 10,672 
204
Olympus ............................ Takii 139 3,189 9,801 183
Mariner ........................-...... Petoseed 134 3,083 8,712 170
Landmark........................... Takii 128 2,948 8,821 157
Premium Crop ................... Takii 115 2,643 8,494 139
Citation .............................. Harris Seeds 105 2,413 7,841 135
Packman ............................ Petoseed 102 2,344 7,405 
161
Greenbelt ........................... Rogers 99 2,278 6,207 
161
NUN 0945 ......................... Nunhems 87 1,999 5,227 
174
Eureka ................................ Stokes 75 1,735 4,792 
133
Paragon .............................. Stokes 70 1,612 5,227 
124
'Corrected yields were calculated after adjustment for stand
FALL 1994 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS
5
5
o ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
TABLE 3. ACTUAL AND CORRECTED NUMBER OF 23-POUND BOXES, MARKETABLE YIELD,
AND NUMBER OF MARKETABLE HEADS OF BROCCOLI GROWN ON PLASTIC AS A 
SECOND CROP
Variety Seed Actual Marketable Marketable 
Corrected
Source 23-lb. Boxes Yield Heads 23-lb. Boxes'
Mariner ..................... Petoseed
Everest ...................... Rogers
Packman ................... Petoseed
Olympus ................... Takii
Premium Crop ............... Takii
Landmark .................. Takii
Pinnackle ................. Takii
Paragon ..................... Stokes
Eureka ...................... Stokes
Citation ............................ Harris Seeds
Green Comet ..................... Takii
PSX 10990 ................... Petoseed
Eureka .................... Stokes
Citation ............................ Harris Seeds
Nun 0945 ......................... Nunhems
Premium Crop.... ..... Takii
Landmark ................. Takii
Pinnackle........................... Takii
Mariner ............................. Petoseed
Packman ........................... Petoseed
Paragon ............................. Stokes
Olympus ........................... Takii
Green Comet ..................... Takii
N
Green Comet ..................... Takii
Mariner ............................. Petoseed
Olympus ........................... Takii
Nun 0945 ........................... Nunhems
Pinnackle .......................... Takii
Landmark.......................... Takii
Premium Crop ................... Takii
Everest .............................. Rogers
Citation .............................. Harris Seeds
Greenbelt .......................... Rogers
Eureka............................... Stokes
No./a. Lb./a.
E.V. Smith Research Center
134 3,087
98 2,258
87 1,997
79 1,825
74 1,691
71 1,626
53 1,214
47 1,080
44 1,008
42 958
41 944
Chilton Area Horticulture Substation
103 2,361
78 1,799
71 1,636
70 1,616
70 1,609
67 1,538
65 1,499
62 1,427
59 1,353
58 1,336
57 1,305
34 774
orth Alabama Horticulture Substation
136 3,139
106 2,449
105 2,404
102 2,352
98 2,248
97 2,238
80 1,849
75 1,727
56 1,281
52 1,200
40 914
'Corrected yields were calculated after adjustment for stand.
No./a.
7,620
6,531
5,552
6,206
4,681
3,484
2,831
3,484
2,177
2,613
3,919
6,227
5,269
4,311
4,790
4,790
3,832
3,593
3,593
3,593
3,353
3,593
2,395
5,520
5,810
5,374
5,229
4,648
3,631
3,922
4,358
3,777
2,324
2,179
No./a.
153
123
113
90
116
79
75
68
75
49
49
214
232
185
203
182
224
194
190
245
201
211
103
278
170
151
201
164
289
155
223
114
155
81
~RRYYY Y I~-C- r\l
FALL 1994 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 
7
Chinese Cabbages Do Well
in Cabbage Variety Trial
ERIC SIMONNE, JIM BANNON, JOHN EASON, IARLIN HOLLINGSWORTH, 
JOSEPH KEMBLE,
JOHN OWEN, JIM PITTs, MARVIN RUF, KENNETH SHORT, AND 
JAMES WITT
Cabbage variety trials were conducted using plas-
tic mulch and drip irrigation at the Horticulture Unit
of the E.V. Smith Research Center (EVSRC) in
Shorter, the Piedmont Substation (PS) in Camp Hill,
the Chilton Area Horticulture Substation (CAHS) in
Clanton, the North Alabama Horticulture Substation
(NAHS) in Cullman, and the Sand Mountain Substa-
tion (SMS) in Crossville. While most fall cabbage in
Alabama is grown on bare ground or new plastic mulch
(as a first crop), the potential exists for cabbage pro-
duction follow-
ing a spring TABLE 
1. CROPPING SYSTEMS 
USE
crop on the
same plastic. Location Plastic Color
This practice is PS ................ 
................ Black
referred to as SMS .................... ........ Black
double- EVSRC 
.......................... Black
cropping. 
CAHS .........
Black
NAHS ................................ W hite
Therefore, 
the
evaluation of 'Double-cropping
2 Eevaluation of ach in 
half of the 
field
selected cab-
bage varieties
was done as a first crop or as double-cropping (Table
1). Selected red and oriental cabbage varieties were
evaluated along with traditional green ones.
At all locations, six-week-old cabbages were
transplanted on Sept. 9 in staggered double rows 14
inches apart at an in-row spacing of 18 inches. Plots
were 20 feet long and contained 26 plants, which re-
sulted in approximately 15,000 plants per acre.
For cabbage grown as a first crop (at EVSRC, PS,
and SMS), soils were fertilized according to recom-
mendations of the Auburn University Soil Testing
Laboratory. Names of chemicals are mentioned only
for describing the production practices used. This rep-
resents neither a recommendation nor an endorsement
of these products. Recommendations for pest and weed
control in vegetable production in Alabama may be
found in IPM Commercial Vegetables: Insect, Disease,
Nematode and Weed Control Recommendations (Pub-
lication 941PM-2, Alabama Cooperative Extension
Service).
At EVSRC, the soil was fumigated with methyl
bromide at a rate of 400 pounds per acre, and beds
were formed. Preplant fertilizers provided 30 pounds
of nitrogen (as calcium nitrate), 90 pounds of phos-
phorous (as triple superphosphate), and 90 pounds of
potassium (as 0-0-60 muriate potash). Fertilization
injections consisted of 41 pounds of potassium nitrate
(13-0-44) on Sept. 9 and 26, Oct. 10 and 24, and Nov.
8 and 21; and
N CABBAGE VARIETY 
EVALUATION 
27 pounds 
of
20-20-20 on
Previous Crop Sept. 19, Oct. 3
None and 17, and
None Nov. 1 and 15.
None 
Insect control
Squash and Cantaloupe' 
consisted of ap-
Tomato and Bell Pepper'
plications of
Ambush (eight
ounces per
acre) on Sept.
13; Dipel (three pints per acre) on Sept. 16, 26, and
30; Lannate LV (three pints per acre) on Sept. 19 and
Oct. 4; and Asana XL (seven ounces per acre) on Sept.
26, 28, and 30, and Oct. 11 and 18. Fungicides used
were Bravo 720 (three pints per acre) on Sept. 16;
Kocide 101 (two pounds per acre) on Sept. 13; and
Ridomil MZ 58 (two pounds per acre) on Sept. 13.
At PS, a 13-13-13 fertilizer was broadcast at a rate
of 400 pounds per acre before the beds were formed.
Because the field had been left uncultivated for sev-
eral years, fumigation was not necessary. Beginning
three weeks after transplanting, a 20-10-20 water-
soluble fertilizer was injected weekly at a per-acre rates
of 12 pounds of N, six pounds of P, and 12 pounds of
K. Insect control consisted of two applications of
Dimethoate (four ounces per acre) twice; four appli-
cations of Pounce 3.2 EC (1.6 ounces per acre); one
application of Lannate (7.2 ounces per acre).
ED I
8 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
At SMS, a 9-7-22 fertilizer was broadcast preplant and NAHS. Previous crops were sprayed with
at a rate of 600 pounds per acre. Beds were formed on Roundup (approximately one gallon per acre) and
Sept. 7. No additional fertilizer was supplied with the mowed to remove the dry shoots. New holes were
drip tubing. Plants were sprayed twice with Lannate punched for cabbage establishment.
at a rate of eight ounces per acre. At CAHS, 30 pounds each of N, P, and K were
Cabbage was grown as a double-crop at CAHS injected on Sept. 6 after removing the shoots of the
TABLE 2. ACTUAL AND CORRECTED NUMBER OF 50-POUND BOXES, MARKETABLE YIELD,
AND NUMBER OF MARKETABLE HEADS OF CABBAGE 
GROWN ON PLASTIC AS A FIRST CROPI
Variety Seed Actual Marketable Marketable Corrected
Source 50-lb. Boxes Yield Heads 50-lb. Boxes
2
No./a.
Kasumi (O)....................... Stokes
Summertime II (0)
3 
.......... Stokes
Orange Queen (0)
3 
........... Stokes
Wanda ........................... Nunhems
XPH 5781 .................... Asgrow
CB-7 .......................... Rogers
PSR 18589 ...................... Petoseed
Quick Start ................... Takii
Constanza .......................... Petoseed
Bravo ........................... Harris Seeds
Rio Verde ....................... Rogers
XPH 5785 ................... Asgrow
Izalco .............................. Rogers
Multikeeper ....................... Stokes
Kasumi (0)....................... Stokes
Jade Pagoda (0)................Harris Seeds
Monument (0)' ................. Stokes
Orange Queen (0)
3 
........... Stokes
Cheers ....................... Takii
Blue Jem ............................ Harris Seeds
Constanza .......................... Petoseed
PS 63880 ........................... Petoseed
XPH 5785 ........................ Asgrow
Survivor ........................... Stokes
PSR 18589....................... Petoseed
Cardinal (red).................. Harris Seeds
Rougette (red) ................... Vilmorin
Summertime II (O) .......... Stokes
Kasumi (O) ....................... Stokes
Orange Queen (0)
3 
........... Stokes
Blue Jem ............................ Harris Seeds
Wanda.............................. Nunhems
XPH 5781 .......................... Asgrow
XPH 5785 ....................... Asgrow
Constanza ......................... Petoseed
CB-7................................... Rogers
Cheers ............................... Takii
Bravo ................................. Harris Seeds
Cardinal (red).................... Harris Seeds
Multikeeper ...................... Stokes
Rougette (red) ................... Vilmorin
Lb./a.
E.V. Smith Research Center
1,155 57,759
1,155 57,764
166 8,311
442 22,082
396 19,801
355 17,774
307 15,364
306 15,304
280 13,986
277 13,871
242 12,084
224 11,191
199 9,959
39 1,960
Piedmont Substation
424 21,181
357 17,860
327 16,367
111 5,568
513 25,660
442 22,079
412 20,582
406 20,310
356 17,778
347 17,329
252 12,587
28 1,416
- 0
Sand Mountain Substation
654 32,703
590 29,523
207 10,373
294 14,723
275 13,754
240 11,979
194 9,692
182 9,115
181 9,039
153 7,656
83 4,138
38 1,884
20 1,013
- 0
No./a.
9,474
9,474
1,525
9,256
6,860
6,861
5,227
6,752
5,990
5,118
3,703
4,574
4,901
762
12,524
6,098
9,039
2,940
6,207
6,207
8,494
3,049
4,247
7,841
5,663
980
2,069
2,831
1,579
4,356
653
3,267
2,723
2,614
2,178
2,069
1,198
545
218
No./a.
1,166
1,201
168
446
392
359
359
354
282
291
245
224
201
40
454
383
347
127
568
446
424
445
359
414
422
61
709
675
247
340
376
290
212
249
376
197
106
89
25
'The yields of red cabbage varieties were low due to low survival rate after transplanting.
2
Corrected yields were calculated after adjustment for stand.
I These cabbages are Oriental; others are standard varieties.
Q2 22,0'12 20,51
t~PITn~PIPI~I 41rn
FALL 1994 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS9
previous crop. Fertilizer was injected at a rate 
of six
pounds of N per acre from 13-13-13 on Oct. 
4 and 25,
and potassium nitrate (20-20-20) on Sept. 
12, Oct. 11,
and Nov. 9. Fungicide applications 
consisted of Bravo
720 (one pint per acre) on Sept. 13, 
Oct. 24 and 31,
and Nov. 8 and 12. Insect control 
was provided by
applications of Lannate LV 
(one pint per acre) on Sept.
13, Oct. 24 and 31, and Nov. 8 and 
12; and Dipel (two
pints per acre) on Oct. 24 and 
31, and Nov. 8.
At NAHS, ammonium nitrate was 
injected at a rate
of 50 pounds per acre on 
Sept. 27 and Oct. 3. Insecti-
cide applications included Asana 
(9.6 ounces per acre)
on Sept. 19 and 26; Javelin (one 
pound per acre) on
Sept. 26 and Oct. 3; and Lannate 
(one quart per acre)
on Oct. 3. Bravo 720, a fungicide, 
was applied on Oct.
10, 17, 24, and 31, and Nov. 
7 at a rate of one-half
pint in 50 gallons of water per 
acre.
When they reached marketable size, cabbage
heads were harvested with four 
wrapper leaves and
graded according to United 
States Standards for
Grades of Cabbage (Publication 
46 FR 63293, U.S.
Department of Agriculture). 
Harvest dates were Nov.
10, 11, and 30 at EVSRC; Nov. 
16 and Dec. 1 and 15
at CAHS; Dec. 19 and Jan. 
10 and 17 at PS; Nov. 16
and 21, and Dec. 21 at NAHS; and Dec. 
2, 9, and 21
at SMS.
Marketable weight (in numbers 
of 50-pound car-
tons) and corresponding number 
of heads were re-
corded (Table 2, 3). To account for 
the difference be-
tween first and double crops, 
corrected yields were
calculated by adjusting for stand. 
These estimates may
be useful to compare variety 
performance across lo-
cations and cropping systems.
TABLE 3. ACTUAL AND CORRECTED 
NUMBER OF 50-POUND BOXES, MARKETABLE 
YIELD,
AND NUMBER OF MARKETABLE 
HEADS OF CABBAGE GROWN 
ON PLASTIC AS A SECOND CROP'
Variety Seed 
Actual Marketable 
Marketable Corrected
Source 50-lb. Boxes 
Yield Heads 
50-lb. Boxes
2
No./a. Lb./a. 
No./a. No./a.
Chilton Area Horticulture Substation
Jade Pagoda (0) ............... 
Harris Seeds 643 
32,174 7,904 
1,046
Monument (0)
3 
................. Stokes 
289 14,435 
4,790 600
Kasumi (0)
3 
................... Stokes 
285 14,274 
4,551 471
Orange Queen (0) ........... 
Takii 263 
13,149 3,832 
464
CB-7................................... Rogers 
248 12,382 
6,227 460
Blue Jem ....................... Harris 
Seeds 186 
9,288 3,832 
471
Constanza ....................... 
Petoseed 172 
8,603 3,832 
416
Multikeeper ....................... Stokes 
130 6,514 
2,874 713
Cheers ............................. 
Takii 104 
5,212 1,916 
374
PSR 152999 .................... Petoseed 
86 4,292 
1,677 372
Bravo ............................ Harris 
Seeds 71 
3,573 1,437 
372
Rio Verde .......................... 
Rogers 68 
3,425 1,437 
419
Green Cup ......................... 
Takii 
0 
-
-
PS 63880............................ 
Petoseed 
- 0 
- -
Rougette (red) ................... 
Vilmorin 
-
0 
-
-
North Alabama Horticulture 
Substation
Monument (0)
3 
................. Stokes 
873 43,642 
10,603 1,164
Jade Pagoda (0)
3
............... Harris Seeds 
695 34,773 
7,263 1,113
Kasumi (0)
3 
....................... Stokes 
589 29,465 
6,682 1,362
PS 63880 ......................... Petoseed 
226 11,324 
4,793 368
Constanza .......................... Petoseed 
205 10,229 
3,777 409
Izalco .............................. Rogers 
205 10,246 
5,084 296
Cheers ................................ 
Takii 182 
9,113 4,503 
395
Bravo ................................. 
Harris Seeds 155 
7,765 3,631 
317
Survivor ............................. 
Stokes 
102 5,094 
2,615 424
XPH 5785 .......................... 
Asgrow 
98 4,908 
2,324 232
Wanda................................ 
Nunhems 
85 4,260 
2,324 385
Multikeeper ....................... 
Stokes 55 
2,750 1,017 
102
Quick Start ........................ 
Takii 
28 1,380 
726 93
Rougette (red) ................... 
Vilmorin 
- 0 
- -
'The yields of red cabbage 
varieties were low due to low 
survival rate after transplanting.
2
Corrected yields were calculated 
after adjustment for stand.
3
These cabbages are Oriental; all others are standard varieties.
10 
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT 
STATION
Sweetpotato Breeding Lines
Show Good Yield Potential for 
Alabama
ERIC SIMONNE, JIM BANNON, JIM DANGLER, MARLIN HOLLINGSWORTH, JIM PIrTrs, AND JAMES WITT
Sweetpotato variety trials were conducted at the
Horticulture Unit at the E.V. Smith Research Center
(EVSRC), the Chilton Area Horticulture Substation
(CAHS) and the North Alabama Horticulture Substa-
tion (NAHS).
Sweetpotato seed roots from nine commercial
varieties and 10 advanced breeding lines were planted
in a heated bed at NAHS between March 25 and April
4 for slip production. Slips were removed from the
beds on May 28 and bundled for shipment to the loca-
tions of the trials. At all the locations, slips were
planted on June 1 in single row, 30-foot-long plots.
Within-row spacing was one foot.
At EVSRC, a combination of 15.5-0-0, 0-60-0,
and 0-0-46 fertilizers was preplant incorporated 
on
May 16. This provided (per acre) 40 pounds of nitro-
gen (N), 60 pounds of phosphorus (P) and 60 pounds
of potassium (K). On June 22, 40 pounds of N were
sidedressed using a 15.5-0-0 fertilizer. A nematicide
(Mocap 10 G) was preplant incorporated at a rate of
60 pounds per acre on May 17.
At CAHS, rows were 3.55 feet wide. Fertilization
consisted of applications of 40 pounds of N, preplant
and sidedressed on July 11. Weed control was pro-
vided by preplant applications of Eptam EC (three
pounds per acre) and Sencor FL (eight ounces per
acre).
At NAHS, a 5-10-15 fertilizer was broadcast pre-
plant at a rate of 1,000 pounds per acre. Command
(herbicide) was preplant applied at a rate of three
quarts per acre on May 26. Plots were 3.7 feet wide.
Sweetpotato slips were irrigated with 0.75 inch of
water on June 1. Total rainfall during the growing sea-
son was 27 inches. Insect control consisted of appli-
cations of Lorsban (two quarts per acre) and Temik
(20 pounds per acre) on May 26, and of Pencap M
(one quart per acre) and Thiodan 50 WP (one pound
per acre) on Aug. 30.
Sweetpotatoes were harvested on Oct. 6 at
EVSRC, Oct. 19 at CAHS, and Oct..17 at NAHS. Roots
were graded as US #1I (roots two to 3.5 inches in di-
ameter, three to nine inches long, well shaped, and
free of defects), canner (roots one to two inches in
diameter, two to seven inches long), jumbo (roots that
exceed the diameter, length, and weight requirements
of the US #1 grade but are of marketable quality), or
cull (roots at least one inch in diameter but so mis-
shapen or unattractive that they could not be classi-
fied as marketable roots). Marketable yield was cal-
culated by adding the yields of the US #1, canner, and
jumbo grades (Table 1).
10
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
TABLE 1. SWEETPOTATO MARKETABLE YIELD AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION
Variety Type' US # 1 Canner Jumbo 
Cull Total Percent
Market.
2
US #13
Darby ............... .............. CV
Jewel ................................... CV
Red Star ......................... CV
Georgia Jet ......................... CV
Beauregard .................... CV
Hernandez ........ CV
Cordner ......... CV
Gold Star ........................ CV
Carolina Nugget............. CV
NC-75 ........... ....... BL
L-89-72 ......... BL
L-89-110 ....... BL
L-87-54 ......... BL
W -210 ................................. BL
Georgia Jet .................... CV
Beauregard .................... CV
Gold Star .......................... CV
Jewel .............. ..... CV
Cordner ......... CV
Darby .................................. CV
Hernandez ....... CV
Carolina Nugget............ CV
Red Star ......................... CV
NC-C59............................... BL
L-89-72 ......... BL
L-87-54 ......... BL
NC-75 ......................... .. BL
W -210 ................................. BL
NC92-08 ............................ BL
NC-C58 .............................. BL
Beauregard ........................ CV
Darby ................................. CV
Georgia Jet ......................... CV
Hernandez.......................... CV
Red Star .............................. CV
Jewel .................................. CV
Carolina Nugget ................. CV
Cordner .............................. CV
Gold Star ............................ CV
L-89-72 .............................. BL
NC-75 ................................ BL
L-89-110 ............................ BL
NC-C59.............................. BL
NC-C58 ................................ BL
L-87-54 .............................. BL
NC92-08 ............................ BL
W -294 ................................ BL
W -210 ................................ BL
W -285 ................................ BL
Bu./a.
4  
Bu./a. Bu./a.
E.V. Smith Research Center
590
368
338
303
385
265
290
132
155
468
414
305
333
185
Chilton
169
144
128
167
185
82
212
137
151
129
148
148
180
153
116
84
North Al
395
434
332
205
108
143
151
64
35
601
408
391
424
322
374
156
163
92
70
162
180
154
95
95
164
143
199
152
137
117
206
100
99
Area Horticulture
316
244
252
205
199
141
177
143
130
232
214
235
168
322
200
94
abama Horticulture
186
127
175
223
227
186
138
99
113
176
242
201
108
141
171
214
120
143
90
Bu./a.
T', ,,, 1
210
39
74
150
39
16
11
13
9
189
117
20
78
88
Substation
237
229
207
120
67
214
46
46
23
251
247
218
223
43
70
97
Substation
34
40
14
0
32
0
0
5
0
32
55
48
78
97
14
0
0
0
0
Bu./a.
63
12
28
180
17
26
86
32
38
25
19
28
67
33
80
112
66
48
69
62
61
13
440
79
33
27
81
137
202
8
166
103
170
95
219
101
156
65
23
79
32
14
86
46
106
104
72
155
47
'CV = Commercial Variety; BL = Breeding Line.
2
Marketable yield was calculated by adding 
the yields of the US #1, canner, and jumbo 
grades.
3
Percent US # 1 was calculated by dividing the yield of the US# 1 grade by the marketable yield (culls not included).
4
50-pound bushels 
per acre.
FALL 1994 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY 
TRIALS
11
963
587
565
549
519
446
444
345
316
794
648
531
511
372
721
617
586
491
451
437
435
325
304
612
608
601
570
517
386
275
615
601
522
428
367
329
289
168
148
808
706
639
610
560
559
370
283
235
160
63
63
61
56
76
59
66
38
49
59
63
58
66
50
24
23
22
35
38
19
48
41
52
20
24
25
33
30
29
31
65
72
64
51
36
42
52
39
26
73
56
60
70
58
67
45
54
43
32
12 
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
Appendix
Seed Suppliers
Asgrow Seed Co.
Brent Farrington
P.O. Box 48503
Doraville, GA 30362
Ph. 1-800-334-6571
Harris Seeds
Bob Wilkins
60 Saginow Dr.
Rochester, NY 14692-2960
Ph. 1-800-544-7938
Nunhems Seed Co.
Hank Mendee
PO Box 18
Lewisville, ID 83431
Ph. (208) 754-8666
Petoseed Co.
Mario Rivas
3085 Whilraway Trail
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Ph. (904) 668-9068
Rogers
Curt Pollard
2101 Melrose Drive
Valdosta, GA 31602
Ph. (912) 560-1863
Stokes Seeds Inc.
Mark Kaminski and Joe Butwin
PO Box 548
Buffalo, NY 14240-0548
Ph. (716) 695-6980
Takii Seed
Yuki Benech
301 Natividad Rd
Salinas, CA 93906
Ph. (408) 443-4901
Vilmorin
Gilles Laurin
P.O. Box 707
Empire, CA 95319
Ph. (209) 529-6000
Transplant Production
Mobley Greenhouse Inc.
Patrick Mobley
Route 8, Box 634
Moultrie, GA 31768
Ph. 1-800-345-5783
12
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
FALL 1994 COMMIERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 13
Authors
Eric Simonne
Postdoctoral Fellow, Horticulture
Karl Harker
Agricultural Meteorologist, SE Agricultural Weather Service
Ellen Bauske
Extension Associate, Horticulture
Jim Bannon
Director, E.V. Smith Research Center
John Eason
Superintendent, Sand Mountain Substation
Marlin Hollingsworth
Superintendent, North Alabama Horticulture Substation
Joseph Kemble
Assistant Professor, Horticulture
John Owen
Superintendent, Piedmont Substation
Jim Pitts
Superintendent, Chilton Area Horticulture Substation
Marvin Ruf
Associate Superintendent, Sand Mountain Substation
Kenneth Short
Associate Superintendent, Chilton Area Horticulture Substation
James Witt
Superintendent, E.V. Smith Horticulture Unit
Jim Dangler
Assistant Professor, Horticulture
LOCATIONS OF 
PARTICIPATING 
RESEARCH 
UNITS
Main Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn.
i' E. V. Smith Research Center, 
Shorter.
1. Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville.
2. North Alabama Horticulture Substation, 
Cullman.
3. Chilton Area Horticulture Substation, Clanton.
4. Piedmont Substation, Camp Hill.