Aim of study: Evaluation of the agronomic performance and chemical profile of four hop cultivars grown under Mediterranean conditions.
Area of study: The study was undertaken in Bragança, north-eastern Portugal.
Material and methods: The newly introduced cultivars (‘Columbus’, ‘Cascade’ and ‘Comet’) were compared with the well-stablished
‘Nugget’. The field experiment was carried out between 2017 and 2019. Dry matter (DM) yield (plant and cones), tissue elemental composition
and bitter acid and nitrate (NO3-) concentrations in the cones were assessed.
Main results: ‘Comet’ was the most productive cultivar with the highest total DM yield (1,624 to 1,634 g plant-1), cone yield (572 to
633 g plant-1), and dry weight of individual cones (0.28 to 0.79 g cone-1). ‘Cascade’ showed the lowest average total DM yield (723 to 1,045
g plant-1). The year affected the average values of DM yield and the concentration of bitter acids in the cones, with ‘Cascade’ showing the
highest sensitivity between cultivars. The concentrations of α and β-acids in the cones were within or close to the normal ranges internationally
accepted for all cultivars. ‘Columbus’ exhibited the highest levels of α-acids, ranging between 12.04 % and 12.23%, followed by
‘Nugget’ (10.17–11.90%), ‘Comet’ (9.32–10.69%) and ‘Cascade’ (4.46–8.72%). The nutrient accumulation criteria in cone and leaf tissues
seem to be a differentiating factor between cultivars with influence on bitter acid biosynthesis and biomass production.
Research highlights: All cultivars showed notable performance in terms of DM yield and bitter acid concentration in the cones when
compared to international standards.
