Effect of organic and chemical fertilization on the onion crop (Allium cepa L.)

The bulb onion (Allium cepa L.) is a vegetable widely cultivated and in high demand in national and international markets. Due to the risks that the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals represents for human health and the environment, the present study aimed to make a comparative analysis of the effects of organic vs chemical fertilization currently used in the cropping of red hybrid bulb onion (Eureka). Three organic fertilizers (Zumsil®, ComCat® and EcoFungi®) were compared to three chemical fertilizers (15-15-15®, Muriate of Potash® and Nitrofoska®). The response variables were: plant height at 30 and 60 days after transplanting (DAT), length, diameter and average weight of bulbs, yield in tons per hectare and the relationship between height at 30 and 60 DAT. The experiment was carried out under a completely randomized design with four replicates, seven treatments and 28 experimental units. The statistics used include an analysis of variance and a Canonical Biplot that allowed to obtain groups of variables and to determine their correlation with each one of the treatments. Additionally, a marginal analysis of dominant treatments was performed. Positive response of variables was strongly associated with organic fertilizers. From the economic point of view, the ComCat® organic fertilizer represented an ecological alternative with excellent benefits for the producer. This research is in line with the trends for agrochemical-free foods

Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change: A Synopsis of Coordinated National Crop Wild Relative Seed Collecting Programs across Five Continents

The Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change Project set out to improve the diversity, quantity, and accessibility of germplasm collections of crop wild relatives (CWR). Between 2013 and 2018, partners in 25 countries, heirs to the globetrotting legacy of Nikolai Vavilov, undertook seed collecting expeditions targeting CWR of 28 crops of global significance for agriculture. Here, we describe the implementation of the 25 national collecting programs and present the key results. A total of 4587 unique seed samples from at least 355 CWR taxa were collected, conserved ex situ, safety duplicated in national and international genebanks, and made available through the Multilateral System (MLS) of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Plant Treaty). Collections of CWR were made for all 28 targeted crops. Potato and eggplant were the most collected genepools, although the greatest number of primary genepool collections were made for rice. Overall, alfalfa, Bambara groundnut, grass pea and wheat were the genepools for which targets were best achieved. Several of the newly collected samples have already been used in pre-breeding programs to adapt crops to future challenges.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

<em>Phytophthora capsici</em> on <em>Capsicum</em> Plants: A Destructive Pathogen in Chili and Pepper Crops

Capsicum from tropical and subtropical America, is an important genus for the nutritional, economic and cultural values of its species. At the same time, the Capsicum species are affected by diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and pseudofungi, in particular the oomycete Phytophthora capsici. This phytopathogen causes great damage and losses in different Capsicum species, because it infects all plant organs causing root, crown and fruit rot; and, leaf blight. The polycyclic dispersion through zoospores and sporangia, the limited availability of resistant genotypes, and the reduced diversity of effective oomyceticides (fungicides), make P. capsici one of the most complex phytopathogens to be managed worldwide specially in field conditions. However, successful management of P. capsici depends on the knowledge of the pathogen, its interaction with the susceptible host and the methods of control used. Thus, this chapter addressed the etiology, symptomatology, occurrence and management of the disease. Additionally, the cycle of the disease is discussed in a holistic and simple way

Morphological and Ecogeographic Study of the Diversity of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) in Ecuador

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a crop of nutritional and economic importance worldwide, cultivated in more than 100 tropical and subtropical countries including Ecuador, where it is traditionally cultivated in the three continental regions: Amazonia, the Coast and in the valleys of the Sierra. The purpose of this study is to characterize 195 accessions from INIAP’s Ecuadorian cassava collection through (1) morphological characterization with qualitative and quantitative descriptors; and (2) ecogeographic characterization to know the climatic, geophysical, and edaphic conditions in which cassava grows and which environments are frequent or marginal for its cultivation. For the morphological characterization, 27 morphological descriptors were used (18 qualitative and nine quantitative), and for the ecogeographic characterization, 55 variables (41 climatic, two geophysical and 12 edaphic). Four morphological groups and three ecogeographic groups were identified. Morphological variability was evidenced mainly in descriptors related to the leaves, stems, and inflorescences. In addition, it was possible to identify accessions that appear capable of growing under extreme conditions of drought and poor soils. These accessions could be used for improvement

Morphological in situ Characterization of Mortiño (Vaccinium floribundum Kunth) in the Andes of Ecuador

Vaccinium is one of the largest in the Ericaceae family, distributed worldwide. Mortiño (Vaccinium floribundum Kunth) is an Andean fruit threatened by agriculture, livestock, and forestry activities, causing genetic erosion. The importance of the mortiño fruit is also because of its nutritional composition due to its high content of functional compounds in comparison to other Andean fruits. The characterization of a species allows scientists to estimate the population’s genome variability. The morphological characterization reveals important distinctive morphological features, some of which will promote the species’ commercial value. This study aims to apply morphological and agronomic descriptors to mortiño in situ in the paramos of Ecuador. Three locations in three different provinces of the Ecuadorian highlands were selected: San Pablo in Imbabura, Atacazo in Pichincha, and Quilotoa in Cotopaxi, all located between 3200 and 4050 masl. Forty-two descriptors were registered in 15 mortiño populations, of which 16 were quantitative and 26 qualitative. The results demonstrated the existence of two morphological groups of mortiño, the first formed by populations in Imbabura and the second by those in Pichincha and Cotopaxi. The discriminating descriptors of the mortiño plants in the three locations were: the altitude of the site, total soluble solids, and acidity of the fruit, plant height, growth habit, and flower characteristics. The floral formula of the mortiño is K (5); C (5); A (7); G (3). To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first comprehensive morphological description of Andean Vacccinium floribundum

Andean roots and tubers crops as sources of functional foods

8 páginas.--5 figuras.-- 1 tabla.--129 referencias.-- Appendix A. Supplementary material to this article in https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2018.10.007There are many valuable plant species improved by ancient cultures and cultivated locally but of very limited expansion worldwide. Some are considered neglected and underutilized species, such as the root and tuber crops from the Andes. They constitute traditional energy sources basic for the food security in the region but they also are great source of functional foods and there is a traditional associated knowledge on their properties. In this review, we focus on a few species (ahipa, arracacha, mashua, yacon) evaluated in the LATINCROP project which gathered information regarding their conservation status, cultivation practices and traditional uses and to promote new culinary uses. At the same time, this review covers the latest studies on their nutritional components and functional properties which may increase the public awareness to promote their adoption. It provides a view on the available facts and considers what is still to be doneThis work was funded by the FP7 from the European Union (Latincrop, FP7/2007-2013/ under grant agreement n° 613692).Peer reviewe

Caracterización morfológica de la diversidad de razas de Zea mays en la Sierra norte de Ecuador

Ecuador tiene gran diversidad genética de maíz con 36 razas, seis de las cuales no están bien definidas. El objetivo de este trabajo fue caracterizar morfológicamente 129 accesiones provenientes de la zona norte de la Sierra de Ecuador, a fin de contribuir a la conservación de la agrobiodiversidad. Para la caracterización morfológica se utilizaron siete descriptores cualitativos y ocho cuantitativos. La similitud entre las accesiones se analizó con el agrupamiento de Ward y la distancia con el coeficiente de Gower. Se calculó el estadístico Chi-cuadrado (X2 ), el coeficiente de Cramer (V) y el de contingencia (P) para identificar descriptores cualitativos más discriminantes y el índice D de Engels, para cuantitativos. Los análisis se realizaron con el programa SAS. El análisis de agrupamiento identificó cuatro grupos con las razas Morochón y Chulpi agrupadas en dos (G2 y G4, respectivamente). Las variables tipo de grano y forma de superficie del grano fueron las más discriminantes. Mayormente se observó accesiones con tipo de grano semidentado y forma de semilla puntiaguda. La variable longitud de mazorca fue la más discriminante, con promedios que estuvieron desde 11,15 ± 2,46 a 13,72 ± 2,83 cm. La Sierra norte se debe priorizar como área de conservación por encontrarse alta diversidad de razas de maíz

Patrimonios alimentarios en América Latina

En los últimos años, el uso de la noción de «patrimonio alimentario» se generalizó en América Latina, tanto entre los actores públicos como en las asociaciones y académicos. Con el objetivo de discutir esta noción, los autores de las contribuciones que conforman este libro produjeron reflexiones críticas para evitar la trampa de utilizar el «patrimonio alimentario» como un elemento de lenguaje cargado de romanticismo, como suele ser el caso, a veces, en los círculos de activistas y en los discursos de gobiernos. Desde diferentes enfoques disciplinarios, los trabajos empíricos publicados en este libro, producto de investigaciones llevadas a cabo en Argentina, Cuba, Bolivia, Brasil, Ecuador y México, constituyen un aporte clave para los estudios sociales que articulan los temas de la alimentación y del desarrollo. Así, la presente reflexión colectiva busca impulsar nuevas investigaciones y nuevos debates acerca de la utilidad de valorizar la diversidad de las prácticas alimentarias en América Latina a fin de enfrentar los desafíos de la soberanía alimentaria y de la economía local, de conocer mejor la biodiversidad y sus beneficios, y de reconocer la diversidad cultural regional a favor de una mayor inclusión social de los grupos étnicos y de las minorías marginalizadas