Inoculation of maize with phosphate solubilizing bacteria: effect on plant growth and yield

Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB) improve plant growth, yield and phosphorus content of several crops, and may be used as bioinoculant to enhance sustainable production. We evaluated the response of maize (Zea mays L.) to PSB inoculation under controlled and field conditions in Tucumán, Argentina. A pot culture experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of seven previously isolated PSB on early development of plants. Seeds were treated with each bacterial strain, and seedlings were harvested 30 days after inoculation. All strains showed a positive effect on plant growth. A significant increment in plant height (45%), shoot dry weight (40%) was determined in plants treated with Pseudomonas tolaasii IEXb, while Pseudomonas koreensis SP28 has remarkably increased P content compared to the uninoculated control. IEXb strain was selected and evaluated under field conditions in combination with triple superphosphate (TSP) as P fertilizer. The presence of IEXb strain stimulated seedling emergence (8%), shoot length (19%), grain yield (44%), 1000-grain weight (18%), total dry biomass (32%) and P content (56%) of maize plants. In general, P. tolaasii IEXb inoculation was more efficient as bioinoculant without P fertilizer than with TSP. These results provide baseline information for future studies of P. tolaasii IEXb as bioinoculant to promote an eco-friendly and sustainable agriculture.Fil: Viruel, Emilce. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (i); Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Nacional de Inv. Agropecuarias. Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Instituto de Investigación Animal del Chaco Semiarido; ArgentinaFil: Erazzú, Luis Ernesto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Tucumán-Santiago del Estero. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Martínez Calsina, Luciana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Nacional de Inv. Agropecuarias. Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Instituto de Investigación Animal del Chaco Semiarido; ArgentinaFil: Ferrero, Marcela Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (i); ArgentinaFil: Lucca, Maria Ester. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (i); ArgentinaFil: Siñeriz, Faustino. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (i); Argentin

Effects of sowing density on Chenopodium quinoa (quinoa). Incidence on morpho- logical aspects and grain yield in Var. CICA growing in Amaicha del Valle (Tucumán, Argentina)

El cultivo de la quinoa ha comenzado aextenderse en el Noroeste Argentino (NOA) y en especial en los Valles Calchaquíes (valles dealtura ubicados en el Noroeste de Argentina). La variedad más utilizada es CICA, originariadel Perú, que fuera obtenida a partir de otra denominada Amarilla de Maranganí. Sin embargo,no se han encontrado antecedentes que expliquen la preferencia de esta variedad sobreotras. Para contribuir al conocimiento del manejo agronómico de esta variedad se estudió elefecto de la densidad de siembra sobre la morfología y particularmente sobre el rendimientoen granos. Las experiencias se realizaron en una localidad de los Valles Calchaquíes (Amaichadel Valle, Tucumán, Argentina) a 1.995 m sobre el nivel del mar. Los métodos utilizadospara la siembra fueron por golpe, realizado manualmente (?CGo?, CICA separadas) y a chorrillo,con maquina sembradora (?CCh?, CICA juntas). Con éstos se lograron densidades de plantasdiferentes: 4,2 y 27,9 plantas/metro lineal respectivamente. Tanto la altura de las plantas,diámetro de tallo, área foliar específica (AFE), nitrógeno y fósforo foliar y el rendimientoen granos (kg/ha) fue mayor en el primer tratamiento. El análisis de las clases diamétricasde los granos obtenidos reveló que ambos tratamientos producen casi un 65% de granoscuyo diámetro es ³ 1,41 mm. Sin embargo, en el tratamiento ?CGo? aumenta la proporciónde granos cuyos diámetros son ³ a 1,68 mm. Este último dato es importante pues losgranos con mayor diámetro tienen mayor aceptación en los mercados. En general, el rendimientoen granos fue de 5.389 kg/ha y 3.049 kg/ha para los tratamientos ?CGo? y ?CCh?,respectivamente. Estos valores de rendimiento en grano se hallan incrementados con respectoa aquellos que se obtienen en las zonas andinas y muy próximas a los que se informanpara otras condiciones ambientales, como por ejemplo en Europa.Quinoa crops surface is increasing in Argentinean Northwest (NOA) and especially in Valles Calchaquíes (high valley located in the Argentinean Northwest). The most utilized variety is CICA, originated from the other peruvian one called Amarilla de Marangani. There is not antecedent about this preference in Argentinean Northwest. In order to contribute to quinoa agronomical management the effect of sowing density on the morphology and specially grain yields were studied. Experience was performed in a locality in the Valles Calchaquíes (Amaicha del Valle, Tucumán, Argentina) located at 1,995 m asl. One of the utilized methods for planting was the realization of the same by hand (“CICA separated, CGo”) and the other one using a planting machine (“CICA together, CCh”). With both method we get a sowing density of 4.2 and 27.9 plants/m. Plant height, stem diameter, specific leaf area (SLA), phosporus and nitrogen leaf content and grain yields (kg/ha) were increased in “CICA separated, CGo”. Grain diameter clases showed a high proportion (65%) of grain with a di- ameter ≥ 1,41 mm in both treatments. But in “CICA separated, CGo” we registered and increase in the proportion of the grain with a diameter ≥ 1.68 mm. The last data is very im- portant because market prefers a large grain. In general, grain yield were 5,389 kg/ha and 3,049 kg/ha for “CICA separated, CGo” and “CICA together, CCh” respectively. The last values are greater in relation to those obtained in andean high mountains and very close to those obtained in others environment conditions like in Europe.Fil: Erazzú, Luis Ernesto. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: González, Juan Antonio. Fundación Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Buedo, Sebastián Edgardo. Fundación Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Prado, Fernando Eduardo. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentin

Goat manure fertilization effect on saponin and protein content in quinoa (chenopodium quinoa willd) grain of different origin

Background and objectives: A field experiment using two quinoa varieties (Regalona Baer andCICA) was performed to determine the effects of goat manure fertilization on saponin and proteingrain content was performed. A trial was conducted in a valley at 2,000 m a.s.l (Tucumán, Argentina)and at different levels of goat manure addition equivalent to 0, 32, 64, 128, 192 kg N/ha.Findings: Saponin and protein content increased almost linearly as goat manure fertilizationincreased. However, there was a varietal difference, R. Baer synthesized more saponin than CICA atthe same nitrogen level. Conclusions: The study indicated that the quinoa saponin content, in absenceof water stress and salinity, but under the same agronomical managements, increased linearly withgoat manure addition. Probably the differences in response to fertilization of both varieties wererelated to the genotypes origin, one from high mountain (CICA) and the other from lowland (R. Baer).Significance and novelty: Goat manure fertilization on quinoa produced more proteins but thesaponin synthesis increased in the same way. Additionally, quinoa varieties showed variability for thesaponin content. Thus, it is necessary to found an equilibrium point to produce a grain for humanconsumption with high protein and low saponin content or a grain with high protein and high saponincontent for a later industrial separation of both compoundsFil: González, Juan Antonio. Fundación Miguel Lillo. Dirección de Botánica. Instituto de Ecología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Lizarraga, Emilio Fernando. Instituto de Fisiología Animal. Fundación Miguel Lillo. Tucumán; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Bioprospección y Fisiología Vegetal. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Bioprospección y Fisiología Vegetal; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Erazzú, Luis Ernesto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Martínez Calsina, Luciana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Buedo, Sebastián Edgardo. Fundación Miguel Lillo. Dirección de Botánica. Instituto de Ecología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez, Daniela Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Bioprospección y Fisiología Vegetal. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Bioprospección y Fisiología Vegetal; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Quinoa in Egypt - plant density effects on seed yield and nutritional quality in marginal regions

Grain quinoa is a halophyte crop with potentially increasing cultivation area. Yet, no standards exist for optimum plant density in arid-regions. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of planting density on Peruvian valley type of Chenopodium quinoa Willd. cv. CICA from the standpoint of yield and seed quality in marginal area. Two Field experiments were conducted over two consecutive seasons viz., 2015-2016 in a marginal land at El-Fayoum oasis, Egypt with one quinoa cultivar and two planting densities namely, 56.000 plant ha-1(Low) and 167.000 plant ha(High). A complete randomized block design with six replicates was used. Seed yield increased by 34.7% with increase of plant density from 56.000 plant ha-1 to 167.000 plant ha-1. The increase of plant density significantly decreased weight of 1000-seeds and weight of hectoliter. Protein and ash concentrations in seeds increased at low planting density, whereas carbohydrate concentration decreased. However, there were no significant differences between the two planting densities on the seed concentration of the crude fiber or total fat. Regarding effects of plant density on mineral content in quinoa seeds, the calcium and magnesium contents significantly increased at low density compared with high planting density. Meanwhile, no significant effects of plant density on phosphorus, potassium, iron and zinc content in quinoa seeds were detected. Thus, the present study concludes that the plant density that gives higher seed yield is associated with significant reduction in seed quality in terms of protein content. On the other hand, low plant density significantly increased weight of 1000-seeds and hectoliter, which is reflected on the grain size. The latter is considered as a very important parameter for quinoa global market preference.Fil: Eisa, Sayed S.. Faculty Of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo; EgiptoFil: Abd El Samad, Emad H.. National Research Centre, Egypt; EgiptoFil: Hussin, Sayed A.. Faculty Of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo; EgiptoFil: Ali, Essam A.. Desert Research Center, Egypt; EgiptoFil: Ebrahim, Mohamed. Faculty Of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo; EgiptoFil: González, Juan Antonio. Fundación Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Ordano, Mariano Andrés. Fundación Miguel Lillo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Erazzú, Luis Ernesto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: El Bordeny, Nasr E.. Faculty Of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo; EgiptoFil: Abdel-Ati, Ahmed A.. Desert Research Center, Egypt; Egipt

Variation over time in morphological phenotypes and reproductive behavior in a natural wild potato population from Tucumán, Argentina

The common potato, Solanum tuberosum ssp. tuberosum (tbr, 2n = 4x = 48, 4EBN), has a large number of wild relatives (known as “wild potatoes”) with wide geographic and ecological distribution in the Americas. They form a polyploid series with 2n = 2x to 6x (x = 12), have scarce chromosome differentiation, and can reproduce both sexually (by seeds) and asexually (by tubers and stolons). In nature, wild potatoes can be isolated by external and/or internal hybridization barriers; when incomplete, internal barriers allow for gene flow and introgression between sympatric populations. To develop appropriate strategies to in situ maintain the available genetic diversity and to capture a large part of this diversity for ex situ conservation, it is of utmost importance to understand the reproductive behavior of wild potatoes in their natural environments, and to explore possible over time changes. Information in this regard is lacking. Thus, an integrated analysis of morphological phenotypes and breeding relationships was carried out in a natural population from Tucumán province, Argentina. This population was sampled in two consecutive years following a field design and, ex situ, controlled crosses were carried out between plants derived from the sampled propagules. High morphological variability and absence of relationships between morphological phenotypes and breeding behavior was observed, in addition to changes in the predominant mode of reproduction (either sexual or asexual) over time. These results highlight the necessity of resampling wild potato populations and of applying the gene reservoir concept in natural populations -irrespective of individual plant morphological phenotypes- for both conservation and use of their genetic diversity.Fil: Leofanti, Gabriela Agustina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Camadro, Elsa Lucila. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Erazzú, Luis Ernesto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentin

Cross-incompatibility and self-incompatibility: unrelated phenomena in wild and cultivated potatoes?

Knowledge of internal hybridization barriers is relevant for germplasm conservation and utilization. The two pre-zygotic barriers are pollen–pistil self-incompatibility (SI) and cross-incompatibility (CI). To ascertain whether SI and CI were phenotypically related phenomena in potatoes, extensive intra- and interspecific, both intra- and interploidy breeding relationships were established, without previous assumptions on the compatibility behavior of the studied germplasm. Pollen–pistil relationships were analyzed at the individual genotype/accession/family level. In two seasons, 828 intra- and interspecific genotypic combinations were performed, using accessions of the wild potatoes Solanum chacoense Bitter (2n = 2x = 24), S. gourlayi Hawkes (2n = 2x = 24; 2n = 4x = 48), and S. spegazzinii Bitter (2n = 2x = 24), full-sibling (hereinafter “full-sib”) families (2n = 2x = 24) within/between the latter two diploids, and S. tuberosum L. (2n = 4x = 48) cultivars. Pollen–pistil incompatibility occurred in the upper first third of the style (I1/3) in all selfed diploids. In both the intra- and interspecific combinations, the most frequent relationship was compatibility, followed by I1/3, but incompatibility also occurred in the stigma and the style (middle third and bottom third). We observed segregation for these relationships in full-sib families, and unilateral and bilateral incompatibility in reciprocal crosses between functional SI genotypes. Cross-incompatibility in potatoes is, apparently, controlled by genes independent of the S-locus or its S-haplotype recognition region (although molecular evidence is needed to confirm it), with segregation even within accessions.Fil: Maune, Juan Federico. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Camadro, Elsa Lucila. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Erazzú, Luis Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; Argentin

Current Status of Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) Breeding under Sustainable Conditions in Argentina

Sugarcane belongs to the genus Saccharum, to the family Poaceae (or Gramineae),subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Andropogoneae, subtribe Sacharinae, group Saccharastrae. Itis the most important sugar crop and the second bioethanol crop in Argentina. Sugarcaneproduction for the 2018/19 marketing year hit 21.5 million tons in the country. While 16.8 milliontons of this amount was utilized for the production of sugar, 4.7 million tons was usedfor the production of first generation (1G) bioethanol (USDA GAIN report, 2019), the twomain end-products of a non-vertically integrated sugar and ethanol supply chain that generatesexchanges between different companies, i.e., growers on one side and millers in theother (Acreche & Valeiro, 2013). National production of sugar for the 2018/19 marketingyear reached 1.66 million tons (raw value). Of this amount, human domestic consumptionaccounted for 1.57 million tons and 187,000 tons were exported (USDA GAIN report,2019). Production of 1G bioethanol by fermentation of sugarcane juices or molasses hit528,162 m3 for the 2018/19 marketing year, representing 47% of the national production of1G bioethanol (Secretaría de Gobierno de Energía, 2019).Fil: Acevedo, Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Tucuman-Santiago del Estero. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Molina, Catalina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Jose Maria. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Tucuman-Santiago del Estero. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Federico, Maria Laura. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Tucuman-Santiago del Estero. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Erazzú, Luis Ernesto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Tucuman-Santiago del Estero. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; Argentin

Respuesta de microorganismos rizosféricos de la caña de azúcar frente a manejos agronómicos contrastantes: Convencional vs Conservacionista

El manejo convencional del cultivo de caña de azúcar genera detrimento del recurso suelo, modificando los componentes bióticos del mismo, alterando el rol clave que cumplen en la multifuncionalidad de estos agroecosistemas. Debido a la necesidad de mantener la biodiversidad microbiana, una propuesta más conservacionista ha surgido como respuesta frente a la agricultura intensiva. Así, se implementó como estrategia de manejo del cultivo de caña de azúcar un sistema de labranza en franjas y una alternativa de cosecha con carga reducida, empleando equipos de menor porte, buscando generar un efecto positivo en los microorganismos edáficos por menor compactación del suelo. Se planteó como objetivo principal evaluar el efecto de distintos manejos agronómicos del cultivo de caña de azúcar sobre aspectos funcionales de las comunidades microbianas rizosféricas. El ensayo, localizado en un campo experimental del INTA EEA Famaillá en la provincia de Tucumán, comparó 4 tratamientos, resultantes de la combinación de dos factores (labranza y cosecha) con dos niveles cada uno para el manejo del cultivo de caña.Fil: Bertini, Elisa Violeta. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Tucuman-Santiago del Estero. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Viruel, Emilce. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Castellanos, Lucia Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Correa, Olga Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biociencias Agrícolas y Ambientales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biociencias Agrícolas y Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Erazzú, Luis Ernesto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Tucuman-Santiago del Estero. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaIII Jornadas de Microbiología sobre Temáticas Específicas del NOATucumánArgentinaAsociación Argentina de Microbiologí

Homoploid hybridization in the origin and evolution of wild diploid potato species

The potatoes, Solanum L. section Petota Dumortier, are a group of species that possess a very broad range of biological diversity, and a wide geographical distribution in the Americas. These species constitute euploid series with somatic chromosome numbers ranging from 2n = 2x = 24 to 2n = 6x = 72. Although special attention has been given to the origin of polyploid potato species, principally the cultivated forms, that are major food crops, and hybridization has been accepted as an important evolutionary force in the section, the mechanisms involved in the origin and evolution of the diploid species have not been elucidated. Herein, we propose that homoploid hybridization is the main mechanism involved in the origin and evolution of the diploid potato species, and discuss the evidences that support our proposal.Fil: Masuelli, Ricardo Williams. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Mendoza-San Juan. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Consulta; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Camadro, Elsa Lucila. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Erazzú, Luis Ernesto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Tucuman-Santiago del Estero. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Bedogni, María Cecilia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Marfil, Carlos Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza; Argentin

Could the ecophysiological basis of sugarcane be of help in improving sugar yield gains?

Sugar yield (SY) gains worldwide have been slowing down since the 1980s. This study aimed to identify how this trend could be reversed by exploring the ecophysiological basis associated with yield increments. Nitrogen, water and radiation use efficiencies were explored. Thirteen cultivars were grown during three consecutive cycles at Tucumán, Argentina. Cane yield (CY), sugar content (SC), SY, average-stem-weight (ASW), nitrogen-use-efficiency (NUE) and wateruse-efficiency (WUE) increased linearly with the year of release of the cultivars. Sugar yield was associated with CY, SC, ASW, NUE and WUE (r>0.65; P0.81; P<0.01). Stem number at harvest was not increased by breeding and was not related to SY and CY. This could be because breeding did not modify the dynamic of generation and mortality of stems. However, breeding modified the canopy architecture of the crop. This was associated with increases in the amount of radiation intercepted by the crop during its cycle; modern cultivars had higher maximum interception and needed fewer days to reach maximum interception than older cultivars. However, sugarcane breeding did not increase the radiation-use-efficiency. In summary, using ecophysiological tools could help breeders to improve SY.Fil: Acreche, Martin Moises. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Salta-Jujuy. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Salta; ArgentinaFil: Chalco Vera, Jorge Elías. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Salta-Jujuy. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Salta; ArgentinaFil: Saez, Julio Víctor. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Tucuman-Santiago del Estero. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Martínez Calsina, Luciana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Tucuman-Santiago del Estero. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Erazzú, Luis Ernesto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Tucuman-Santiago del Estero. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; Argentina30th Congress of the International Society of Sugar Cane TechnologistsTucumánArgentinaInternational Society of Sugar Cane Technologist