Potential zones for the cultivation of Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa in temperate regions of Veracruz, Mexico

Objective: To identify the potential zones with edaphoclimatic characteristics in municipalities of the state of Veracruz, Mexico, for the cultivation of kiwifruit through modeling. Design/methodology/approach: With the zoning methodology of edaphoclimatic variables and the Kriggin projection algorithm of the GIS ArcMap, the municipalities of the state of Veracruz, with edaphoclimatic potential for growing kiwifruit adapted to tropical highland conditions were determined. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to validate the zoning and determine the similarity of the municipalities with edaphoclimatic potential; a cluster analysis was applied to assess the similarity between the variables studied. Results: The municipalities of Hueyapan de Ocampo, Ixhuatlán del Café, Jalacingo, Magdalena, Mariano Escobedo, Tehuipango and Texhuacán presented average edaphoclimatic characteristics for the establishment of kiwifruit, while Chumatlán and Huatusco presented the greatest edaphoclimatic similarity for cultivation of this fruit. Limitations of the study/implications: This information supports decision-making to establish kiwi and increases knowledge of the species, since the almost null information limits the establishment of its cultivation. Findings/conclusions: Twenty-nine percent of the total Veracruz territory shows edaphoclimatic characteristics to introduce kiwi cultivation; its establishment would represent a support for food and socioeconomic sovereignty for producers, since, according to the present study, its establishment is viable in various geographical points of Veracruz, Mexico.Objective: to identify potential zones with soil and climate characteristics in municipalities of the state of Veracruz, Mexico for kiwi cultivation through modeling.Design/Methodology/Approach: with the zoning methodology of soil and climate variables and the Kriging projection algorithm of the ArcMap GIS®, the municipalities of the state of Veracruz with soil and climate potential for the cultivation of kiwi adapted to tropical conditions were determined. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to validate the zoning and determine the similarity of municipalities with soil and climate potential. A cluster analysis was applied to assess the similarity between the variables studied.Results: the municipalities of Hueyapan de Ocampo, Ixhuatlán del Café, Jalacingo, Magdalena, Mariano Escobedo, Tehuipango and Texhuacán present average soil and climate characteristics for the establishment of kiwi cultivation. Chumatlán and Huatusco presented the greatest soil and climate similarity for the cultivation of this fruit shrub.Limitations of the study/Implications: this information contributes to the decision-making to establish kiwi by increasing the knowledge of the species. As, up to date, the almost non-existent information has limited the establishment of kiwi cultivation.Findings/Conclusions: of the total territory of Veracruz 29% shows soil and climate characteristics to introduce kiwi cultivation. Its establishment would represent support for food and socio-economic sovereignty for producers. According to this study, the establishment of kiwi as a crop is viable in various geographical points of Veracruz

Sex Identification of in vitro Plants of Carica papaya L. MSXJ Hybrid through Molecular Markers

Objective: To identify the sex in vitro plants of the MSXJ hybrid papaya (Carica papaya L.) obtained via somatic organogenesis, using molecular markers SCAR type. Design/methodology/approach: Plants of the MSXJ hybrid papaya with eight months of age and during the fruiting stage were collected at the municipality of Cotaxtla, Veracruz. They were superficially disinfected, with plenty of running water, detergent for 30 minutes, 70% alcohol was added for one minute, 30% commercial chlorine for another 30 minutes and rinsed with sterile distilled water. Subsequently the meristems were grown under a MS medium, and after 30 days a subculture was performed. The extraction of DNA was performed using the Doyle and Doyle method. The PCR was done by the Deputy et al. method, and initiators T1, T12 and W11 were used. Results: Initiator T1 was positive control. Initiators T12 and W11 allowed the amplification of fragments identifying hermaphrodite, female and male plants, while the T12 and W11 initiators were specific to hermaphrodite plants. Study limitations/implications: Papaya producers know the genus of plants three months after planting. Sexuality in papaya plants cannot be differentiated until the flowering step. Findings/conclusions: the implementation of molecular markers could facilitate large-scale plant selection, reducing costs, maintenance time and the elimination of plants with unwanted sex.Objective: To identify the sex of in vitro plants of papaya (Carica papaya L.) MSXJhybrid obtained via somatic organogenesis, through SCAR type molecular markers. Design/Methodology/Approach: Eight-month old MSXJ papaya hybrid plants in thefructification stage were collected in Cotaxtla, Veracruz, Mexico. They weresuperficially disinfected with abundant running water, detergent during 30 min, andthen alcohol at 70% was added for one minute, commercial chlorine at 30% for 30min, and they were rinsed with sterile distilled water; then the meristems werecultivated in MS medium and after 30 d a subculture was made. The DNA extractionwas made with the CTAB method, and the DNA PCR was done with the Deputy et al.(2002) method, and the primers T1, T12 and W11 were used.Results: The T1 primer was the positive control and the T12 and W11 primersallowed the amplification of fragments that identify hermaphrodite, feminine and maleplants, while the T12 and W11 primers were specific for hermaphrodite plants.Study Limitations/Implications: It is required to standardize the method for it to beinexpensive.Findings/Conclusions: The sexuality of papaya plants can be differentiated until thestage of flowering, which is why the implementation of molecular markers wouldfacilitate plant selection if it is implemented at a large scale. Costs, maintenance timeand elimination of plants of unwanted sex are reduced this way

Varietal description of two genotypes of manzano chili pepper (Capsicum pubescens Ruiz & Pav.)

Objective: the objective of this research work was to obtain the varietal description of two varieties of chile manzano in Las Montañas in the center of Veracruz, México. Design/methodology/approach: the varietal characterization module was established under greenhouse conditions at the Centro de Bachillerato Tecnológico Agropecuario No. 99 in the municipality of Coscomatepec de Bravo. The recorded descriptors were in accordance with the International of Plant Genetic Resources Institute for Capsicum and the Graphic Handbook for Variety Description of manzano hot pepper. The plants were characterized from the seedling to the adult plant. The agronomic management of the crop was carried out in accordance with the manual for the production of manzano hot pepper in Las Montañas of the state of Veracruz. Results: all qualitative descriptors were constant for the two varieties MEXUVNE1-15-C2 and MEXUVCU1-16-C2 from seedling to fruiting; in contrast, there were dissimilarities in plant height, stem, leaf, flower, fruit and seed dimensions. Limitations of the study/implications: the pandemic caused by COVID-19 was the main limitation so that some descriptors were not recorded in a timely manner as indicated in the Graphic Handbook. Findings/conclusions: both varieties are very similar; however, the greatest distinction was in the quantitative type descriptors such as: plant height, fruit length, fruit diameter and number of seeds.Objective: The objective of this research study was to obtain the varietal description of two varieties of manzano chili pepper in Las Montañas region, in central Veracruz, Mexico. Design/methodology/approach: The varietal characterization module was established under greenhouse conditions. The markers recorded were in accordance with the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute for Capsicum and the Graphic Handbook for Variety Description of manzano chili pepper. The plants were characterized from seedling in greenhouse to adult plant. The agronomic management of the crop was carried out in accordance with the manual for the production of manzano chili pepper in Las Montañas, state of Veracruz. Results: All qualitative markers were constant for the two varieties, MEXUVNE1-15-C2 and MEXUVCU1-16-C2, from seedling to fruit setting. In contrast, there were dissimilarities in plant height, and stem, leaf, flower, fruit and seed dimensions. Study limitations/implications: The pandemic caused by COVID-19 was the main limitation, resulting in some markers not being recorded in a timely manner as indicated in the Graphic Handbook. Findings/conclusions: Both varieties are very similar; however, the greatest distinction was in the quantitative markers, such as: plant height, fruit length, fruit diameter and number of seeds

Comparación de dos muestreos de hormigas del suelo en la barranca de Metlác, Fortín de las Flores, Veracruz, México

The objective was to compare richness, diversity and abundance of ant community in two soil samplings (June and October) in a transect of the Metlác gully, Municipality Fortin de las Flores, Veracruz, Mexico. Ants were collected during five days with pit-fall traps. After that, samplings were cleaned, separated, mounted and identified at the laboratory. Biodiversity index were calculated and compared (species number, Margalef, Shannon, Pielou and Berger-Parker) and rank curves were plotted for comparing abundance. Twenty one species were identified in the two samplings (12 in the first one and 17 in the second one). Also, the diversity had the same trend with significant differences. Ant community structure was statistically different in the two collecting events. A high dominance was showed in the first sampling and a dominance equilibrium in the second one. It was determined that a richness, diversity and abundance of ants exist in the gully, in the other hand, the dominance of Solenopsis geminata is documented in the two samplings.El objetivo fue comparar la riqueza, la diversidad y la abundancia de la comunidad de hormigas presente en dos muestreos (junio y octubre) del suelo en un transecto de la Barranca de Metlác en el municipio de Fortín de las Flores, Veracruz, México. Los ejemplares se colectaron durante cinco días con trampas de intersección o caída. Posteriormente, las muestras se limpiaron, separaron, montaron e identificaron en laboratorio. Se determinó el número de especies, el índice de riqueza de Margalef, el índice de diversidad de Shannon, el índice de equidad de Pielou y el índice de dominancia de Berger-Parker. La abundancia se comparó con curvas de rango abundancia. Se identificaron un total de 21 especies en las dos colectas realizadas, con 12 especies para la primera y 17 para la segunda, también la diversidad se presentó en ese mismo sentido, observándose diferencias significativas. La estructura de la comunidad en las dos colectas fue estadísticamente diferente, observándose en el primer muestreo una alta dominancia y en el segundo un equilibro de la dominancia con la equitatividad. Se determinó que existe una riqueza, diversidad y abundancia de la mirmecofauna en la región; asimismo, se documenta, la dominancia de Solenopsis geminata en los dos muestreos