Leachate of Banana Rakes: Procurement and Potential Uses

El plátano es uno de los frutos más consumidos en todo el mundo. Además de su sabor y potencial nutritivo puede ser fácilmente transportado y almacenado. En México anualmente se cultivan muchas variedades de plátanos en una superficie mayor a 70.000 hectáreas con una producción superior a 2 millones de toneladas de producto fresco. El cultivo de plátano en la región montañosa de Veracruz se caracteriza por el manejo de un agrosistema plátano-café diversificado, en muchos casos en traspatio, que implica el uso de una gran diversidad de especies frutales y arbóreas asociadas. La producción de plátanos origina una gran cantidad de desechos orgánicos como son los frutos de rechazo y el raquis principalmente, los cuales no son aprovechados adecuadamente y podrían reutilizarse como materia orgánica para el suelo. En este trabajo se evalúo la producción y el contenido de nutrientes (macro y micro elementos) del lixiviado del raquis de plátano en invernadero en charolas de 4 kg c/u. Se obtuvo un rendimiento del 30% de reparación de lixiviados. El potasio (K) es el elemento que más se recupera (1%) en los lixiviados alcalinos (pH 10). Se propone la lixiviación del raquis como una alternativa complementaria para la biofertilización del cultivo por la gran cantidad de nutrientes que presenta.Banana is one of the most consumed fruits in the world. Besides its flavor and nutritional potential can be easily transported and stored. In Mexico many varieties of bananas are grown on a surface area of more than 70.000 hectares with a production of more than 2 million tons of fresh product per year. In most of the cases the banana-coffee diversified agrosystem is managed on the backyards and implies the use of a huge amount of diversity such as fruit and other tree species. Banana production causes a large amount of organic waste such as wasted fruits and rachis mainly. These are not properly used and could be reused as organic matter for the soil. In this work, the production and content of nutrients (macro and micro elements) of the banana rachis leachate in greenhouse in 4 kg trays each were evaluated. A yield of 30% of leachate repair was obtained. Potassium (K) is the most recovered element (1%) in alkaline leachate (pH 10). In this investigation, rachis leaching is proposed as a complementary alternative for crop nutrition due the large amount of nutrients that it contains

Agricultura urbana y periurbana como contribución a la estrategia de conservación de la biodiversidad de Heliconias en la región central de Cuba

New ways of sustainable production on urban and peri- urbans areas have contributed to the conservation of species diversity, as to ornamentals plants that belong to family: Heliconiaceae. For this reason we recorded nine species of Heliconia as new accessions from Central Region of Cuba, that were prospected in gardens and yards of national reference as well as from three botanical gardens in central provinces of Cuba (Cienfuegos, Villa Clara and Santi Spíritus), located in forested mountain areas. Molecular corroboration of the species collected was included, as well as a brief description of the morphological and ecological characteristics of these accessions. We show the high commercial potential they have for the island and the contribution to the territorial expansion of these species. In the propagation strategy we considered the micropropagation through biotechnological techniques of tissue culture and in vitro conservation in Cienfuegos Biofactory. The collaboration of universities and the municipal government of Cuba Central region together with the active participation of the farmers have allowed the development of new areas, gardens and home gardens, despite limited resources

Biotechnological techniques for obtaining genotypes of Vanilla planifolia Jacks. resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vanillae

El principal problema que enfrenta el cultivo de vainilla en el mundo es su susceptibilidad a plagas y enfermedades. Dentro de ellas destaca la pudrición de raíz y tallo causado por Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vanillae. A pesar de ser México centro de origen y domesticación de la vainilla (Vanilla planifolia) actualmente no se cuentan con materiales genéticos resistentes a este patógeno, ni con métodos de control efectivos a esta enfermedad. Por ello, el Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada (INBIOTECA) de la Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, México, desde hace siete años, ha emprendido un programa de mejoramiento genético/biotecnológico con el fin de obtener genotipos de vainilla resistente a este patógeno fúngico que puedan contribuir a frenar la pérdida de diversidad genética existente en el cultivo.The main problem facing the cultivation of vanilla in the world is its susceptibility to pests and diseases. Among them, root and stem rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vanillae Although Mexico is the center of origin and domestication of vanilla (0), there are currently no genetic materials resistant to this pathogen, nor effective control methods for this disease. Therefore, the Institute of Biotechnology and Applied Ecology (INBIOTECA) of the Veracruzana University, Veracruz, Mexico, for seven years, has undertaken a program of genetic/biotechnological improvement in order to obtain vanilla genotypes resistant to this fungal pathogen that can in turn slow the loss of genetic diversity present in the crop.Agradecemos al Programa de Mejoramiento del Profesorado (PROMEP) por el financiamiento otorgado al proyecto de Red: “Bases Biotecnológicas para el Mejoramiento Genético de Vanilla planifolia”, que integra el cuerpo académico UV-CA-234. El primer autor ( M A R M) agradece al Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT) por la beca n° 275736, que permitió la realización de este trabajo

Conventional to organic transition of Citrus x sinensis (L.) Osbeck (pro. sp.) orchards in municipalities of northern Veracruz state

This research determined the degree of transition towards organic production and management of Valencia orange in the municipalities of northern Veracruz State. One hundred and six surveys were administered to producers grouped into four consolidated civil associations. A constructed transition index considering six variables revealed an average of 0.768. Citrus grower/institution positively correlated with intercropping (p = 0.0281) and with internal factors (p = 0.0257). Determinant factors for transition index were intercropping (p = 0.00009), and citrus grower/institution interaction (p = 0.0000). These internal and external factors together with years of conversion, averaging six years, resulted in an intermediate transition degree towards organic Valencia orange production. Municipalities of northern Veracruz State stand on varying degrees of transition towards organic agriculture. Yet, many growers still conserve some management practices not consistent with organic production. Highlights: Transition index to organic agriculture of citrus growers was 0.768. Some citrus growers with few years of organic production apply all practices as advanced or organic. Growers of northern Veracruz, Mexico are in intermediate transition degree towards organic Valencia orange production.This research determined the degree of transition towards organic production and management of Valencia orange in the municipalities of northern Veracruz State. One hundred and six surveys were administered to producers grouped into four consolidated civil associations. A constructed transition index considering six variables revealed an average of 0.768. Citrus grower/institution positively correlated with intercropping (p = 0.0281) and with internal factors (p = 0.0257). Determinant factors for transition index were intercropping (p = 0.00009), and citrus grower/institution interaction (p = 0.0000). These internal and external factors together with years of conversion, averaging six years, resulted in an intermediate transition degree towards organic Valencia orange production. Municipalities of northern Veracruz State stand on varying degrees of transition towards organic agriculture. Yet, many growers still conserve some management practices not consistent with organic production. Highlights: Transition index to organic agriculture of citrus growers was 0.768. Some citrus growers with few years of organic production apply all practices as advanced or organic. Growers of northern Veracruz, Mexico are in intermediate transition degree towards organic Valencia orange production

Establecimiento de las bases biotecnológicas y ecológicas en la mejora genética de Vanilla planifolia Jacqs. (Orchidaceae)

Vanilla planifolia Jacks is a genetic resource of socio-economic importance to the State of Veracruz, México. However, in recent years, this culture is facing a serious problem due to the fall of its fruits. To contribute to the conservation, improvement and management of V. planifolia, it has been developed a network project for the strengthening of academic bodies sponsored by the Secretariat of public education. This paper presents some of the progress made in this context

Hormetic effect of Gamma rays on Pinus pseudostrobus Lindl. seed

Pinus pseudostrobus Lindl. is one of the most used conifer species in reforestation projects. However, it presents some problems with the viability of its seeds. Although the usefulness of the radiostimulant effect of gamma rays in processes such as germination and growth of forest species has been demonstrated, there is no information available on this species. For this reason, it was proposed to evaluate the "hormetic effects" of low doses (0.5, 1.5, 3.0, 5.0, and 7.5 Gy) of gamma rays (60Co Theratron 780E Unit) on germination capacity, seedling growth, and chlorophyll content in this species. The results showed that all doses (0.5, 1.5, 3.0, 5.0, and 7.5 Gy) improved germination percentage, but not seedling growth. The highest germination percentage was recorded at 61.53 percent with the 0.5 Gy dose, while the gamma doses of 1.5 and 3.0 Gy ranked second with 53.84%. The height and diameter of seedlings from 0, 0.5, 1.5, and 3.0 Gy irradiated seeds did not show significant differences. However, as the dose increases, the stress generates a decrease in growth. The photosynthetic pigment content was lower at doses of 0.5 and 1.5 Gy (Ch a= 0.35, Ch b = 0.15, Ch a+b = 0.50, Car = 0.18). This study is important because it shows that the stimulatory effects of low gamma doses on germination and seedling growth may not be the same