Classification of wild tomatoes: a review

Wild tomatoes are native to western South America. The generic status of wild tomatoes within the Solanaceae has been controversial since the eighteen century. Linnaeus in 1753 placed tomatoes in Solanum while Miller, a contemporary of Linnaeus, classified tomatoes in a new genus. The majority of later botanists have followed Miller. Differing numbers of species and conflicting supraspecific classifications have been proposed, based on morphology or crossing studies. Two major crossability groups have been identified, one that includes mainly self-compatible species that easily cross with the cultivated tomato, and another that comprises self-incompatible species not easily cross with the cultivated tomato. Recent molecular investigations using appropriate outgroups have shown that tomatoes and potatoes are close related phylogenetically, and support the inclusion of tomatoes within Solanum, the classification advocated here. We discuss the conflicting goals of classifications based on predictivity versus stability, a continuing controversy in systematics.Las especies de tomates silvestres son nativas del oeste de América de Sur. Su posición genérica dentro de las Solanáceas ha sido controvertida desde el Siglo XVIII. Linneo en 1753 ubico a los tomates en Solanum mientras que Miller, un contemponineo de Linneo, los incluyo dentro del nuevo genero Lycopersicon. Posteriormente, la mayoría de los botánicos siguieron la clasificación de Miller. Las clasificaciones basadas en morfología 0 en estudios de cruzamientos han propuesto diferente numero de especies 0 categorías supraespecíficas. Sobre la base de la cruzamientos entre especies se han identificado dos grupos; uno de ellos incluye especies autocompatibles que pueden cruzarse fácilmente con el tomate cultivado, el otro comprende especies autoincompatibles que no pueden cruzase fácilmente con esta especie. Recientes investigaciones moleculares, utilizando grupos externos adecuados, han mostrado que los tomates y las papas están muy relacionados filogenéticamente y apoyan la inclusión de los tomates dentro de Solanum, clasificación que hemos adoptado aquí. Se discute acerca del conflicto de los objetivos de las clasificaciones basados en la predicción 0 la estabilidad, una continua controversia en sistemática.Fil: Peralta, Iris Edith. University of Wisconsin; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Spooner, David M.. University of Wisconsin; Estados Unido

Las especies de Fabiana Ruiz et PAv (solanaceae) que crecen en Chile

Fabiana (Solanaceae-Petunioideae) crece exclusivamente en América del Sur, comprende 15 especies, de las que siete crecen en Chile: Fabiana bryoides, Fabiana denudata, Fabiana imbricata, Fabiana ramulosa, Fabiana squamata, Fabiana stephanii y Fabiana viscosa, ésta última es la única especie endémica de Chile. Dos especies crecen en el sur de Perú, seis en Bolivia y diez en la Argentina; habitan en ambientes de las regiones Altoandina, Puna, Prepuna, Monte y Patagonia, llegando hasta la región subantártica chilena, desde el nivel del mar hasta los 4900 m s.m. Se las encuentra generalmente en suelos arenosos, rocosos, con muy bajos valores de fertilidad, escasa materia orgánica y de contenido salino variable. La floración de estas especies se produce en época estival y fructifican en verano-otoño. En climas muy fríos y de altura, la floración es temprana, desde octubre a diciembre mientras que en climas cálidos, la floración se extiende hasta principios de otoño. Este trabajo provee una clave para identificar especies chilenas, descripción morfológica, fotografías e ilustraciones de cada especie.Fabiana (Solanaceae-Petunioideae) grows exclusively in South America, comprising 15 species, seven of which grow in Chile: Fabiana bryoides, Fabiana denudata, Fabiana imbricata, Fabiana ramulosa, Fabiana squamata, Fabiana stephanii and Fabiana viscosa, the latter is the only species endemic to Chile. Two species grow in southern Peru, six in Bolivia and Argentina; habit environments Altoandina regions, Puna, Prepuna, Monte, Patagonia, reaching the Chilean Sub-Antarctic region, from sea level up to 4900 m s.m. They are usually found on sandy, rocky, with very low levels of fertility, low organic matter and salt content variable. The flowering of these species occurs in summer and fruit in summer-autumn. In extreme cold and high, early flowering is from October to December while in hot climates, flowering extends through early fall. This work provides a key to identify Chilean species, morphological description, photographs and illustrations of each species.Fil: Alaria, Alejandrina Soledad. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Peralta, Iris Edith. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de Zonas Aridas; Argentin

Effect of grafting as a technological tool in industrial tomato to increase yield in soils ofsub-optimal conditions

La región de Cuyo es la más importante para el cultivo de tomate para industria, con alrededor del 77% de la producción nacional, y en Mendoza se elabora cerca del 75% de los productos derivados del tomate (344.000 tn anuales de un total nacional de 436.000 t, campaña 2017-18). El desafío actual es mejorar la productividad del cultivo frente a problemas como el uso intensivo de los suelos motivado por el aumento del riego por goteo cuya inversión fija dificulta la implementación de estrategias de rotación, este inconveniente ha incrementado la incidencia de plagas, enfermedades y decaimiento de los rendimientos, dada la prohibición de utilizar biofumigantes de suelos (bromuro de metilo) y otros agroquímicos en el manejo del cultivo. Actualmente para incrementar los rendimientos se proponen estrategias que sean ecológicamente más seguras, para minimizar el riesgo del uso de agroquímicos y priorizar la protección del medio ambiente y la salud tanto del productor como del consumidor. En los últimos años se ha incrementado el uso de los portainjertos en variedades de tomate para consumo en fresco, ya que se obtienen mejores rendimientos y un ciclo de producción más extenso. Sin embargo en el tomate industrial esta tecnología no es frecuente, probablemente por el costo del plantín injertado, aunque los resultados preliminares son muy promisorios con un incremento promedio del 35% en la producción. Se propone investigar el efecto de los portainjertos y su compatibilidad con diferentes variedades comerciales o mejoradas, evaluando el comportamiento agronómico, rendimientos y la calidad de los frutos por sus propiedades nutritivas, contenido de sólidos solubles de gran importancia para su uso industrial y de compuestos bioactivos beneficiosos para la salud. La implementación de esta tecnología, adecuando la densidad de plantación y el uso eficiente de equipamiento e insumos, ayudará a mejorar el sistema de producción y la calidad de los productos industrializados del tomate, en distintas condiciones de suelos: óptimas y subóptimas por su uso intensivo, y para la ampliación de cultivo en áreas marginales.Cuyo is the most important region for processing tomato cultivation, with about 77% of the national production, and Mendoza province provides about 75% of the products derived from tomatoes (344,000 tons per year of a national total of 436,000 tons, 2017-18 campaign). The current challenge is to improve crop productivity to solve problems as the intensive use of soils due to the increase of drip irrigation, whose fixed investment hinders the implementation of land rotation strategies. This drawback has increased the incidence of pests, diseases and decay of yields, given the prohibition of soils biocides (methyl bromide) and other agro-chemicals used in the crop management. Currently, in order to increase yield, different strategies that are environmentally safer are proposed to minimize the risk of the use of agrochemicals and prioritize the environment protection, and also both producers and consumers health. In recent years the use of rootstocks has increased in varieties of tomatoes for fresh consumption, since better yields and a more extensive production cycle are obtained. However, in processing tomato this technology is not common, possibly because of the cost of the grafted seedling, although preliminary results are very promising with an average increase of 35% in the production. This research will be focused on the effect of rootstocks and its compatibility with different commercial or improved varieties, and evaluate agronomic performance, yields and the quality of fruits for their nutritional properties, soluble solids content of great importance for industrial purposes, and beneficial bioactive compounds. The implementation of this technology, adapting plant density and the efficient use of equipment and supplies, will help to improve the production system and the quality of the industrialized products of tomato in different conditions of soil: optimal and suboptimal for intensive use, and for the expansion of cultivation in marginal areas

Conservation status of Maytenus boaria Mol. (maitén) forests in narrow mountain valleys (San Carlos, Mendoza, Argentina)

Los bosques de Maytenus boaria Mol. (maitén) se distribuyen en Mendoza en el borde oriental de la Cordillera Frontal en el Dpto. de San Carlos y constituyen valiosos relictos. El objetivo del trabajo fue estudiar el estado de conservación de estos bosques en umbría y solana entre 1500 y 1640 m s.n.m. en quebradas de esta cordillera. Para ello se relevó el número de individuos por clase diamétrica (adultos, jóvenes y renovales) y sus características de vitalidad-deterioro. Los bosques relevados se presentan esquemáticamente mediante perfiles que sintetizan su fisonomía, principales características ambientales y la presencia de disturbios. Si se considera la totalidad de los adultos de las poblaciones inventariadas (100 maitenes) sólo 19% están sanos, 50% débiles, 17% decrépitos y 14% muertos en pie; esto reflejaría algún tipo de estrés que reduce su vitalidad o que estarían alcanzando la vejez. La causa del deterioro en jóvenes y renovales se debe al ataque por insectos y/o por ramoneo del ganado; debido al alto deterioro medio de los renovales (65%) y jóvenes (88%) la renovación del bosque es incierta. Se concluye que es necesario iniciar la conservación de estos bosques y profundizar en su conocimiento. Se trata del primer estudio de bosques de maitén en las quebradas de la Cordillera Frontal de Mendoza.Maytenus boaria Mol. (maitén) forests are distributed in Mendoza along the eastern edge of the Frontal Andes Mountains in San Carlos Dept., and constitute a valuable relict. The objective was to study the conservation status of these forests in sunny and shady exposures between 1500 and 1640 m elevation in narrow valleys of these mountains. To assess their state of preservation, we surveyed the number of individuals by diametric class (adult tree, young tree and sapling) and by their vitality or decay characteristics. The examined forests are schematically presented through graphic profiles that synthesize their physiognomy, key environmental features and the presence of disturbances. Considering all adults in the studied populations (100 maitén trees) only 19% are healthy, 50% are weak, 17% are crumbling and 14% are dead standing. These results would reflect either some kind of stress which reduces tree vitality, or that those trees would be reaching natural old age. Deterioration of young trees and saplings is caused by the attack of insects and/or livestock browsing; because of the high average decline of saplings (65%) and young trees (88%), forest renewal is uncertain. We concluded that it is necessary to start conservation of these forests and gain further knowledge of them. This is the first study of M. boaria forests in the narrow valleys of the Frontal Andes Mountains of Mendoza.Fil: Besio, Laura. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias AgrariasFil: González Loyarte, María Margarita. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas Fil: Peralta, Iris Edith. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ciencias Biológica

Contribution to the phytosociological study of Maytenus boaria (Celastraceae) forests in Mendoza

Los rodales de Maytenus boaria en la cordillera de Mendoza constituyen relictos arbóreos en riesgo. Se realizaron relevamientos fitosociológicos de estos en quebradas de la Cordillera Frontal. Se observaron bosques puros en laderas y mixtos en terrazas. Los rodales puros se localizaron por encima de 1500 m s. n. m. en: 1) quebradas cerradas en umbrías y solanas en ambientes fríos, que corresponden al piso de Mulguraea scoparia y Colliguaja integerrima; las condiciones más frías de umbría son evidenciadas por Junellia juniperina, Bowlesia tropaeolifolia, Gutierrezia gilliesii, Mutisia subspinosa, Ephedra breana, Geranium berteroanum y Calceolaria pinifolia; las condiciones más cálidas de solana por Schinus fasciculatus, Lycium chilense y Buddleja mendozensis; 2) valles abiertos en umbrías en ambientes frescos donde crecen las especies del Monte: L. chilense, Baccharis salicifolia, Larrea nitida y Proustia cuneifolia; estas tres últimas junto con Eupatorium buniifolium indican mayor disponibilidad de agua en laderas y terrazas. En los ambientes frescos se relevaron también los bosques mixtos de M. boaria y Ochetophila trinervis con Rosa rubiginosa, P. cuneifolia, E. buniifolium en terrazas por debajo de 1500 m s. n. m. Son bosques azonales que constituyen rodales aislados de escasa extensión en sitios con alta disponibilidad de agua.Maytenus boaria forest stands occurring on Mendoza mountains are deemed to be threatened relicts. A phytosociological survey of these stands was undertaken in ravines of Cordillera Frontal. Pure forest stands of maitén were observed on slopes, and mixed stands on terraces. Pure stands occurred above 1500 m elevation: 1) on shady and sunny slopes of narrow ravines, in cold environment, that belong to the vegetation belt of Mulguraea scoparia and Colliguaja integerrima; colder conditions on shady slopes are evidenced by the presence of Junellia juniperina, Bowlesia tropaeolifolia, Gutierrezia gilliesii, Mutisia subspinosa, Ephedra breana, Geranium berteroanum and Calceolaria pinifolia, and warmer conditions on sunny slopes by Schinus fasciculatus, Lycium chilense and Buddleja mendozensis; 2) on shady slopes in open mountain valleys, in cool environment, where Monte species occur: L. chilense, Baccharis salicifolia, Larrea nitida and Proustia cuneifolia; the last three, together with Eupatorium buniifolium, indicate water availability in slopes and terraces. Mixed forest stands of M. boaria and Ochetophila trinervis with Rosa rubiginosa, P. cuneifolia and E. buniifolium were surveyed on terraces below 1500 m elevation in cool environments. These are azonal forests that grow in small isolated stands on sites with high water availability.Fil: Besio, Laura. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias AgrariasFil: González Loyarte, María Margarita. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas Fil: Peralta, Iris Edith. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ciencias Biológica

Fragmented areas due to agricultural activity: native vegetation dynamics at crop interface (Montecaseros, Mendoza, Argentina)

Plant communities fragmented by agricultural activities were analyzed in a 250-ha area in eastern plains of Montecaseros, Gral. San Martín Department, Mendoza, Argentina. A phytosociological method assessed different sites along a gradient of human intervention, from natural environments with no evidence of altered native vegetation to maximum farming modification, also including cleared and abandoned fields. Soil analyses supplemented the characterization of six plant communities. A scrubland physiognomy dominates the area, with species of the genera Larrea, Atriplex and Lycium. Tillage and crop abandonment can alter natural factors involved in soil formation, causing deterioration and exerting selective pressure on species colonizing these degraded environments. Evaluating natural vegetation before land clearing for agriculture is essential to assess, through species that indicate environmental conditions, edaphic limitations hindering crop establishment and affecting productivity. The conservation of natural communities on private lands destined for agriculture is valued. Highlights: This study aimed to characterize plant communities in natural and intervened environments, in a representative area of the fragmentation processes caused by agriculture in the Monte Province (Mendoza, Argentina). Plant biodiversity plays a strategic role in ecosystemic provision of goods and services necessary to human health and well-being. Cultivable land is a vulnerable and scarce resource, particularly in drylands, where ecosystems have low capacity for natural regeneration. Tillage and crop abandonment can alter natural factors involved in soil formation, causing deterioration and exerting selective pressure on species colonizing these degraded environments. In agricultural land, clearing can give rise to a mosaic of landscapes: productive crops merge with abandoned crops and fragments of natural fields. Evaluating natural vegetation before land clearing for agriculture is essential to assess, through species that indicate environmental conditions, edaphic limitations hindering crop establishment and affecting productivity. Studies of vegetation dynamism in private lands contribute to plan and implement sustainable land management, tending to recover and conserve biodiversity in degraded soils, considering all associated ecosystem services.Plant communities fragmented by agricultural activities were analyzed in a 250-ha area in eastern plains of Montecaseros, Gral. San Martín Department, Mendoza, Argentina. A phytosociological method assessed different sites along a gradient of human intervention, from natural environments with no evidence of altered native vegetation to maximum farming modification, also including cleared and abandoned fields. Soil analyses supplemented the characterization of six plant communities. A scrubland physiognomy dominates the area, with species of the genera Larrea, Atriplex and Lycium. Tillage and crop abandonment can alter natural factors involved in soil formation, causing deterioration and exerting selective pressure on species colonizing these degraded environments. Evaluating natural vegetation before land clearing for agriculture is essential to assess, through species that indicate environmental conditions, edaphic limitations hindering crop establishment and affecting productivity. The conservation of natural communities on private lands destined for agriculture is valued. Highlights: This study aimed to characterize plant communities in natural and intervened environments, in a representative area of the fragmentation processes caused by agriculture in the Monte Province (Mendoza, Argentina). Plant biodiversity plays a strategic role in ecosystemic provision of goods and services necessary to human health and well-being. Cultivable land is a vulnerable and scarce resource, particularly in drylands, where ecosystems have low capacity for natural regeneration. Tillage and crop abandonment can alter natural factors involved in soil formation, causing deterioration and exerting selective pressure on species colonizing these degraded environments. In agricultural land, clearing can give rise to a mosaic of landscapes: productive crops merge with abandoned crops and fragments of natural fields. Evaluating natural vegetation before land clearing for agriculture is essential to assess, through species that indicate environmental conditions, edaphic limitations hindering crop establishment and affecting productivity. Studies of vegetation dynamism in private lands contribute to plan and implement sustainable land management, tending to recover and conserve biodiversity in degraded soils, considering all associated ecosystem services.

JOSÉ ARTURO “COCO” AMBROSETTI (1939-2020)

Obituario  José Arturo “Coco” Ambrosetti  (1939-2020)Obituario  José Arturo “Coco” Ambrosetti  (1939-2020) Volverás a mi huerto y a mi higuera:por los altos andamios de mis florespajareará tu alma colmenerade angelicales ceras y labores.Volverás al arrullo de las rejasde los enamorados labradores. A las aladas almas de las rosas...de almendro de nata te requiero,que tenemos que hablar de muchas cosas,compañero del alma, compañero.                                                Miguel Hernández Iris Edith Peralta y Cecilia Scoones   FCA UNCuyo & IADIZA, Mendoza

Genetic diversity of squash landraces (Cucurbita maxima) collected in Andean Valleys of Argentina

Squash landraces (Cucurbita maxima) are maintained by small farmers as a major nutritional food. Twenty seven of these landraces were collected in Argentinian Andean Valleys and morphologically characterized. Genetic diversity was evaluated with microsatellite markers designed for Cucurbita pepo and Cucumis melo and evaluated for the first time in C. maxima. Seven microsatellite primers detected 26 alleles with 3.10 average alleles per locus. The Genetic Diversity reached an average of 0.26; a Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) of 0.20 and 45.5% of polymorphic loci. Higher diversity was found at intra population level. No evidence of lineal correlation between the observed diversity and the geographical distribution of squash landraces was found. Results demonstrate a moderate genetic diversity for all populations, with a wide range of variation in different groups. A subgroup of 10 populations with the highest levels of genetic diversity was considered for maintenance within core collections in the Vegetable Crop Germplasm Bank of Agricultural Research Station (EEA) La Consulta, Mendoza, National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA). Anthropogenic and environmental processes, mainly abandonment of cultivated areas and frequent droughts could erode squash landraces diversity. Conservational strategies and new collecting expeditions can be decided based on the genetic diversity found. Highlights Argentinean squashe's landraces from different Andean environments were characterized for the first time by molecular markers. A technique was developed to generate the amplification products, and to detect useful markers for the conservation of C. maxima genetic resources in germplasm banks. Diversification strategies of food production and seed exchange are deeply rooted in Andean culture, which contributes to the intrapopulation diversity observed. Catamarca and Jujuy were the Provinces with the greatest genetic diversity for cultivated squashes. The great morphological diversity observed would be the result of species adaptation to Andean heterogeneous ecological environments, and anthropic selection.Squash landraces (Cucurbita maxima) are maintained by small farmers as a major nutritional food. Twenty seven of these landraces were collected in Argentinian Andean Valleys and morphologically characterized. Genetic diversity was evaluated with microsatellite markers designed for Cucurbita pepo and Cucumis melo and evaluated for the first time in C. maxima. Seven microsatellite primers detected 26 alleles with 3.10 average alleles per locus. The Genetic Diversity reached an average of 0.26; a Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) of 0.20 and 45.5% of polymorphic loci. Higher diversity was found at intra population level. No evidence of lineal correlation between the observed diversity and the geographical distribution of squash landraces was found. Results demonstrate a moderate genetic diversity for all populations, with a wide range of variation in different groups. A subgroup of 10 populations with the highest levels of genetic diversity was considered for maintenance within core collections in the Vegetable Crop Germplasm Bank of Agricultural Research Station (EEA) La Consulta, Mendoza, National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA). Anthropogenic and environmental processes, mainly abandonment of cultivated areas and frequent droughts could erode squash landraces diversity. Conservational strategies and new collecting expeditions can be decided based on the genetic diversity found. Highlights Argentinean squashe's landraces from different Andean environments were characterized for the first time by molecular markers. A technique was developed to generate the amplification products, and to detect useful markers for the conservation of C. maxima genetic resources in germplasm banks. Diversification strategies of food production and seed exchange are deeply rooted in Andean culture, which contributes to the intrapopulation diversity observed. Catamarca and Jujuy were the Provinces with the greatest genetic diversity for cultivated squashes. The great morphological diversity observed would be the result of species adaptation to Andean heterogeneous ecological environments, and anthropic selection

Genetic diversity of squash landraces (Cucurbita maxima) collected in Andean Valleys of Argentina = Diversidad genética de poblaciones de zapallo (Cucurbita maxima) colectadas en los valles andinos de la Argentina

Squash landraces (Cucurbita maxima) are maintained by small farmers as a major nutritional food. Twenty seven of these landraces were collected in Argentinian Andean Valleys and morphologically characterized. Genetic diversity was evaluated with microsatellite markers designed for Cucurbita pepo and Cucumis melo and evaluated for the first time in C. maxima. Seven microsatellite primers detected 26 alleles with 3.10 average alleles per locus. The Genetic Diversity reached an average of 0.26; a Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) of 0.20 and 45.5% of polymorphic loci. Higher diversity was found at intra population level. No evidence of lineal correlation between the observed diversity and the geographical distribution of squash landraces was found. Results demonstrate a moderate genetic diversity for all populations, with a wide range of variation in different groups. A subgroup of 10 populations with the highest levels of genetic diversity was considered for maintenance within core collections in the Vegetable Crop Germplasm Bank of Agricultural Research Station (EEA) La Consulta, Mendoza, National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA). Anthropogenic and environmental processes, mainly abandonment of cultivated areas and frequent droughts could erode squash landraces diversity. Conservational strategies and new collecting expeditions can be decided based on the genetic diversity found.En Argentina los pequeños agricultores mantienen poblaciones de zapallo (Cucurbita maxima) de gran importancia nutricional. Veintisiete de estas poblaciones fueron recolectadas en los valles andinos y caracterizadas morfológicamente. Marcadores microsatélites diseñados para Cucurbita pepo y Cucumis melo se aplicaron por primera vez en C. maxima para evaluar diversidad genética. Siete cebadores detectaron 26 alelos con 3,10 alelos promedio por locus. La diversidad genética alcanzó una media de 0,26; el contenido de información polimórfica (PIC) de 0,20 y el 45,5% de los loci resultaron polimórficos. La diversidad a nivel intrapoblacional fue mayor que entre poblaciones. No se encontró correlación lineal entre la diversidad observada y la distribución geográfica poblacional. La diversidad genética fue moderada para el conjunto de poblaciones, con un amplio rango de variación. Un subgrupo de 10 poblaciones con los mayores valores de diversidad genética fue considerado para su mantenimiento dentro del Banco de Germoplasma de la Estación Experimental Agropecuaria (EEA) La Consulta, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Los procesos antropogénicos y ambien-tales, principalmente el abandono de áreas cultivadas y las frecuentes sequías, estarían erosionando la diversidad de estos recursos. Sobre la base de los resultados obtenidos se pueden plantear estrategias de conservación y nuevas expediciones de colecta.EEA La ConsultaFil: Lorello, Ines Maria. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Consulta; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Cátedra de Botánica Agrícola; ArgentinaFil: Garcia Lampasona, Sandra Claudia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Mendoza; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Laboratorio de Biología Molecular; Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Peralta, Iris Edith. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Cátedra de Botánica Agrícola; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de Zonas Aridas; Argentin

Characterization of Capsicum germplasm collected in Northwestern Argentina based on morphological and quality traits

Paprika production is concentrated in Northwestern Argentina, where around 1500 ha are annually grown. Farmers mainly from Andean valleys, maintain their local landraces or “criollas” under different environmental conditions, using their farming traditions and selection criteria. These traditional varieties represent valuable genetic resources for conservation and selection of agronomical and quality traits. Between 2005 and 2007 eight collecting trips were made to Northwestern Argentina in order to recover local germplasm. As a result, five hundred new vegetable seed samples have been incorporated into the Germplasm Bank. Among these accessions 32 belong to Capsicum, the majority for paprika production, that were evaluated in field conditions using a randomized block design with three repetitions of eight plants per accession; 54 morphological and agronomical traits were measured during two production cycles. Multivariate analyses determine three groups, where fruit characters were the most efficient for accession differentiation. Accessions suitable for paprika production were further examined, and variability for fruit pungency and color was found. Promising accessions were selected for ex situ conservation and breeding purposesLa producción de pimiento para pimentón se concentra en el noroeste de la Argentina, donde anualmente se cultivan unas 1500 hectáreas. En los valles andinos los agricultores mantienen sus variedades locales o “criollas” en diferentes condiciones ambientales y siguiendo sus tradiciones agrícolas y criterios de selección. Estas variedades son recursos genéticos valiosos para la conservación y selección de caracteres agronómicos y de calidad. Entre 2005 y 2007 se realizaron ocho viajes a dicha zona, con el fin de recuperar el germoplasma local. Como resultado 500 nuevas muestras de semillas de hortalizas se han incorporado en el Banco de Germoplasma. Entre ellas 32 entradas de Capsicum, la mayoría utilizadas para la producción de pimentón, que se evaluaron a campo mediante un diseño de bloques al azar con tres repeticiones de ocho plantas por entrada, y se midieron 54 caracteres morfológicos y agronómicos durante dos ciclos de producción. El análisis multivariado determinó tres grupos, donde los caracteres del fruto fueron más eficientes para la diferenciación de las entradas. Se estudiaron en particular las entradas para la producción de pimentón, encontrándose variabilidad en el picor y en el color del fruto. Las entradas promisorias fueron seleccionadas para su conservación ex situ y mejoramientoEEA La ConsultaFil: Occhiuto, Patricia Noemí. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Consulta; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Peralta, Iris Edith. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Consulta; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Asprelli, Pablo Diego. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Consulta; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Galmarini, Claudio Romulo. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Consulta; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin