The effects of soil solarization and the growth promoter rhizobacteria, Pseudomonas fluorescens P190 on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), grown under greenhouse conditions, were evaluated in 2006 and 2007. A trial was performed according to a factorial arrangement, using “solarization” and “pseudomonas” as factors and “presence” and “absence” as levels for each factor. Eight variables were recorded in order to evaluate treatments effect: weight and diameter of each fruit -disregarding those showing either damage or less than commercial size- as well as root, stem and leaf fresh and dry weight. Main component analysis was used to characterize experimental units as regards the presence or absence of the studied factors. ANOVA analysis and LSD means comparison test results showed that, both solarization and seed inoculation by themselves, increased crop yield by 15 % when considered separately. When combined, a synergistic effect was apparent, and crop yield was increased by 55 % as related to the control treatment.

The aim of this study was to detect superior genotypes of lentil by morphological traits. 28 recombinant inbred lines of our breeding program were used as experimental material. Sowing was done in pots maintained in greenhouse under irrigation. Fourteen morphological and phenological traits were evaluated. An analysis of variance, a principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis were performed by Infogen software. High heritability values for days to flowering (73 %), days to maturity (74 %), weight of 100-seeds (82 %) and size of seeds (86 %) indicated the presence of genetic variability. The PCA showed that four principal components explain 80 % of the total variation. The cluster analysis revealed four groups. The best group (group 4 with 13 varieties) showed early flowering, high weight, size and yield. This characterization will allow selecting superior genotypes for use as potential commercial varieties.

Fruit is a nutritious and attractive food, rich in vitamins, minerals and other healthful components. The aim of this study was to determine the physical properties of the fruit and the physicochemical characteristics of the juices fruit of three sweet orange varieties such as Valencia late (VL), Midknight (M) and Valencia seedless (VS), identifying the variables that best contribute to their differentiation. Forty orange fruit from 20 trees randomly selected were divided into four lots of ten fruits each. Fruit weight and diameter were measured in the fruit whereas juice volume, pH, electrical conductivity, soluble solids and acidity were measured in the juice. A completely randomized experimental design with four replicate per variety were used. Fruit weight did not show significant difference between varieties, but fruit diameter was significantly higher in VL (+3.6 mm than M and +7.6 mm in comparison with VS). The volume of the juice also was significantly higher in VL and VS in comparison with M (+35 and +19 % respectively). Juice physicochemical parameters showed no significant differences between varieties with the exception of the acidity; VL showed the highest content of citric acid while VS showed the lowest value (-10 %). Valencia late was the orange variety that showed the best fruit quality at the central area of Santa Fe. The variables fruit diameter, juice volume, and tiritable acidity, allowed the differentiation of the three oranges varieties.

Entre Ríos province is well known for its citrus fruit production; however there is a lack of information in the phenological description and quantification for the area of Concordia. The aim of this study was to quantify the degree-day accumulation from flowering to harvest for different oranges and mandarins varieties. The study was conducted during four consecutive growing seasons (2005/06 to 2008/09), and the phenological stages were registered every 2 weeks in Newhall, Lane Late, Valencia Late, and Salustiana oranges; Satsuma Okitsu and Clemenules mandarins, and Ellendale and Nova hybrids, all grafted on trifoliate orange rootstock. Degree days (DD) were calculated over a base temperature of 12.5 °C. The beginning of flowering changed significantly with the year (P = 0.0002) being earlier during the 2006/07 growing cycle and later during the year 2007/08. There were also significant differences in the DD accumulation between cultivars (P = 0.0001) and year (P = 0.0029). The earliest maturing Satsuma Okitsu and Clemenules mandarins reached 2,029.37 and 2,112.35 ± 57 DD accumulation, respectively, whereas Valencia Late orange had the highest value (2,526.35 ± 57) DD accumulation.

In Capilla del Monte there would be soon legislation instructing household water recovery. Some of the species of remedial systems for cold climates show few variations in their aesthetic qualities, making it difficult to design the landscape. Zinnia peruviana is ornamental, tolerates impeded drainage and could be interseeded among those. It has been hypothesized that in the local wild populations of Z. peruviana there are individuals with good behavior under irrigation with greywater. The aim of the experiment was to identify and select germplasm of Z. peruviana able to grow and develop successfully in closed containers, irrigated with water from a household laundry. The plants received 90 mL of drinking water (0 or Testigo), or laundry water (I) every other day, in both cases. The survival and growing of the young plants showed no treatment effects. In the fully grown state they found plants significantly higher and with a greater amount of leaves, blossoming tops and axillary shoots in the Testigo. The differences were associated with prolonged exposure to the treatment I or higher sensitivity in reproductive state. However they could select four plants that stood out to be suitable for fulfilling its cycle with the greywater treatment and show commercially satisfactory phenotypes which can be explained by the presence of genetic information which allow them to accept treatment I.