Variation in weather elements affects the production of agricultural crops. Air and soil temperature control plant growth and development, as is the case in garlic (Allium sativum L.). The objective of the study was to evaluate the phenology and productive characteristics of two garlic cultivars according to air and soil temperature during 2022, at the Tilimuqui Experimental Field of INTA EEA Chilecito. The experimental design was Randomized Complete Blocks with three replications. The extended phenological scale of garlic was used. Soil temperature was measured at 5 cm and 15 cm depth and meteorological data recorded by the automatic weather station located at the trial site were used. Height, number of leaves, bulb weight and parameters for calculating the bulbification index were measured. For the same growing conditions, from planting date (both on 11/04/22) they showed different percentages of sprouting, number of leaves and bulb weight. The cv. Morado INTA required a heat summation of 3095 GD and a cycle of 213 days until harvest (09/11/22) and the cv. Nieve INTA required a heat summation of 3397 GD with a cycle of 225 days until harvest (21/11/22). The two cultivars had average photoperiods of 12.2 h in June and 14.5 h in November.

The phenology of fruit trees allows us to understand their adaptive responses to the environment. The almond tree is widely cultivated, spreading through the incorporation of new plant materials, as is the case with late flowering cultivars in the arid regions of the province of San Juan (Argentina). The objective was to analyze the phenological and agronomic responses of Marinada, Tarraco and Vairo cultivars under arid environmental conditions in San Juan. Phenological stages were recorded using the BBCH scale and agronomic characteristics were evaluated by measuring trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA), linear floral density (FD) and fruit yield. The study was carried out in the experimental field of INTA EEA San Juan. The cultivars differed significantly in phenological stages during the period 2016 to 2021. Flowering (from start to finish) occurs between August and September, first in the cv. Vairo, then in the cv. Marinada and finally in the cv. Tarraco. FD differed significantly between cultivars since 2017, with higher mean values in Marinada and Vairo cultivars compared to Tarraco. TCSA differed significantly between cultivars only in the first crop cycles. The cv. Tarraco has problems in fruit set and/or fruit growth. Fruit ripening of the cultivars Vairo and Marinada ends in February. Cultivars Vairo and Marinada have higher fruit yields than cv. Tarraco. Leaf fall and winter dormancy in cultivars Vairo, Marinada and Tarraco were recorded from May onwards. Marinada, Tarraco and Vairo almond trees cultivars (during 5th and 6th year of field) needed between 685 HF and 857 HF (direct method) until the break of winter dormancy (from May to July).

Broccoli, Brassica oleraceaL. var. italicPlenck, belonging to the Brassica family, are known for their nutritional health benefits, as they contain bioactive compounds that could reduce cardiovascular, neurological or cancer risk. The demand has been growing in recent decades and is expected to continue in the coming years. Due to its growing popularity, considerable research is focused on different production topics. The main objective of this review is to update the information on broccoli related to the market, genetic improvement, crop management, postharvest and recycling of crop residues. Most of the articles focus on two topics: the functional value of broccoli in human health and the sustainable approach in the production chain. In the first, pre- and post-harvest factors are evaluated to obtain the maximum of bioactive compounds, in the second, new post-harvest practices are developed to minimize losses and new alternatives are proposed for the recycling of harvest and processing residues. Genetic breeding is being used to incorporate pest and disease resistance genes, and more stable cultivars to use in organic management systems. Very few studies arefocused on crop management and those are referred to the efficient water and soil use. It will be necessary to maximize efficiency in all links of the production chain in order to reduce the impact on climate change indicators.

Due to droughts and water shortage in Mendoza Province (Argentina), urban green areas have been reduced with the consequent decrease in landscape quality. Replacing exotic plants with native, less water consumers, could make landscaping more sustainable. Lack of information and low availability in nurseries is a limiting factor. Sphaeralcea genus, native from arid and semiarid regions of America, is characterized by a brilliant, profuse and prolonged flowering. In this work we evaluate the potential of Sphaeralcea miniata and Sphaeralcea mendocina to obtain commercial cultivars. Variation of ornamental traits and commercial propagation were studied. Six populations were evaluated, flower and leaf samples were collected, seeds of both, autopolinated and open pollinated plants were cultivated in the nursery. Seed stratification and scarification techniques and rooting in stem cuttings were evaluated. Phenotypic variation in flower and leaf traits was found, this variation was found between and within populations and in the offsprings. Germination did not exceed 60%, probably due to physical rather than physiological dormancy. 60 to 68 % rooting of cuttings was obtained. The natural variation in ornamental traits is an indicator of the possibility to obtain different cultivars. Superior genotypes could be propagated by rooted cuttings. New research is necessary to improve seed germination.

Aconcagua INTA is an Argentine widespread cucurbit cultivar with high yield and suitability for the dehydration industry, developed from an interspecific cross (Cucurbita maxima x Cucurbita moschata). Its seed production involves the use of etephon in the maternal progenitor to castrate male flower organs, while the other line serves a pollen donor. Because this process is not totally effective, some hermaphrodite flowers remain in the maternal line, leading to self-pollination and –therefore- seeds of non-hybrid origin, which are phenotypically different from the hybrid. Thus, the percentage of non-hybrid seeds needs to be estimated and labelled in commercial seed lots of this cultivar. To this end, the present study analyzed, comparatively, morphological, biochemical and molecular markers that may be used for the early identification of this hybrid and its parental lines. Thus, a morphological marker based on leaf characteristics, protein profiles by UTLIEF, and the microsatellite molecular marker CMBR22, were evaluated in hybrid and parental plants. All three marker systems were able to accurately identify the hybrid and the parental lines, with results revealing 100% correspondence among the three types of markers. The protein and molecular markers developed herein represent a valuable tool for the early identification of hybrids in seed lots of cv. Aconcagua INTA.

Among the more than 500 known species of Passiflora, 19 of them are native to Argentina. In the framework of a breeding program to obtain ornamental varieties from native species, the objective of this work was to know the anatomical and colorimetric components that determine flower color in Passiflora species and their hybrids. For this, anatomical studies of the cellular components of the epidermis of the petals were carried out and the colorimetric values ​​on the CIEL*a*b* scale were analyzed in 4 species (P. alata, P. cincinnata, P. amethystina and P. caerulea) and 6 hybrids of crosses with P. alata. All the plants presented intracellular structures with irregular spindle-shaped to granular morphology, identified as anthocyanic vacuolar inclusions (AVIs). AVIs were also found as colored solid bodies in spherical, rod and irregularly folded shapes in the epidermal cells of the petals of P. alata and with spherical to elongated morphologies in P. cincinnata and in the P. alata x P. cincinnata hybrid. These structures were found in cells with accumulation of pigment in the vacuole. No correlation was found between the presence of solid AVIs and the colorimetric parameters. The presence of solid AVIs only in the hybrid among the species with this character, suggests that inheritance would be quantitative, expressed as a threshold characteristic.

The analysis of the vegetable seed system in Argentina allows the establishment of the strengths and weaknesses of its components, facilitating the diagnosis of possible actions to improve the system. This work describes the different components based on statistics, previous studies, and qualified informants. The supply of the national market for vegetable seeds is observed as being adequate in quantity and quality, and its value ranges between US $ 50 and 60 M, with imported cultivars prevailing. Historically, the value of imports exceeds that of exports, with US $ 17.0 and 12.4 M having been exported in the years 2018 and 2019 respectively. The national production of vegetable seeds for the domestic market is concentrated on open pollinated species (OP) and represents between 30 and 35 % of the total value of the national market. The production area is the center-west of the country and onion seeds are of greatest economic value. Family and community kitchen gardens have increased steadily and with them the demand for agroecological seeds.

Onion seed represents a high percentage of the total economic value of vegetable seeds marketed worldwide. In Argentina, onion seed production is carried out in San Juan and Mendoza, where open-pollination (OP) cultivars and first generation hybrids are used. An OP variety has good seed yield, but the yield of hybrid seeds is erratic and considerably lower. Seed yield and quality depends, among other factors, on fertilization. Nutrients such as boron, zinc and calcium are essential for the growth and development of plants. Foliar fertilization allows the supply of nutrients to specific organs when the growth stage, internal demand and environmental conditions limit their delivery. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the foliar application of boron, zinc and calcium, on the yield and quality of onion seed. The study was conducted on cv. Angaco INTA in a commercial farm located in the department of Pocito, San Juan. A completely randomized design with four replications was used. Three doses of boron, calcium and zinc, plus a combination of the three nutrients and the control were evaluated. The foliar application of boron, both simple and combined with zinc and calcium, produces a greater fruit set, while calcium improves germination. No significant effects on seed yield were observed.

Viral diseases can affect the stability of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production, therefore it was considered of interest to evaluate the behavior of different cultivars and promising lines obtained by the INTA breeding program against natural virus infection. Symptoms severity, incidence and relative concentration of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Cowpea mild mottle virus (CpMMV), Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) and geminiviruses were evaluated for 14 bean cultivars during three growing seasons. SMV and AMV were found in very low incidence during the three years. Differences in cultivar response were observed: L24 and L15 were tolerant to begomoviruses, while CR8, CR5, L22 (cranberry and white bean types) were susceptible. The most severe symptoms were found during the 2013 growing season, when a high incidence of begomovirus and CpMMV were observed. No differences between cultivars were found for CpMMV incidence, but a higher relative concentration of virus was detected in CR5, CR8 and L17. Although L15 was tolerant to geminiviruses, it was the most susceptible to CMV, a fact that must be taken into account because this virus is transmitted by seeds and might become a serious problem in bean production.