Tomato intercropping with antagonistic species is considered a management alternative for Meloidogyne spp. The objective of the work was to evaluate the intercropping of Tagetes erecta, Tagetes minuta and Crotalaria juncea for the management of Meloidogyne spp., in tomato cultivation. The gall index and the number and weight of fruits were determined in tomato plants. Tomato intercropping with T. erecta showed a lower gall index than the rest of evaluated treatments. In addition, a higher weight and number of fruits were observed in this treatment and in the one with T. minuta, respect to the C. juncea treatment and the control without intercropping. Under the conditions of this trial, intercropping of tomato with T. erecta proved to be a good alternative for the management of Meloidoigyne spp. This practice contributes to a lesser use of phytosanitary products, with the positive effect that it has on the environment, and to the obtaining of a more innocuous horticultural product for human consumption.

Our objective was to evaluate the suppression of root infection by the nematode Meloidogyne incognita in tomato roots previously colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (HMA) native of Buenos Aires Province. Tomato plants were inoculated at sowing with a consortiumcontaining HMA= HMA0, HMA50 and HMA100 corresponding to 0, 50% and 100% of substrate with HMA (8 replications). At 40 days, inoculated plants showed HMA colonization higher than 60%. Plants were transplanted and each treatment was inoculated or not with M. incognita (4 replications of each nematode inoculation treatment). At harvest (115 days of growth) plants inoculated with HMA without nematodes showed mycorrhizal colonization higher than 90%. Although plants inoculated with nematodes showed decreases of mycorrhizal colonization, the obtained levels were higher than colonization prior to transplant. Inoculation with HMA decreased both soil abundance of nematode larvae (j2) and number of root galls. Although aerial growth of tomato was not affected by inoculation (HMA or nematodes), HMA0 plants (independently of nematode inoculation) showed higher root growth, that can be considered a strategy of the plant in order to compensate the lower volume of root exploration in the absence of HMA hyphae. Our results showed reduction of nematode density (j2, galls and egg masses) after inoculation of tomato with HMA. It may be concluded that the adequate establishment of mycorrhizal colonization prior to infection with nematodes exerts an apparent control of the infection of the M. incognita nematode in tomato roots. It could be a strategic tool for the biological control of pathogens of horticultural crops.

Mustard seeds are used for the production of flour, oil and other products with important uses in the food industry, cosmetics, medicinal and more recently for obtaining biodiesel. The purpose of this study is to quantify and analyze the evolution of global and regional market mustard seeds, setting the main importers, sources of supply and the level of average international prices. The basic statistical information was obtained from the UN Comtrade database, about imports and exports nomenclature-country, such as the Eurostat from European Union, FAS-USDA from The U.S.,  JETRO from Japan and Alice from Brazil .The five-year period averages and the  accumulative annual growth rates were obtained from the linear regression method. The major worldwide and regional importers and exporters were determined, their relative participation, the origins of their supplies and the evolution of average prices. The world imports of mustard seeds have reached record values in recent years, due to the increase in international prices of mustard, coincident with the rising prices of other commodities. The main world importers of the last five years are the United States and Germany; and Canada dominates the export market. Venezuela and Brazil stand out as regional importers in South America, both with mustard seeds from Canada. While developed countries are leading imports of mustard seeds there are a number of countries importing this aromatic and medicinal species from an international producer like Canada. Argentina could make provision for its domestic market and also export to South American countries which have commercial agreements with it. For this reason, this country is an important producer and exporter in the world. 

At the EEA La Consulta, INTA, a molecular assisted breeding program for processing tomatoes started in 2001 with the aim to generate self-pollinated cultivars, specially oriented for small growers. One of the main objectives of breeding program is the introduction of resistance to nematodes (Meloidoyne incognita, M. arenaria y M. javanica), tomato spotted wild virus (TSWV) and, tomato speck (Pseudomonas tomato syringae pv. tomato) as an alternative to use foreign and expensive hybrids cultivars. Breeding lines were obtained by pedigree and backcross selection methods. Early selection of resistant plants was done using molecular markers linked to nematode and TSWV. Molecular marker determinations were performed by the Laboratory of Molecular Biology of the INTA-Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (UNCuyo). Advanced breeding lines were tested against commercial hybrids in the Tomato 2000 Program. From all the materials evaluated up to 2010-11, we have identified homozygous lines that combine resistance to nematodes and tomato spotted wilt virus; homozygous lines that combine resistance to nematodes, tomato spotted wilt virus and tomato speck and homozygous lines resistant to nematodes, tomato spotted wilt virus and tomato speck (in separate genotypes). Also, heterozygous lines in different combinations for the genes under study. In comparative trials, the yiel (kg·ha-1) of the new lines did not have significant differences from controls. Horticultural recommendations are discussed.

In the last years, researchers from different countries have made efforts to develop environmentally responsible soil disinfection techniques. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different sequences of soil solarization and/or biofumigation (BIO). The treatments evaluated were the combination of two disinfections performed on spring 2003 and 2005. The sequences evaluated were: 1. Control/Control, 2. Solarization/Solarization, 3. BIO with Chicken manure/BIO with Brocoli, 4. BIO with Brassica napus/BIO with Brocoli. Nematode control was observed at the first 10 cm of soil, inmediately after BIO treatments, performed at november 2005, differences (P ≤ 5 %) between treatments and control were observed for Nacobbus aberrans until february 2007. Percentage of Sclerotium rolfsii colonies obtained from sclerotia was always higher at control plots, but at 35 cm the treatment effect was lower. Fusarium solani was obtained only at control plots at 10 cm but in all treatments at 35 cm. In november 2006 a tomato crop was planted. The number of dead plants at the end of the cycle was significantly higher at control plots. Significant differences (P ≤ 1 %) between treatments were obtained for total yield, yield losses, and losses percentage due to small fruits and blossom end rot. Control plots showed lower yields and higher commercial yield losses. After harvest significant differences were observed for gall number and percentage of root rots caused by Pyrenochaeta lycopersici and Fusarium solani.