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One of the biggest challenges for the production of bioinputs is that the product is adequately developed. This implies that it contains a sufficient amount of inoculum and that its quality is maintained during storage time. In this sense, the objectives of this work were i) to establish a protocol for the preparation and application of a bioinput based on Trichoderma harzianum and ii) to develop a protocol for family producers on the correct use of the bioinput produced. For the multiplication of T. harzianum, rice grains were used as a solid substrate. Polyethylene bags were prepared with 30 g of rice plus 15 mL of sterile distilled water. The bags were sterilized and seeded with a culture of T. harzianum. The bags were incubated at room temperature for 10 days. Once the rice was colonized, it was dried in an oven at 50° C for 24 h. The quality was evaluated one month, three and six months after the preparation of the solid product. To do this, the concentration of conidia was calculated by counting in the Neubauer chamber and the viability of the product was also calculated by counting colony-forming units of Trichoderma in Trichoderma selective medium culture medium. The results obtained indicate that the concentration of conidia in the solid substrate remains high up to six months of storage. A protocol of use was developed for producers.

PDF 829.1 KB (49 downloads)

The value losses of cling peaches processed for halves are generated by lower industrial efficiency, by the presence of undesirable attributes, including inadequate maturity level, presence of pit-splitting, and low caliber of units. In order to analyze the effect of fruit size and maturity level on the losses during the pitting and lye peeling, two trials were carried out with Riegels variety peaches. OMIP knife pitters were used, previously separating fruits into three size categories: “small”, “medium” and “large”. The incidence of maturity level in both processes was determined, according to a maturity level grouping: “consistent”, with flesh firmness measured in the fruit cheeks between 7 and 10 Lbf, and “overripe” fruits, with less than 6 Lbf. The percentage losses in the pitting and peeling processes with lye were inversely proportional to the fruit size. During pitting, the overripe fruits suffered greater losses than the consistent ones and in the peeling process with lye, the overripe halves had a greater loss, which was constant, for the three size categories. The results require an exhaustive analysis of the farm-factory interfase and the objective determination of harvest maturity, which mainly defines the quality of raw material and industry efficiency.

PDF 493.2 KB (34 downloads)

Blackberries are fruits of great commercial value, but at the same time highly fragile and with reduced shelf-life. Their extreme fragility and susceptibility to mechanical deterioration justifies the need to deepen into technological alternatives that allow prolonging their useful life. The use of edible coatings emerges as a promising alternative to preserve the postharvest quality of blackberries. Natural additives such as antimicrobials, antioxidants, firmness agents or bioactive ingredients can be added into them in order to increase safety and maintain the sensory, nutritional and functional characteristics of minimally processed fruits. The objective of this work was to evaluate the quality of blackberries (Rubus fructicosus var Ouchita) from the first harvest (December) and their behavior during the postharvest, after applying chitosan, alginate and alginate coatings with the addition of vanillin, as an alternative to maintain the quality of the fruits. The first stage of the work was carried out analyzing the fruits at the time of harvest and during 14 days of refrigerated storage without the application of coatings, in order to determine their useful life. In addition, physicochemical and nutritional quality parameters (firmness, soluble solids, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid retention, total polyphenols and antioxidant capacity) were evaluated at 0, 4, 7, 11 and 14 days of storage. Microbiological quality, sensory acceptability and fungal deterioration were also evaluated. In a second stage of the experimental design, the blackberries were treated with different edible coatings and stored under refrigeration (5ºC) to determine their useful life, performing the previously detailed determinations. The results obtained indicated that active edible coatings could be considered as a potential alternative for postharvest preservation that allows maintaining the quality attributes of blackberries and prolonging their marketing period; however, even more research is required to be able to be transferred to fruit and vegetable producers.

PDF 679 KB (253 downloads)

Agriculture in arid regions requires physiological and agronomic studies. Phenology was analysed and morphological and productive responses of garlic (cv. Morado INTA) to irrigation strategies were evaluated in an arid region of La Rioja. The trial was carried out in INTA EEA Chilecito in 2022. The design was a randomized complete block design with three replications and three irrigation treatments were applied: T1-100%, T2-120% and T3-75% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) during 28 days after the 12th visible leaf of the main growth stage 1(main shoot).The extended garlic phenological scale was used. Leaves, plant height, plant pseudostem and neck, basal disc, diameter, height and bulb weight were measured. Phenology results: 97.8% sprouting at 19 dap (days after planting) and 368 growing degree-days (GDD), main shoot development (12th leaf) at 142 dap and 1823 GDD and the 100% bulb diameter at 212 dap and 3095 GDD. Irrigation results: T3 did not affect height, number of leaves or pseudostem length, but modified the basal leaf with respect to T1 and T2. T3 reduced neck diameter and bulb height without affecting final bulb weight, and consequently increased the bulbification index with respect to T2. The application of controlled deficit irrigation (75% of ETc) during the month of September and the return to full irrigation until bulb harvest are strategies that optimize water use and production in the garlic crop (cv. Morado INTA).

PDF 456.7 KB (114 downloads)

Squash in Argentina is a vegetable of great economic, social and nutritional importance, it is among the vegetables with the highest levels of consumption and it is consumed in every social stratum and at all ages. The objective of the study was to determine the natural growth rate, commercial yield, and quality of commercial fruits for plants that were developed after cover crops and extended fallow periods. The study was conducted in a soil known as Petrocalcic Paleustol, located in the semi-arid region of the rocky plain in southern La Pampa, Argentina. For two consecutive seasons, rye, rye and vicia, and fallow without cover crops were planted as cover treatments in the same plot. Each cover treatment was implemented using two methods: rolling andherbicide growth stoppage.In this way, six management treatments for squash cultivation were performed. The results after two consecutive seasons showed that the plants developed under cover crop treatments prior to cultivation, along with conventional weed control management, presented the highest values of natural growth rate, achieving excellent coverage of the sowing area. The highest commercial yields were obtained with prior rye cover treated with herbicide growth stoppage, and with rolled rye-vicia cover, for the first and second seasons respectively. The shape of the commercial fruits was not affected by any treatment. All crops with prior coverage had a positive effect on small and medium sizes,which are the most preferred fruit sizes by the domestic market.

PDF 743.1 KB (66 downloads)

Spinach is characterized by having a high water content and different vitamins and minerals. However, this vegetable could have high oxalate and nitrate concentrations and can affect human health if consumed.The aim of this study was to evaluate the nitrogen fertilization effect on the yield, nitrate and oxalic acid content of spinach produced in an autumn-winter cycle under different growing systems. Spinach was grown in soil in a greenhouse and in an open field at the experimental field of the Faculty of Agronomy of the University of Buenos Aires. Soil treatments were 0.50 and 100 kg N.ha-1. Another culture was in substrate (perlite) where nitrogen supply restriction was applied 15 days before harvest. Color, leaf area, harvest index, yield, nitrate and oxalic acid levels were determined for each crop at harvest. Leaves were selected and 60 g were packaged in 31 micron polyolefin bags. Bags were stored in a refrigerated chamber at 5 ºC for 9 days. The nitrate and oxalic acid content of spinachwas also determined at the end of the storage period. Yield and leaf area were higher with 100 kg N.ha-1 without differences between greenhouse and open field. Oxalate content was higher in spinach from the open field, showing the highest value in the case of 100 kg N added, without changes at the end of postharvest period. The maximum nitrate content was 2.7 in greenhouse with 100 kg N.ha-1. The nitrogen restriction reduced the commercial yield, oxalic acid and nitrate content at harvest in perlite. The difference was maintained postharvest, except for the nitrate content.

PDF 452.1 KB (119 downloads)

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.

PDF 1.1 MB (177 downloads)

Food quality studies are important to verify authenticity and investigate foreign matter. The objective of this work focused on applying the characters of diagnostic value of the fruits of papaya, fig, mango and tree tomato, for botanical quality control and comparing the labeling of derived products with current legislation. 23 products (industrial and artisanal) acquired in San Salvador de Jujuy were analyzed using scraping micrographic techniques, mild dissociation and combined histochemical reactions. Diagnostic characters (polygonal epidermal cells, tecting hairs, glandular hairs, fibers, sclereids, crystals, laticiferous tubes, starch grains, lipid droplets and seminal hairs) were identified in jams, jelly, sweets, chutney, artisanal wine, candied foods and fig coffee which confirm the presence of the raw material, in correspondence with the specifications of the Argentine Food Code (Chapter V). Of the industrial products, 70% were genuine and 30% were contaminated, while in artisanal products, 92% were genuine and 8% were contaminated. Regarding labeling, 70% of the industrial products met the specifications and 30% did not. On the other hand, only 31% of the artisanal products met the specifications, while the remaining 69% did not. The micrographic method constitutes a reliable strategy to confirm the added value that said quality implies in local preparations in the province of Jujuy.

PDF 701.8 KB (105 downloads)

In the production of aromatic-condiment seedlings, it is common to use less renewable substrates, such as peat, "black earth" or "mulch". To verify their replacement with a more sustainable substrate, the use of a bioestabilized residue (RB) based on household waste rich in yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) was evaluated as substrate in basilicum (Ocimum basilicum) seedlings. RB was obtained by treating mixtures of household waste from yerba mate, in a 70/30 proportion with remains of fruits and vegetables, in aerated containers that were weekly mixed. After 120 days of the process, the RB was sifted and its physicochemical properties and effects on basil seedlings were evaluated. Five treatments (T) were established with different combinations of MB and a commercial substrate (SC): T1: 100% SC; T2: 75% SC+ 25% RB; T3: 50% SC + 50% RB; T4: 25% SC + 75% RB and T5: 100% RB. Each treatment consisted of 3 repetitions with 24 sample plants each. The germinative power, plant height and root length were significantly reduced in T5. The height of plants and number of leaves were significantly higher in T3 and T4. In all the combinations of components (T2, T3, T4) the highest fresh and dry mass of the aerial part, and the fresh mass of the whole plant were found with respect to T1.The T4 presented the highest dry mass of the aerial part. The RB was suitable as a substrate component in basil plantations.

PDF 568.2 KB (317 downloads)

Potato is naturally propagated by tubers, which go into a dormant state after harvesting. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of three doses of gibberellic acid (AG3) (10, 20 and 30 ppm) and three immersion times (5, 10 and 15 min) on sprouting of fresh potato tubers of the Spunta cultivar, under laboratory and field emergency conditions. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with a factorial arrangement plus absolute control (3 x 3 + 1) and three replications. In the laboratory, the following were evaluated: sprouting percentage, number, length and diameter of sprouts per tuber. In the field, the percentage of emergence and the number of stems per tuberswere evaluated. The collected data were subjected to analysis of variance and means compared by Tukey test at 5% probability. The results indicate that there was no interaction between the factors under study. In the laboratory, 43 days after the application of the treatments, with a dose of 30 ppm of AG3, 100% sprouting of the tubers was obtained and with 10 minutes of immersion, 93.89% sprouting. In the field experiment, with a dose of 30 ppm of AG3, the highest percentage of emergence and number of stems per tubers were obtained, while soaking the tubers for 15 minutes promoted the highest number of stems per plant.