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.

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.

The soils cultivated under cover deteriorate due to irrigation with saline waters, excessive fertilization, limited drainage and absence of leaching of salts by rain. The objectives of the work were to forecast leaching water depth, recover a salinized soil by hydro improvement method, maintain the tolerable soil salinity by the lettuce crop applying the leaching requirement and evaluate the saline dynamics of the soil cultivated and irrigated with the Balansal model. In a greenhouse drain tubes were buried at 50 cm spaced every 2 m and 0.2 m3 tanks were installed at the discharge. The leaching water depth was predicted using 6 mathematical models and into basins of 10 m2, the initial and residual electrical conductivities of the soil and drained water were measured after applying 3 water depths, totalling 320 mm. The main results were: the predicted leaching water depth averaged 320 mm; the average initial soil salinity of 4.69 dS.m-1 was reduced to 0.81 dS.m-1 after the last leach; the salts decrease of the first leaching with respect to the initial salinity was 74.1%, that of the second leaching was 31% and that of the third leaching was 3.7%; the salinity of the drained water was 0.97 dS.m-1; 0.91 dS.m-1 and 0.88 dS.m-1 after each leach, respectively. With the application of a leaching requirement of 15%, the soil salinity was maintained at 0.87 dS.m-1 and the Balansal model predicted with good adjustment the saline dynamics of the soil during the crop cycle.

The objective of the research was to compare the effect of priming with calcium chloride (CaCl2), potassium nitrate (KNO3) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) on germination of lettuce at high temperatures. Priming was carried out in Petri dishes with 50 seeds, placed in a culture chamber at 25 °C and darkness. The osmotic potential of the solutions was -1.5 MPa. Two treatment intervals were studied: 2 and 4 days. After the treatment seeds were placed to germinate in a culture chamber at 30 °C and darkness. Germination was evaluated for 7 days. Germination percentage (GP) and mean germination time (MGT) were calculated. Calcium content was determined in seeds treated with CaCl2. The best germination was obtained with CaCl2, followed by PEG and KNO3 (93, 72 and 63% GP respectively) with 2 days for all treatments. The prolongation of priming from 2 to 4 days in all cases reduced GP. There were no differences in MGT. The chemical analysis of seeds treated with CaCl2 indicated an increase in Ca2+ content.

The osmotic dehydration (DO) of European plum (Prunus domestica L.) cv. President combined with a final stage of hot-air drying (SAC) at 70°C to a final humidity of 20% wet basis was studied. The fresh fruits were pitted and cut into 8 wedges, and then immersed in sucrose solutions of different concentrations (C: 40, 50 and 60 º Brix) during different times (t: 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min). The kinetics of the process was evaluated through monitoring the content of soluble solids (SS) and moisture (M), weight variation (WR), soluble solids gain (SG) and water loss (WL). The analysis of the variance (a = 0.05) showed the effect of t on WL and SG, as well as the influence of the interaction t´C on WR. Using the response surface methodology (RSM), the predictive polynomials of the main variables WL and SG were obtained. The optimization performed by means of desirability analysis applied to maximize WL determined the stationary points t=113 min, C=59.9 °Brix, exactly matching the optimum for SG maximization, thus defining the optimum conditions for maximum dehydration and incorporation of sugars that contribute to product conservation.

Hakusai (Brassica rapa L. Grupo Pekinensis) requires well developed seedlings for a proper productive response. This work aims to study the effect of cell size on seedling growth and its influence on the characteristics of plants at harvest. The experiment was carried under greenhouse in Luján, Buenos Aires, Argentina (34º36’S, 59º04’W). Hakusai cv. Blues (Takii Seed®) seedlings were grown using planter flats of 21, 11 and 5 cm3cells. When plants showed two and four leaf shoots, roots, plant dry weight and lineal length of root were registered. Root absorption area was determined in plants with four leaves. Relative growth rate, leaf weight ratio and root weight ratio were calculated between two and four leaves. Seedlings with four leaves were transplanted, recording fresh and dry weight and number of leaves. The experiment design was a completely randomized block with four replications. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and Tukey`s Test. No differences were observed in dry weight of plants with two leaves, while plants with four leaves grown in 21 cm3 cell significantly increased dry weight of leaves, root and plant. Root absorption area increased with cell volume. Relative growth rate, leaf weight ratio and root weight ratio were not modified by treatments. At harvest no difference was observed among plants from different cell sizes, with heads reaching commercially acceptable weights.

Mustard is an alternative winter crop in temperate zones. This crop has a good performance in the center of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The aim of this work was to find the appropriate sowing date to increase yield. A field experiment was carried out using white Canadian mustard and 4 sowing dates (end of May, mid-June and July, end of August) in the experimental field of the University of Luján. Phenologic characters, dry matter, plant height, number of branches, number of pods per plant, weight of grain per plant, harvest index, grain yield and 1000grain weight were recorded. Results indicate that sowing in June and July produced highest grain yield when compared with the other dates. Sowing in June allows to harvest early and it also could allow sowing a second crop. Sowing in May produced lower yields, as a result of adverse environmental conditions around the time of harvest that produced plant mortality and reduced surface density. Sowing in August produced taller plants with higher aerial dry matter but lower number of grains, harvest index and grain yield due to the shortening of the reproductive stage. 

The postharvest disinfection by applying sanitizers by nebulization could be a promising technology to extend the storage period of fresh strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) The objective of this work was to model and optimize the operation of disinfection of fresh strawberries by nebulization with an ecological commercial disinfectant based on peracetic acid (PAA), aiming to reach microbiological reductions and not to alter the general quality, the content of bioactive compounds and the antioxidant capacity of the fruit. The disinfection of fruits of the ‘Camarosa’ variety was studied in a specially designed chamber, varying the concentration (3.4, 20.0, 60.0, 100.0 and 116.6 μL APA 5% per liter of air) and treatment time (5.7, 15.0, 37.5, 60 and 69.3 min). The count reduction of total mesophilic aerobic microorganisms and yeast and molds of nebulized strawberries was greater as PAA concentration and treatment time increased. However, PAA oxidizing properties negatively impacted on anthocyanins and total phenols, vitamin C, antioxidant capacity and color of the fruits, to varying degrees, depending on the spraying conditions. The optimization of fogging operation based on a microbiological reduction target of 2.0 log cycles, maximum retention of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity and no change in color, allowed to determine conditions of optimal treatment: 10.1 uL PAA / L air and 29.6 min. Additional experiments at these conditions validated the methodology. This postharvest disinfection treatment would allow obtaining strawberries with microbiological quality up to 7 days at 2ºC without affecting their sensory quality and bioactive properties.

Vegetables inoculation with Azospirillum sp. enhances seedling growth and crop productivity. In lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), inoculation with Az39, Pl64 and Pl3 strains of A. brasilense improved seedlings growth. The aim of this work is to evaluate morphological modifications of seedlings when these strains are combined in a formulation. Three trials were carried out using butterhead lettuce cv. Lores (Vilmorin®), performing the inoculation at sowing with a formulation which consisted of 1 x 107 UFC.ml-1 of a mixture of the strains Az39, Pl64 y Pl3 of A. brasilense, using not inoculated plants as control. It was dispensed 1ml of product per cell (1 x 107 UFC per seed). A completely randomized design with 20 replications was used. When plants showed 4 leaves, it was registered shoots, roots and plant fresh and dry weight, root absorption area and lineal length of root, submitting data to analysis of variance. Inoculated plants performed different depending on crop season. Root absorption area increased significantly in one of the three trials, exceeding the control by 27 %. Leaf, root and plant fresh weight were significantly higher in two trials, reaching values 11 %, 20 % and 12 % higher than control plants, respectively. No significant differences were observed on root length or dry weight.