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Drought-tolerant transgenic [genetically modified (GM)] HB4® wheat carrying the drought-responsive sunflower gene Hahb4 was first developed in Argentina in 2019 and has already been approved for marketing and consumption as food/feed in at least ten countries. It has also been approved in Argentina and Brazil for commercial cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To simulate the impact on calcium intake - effectiveness and safety - of fortifying wheat flour with 200, 400 and 500 mg of calcium per 100 g of flour., Design: Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected through repeated 24 h dietary recalls using the Iowa State University Intake Modelling, Assessment and Planning Program., Setting: Urban cities in the National Health and Nutrition Survey of Argentina (ENNyS 2018-2019)., Participants: 21 358 participants, including children, adolescents and adults., Results: Most individuals in all age groups reported consuming wheat flour. The prevalence of low calcium intake was above 80 % in individuals older than 9 years. Simulating the fortification of 500 mg of calcium per 100 g of wheat flour showed that the prevalence of low calcium intake could be reduced by more than 40 percentage points in girls and women aged 19 to less than 51 years and boys and men aged 4 to less than 71 years, while it remained above 65 % in older ages. The percentages above the upper intake level remained below 1·5 % in all age groups., Conclusions: Calcium flour fortification could be further explored to improve calcium intake. Subnational simulations could be performed to identify groups that might not be reached by this strategy that could be explored in Argentina. This analysis could be used to advocate for a strategy to fortify wheat flour.

A comparative analysis of grain yield performance of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) under different environments constitutes a way to identify restrictions in yield formation between both crop species. However, most of the previous studies on these field crops have been carried out in Mediterranean environments. This study aims to compare the grain yield performance of wheat and barley across a wide range of temperate environmental conditions. Wheat and barley yield databases from the national network of cultivar evaluation of Argentina were assembled. The database included 191 wheat cultivars (with early-, mid- and late-flowering length cycle), 140 barley cultivars, and 44 combinations of sites and years of the Argentine wheat and barley belt region. Average heading date variation among environments and crops was no more than 10 days. Crop grain yield comparisons were carried out using a regression analysis, benchmarking within each site-year the grain yield of each cultivar against the average grain yield of all crop cultivars (i.e., environmental index). There were no differences in grain yield between wheat and barley for all data, but the behavior between crop species changed with the length of the wheat cycle (i.e., early-, mid-, or late-flowering cultivars). Barley portrayed a greater grain yield than early-flowering wheat under low-yielding environments (< 6060 kg ha−1), but this advantage vanished as the yield environment improved. Mid-flowering wheat showed a similar grain yield to barley across temperate environments. Lastly, late-flowering wheat outperformed barley mainly in high-yielding environments (> 6138 kg ha−1). Grain number m−2 was the main numerical component that explained variability in grain yield. The relative contribution of the yield numerical components differed between species, having barley lower grain number m−2 but a greater grain weight than wheat. The comparison of the grain yield performance between species represents a strategy to adjust the rotation system, being a critical factor in considering the variability in the crop growth cycle. • Yield performance offers valuable insights to select the best crop option into the right environment. • Wheat and barley have similar grain yield performance when they have similar cycle duration. • Barley outyielded early-flowering wheat (shorter season) in low-yielding environments (< 6 Mg ha−1). • Late-flowering wheat (longer season) outyielded barley in high-yielding environments (> 6 Mg ha−1). • Yield variations were governed by changes in grain number per unit area for both crop species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Actualización en Nutrición is the property of Sociedad Argentina de Nutricion and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina is the property of Sociedad Entomologica Argentina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We reviewed and performed a quantitative synthesis on herbicide‐resistant weeds from rain‐fed crops in Argentina. Twenty‐four weed species distributed in the main extensive crops (soybean, maize, wheat, barley, oilseed rape, sunflower, chickpea and peanut) have evolved herbicide resistance. Of the total, 54% are grasses, 88% are annual species and 63% are cross‐pollinated species. The most representative families were Poaceae with 54% resistant species, followed by Brassicaceae with 17%, and Asteraceae with 13%. Buenos Aires, Santa Fe and Córdoba were the provinces with the most documented cases of resistance (35%, 33% and 30%, respectively). The proportion of cases resistant to pre‐emergence herbicides was 10%, whereas the proportion of cases resistant to post‐emergence herbicides was 90%. Glyphosate was the herbicide with the highest incidence (92%) of resistance among weed species, followed by 29% of species that evolved resistance to ALS‐inhibiting herbicides. Whereas resistance to auxin‐like herbicides comprised 17% of the weed species, acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (8%) and protoporphyrinogen oxidase (4%) inhibiting herbicides showed the least incidence of resistance evolution among weeds. The highest number of resistant species was identified in soybean (19), followed by maize (13), wheat/barley (10) and fallow (9). Weed species with a higher number of resistant populations to a higher number of herbicide mode of action were Amaranthus hybridus, A. palmeri, Lolium multiflorum and Raphanus sativus. The change in the production system since the mid‐1990s, based on the use of herbicides (glyphosate mainly) to control weeds, is likely to account for the notorious increase in the average rate of evolution of herbicide‐resistant weeds in Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flooding pampa is one of the most important cattle-raising regions in Argentina. In this region, natural pastures are dominated by low-productivity native grass species, which are the main feed for livestock. In this context, previous studies in the region with the subtropical exotic grass Panicum coloratum highlight it as a promising species to improve pasture productivity. Cultivable phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) communities associated to native (Sporobolus indicus) and exotic (Panicum coloratum) forage grasses adapted to alkaline-sodic soils of the flooding pampa were analyzed. PSB represented 2-14% of cultivable rhizobacteria and Box-PCR fingerprinting revealed a high genetic diversity in both rhizospheres. Taxonomic identification by MALDI-TOF showed that PSB populations of P. coloratum and S. indicus rhizospheres are dominated by the phylum Proteobacteria (92,51% and 96,60% respectively) and to a lesser extent (< 10%), by the phyla Actinobacteria and Firmicutes. At the genus level, both PSB populations were dominated by Enterobacter and Pseudomonas. Siderophore production, nitrogen fixation, and indoleacetic acid production were detected in a variety of PSB genera of both plant species. A higher proportion of siderophore and IAA producers were associated to P. coloratum than S. indicus, probably reflecting a greater dependence of the exotic species on rhizospheric microorganisms to satisfy its nutritional requirements in the soils of the flooding pampa. This work provides a novel knowledge about functional groups of bacteria associated to plants given that there are no previous reports dedicated to the characterization of PSB rhizosphere communities of S indicus and P coloratum. Finally, it should be noted that the collection obtained in this study can be useful for the development of bioinputs that allow reducing the use of chemical fertilizers, providing sustainability to pasture production systems for livestock., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

In this study, we pursued the heterologous expression of the xylanase gene from Trichoderma atroviride, a native fungus in the province of Misiones, and used it to enhance the textural properties of baked goods through varying enzymatic concentrations. This marks the inaugural exploration into its functionality in the context of bread production. The recombinant xylanase exhibited improved activity, reaching 36,292 U L -1 , achieved by supplementing the culture medium with dextrose. Following the optimization of recombinant xylanase concentration, promising results emerged, notably reducing hardness and chewiness parameters of bread significantly. Our findings underscore the potential of this native fungal enzyme for industrial processes, offering a sustainable and efficient means to enhance the quality of baked goods with broad implications for the food industry. No prior research has been documented on the heterologous expression of the xylanase gene derived from T. atroviride, from the Misiones rainforest, expressed in Kluyveromyces lactis. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This research, focusing on the isolation and cloning of xylanase enzyme from Trichoderma atroviride, a native fungus in the province of Misiones, offers a valuable tool for improving the texture of bakery products. By optimizing enzyme concentrations, our findings present a practical approach for the food industry, offering a viable solution to improve the overall quality and consumer satisfaction of bakery products., (© 2024 Institute of Food Technologists.)

The effects of the salt stress on plant growth are usually increased by the water stress. We studied the impact of both stresses in simultaneous pulses of drought and salinity on Paspalum dilatatum. This forage species is native to South America, spread in grasslands in many tropical, subtropical, and temperate areas of the world, and very common in grasslands of the Flooding Pampas of Argentina. Mimicking what happens in nature. We compared a pot experiment, a non-stressed control against water stress for a month (midpoint between field capacity and wilting point), and two saline stresses (moderate, 6 d·Sm−1and strong, 12 d·Sm−1), also for a month. Aerial biomass (green leaf; non-leaf green material, and dry material) and roots were harvested, weighed, and analyzed for nitrogen, phosphorus, and cations. The biomass of all components significantly decreased when both stresses were applied. Water plus strong saline stress reduced by half the total biomasses, compared to the control. The proportion of aerial biomass/root biomass ratio as well as aerial green component/dry materials ratio tend to decrease when subjected to both stresses. Nitrogen concentration in plants was not significantly affected, but phosphorus concentration increased in aerial biomass components, from 0.10 to 0.18 mg·kg−1between the extreme treatments, but did not change in roots. Sodium concentration in plants increased (i.e. in green leave sodium (Na) increased from 0.27 to 2.01 mg·kg−1between the extreme treatments), whereas other cations either did not change or decreased, affecting the ratios between them. Sodium performance allows us to infer that the Na accumulation of P. dilatatum behaves in an intermediate range, compared to very tolerant to salts or non-salt tolerant species of the Paspalum genus. In agreement, when salts were applied in the form of a pulse, P. dilatatum tolerated higher salinity than that found by other authors for the same species, using continuous salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of environmental constraints, beef cattle was for more than a century the only viable farming option in the extensive semiarid and subhumid lands of Argentina and the main source of nutrients for humans as well. However, a growing concern and criticism have risen today about its possible negative impact on the climate and the environment. These worries tend to affect current public opinions, national policies, and international trade. Based on 40 beef cattle farms scattered across different semiarid and subhumid regions of Argentina, here we evaluated the impact of extensive cattle production on carbon, water, and nutrient pollution. Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Land-Based Assessment (LBA) were the two approaches we used here to compare the environmental impact of beef production. While the environmental footprint (EF) resulting from LCA expresses the impact per unit of food, the environmental balance (EB), derived from LBA, aims at quantifying the impact per unit of land. As such, the EB considers both negative and positive impacts on the farm as an integrated system. Following standardized procedures, we evaluated EF and EB up to the farm gate, leaving aside delocalized post-farm impacts such as those of processing, packaging, and transportation that occur beyond the farm gate. In agreement with previous evidence, our results show that the EF tends to decrease as per-head production increases. Correlation coefficients and statistical significance were the following for carbon (R = −0.574; p < 0.01), water (R = −0.561; p < 0.01), and N (R = −0.704; p < 0.01) and Phosphorus (P) pollution (R = −0.802; p < 0.01) footprints. On the contrary, the EB seems to be highly sensitive, and as per-hectare beef production increases. Correlations were the following for carbon emissions (CE: R = 0.955; p < 0.01), water consumption (WC: R = 0.822; p < 0.01), nitrogen excretion (NE: R = 0.948; p < 0.01) and phosphorus excretion (PE: R = 0.945; p < 0.01). What our results suggest is that the notion of EF is useful to evaluate the environmental impact in intensive beef production systems, and the EB is suitable to assess the impact of the extensive ones. In practice, both approaches provide different perspectives on the environmental-impact problem and they should be complementary used. We concluded that the methodological rigidity of EF does not allow proper discrimination among farms in the extensive systems. On the contrary, the EB approach tended to be highly sensitive to detecting differences between individual farms and farmers, thus allowing the identification of successful options for extensive beef production in terms of public image, policy-making, and commercial opportunities. Supplementary Material Supplementary Material File [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Historia Agraria is the property of Historia Agraria and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A dominant perspective within the field of development economics is that structural change away from the industries that developing countries traditionally specialize in, such as agriculture and mining, is necessary to support a broad process of development. In this paper, we ask whether and how structural change within, as well as away from, such industries might help create more economically successful, socially just and environmentally benign trajectories of progress. Combining insights from innovation studies of economic development with ideas from socio-technical transitions studies, we analyse two cases of alternative, potentially transformative agricultural ventures in Argentina. We explore their practices, relative to mainstream ventures, and reflect on their potential to contribute to more sustainable trajectories of change within and out of the mainstream agricultural sector, and the ways in which they can be supported to do so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic Agriculture and Agroecology are production systems considered relevant for building up sustainable food systems at an environmental, social and economic level. In recent years there has been a growing interest in considering which processes can contribute to upscaling these systems. At a global level Agroecological Local Agri-food Systems and Bio-districts are becoming beacons for that purpose. This paper presents a case study of an organic and agroecological group of producers in the Argentinian Pampa Region where we used the Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach in implementing three interconnected methodologies: (i) Sustainability assessment using the FAO Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE), (ii) Participatory Value chain Development and (iii) Stakeholder Analysis. This was done to verify if the combination of methodologies can be useful to (i) evaluate the current situation of the group in terms of LAFS development and (ii) identify which possible activities would be required for upscaling organic and agroecological practices at a regional level with a neo-endogenous approach. We conclude that the participative assessment implemented was useful to identify the group stage in terms of LAFS development and also to identify the activation requirements for upscaling the system at the same time that the participatory process addressed and organized a set of procedures in the hands of the group for implementing that process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Courts prosecuting corruption serve a critical horizontal accountability function, but they can also play a role in moments of vertical accountability when voters can sanction corrupt candidates. This article documents the strategic use of corruption lawsuits, demonstrating the presence of an electoral cycle in filing new corruption accusations against politicians. Using an original dataset of daily corruption complaints filed in federal courts against members of Argentina's main political coalitions between 2013 and 2021, we document increased corruption accusations against and by politicians in the periods immediately preceding an election. A second dataset of daily media coverage of corruption accusations in two leading newspapers suggests that corruption is more salient before elections, offering politicians a temporal focal point to prepare and launch especially impactful lawsuits. Our findings shed new light on using courts for accountability and debates about the so-called 'lawfare' in Latin America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the summer of 2023, ingestion of Astylus atromaculatus (pollen beetle) was linked to spontaneous fatal disease in grazing cattle and sheep in Argentina and Uruguay. While the disease was experimentally reproduced in sheep and guinea pigs in the 1970's, no experimental reproductions have been attempted in cattle, and controversy exists as to whether this insect is indeed noxious to cattle and at which dose. Here, we demonstrate that A. atromaculatus causes acute fatal disease in Hereford calves at single oral dosages of 2.5, 4.5, 10.0, and 15.0 g of insect/kg body weight. Death or severe disease necessitating euthanasia occurred at 38 to 48 hours postinoculation regardless of the dose, suggesting that the single fatal dosage is likely <2.5 g/kg body weight (this dose representing approximately 850 mL of intact beetles in a 100 kg calf). Clinically, the disease was characterized by acute anorexia, prolonged recumbency, reluctance to move, listlessness/apathy, depression, ruminal hypomotility and tympany, hypothermia, bruxism with frothing at the mouth, and mucoid diarrhea progressing to death. Hematologic and biochemical alterations included hemoconcentration, stress/acute inflammatory leukogram, negative energy balance, and ketosis. The pathological hallmark of this experimental disease is acute necrotizing omaso-reticulo-rumenitis, fibrinohemorrhagic enteritis, and exfoliative colitis with intralesional chitinous insect fragments. While A. atromaculatus might contain a gastrointestinal toxin or pathogen, extensive toxicological testing failed to identify a causative toxin. Other pathomechanisms such as direct physical damage caused by insect fragments on the alimentary tract seem plausible, although further studies are needed to elucidate the pathogenesis of A. atromaculatus -associated disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azospirillum sp. is a plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria largely recognized for its potential to increase the yield of different important crops. In this work, we present a thorough genomic and phenotypic analysis of A. argentinense Az39T to provide new insights into the beneficial mechanisms of this microorganism. Phenotypic analyses revealed the following in vitro abilities: growth at 20–38 °C (optimum, 28 °C), pH 6.0–8.0 (optimum, pH 6.8), and in the presence of 1% (w/v) NaCl; production of variable amounts of PHB as intracellular granules; nitrogen fixation under microaerophilic conditions; IAA synthesis in the presence of L-tryptophan. Through biochemical (API 20NE) and carbon utilization profiling (Biolog) assays, we proved that A. argentinense Az39T is able to use 15 substrates and metabolize 19 different carbon substrates. Lipid composition indicated a predominance of medium and long-chain saturated fatty acids. A total of 6 replicons classified as one main chromosome, three chromids, and two plasmids, according to their tRNA and core essential genes contents, were identified. Az39T genome includes genes associated with multiple plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits such as nitrogen fixation and production of auxins, cytokinin, abscisic acid, ethylene, and polyamines. In addition, Az39T genome harbor genetic elements associated with physiological features that facilitate its survival in the soil and competence for rhizospheric colonization; this includes motility, secretion system, and quorum sensing genetic determinants. A metadata analysis of Az39T agronomic performance in the pampas region, Argentina, demonstrated significant grain yield increases in wheat and maize, proving its potential to provide better growth conditions for dryland cereals. In conclusion, our data provide a detailed insight into the metabolic profile of A. argentinense Az39T, the strain most widely used to formulate non-legume inoculants in Argentina, and allow a better understanding of the mechanisms behind its field performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Argentina Hill belongs to the tribe Potentilleae Sweet and contains approximately 75 species predominantly distributed in the Sino-Himalayan region and the Malesian archipelago. So far we have less knowledge on the phylogenetic relationships within Argentina owing to limited sampling of Argentina taxa or gene fragments in previous studies. Moreover, to date there is no phylogenetic study on Argentina from the perspective of comparative chloroplast (cp) genomics. Here we performed comparative genomic analyses on the cp genomes of 39 accessions representing 18 taxa of Argentina. The Argentina cp genomes presented the typical quadripartite structure, with the sizes ranging from 155 096 bp to 157 166 bp. The 39 Argentina cp genomes contained a set of 112 unique genes, comprising four ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 30 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, as well as 78 proteincoding genes (PCGs). The cp genome organization, gene content and order in Argentina were highly conserved, but some visible divergences were present in IR/ SC boundary regions. Ten regions (trnH-GUG-psbA, trnG-GCC-trnfM-CAU, trnDGUC-trnY-GUA, rpl32-trnL-UAG, atpH-atpI, rps16-trnQ-UUG, trnS-GCU-trnGUCC, ndhF-rpl32, trnR-UCU-atpA, and accD-psaI) were identified as excellent candidate DNA markers for future studies on species identification, population genetics and phylogeny of Argentina. Our results indicated that Argentina is monophyletic. In the current sampling, the A. smithiana - A. anserina clade was sister to the remainder of Argentina. Our results corroborated the previous taxonomic treatments to transfer A. phanerophlebia and A. micropetala from the genus Sibbaldia L. to Argentina. Our results showed close relationships among A. stenophylla, A. microphylla, A. taliensis, and A. tatsienluensis, congruent with previous studies based on the morphology of these species. Twenty-six genes (rps3, rps15, rps16, rps19, rpl16, rpl20, rpl22, rpoA, rpoB, rpoC1, rpoC2, atpA, atpF, psbB, psbF, ndhA, ndhB, ndhC, ndhD, ndhF, rbcL, accD, ccsA, matK, ycf1, ycf2) were with sites under positive selection, and adaptive evolution of these genes might have played crucial roles in Argentina species adaptation to the harsh mountain environment. This study will facilitate future work on taxonomy, phylogenetics, and adaptive evolution of Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring phytochemicals from ethnomedicinal plants for pharmacological applications is a promising research area. By studying ethnomedicine, researchers can identify plants used for centuries to treat ailments and investigate their phytochemicals. Consequently, phytochemicals can be isolated, characterized, and tested for pharmacological activities, leading to new drug development. This research also helps preserve traditional knowledge and biodiversity. Lithospermum officinale L., found in Eurasia, Argentina (South), Colombia, and the United States, is valued for its medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects. The current review emphasizes L. officinale L. as a significant reservoir of bioactive phytochemicals, with alkaloids, quinones, glucosides, phenolics, flavonoids, and lipids identified as the principal metabolites. It also unveils the unexplored potential of this plant for future research endeavors. Continued research on L. officinale L. can unlock its full potential, providing insights into its medicinal uses and contributing to biodiversity preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global forest industry is focused on developing waste valorization technologies. Regional resources use in biorefineries could be a strategy to improve profitability and mitigate the environmental impact of the involved industrial sectors, adding a new value chain to the forest industry. This study develops the mass and energy balance for bioethylene and lignin production from industrial pine sawdust (IS), a primary wood processing in Argentina. The proposed production process is composed of: (i) sodaethanol pretreatment to remove the lignin; (ii) simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) to convert the cellulose to glucose and then to ethanol; (iii) ethanol recovery (95%); (iv) ethanol dehydration to bioethylene and; (v) bioethylene recovery through an ethylene tower and stripper. In the proposed process, 107 kg of bioethylene per ton of dry sawdust could be obtained, recovering 208 kg of lignin. Energy consumption is about 1885 MW h t-1 of dry sawdust. The highest consumption is in pretreatment and ethanol recovery processes, which can be reduced by 42%. Regarding economic assessment, the internal rate of return (IRR) and net present value (NPV) were 10.08% and 5.21 MM USD, respectively. Sensitivity analysis shows that the most influential parameters are lignin and bioethylene market prices and energy and enzyme costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Argentina is among the most important lemon fruit producers in the world. Penicillium digitatum is the primary lemon fungal phytopathogen, causing green mold during the postharvest. Several alternatives to the use of synthetic fungicides have been developed, being the use of biocontrol yeasts one of the most promising. Although many of the reports are based on the use of a single yeast species, it has been shown that the combination of agents with different mechanisms of action can increase control efficiency through synergistic effects. The combined use of native yeasts with different mechanisms of action had not been studied as a biological control strategy in lemons. In this work, the mechanisms of action of native yeasts (Clavispora lusitaniae AgL21, Clavispora lusitaniae AgL2 and Clavispora lusitaniae AcL2) with biocontrol activity against P. digitatum were evaluated. Isolate AgL21 was selected for its ability to form biofilm, colonize lemon wounds, and inhibit fungal spore germination. The compatibility of C. lusitaniae AgL21 with two killer yeasts of the species Kazachstania exigua (AcL4 and AcL8) was evaluated. In vivo assays were then carried out with the yeasts applied individually or mixed in equal cell concentrations. AgL21 alone was able to control green mold with 87.5% efficiency, while individual killer yeasts were significantly less efficient (43.3% and 38.3%, respectively). Inhibitory effects were increased when C. lusitaniae AgL21 and K. exigua strains were jointly applied. The most efficient treatment was the combination of AgL21 and AcL4, reaching 100% efficiency in wound protection. The combination of AgL21 with AcL8 was as well promising, with an efficiency of 97.5%. The combined application of native yeasts showed a synergistic effect considering that the multiple mechanisms of action involved could hinder the development of green mold in lemon more efficiently than using single yeasts. Therefore, this work demonstrates that the integration of native yeasts with diverse modes of action can provide new insights to formulate effective microbial consortia. This could lead to the development of tailor-made biofungicides, allowing control of postharvest fungal diseases in lemons while remaining competitive with traditionally used synthetic chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop yield prediction from UAV images has significant potential in accelerating and revolutionizing crop breeding pipelines. Although convolutional neural networks (CNN) provide easy, accurate and efficient solutions over traditional machine learning models in computer vision applications, a CNN training requires large number of ground truth data, which is often difficult to collect in the agricultural context. The major objective of this study was to develope an end-to-end 3D CNN model for plot-scale soybean yield prediction using multitemporal UAV-based RGB images with approximately 30,000 sample plots. A low-cost UAV-RGB system was utilized and multitemporal images from 13 different experimental fields were collected at Argentina in 2021. Three commonly used 2D CNN architectures (i.e., VGG, ResNet and DenseNet) were transformed into 3D variants to incorporate the temporal data as the third dimension. Additionally, multiple spatiotemporal resolutions were considered as data input and the CNN architectures were trained with different combinations of input shapes. The results reveal that: (a) DenseNet provided the most efficient result (R2 0.69) in terms of accuracy and model complexity, followed by VGG (R2 0.70) and ResNet (R2 0.65); (b) Finer spatiotemporal resolution did not necessarily improve the model performance but increased the model complexity, while the coarser resolution achieved comparable results; and (c) DenseNet showed lower clustering patterns in its prediction maps compared to the other models. This study clearly identifies that multitemporal observation with UAV-based RGB images provides enough information for the 3D CNN architectures to accurately estimate soybean yield non-destructively and efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina is the property of Sociedad Entomologica Argentina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Agronomic data such as applied inputs, management practices, and crop yields are needed for assessing productivity, nutrient balances, resource use efficiency, as well as other aspects of environmental and economic performance of cropping systems. In many instances, however, these data are only available at a coarse level of aggregation or simply do not exist. Here we developed an approach that identifies sites for agronomic data collection for a given crop and country, seeking a balance between minimizing data collection efforts and proper representation of the main crop producing areas. The developed approach followed a stratified sampling method based on a spatial framework that delineates major climate zones and crop area distribution maps, which guides selection of sampling areas (SA) until half of the national harvested area is covered. We provided proof of concept about the robustness of the approach using three rich databases including data on fertilizer application rates for maize, wheat, and soybean in Argentina, soybean in the USA, and maize in Kenya, which were collected via local experts (Argentina) and field surveys (USA and Kenya). For validation purposes, fertilizer rates per crop and nutrient derived at (sub-) national level following our approach were compared against those derived using all data collected from the whole country. Application of the approach in Argentina, USA, and Kenya resulted in selection of 12, 28, and 10 SAs, respectively. For each SA, three experts or 20 fields were sufficient to give a robust estimate of average fertilizer rates applied by farmers. Average rates at national level derived from our approach compared well with those derived using the whole database (± 10 kg N, ± 2 kg P, ± 1 kg S, and ± 5 kg K per ha) requiring less than one third of the observations. The developed minimum crop data collection approach can fill the agronomic data gaps in a cost-effective way for major crop systems both in large- and small-scale systems. The proposed approach is generic enough to be applied to any crop-country combination to guide collection of key agricultural data at national and subnational levels with modest investment especially for countries that do not currently collect data. • We developed an approach for the collection of agronomic data. • The approach was validated for fertilizer rates in Argentina, USA, and Kenya. • A small number of sampling areas were sufficient to estimate fertilizer rates. • Three experts or 20 fields per sampling area were sufficient for precise estimation. • The approach can help fill current gaps in agronomic data in a cost-effective way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Net blotch disease, caused by Pyrenophora teres f. teres (Ptt), is one of the most serious diseases of barley in Argentina. The in vitro sensitivity profile of Ptt to different fungicide mixtures currently used in Argentina was determined in isolates from different localities. Mycelial growth inhibition was measured, and the 50% inhibitory concentration (EC50) was estimated by simple logarithmic regression. In addition, the in vivo sensitivity of Ptt to the application of fluxapyroxad 5% + epoxiconazole 5% + pyraclostrobin 8.1% (FEP) was evaluated in greenhouse and field trials. The EC50 values ranged from 0.004 to 0.527 µg/mL, indicating that the fungicide mixtures tested were highly fungitoxic to all Ptt isolates tested. The in vivo and field fungicide efficacy averaged 99.9% and 79.5%, confirming a correlation between in vitro and in vivo sensitivity. The fungicide mixtures evaluated here were all highly fungitoxic and efficient for managing net blotch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Urban parks are hot spots of bird diversity in cities. However, their role as urban filters for raptor species has not been assessed yet. This study aimed to compare the functional and phylogenetic traits of raptor assemblages in urban parks with the regional species pool of raptors in east–central Argentina. Diurnal raptors were surveyed in 51 urban parks in six cities during breeding and nonbreeding seasons. The regional species pool was assessed through raptor surveys and published maps surrounding the cities. The functional and phylogenetic relatedness of urban raptors was higher than expected by chance, suggesting filtering induced by urban parks. Urban raptors were, in general, generalist species with small body sizes. Moreover, species tended to be part of the Falconidae family. Based on the results obtained here and in other published work, a model of raptor assembling in urban parks is proposed. The design of urban parks needs to be more heterogeneous, promoting the occurrence of specialist raptors. Urban parks are hot spots of bird diversity in cities. However, their role as urban filters for raptor species has not been assessed yet. This study aimed to compare the functional and phylogenetic traits of raptor assemblages in urban parks with the regional species pool of raptors in east–central Argentina. Diurnal raptors were surveyed in 51 urban parks in six cities during breeding and nonbreeding seasons. The regional species pool was assessed through raptor surveys and published maps surrounding the cities. The observed functional and phylogenetic relatedness of urban raptors was compared with 999 simulated raptor assemblages from the regional species pool. A total of five species were recorded in urban parks. The Chimango Caracara (Milvago chimango) was the numerically dominant species, comprising 95% of the 172 individuals recorded. The regional species pool was composed of 20 diurnal species. The functional and phylogenetic relatedness of urban raptors was higher than expected by chance, suggesting filtering induced by urban parks. Urban raptors were, in general, generalist species with small body sizes. Moreover, species tended to be part of the Falconidae family. Based on the results obtained here and in other published work, a model of raptor assembling in urban parks is proposed. The design of urban parks needs to be more heterogeneous, promoting the occurrence of specialist raptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entomopathogenic nematodes from the genus Steinernema (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) are capable of causing the rapid killing of insect hosts, facilitated by their association with symbiotic Gram-negative bacteria in the genus Xenorhabdus (Enterobacterales: Morganellaceae), positioning them as interesting candidate tools for the control of insect pests. In spite of this, only a limited number of species from this bacterial genus have been identified from their nematode hosts and their insecticidal properties documented. This study aimed to perform the genome sequence analysis of fourteen Xenorhabdus strains that were isolated from Steinernema nematodes in Argentina. All of the strains were found to be able of killing 7th instar larvae of Galleria mellonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Their sequenced genomes harbour 110 putative insecticidal proteins including Tc, Txp, Mcf, Pra/Prb and App homologs, plus other virulence factors such as putative nematocidal proteins, chitinases and secondary metabolite gene clusters for the synthesis of different bioactive compounds. Maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis plus average nucleotide identity calculations strongly suggested that three strains should be considered novel species. The species name for strains PSL and Reich (same species according to % ANI) is proposed as Xenorhabdus littoralis sp. nov., whereas strain 12 is proposed as Xenorhabdus santafensis sp. nov. In this work, we present a dual insight into the biocidal potential and diversity of the Xenorhabdus genus, demonstrated by different numbers of putative insecticidal genes and biosynthetic gene clusters, along with a fresh exploration of the species within this genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The nationally determined contribution (NDC) presented by Argentina within the framework of the Paris Agreement is aligned with the decisions made in the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on the reduction of emissions derived from deforestation and forest degradation, as well as forest carbon conservation (REDD+). In addition, climate change constitutes one of the greatest threats to forest biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, the soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks of native forests have not been incorporated into the Forest Reference Emission Levels calculations and for conservation planning under climate variability due to a lack of information. The objectives of this study were: (i) to model SOC stocks to 30 cm of native forests at a national scale using climatic, topographic and vegetation as predictor variables, and (ii) to relate SOC stocks with spatial–temporal remotely sensed indices to determine biodiversity conservation concerns due to threats from high inter-annual climate variability. Methods: We used 1040 forest soil samples (0–30 cm) to generate spatially explicit estimates of SOC native forests in Argentina at a spatial resolution of approximately 200 m. We selected 52 potential predictive environmental covariates, which represent key factors for the spatial distribution of SOC. All covariate maps were uploaded to the Google Earth Engine cloud-based computing platform for subsequent modelling. To determine the biodiversity threats from high inter-annual climate variability, we employed the spatial–temporal satellite-derived indices based on Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and land surface temperature (LST) images from Landsat imagery. Results: SOC model (0–30 cm depth) prediction accounted for 69% of the variation of this soil property across the whole native forest coverage in Argentina. Total mean SOC stock reached 2.81 Pg C (2.71–2.84 Pg C with a probability of 90%) for a total area of 460,790 km2, where Chaco forests represented 58.4% of total SOC stored, followed by Andean Patagonian forests (16.7%) and Espinal forests (10.0%). SOC stock model was fitted as a function of regional climate, which greatly influenced forest ecosystems, including precipitation (annual mean precipitation and precipitation of warmest quarter) and temperature (day land surface temperature, seasonality, maximum temperature of warmest month, month of maximum temperature, night land surface temperature, and monthly minimum temperature). Biodiversity was influenced by the SOC levels and the forest regions. Conclusions: In the framework of the Kyoto Protocol and REDD+, information derived in the present work from the estimate of SOC in native forests can be incorporated into the annual National Inventory Report of Argentina to assist forest management proposals. It also gives insight into how native forests can be more resilient to reduce the impact of biodiversity loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important crop in Argentina. Aspergillus section Flavi can infect this crop at the pre-harvest stage, and the harvested grains can be contaminated with aflatoxins (AFs). During the production of bioethanol from maize, AF levels can increase up to three times in the final co-products, known as, dry and wet distiller's grain with solubles (DDGS and WDGS), intended for animal feed. Fungal enzymes like laccases can be a useful tool for reducing AF contamination in the co-products obtained from this process. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the ability of laccase enzymes included in enzymatic extracts (EE) produced by different species in the Basidiomycota phylum to reduce AF (AFB1 and AFB2) accumulation under the conditions of in vitro assays. Four laccase activities (5, 10, 15, and 20 U/mL) exerted by nine isolates were evaluated in the absence and presence of vanillic acid (VA), serving as a laccase redox mediator for the degradation of total AFs. The enzymatic stability in maize steep liquor (MSL) was confirmed after a 60 h incubation period. The most effective EE in terms of reducing AF content in the buffer was selected for an additional assay carried out under the same conditions using maize steep liquor obtained after the saccharification stage during the bioethanol production process. The highest degradation percentages were observed at 20 U/mL of laccase enzymatic activity and 1 mM of VA, corresponding to 26% for AFB1 and 26.6% for AFB2. The present study provides valuable data for the development of an efficient tool based on fungal laccases for preventing AF accumulation in the co-products of bioethanol produced from maize used for animal feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Argentina has a relevant international role as a producer of agricultural commodities. Buenos Aires is the province with the largest cultivated area of cereals and oilseeds of the country. Rainfed crops depend exclusively on green water, meaning a comparative advantage for Buenos Aires province. The green virtual water content in the crops produced in Buenos Aires has implications for water allocation at international level. A great amount of countries depends on the Argentinean rainfed agriculture. Therefore, it is important to understand the effects of climate variations on Argentinean crop production at local level and the role of rainfed crops in regional and international trade. We analysed the temporal and territorial variations of crops green water demand in a climatic variability context and their influence on the water footprint. The green water footprint of the main crops of Buenos Aires was assessed, including soybeans, maize, sunflower, wheat and barley, in different climatic conditions: for the period 2008-2018, which include a dry year, a humid year and an ordinary year. A dataset about the green water footprint at municipality level was provided, and the results were presented on maps for each crop and for the different climatic conditions. The relevance of green water of main crops in the world water-dependent supply chains was shown. This comprehensive green water footprint assessment provides a useful database for researchers, companies and policy makers in Argentina and beyond., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)