In Ecuador, the cultivation of sweet potato is having importance at the national level, its consumption and production is carried out in different areas of the Coast, Sierra and Amazonia regions. The agronomic management practices of the sweet potato crop that lead to excellent production and good quality, however, due to poor agronomic management, the sweet potato crop varieties have not been able to demonstrate their true yield potential and there is no good modernization in the conventional cultivation system, either in the plantation or in the harvest. There are not many improved sweet potato varieties in the country, however, INIAP has been carrying out a selection process for improved varieties. The Pichilingue Tropical Experimental Station has a germplasm bank of 392 species collected in 18 provinces of the country, of which 64% correspond to the Coast, 19% to the East, and 17% to the Sierra. The research techniques used in this investigative work are exploratory and explanatory by means of which it has been obtained as a result that the success of good sweet potato production is using cuttings obtained from the tip of the stems of the plant. In addition, the most effective method for weed control is using plastic covers. On the other hand, drip irrigation is the one that is used the least but the one that provides the greatest positive results in production. Concluding that the main challenges facing sweet potato cultivation in Ecuador are the lack of technical knowledge of farmers and the application of agricultural techniques to improve the management of this crop. | In Ecuador, the cultivation of sweet potato is having importance at the national level, its consumption and production is carried out in different areas of the Coast, Sierra and Amazonia regions. The agronomic management practices of the sweet potato crop that lead to excellent production and good quality, however, due to poor agronomic management, the sweet potato crop varieties have not been able to demonstrate their true yield potential and there is no good modernization in the conventional cultivation system, either in the plantation or in the harvest. There are not many improved sweet potato varieties in the country, however, INIAP has been carrying out a selection process for improved varieties. The Pichilingue Tropical Experimental Station has a germplasm bank of 392 species collected in 18 provinces of the country, of which 64% correspond to the Coast, 19% to the East, and 17% to the Sierra. The research techniques used in this investigative work are exploratory and explanatory by means of which it has been obtained as a result that the success of good sweet potato production is using cuttings obtained from the tip of the stems of the plant. In addition, the most effective method for weed control is using plastic covers. On the other hand, drip irrigation is the one that is used the least but the one that provides the greatest positive results in production. Concluding that the main challenges facing sweet potato cultivation in Ecuador are the lack of technical knowledge of farmers and the application of agricultural techniques to improve the management of this crop. | En el Ecuador, el cultivo del camote está teniendo importancia a nivel nacional, su consumo y producción se realiza en diferentes zonas de la regiones Costa, Sierra y Amazonia. Las prácticas de manejo agronómico del cultivo de camote que conllevan a una producción excelente y de una buena calidad, sin embargo, debido a un deficiente manejo agronómico, las variedades del cultivo de camote no han logrado demostrar su verdadero potencial de rendimiento y tampoco existe una buena tecnificación en el sistema del cultivo convencional, ya sea en la plantación o en la cosecha. En el país no existen muchas variedades mejoradas del Camote, sin embargo, el INIAP ha ido realizando un proceso de selección de variedades mejoradas. La Estación Experimental Tropical Pichilingue posee un banco germoplasma de 392 especies recolectadas en 18 provincias del país de las que el 64% corresponde a la Costa 19% al Oriente y el 17% a la Sierra. Las técnicas de investigación utilizadas en este trabajo investigativo son exploratorias y explicativas por medio de las cuales se ha obtenido como resultado que el éxito de la buena producción en camote es empleando esquejes obtenidos de la punta de los tallos de la panta. Además el método más efectivo para el control de arvenses es usando coberturas plásticas. Por otra parte, el riego por goteo es el que menos se utiliza pero el que mayor resultados positivos brinda en la producción. Concluyéndose que los principales desafíos que enfrenta el cultivo de camote en Ecuador son la falta de conocimiento técnico de los agricultores y la aplicación de técnicas agrícolas para mejorar el manejo de este cultivo.

Climate change remains a major threat to Ghana’s agricultural productivity and food security especially in developing countries. One of the promising pathways to achieving sustainable food production is building communities resilience to climate risk through technology parks which can serve as platforms to promote climate-smart agricultural technologies. Thirty-one (31) technology parks were established across twenty-two (22) communities in five AICCRA intervention regions to promote different gender-smart CSA technologies to aid sustainable production of yam, sweet potato, maize, and cowpea. The value chains piloted were maize (13 parks), yam (3 parks), cowpea (13 parks), and sweet potato (2 parks). For each technology park, the community selected and compared the validated CSA practices with the conventional practices. Farmer field schools (FFS) organized across the localities brought together a total of 2,341 farmers, extension officers, and other stakeholders directly of which 1155 representing 49.0 % were women. Again 988 representing 42.0% were below the age of 35 years. On average, improved maize seeds, land preparation, good agronomic practices, harvesting, and marketing technologies disseminated were scored as having low drudgery (60 %) and displacement of women of their roles (90 %) for maize, cowpea, and sweet potato. Compared to the national yield average, AICCRA intervention fields recorded 64 % and 128 % increases in maize and cowpea yields respectively. Again, the AICCRA intervention field recorded 65 % and 118 % more income than farmer practice. While average yam tuber yield from AICCRA fields was about 40 % higher than FP fields, sweet potato weevil-damaged tubers were more than 200 % on FP fields compared to AICCRA intervention fields. In all the intervening communities, farmers ranked bundled CSA technologies as the most preferred technologies to help reduce the impact of climate risks. Two hundred and seventy-four are using AICCRA technologies with 42% being female. AICCRA interventions have shown a high potential for improved yield and income this has important implications for climate policy in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Ghana.

Root and tuber crop breeding is at the front and center of CIP’s science program, which seeks to develop and disseminate sustainable agri-food technologies, information and practices to serve objectives including poverty alleviation, income generation, food security and the sustainable use of natural resources. CIP was established in 1971 in Peru, which is part of potato’s center of origin and diversity, with an initial mandate on potato and expanding to include sweetpotato in 1986. Potato and sweetpotato are among the top 10 most consumed food staples globally and provide some of the most affordable sources of energy and vital nutrients. Sweetpotato plays a key role in securing food for many households in Africa and South Asia, while potato is important worldwide. Both crops grow in a range of conditions with relatively few inputs and simple agronomic techniques. Potato is adapted to the cooler environments, while sweetpotato grows well in hot climates, and hence, the two crops complement each other. Germplasm enhancement (pre-breeding), the development of new varieties and building capacity for breeding and variety testing in changing climates with emphasis on adaptation, resistance, nutritional quality and resource-use efficiency are CIP’s central activities with significant benefits to the poor. Investments in potato and sweetpotato breeding and allied disciplines at CIP have resulted in the release of many varieties some of which have had documented impact in the release countries. Partnership with diverse types of organizations has been key to the centers way of working toward improving livelihoods through crop production in the global South.

Nematodes are very diverse and could be free-living or plant parasite species. Amongst the existing categories, the most aggressive ones are the root lesion nematode (Pratylenchus spp.), root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.), and cyst nematode (Globodera spp.). These categories affect over 2000 susceptible crop species causing varying yield losses, reaching 100% under heavy infestations in potatoes. The common root-knot nematode and cyst nematode hosts include tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), African eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum), eggplant (Solanum melongena), and other solanaceous plants, including Physalis spp., Datura spp., Hyoscyamus spp., Physoclaina spp., Salpiglossis spp., and Saracha spp. These nematodes are disseminated mainly through irrigation water, rainfall runoffs, infested soil particles, commercial seed potato tubers, contaminated footwear, animal hooves, farm implements, and machinery. Effective control of nematodes requires farmers to practice integrated nematode management systems with a combination of at least two management practices. Several cultural and agronomic practices have shown some decent levels of efficacy, thus recommended for adoption. Timely application of these practices is critical for achieving better outcomes. Among the management strategies, applying nematicides is the most effective in the short term. It is important to be cautious when using these chemicals, as they pose significant risks to humans and the environment. Again, these products are costly, especially those within moderate to low toxicity, making them unsustainable and out of reach for most small-scale farmers.

In the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, farmers and indigenous communities converge under contrasting conditions of soil quality, access to water supply, agroinputs and traditional knowledge linked to the production of beans, corn and sweet potatoes. The objective of this work was to characterize the soil, study the agronomic behavior of biofortified varieties of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), corn (Zea mays L.) and sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas L.) established in monoculture in the case of beans and in association for the case of corn-sweet potato, in production plots with agroecological management, conventional management and without management, under two contrasting environments (in the Arhuaca community and in the peasant community) located in the municipality of Valledupar, and make an exploratory approach. to the description of the ethnic bean production system. Physicochemical characterization of the soil was carried out in both locations. The ecophysiological evaluation and performance variables of bean crops in monoculture and corn in association with sweet potato were carried out. A multidisciplinary and mixed methodology was applied in which in-depth interviews with ethnic groups converged to identify their own productive model. It was found that the soil conditions in the indigenous community require greater soil conditioning to maintain fertility in the long term. Likewise, the low content of organic matter and the reduced microbial diversity of the soils in the two evaluated areas promotes the dissemination of pathogens in bean seeds. In general terms, in both locations the bean, corn and sweet potato plants responded positively to agroecological management. The integration of traditional practices into bean production models requires the generation of joint work spaces between technicians, experts and mamos to build easily measurable indicators on the condition of the farms that facilitate traceability in bean production processes.

Sweet potato is an important food, industrial, and pharmaceutical crop worldwide and highly adapted to adverse ranges of agroclimatic conditions, making it one of the strategic crops under climate change. Despite the importance, sustainable crop production continues to be an issue because of the pressure put on land, the decline in soil fertility, the buildup of pests and diseases, and no standardized production practices. Production is highly mechanized in temperate regions, whereas, in the tropics, it is still a subsistence crop confined to subsistence farming systems. These issues are compounded by a lack of generically and agronomically improved genotypes adapted to wider agroecological zones with adaptive tolerance to existing and new stresses. In the recent past, significant progress has been made worldwide; however, the outcomes tend to be locality-specific, and cannot be extrapolated, needing decentralization of the current approaches. This review points out that the crop is a critical strategic crop in the Oceania region because of its ability to grow under adverse ranges of agroclimatic conditions and can produce a reasonable yield. The paper continues to emphasize the current trends in emerging modern technology that can be used to efficiently improve and enhance traits of agronomic importance and wider adaptivity. In addition, land use plans, farming systems, and cultural production practices need to be changed for sustainable production. The need for these is further strengthened by pointing out alternative strategies, e.g., using organic matter as a relatively cheap and readily available source of soil nutrients compared to inorganic fertilizers.

3 figuras.- 8 tablas.- 149 referencias | The two cultivated lowland species belonging to the genus Pachyrhizus Rich. ex DC.—the yam beans—P. erosus (L.) Urb. and P. tuberosus (Lam.) Spreng. exclusively seed propagated and cultivated for their edible starch and protein-rich tuberous roots, their evolution and domestication processes including cultivar groups and landraces are described. Agroecological requirements, agronomy including large-scale commercial and the small-scale traditional cultivation practices, are detailed. Postharvest processing and industrial potential are based on starch (10%–35%), protein (4%–10%), and fiber (3.6%–4.1%) contents, depending on species and cultivar group. Both starch and protein qualities are high. The starch granules are comparable to rice (Oryza sativa L.) starch (85%–91% amylopectin) and the protein to that of native potato (Solanum spp.). Besides, agronomic management is easy when compared to P. ahipa. Meanwhile, P. tuberosus is grown and still consumed mainly at rural households. Root dry matter content of P. tuberosus ranges from 21% to 34% compared to P. ahipa (16%–20%). Through interspecific crossings (e.g., P. ahipa × P. tuberosus Chuin cultivar group), the progenies can produce starch content up to 25%. The Pachyrhizus spp. starch possesses a high quality due to low amylose content (less than 16%) when compared to traditional starch from monocots. In commercial pilot production of P. tuberosus sundried meal, the estimated composition can increase up to 61% starch, 24% protein, and 15% fiber. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. | Peer reviewed

Peruna (Solanum tuberosum L.) on maailman kolmanneksi tärkein ravintokasvi, jonka satojen suurin uhka on Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary -munasienen aiheuttama perunarutto. Vaikka kasvijalostuksella on pyritty löytämään resistenttejä lajikkeita, on fungisidien käyttö edelleen tärkeä torjuntamenetelmä. Jalostuksella on potentiaalia saada toimivia ja kestäviä lajikkeita, mutta sen hitaus ja toisaalta sopeutuva taudinaiheuttaja tekevät kehityksestä haastavaa. Jalostuksen ja fungisidien rinnalla erilaiset viljelytekniset toimet, ja taudinaiheuttajan epidemiologiaan sekä sää-olosuhteiden yhteisvaikutusten tuntemiseen perustuvat ennuste- ja seurantamallit ovat keinoja kehittää perunanviljelystä entistä kestävämpää. Perunantutkimuslaitos tekee Suomessa perunoiden lajiketestausta. Vuonna 2019 ja 2020 toteutetuissa lajikekokeissa seurattiin eri perunalajikkeiden perunaruton alttiutta ja kasvukausien lehtiruton etenemistä. Lajikekokeissa perunaruton lajikkeiden perunaruttoresistenssin lisäksi tärkeä lajikkeiden käyttökelpoisuuden kriteeri on hehtaarisato, jota kokeissa tarkastellaan. Vuosien välillä havaittiin eroja lajikkeiden lehtiruttoisuudessa ja lehtiruton etenemisen nopeudessa. Kumpanakin vuonna lehtiruttoepidemia ilmeni koealalla keskimääräistä myöhemmin. Tärkein syy myöhäiseen lehtiruton ilmenemisaikaan oli kasvukauden aikaiset sääolosuhteet. Myöhäiset tärkkelysperunalajikkeet osoittautuivat kokeissa lehtirutolle kestävimmiksi ja heikoimmat lehtiruttoresistenssit olivat ruokaperunalajikkeissa. Myös 1000 mukulan painoissa ja mukularuttoisuudessa havaittiin lajikkeiden välillä eroja. Lajikevalinta ja kasvukauden aikaiset olosuhteet vaikuttavat merkittävästi lehtiruttopaineeseen ja sen aiheuttaman tuhon määrään. Lajikkeen tärkein ominaisuus on satoisuus, jonka mittaus jäi kokeissa kuitenkin tekemättä. Suomessa tehtävä lajiketutkimus on tärkeää, sillä Manner-Euroopasta tulevien lajikkeiden perunarutonalttius ja agronomiset omi-naisuudet Suomen olosuhteissa eivät välttämättä vastaa jalostajan antamia tietoja. Integroidun kasvinsuojelun kehittä-minen tulee jatkossa olemaan entistä tärkeämmässä roolissa P. infestans epidemioiden hillitsemisessä ja niiden aiheuttamien tuhojen estämisessä, sillä yksittäisillä toimilla ei saada kestäviä ratkaisuja. | Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the world's third most important food crop, and its biggest threat is late blight caused by the fungus Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary. Although plant breeding has been aimed at developing resistant varieties, the use of fungicides is still the main control method. Breeding has the potential to produce functional and sustainable varieties, but its slowness and the adaptive nature of the pathogen make development challenging. Along with breeding and fungicides, different management practices, and prediction and monitoring models based on understanding the epidemiology of the pathogen and the combined effects of weather conditions, are means to develop more sustainable potato cultivation. In Finland, the Potato Research Institute conducts variety testing of potatoes. In the variety trials carried out in 2019 and 2020, the susceptibility of different potato varieties to late blight and the progression of foliar blight during the growing season were monitored. In addition to late blight resistance, an important criterion for the usefulness of the varieties tested is the yield level, which is examined in the trials. Differences were observed between the varieties in terms of foliar blight and the speed of its progression between the years. In both years, the foliar blight epidemic appeared later than expected in the trial area. The main reason for the delayed appearance of foliar blight was the weather conditions during the growing season. Late starch potato varieties proved to be the most resistant to foliar blight in the trials, and the weakest foliar blight resistance was observed in food potato varieties. Differences were also observed between the varieties in terms of 1000 tuber weights and tuber blight. Variety selection and weather conditions during the growing season have a significant impact on late blight pressure and the amount of damage caused. The most important characteristic of a variety is the yield, which was not measured in the experiments. Variety research conducted in Finland is important because the late blight resistance and agronomic characteristics of varieties coming from mainland Europe may not necessarily correspond to the information provided by the breeder in Finnish conditions. In the future, the development of integrated plant protection will play an increasingly important role in controlling P. infestans epidemics, as single actions will not provide sustainable solutions.

Irish potato (Solanum Tuberosum) is a nutritive diet in the food chain supply of the Nigerian populace. Apart from the agronomic practices and production level in the country, limited data that exist on engineering properties of the adapted varieties are either scanty or non-existent in print form. Three locally varieties namely Nicola, Bartita and Bawondoya were investigated for some physical and frictional properties using standard laboratory procedures and equipment. The measured parameters are data resource for indigenous processors and machinery and equipment fabricators. The data obtained were subjected to simple descriptive statistics using Microsoft Excel package for computing the mean, range and the standard deviation. The mean, standard deviation and range values for axial diameters (major, intermediate and minor), geometry diameter, sphericity, aspect ratio, mass, volume, density and surface area in varietal order of 'Nicola', 'Bartita' and 'Bawondoya' are (43.61±3.72mm-63.82±7.95mm; 39.41±2.99mm-44.1±2.38mm; 33.41±2.67-5.90±2.87mm); 40.81±1.87mm - 44.02±2.87 mm; 0.70±0.07 - 0.94±0.06; 0.63±0.10 -1.02±0.11; 43.2±4.69g - 52.8±9.9g; 43.3±5.4cm3 - 49.8±10 cm3 ; 1.001±0.057 g/cm3 -1.065±0.076 g/cm3 and from43.30±476.20 mm2 to 6113.63±811.26 mm2 respectively. Bulk density values of 701.43 kg/m3 , 673.30 kg/m3 and 672.86 kg/m3 were obtained in respective order as above. Peel-weight proportion of 2.5%, 2.76% and 1.9% were obtained at 80.6%, 79.4% and 81.4% moisture content (w.b) levels for the sampled weight of Nicola, Bartita and Bawondoya varieties respectively. The frictional parameters results indicate an angle of repose 15⁰ was obtained for both Bartita and Bawondoya varieties while 130 was obtained for Nicola variety. Average values of 0.68, 0.61 and 0.52 were obtained as coefficients of static friction for Bartita, Bawondoya and Nicola varieties respectively.

RESUMEN La agricultura moderna transita hacia la transformación de la producción agropecuaria con sistemas más sostenibles y se nutre de experiencias de la agricultura orgánica y tradicional, así como de buenas prácticas agronómicas. En este escenario, el desarrollo agropecuario sostenible y la seguridad alimentaria son una prioridad estratégica para Cuba hacia el desarrollo económico y social. El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo, evaluar el efecto de la aplicación de prácticas agroecológicas para el incremento de la productividad de tres fincas en transición agroecológica del Municipio Jaruco en la provincia de Mayabeque, Cuba. Se abarcó el período de 2020 (línea base) a 2022. Se aplicaron entrevistas a los agricultores para recopilar información acerca de las innovaciones implementadas para mejorar los resultados productivos, y se utilizó el método de observación participante para constatar la efectividad de estas prácticas sobre el incremento de los rendimientos agrícolas de los cultivos evaluados. Los resultados muestran que la utilización de buenas prácticas agrícolas como el uso de bioproductos para la nutrición de las plantas, la diversificación varietal, el uso de abonos orgánicos y de controladores biológicos, permite el incremento del rendimiento agrícola de diferentes cultivos de interés económico para Cuba. Entre ellos se destacan aumentos de rendimiento de 30-60% en boniato, 20-50% en frijol y de 40-50% en maíz, con respecto a los rendimientos obtenidos en el año 2020, tributando de esta manera a la soberanía y seguridad alimentaria local. | ABSTRACT Modern agriculture is moving towards more sustainable systems and is nourished by the experiences of organic and traditional agriculture, as well as good agronomic practices. In this scenario, sustainable agricultural development and food security are a strategic priority for Cuba towards economic and social development. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the application of agroecology practices in increasing the productivity of three farms in agroecology transition in the Jaruco municipality in the Mayabeque province, Cuba. The period from 2020 (baseline) to 2022 was covered. Interviews were applied to farmers to collect information about the innovations implemented to improve production results and the participant observation method was used to verify the effectiveness of the innovation on the increase of the agricultural yields of the evaluated crops. The results show that the use of good agricultural practices such as the use and management of bioproducts for plant nutrition, varietal diversification, the use of organic fertilizers, and biological controls, allowed the increase in the agricultural yield of different crops of economic interest for Cuba. Among them are increases in crop yields of 30-60% in sweet potato, 20-50% in beans, and 40-50% in corn, with respect to the yields obtained in the year 2020, thus paying tribute to local food security and sovereignty.