The objective of this work was to evaluate 81 lentil cultivars using morphological traits and seed characteristics by digital phenotyping. Caliber (C) and the color traits luminosity (L), color coordinates a and b, and color index (CI) were measured and analyzed with appropriate software. Additionally, also yield (Y), plant height (PH) and days to flowering (DF) were measured. Highly significant differences between cultivars were found for all traits, while high broad sense heritability (H²B) for C (97%), CI (94%), a (93%) and L and b (83%) were found, indicating high genetic variability for these traits. Digital phenotyping showed to be a powerful tool for germplasm characterization along with field evaluation of agronomical traits. Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis allows de identification of differentiated groups of cultivars with similar characteristics, leading to a more efficient use of the germplasm available as commercial cultivars or as parents in a breeding program. Among these groups, group 1 had 32 cultivars with highest C and group 2 had 21 cultivars with higher Y.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar 81 cultivares de lenteja usando caracteres morfológicos y características de semilla utilizando fenotipado digital. El Calibre (C) y los caracteres Luminosidad (L), las coordenadas de color a y b, y el índice de color (IC) fueron medidos y analizados con un software apropiado; también fueron medidos el rendimiento (Y), altura de planta (PH) y los días a floración (DF). Se encontraron diferencias altamente significativas entre cultivares para todos los caracteres y se obtuvieron elevados valores de heredabilidad en sentido amplio (H²B) para las variables C (97%), IC (94%), a (93%) y L y b (83%) indicando la presencia de alta variabilidad genética. El fenotipado digital mostró ser una poderosa herramienta para la caracterización de germoplasma junto con la evaluación a campo de caracteres agronómicos. El Análisis de Componentes Principales y el análisis de agrupamiento permitieron la identificación de diferentes grupos de cultivares con características similares lo que conduce a un uso más eficiente del germoplasma disponible como cultivares comerciales o como parentales en un programa de mejoramiento genético. Entre estos grupos, el grupo 1 tuvo 32 cultivares con mayor C y el grupo 2 tuvo 21 cultivares con mayor Y.

The evaluation of selection criteria using correlation coefficients, multiple regression and path analysis was carried out for a period of two years on forty pea genotypes. The correlation analysis revealed that grain yield had genotypic relationships with numbers of pods, seeds per plot, length of the internodes and plant height in 2007 and also with grain diameter, length and width of leaflets and number of nodes at the first pod in 2008. The highest positive direct effects in 2007 were length of the internodes (0.68), seeds per plot (0.38) and numbers of pods (0.26). Length leaflets exhibited a negative direct effect (-0.46). The highest positive indirect contribution of plant height mediated by length of the internodes was 0.50. The highest negative indirect contribution was pod length via length of the internodes (-0.35). In 2008, the highest positive direct effects were seeds per plot (0.67), width leaflets (0.33) and numbers of pods (0.25). Length leaflets presented the highest negative direct effect (-0.34). The indirect effects were observed via seeds per plot, length and width leaflets; therefore numbers of pods and seeds per plot can be used for indirect selection. The parameter estimated showed that number of pods and seeds, and pod length determined the yield during 2007 and number of pod and seeds, and grain diameter during 2008. The R² values for both models were 0.60 and 0.89 respectively. The number of pod and seeds per plot were the main components of seed yield, having the maximum direct effects on this trait. These results might be used as selection criteria in order to increase the selection efficiency in pea breeding programs.

El coeficiente de correlación, la regresión múltiple y el análisis de sendero se emplearon para determinar criterios selectivos utilizando durante dos años, 40 genotipos de arveja. El rendimiento se correlacionó genotípicamente con número de vainas, semillas/parcela, longitud del entrenudo y altura de planta en 2007 y también con diámetro de grano, largo y ancho de folíolo y número de nudos a primera vaina en 2008. Durante 2007 los rasgos que mostraron efectos positivos directos elevados fueron longitud de entrenudos (0,68), semillas/parcela (0,38) y número de vainas (0,26). La longitud del folíolo exhibió un efecto directo negativo (-0,46). La mayor contribución indirecta positiva fue la de altura de planta vía longitud de entrenudos (0,50) y la mayor contribución negativa indirecta fue longitud de vaina vía longitud de entrenudos (-0,35). Durante 2008, efectos positivos directos elevados fueron para semillas/parcela (0,67), ancho del folíolo (0,33) y número de vainas (0,25). La longitud de folíolo presentó el mayor efecto directo negativo (-0,34). Los efectos indirectos fueron observados vía semillas/parcela, longitud y ancho de folíolos, por lo que el número de vainas y semillas por parcela, pueden ser utilizadas para selección indirecta. La correlación múltiple mostró que el número de vainas y semillas y la longitud de la vaina determinaron el rendimiento durante el 2007 y el número de vainas y semillas y el diámetro del grano durante el 2008. Los valores de R² para los dos modelos fueron 0,60 y 0,89, respectivamente. El número de vainas y semillas por vaina fueron los principales componentes del rendimiento, teniendo máximos efectos directos sobre este carácter. Estos resultados podrían ser utilizados como criterios de selección a fin de aumentar la eficiencia en programas de mejora de arveja.

The inheritance of head color and tightness in globe artichoke was studied utilizing crosses between inbreed lines and between clones and self-pollinated clones from different genetic origins. These genetic materials were sowed in a completely randomized design with 20 plants per plot and genotype. Globe artichoke heads were classified into three colors (purple-green, purple and green) and three head tightness types (compact, fairly compact and soft) and the segregating ratios for these traits tested in each offspring using the chi-square test. Crosses between green and purple inbreed lines produced only purple-green heads but F2 generation segregated at a purple-green:purple:green ratio of 9:3:4. The self-pollinated compact head clones produced a compact head:fairly compact head:soft head ratio of 12:3:1. The remaining crosses between lines and among clones and backcrosses verified these ratios. These results suggest that two loci with a simple recessive epistasis are involved in the inheritance of head color and that two loci with simple dominant epistasis are involved in the expression of the different head tightness types. The inheritance models proposed here could be helpful in predicting the appearance of artichoke heads if breeders need to obtain hybrid seeds for a desirable phenotype.

Age and crop system effects on agronomic response were evaluated in 11 hybrids of Asparagus officinalis L. The experimental design was a complete randomized block with three replicates of 20 plants of 3 or 4 years old, conducted either in mounded soil over plants for blanched asparagus, or in raised beds without ridging for green asparagus. The highest mean values were obtained under the blanched production for days to harvest, market yield, total yield, spears number and the spear mean weight. However, under the green production, the rate of increment from first to second year was superior for market yield and total yield due to an augmented rate of increment of spears number. Type and year of production effects were similar for days to first harvest and spears mean weight, meanwhile days to 50% of sprout plot was affected mainly by the year of production.

El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar el efecto de la edad de la planta y la respuesta a los manejos en 11 híbridos de espárrago (Asparagus officinalis L.). Se utilizó un diseño en bloques completos aleatorios con tres repeticiones de 20 plantas por parcela, con tres y cuatro años de edad, según dos sistemas de manejo: con surcos alomados para la producción de espárrago blanco y surcos sin alomar para espárrago verde. Con el manejo para espárrago blanco se obtuvieron mayores valores promedio para días a brotación, rendimiento de mercado, rendimiento total, número de turiones y peso promedio del turión. Sin embargo, la tasa de incremento del primer al segundo año de cosecha para rendimiento de mercado y rendimiento total resultó superior en el manejo verde debido a una tasa de incremento superior para número de turiones. Para días a brotación y peso promedio del turión, la respuesta debida al efecto del manejo y de la edad del cultivo fue similar, mientras que días al 50% de parcela brotada se vio afectada principalmente por la edad de la planta.

The materials of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) that growers have in use are imported by seed dealers and have been selected according to overseas markets requirements. With the aim of selecting proper parents to use in a breeding program, seven populations of Asparagus officinalis (P1 to P7), all rised as white asparagus, were tested during 1993 and 1994, at the Experimental Field of the Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias (Universidad Nacional de Rosario) placed in Zavalla, Santa Fe, Argentina. The evaluation was made on individual plant in a 40 days of harvest period. ANOVA and a cluster analysis were made. In order to improve total and marketable yield, P1, P2 and P3 should be used as females regarding that these ones also have high spear number. To improve spears weight and diameter as well as late production, P5 and P7 are recommended as males, but it should be considered that P5 has a better yield performance.

Los materiales de espárrago (Asparagus officinalis L.) utilizados hasta el momento por los productores son introducciones realizadas por las casas semilleras y han sido seleccionados para satisfacer requerimientos del mercado de los sitios de origen. El objetivo del siguiente trabajo es evaluar siete poblaciones de espárrago (P1 a P7), con el fin de seleccionar genitores adecuados de manera de recurrir a la hibridación de ellos para obtener materiales adaptados a los requerimientos locales. Las evaluaciones se hicieron sobre plantas individuales, separadas por sexos y manejadas como espárrago blanco, durante los años 1993 y 1994, en el campo experimental de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias (Universidad Nacional de Rosario), ubicado en Zavalla, provincia de Santa Fe. La evaluación se realizó sobre planta individual, durante un período de 40 días de cosecha y con los datos obtenidos se realizó un ANOVA y un análisis de agrupamiento. Para elegir progenitores femeninos con altos rendimientos y rendimiento de mercado se determinó que se deberá recurrir a las P1, P2 y P3, las cuales presentan también alto número de turiones. Para altos peso medio y diámetro de turión, así como producción tardía, son indicadas las P5 y P7 como genitores masculinos, teniendo en cuenta que, mientras la P7 presenta bajo rendimiento, la P5 aportaría mejores producciones.

Com o fim de estabelecer um método de seleção eficiente, a variabilidade de três populações de aspargo foi avaliada, definindo-se os componentes de rendimento mais importantes e analizando-se a sua evolução durante três anos de cultivo. Os componentes de rendimento, o coeficiente de variação (CV) e a proporção de plantas que contribuíram para 80% do rendimento total foram calculados. Plantas-elite foram selecionadas através do rendimento total e técnicas de agrupamento "cluster". A regressão múltipla mostrou que o número e o peso médio de turiões foram os componentes de rendimento mais importantes. Em todas as populações, o rendimento total e o número de turiões apresentaram os valores mais altos de coefíciente de variaçao, independentemente do sexo. No primeiro ano 69% das plantas contribuíram aos 80% do rendimento total, enquanto que no segundo e terceiro anos a contribuição foi de 57%. No final do terceiro ano 17 plantas (1.9%) foram selecionadas pelo rendimento total e 43 (4.8%) através da técnica deagrupamento. Recomenda-se selecioná-las pela massa média de turiões no primeiro ano, reduzindo em 68% a população inicial. No segundo ano a seleção seria feita pelo número de turiões, reduzindo a 5% as plantas que, no terceiro ano, serão avaliadas pelo rendimento total. Desse modo as plantas selecionadas são as mesmas, mas o número de plantas a avaliar no terceiro ano de cultivo é drasticamente reduzido, facilitando o trabalho do melhorista.

In order to establish an efficient selection criterion the variability in three asparagus populations was evaluated defining the most important yield components and analysing its evolution along three growing seasons. The yield components, coefficient of variation (CV) and the proportion of plants contributing to 80% of the total yield were estimated. The elite plants were selected by mean of total yield and clusters techniques. Multiple regression showed that spear number (SN) and spear weight (SW) were the most important yield components. In every population, total yield (TY) and SN showed the highest values of CV, independently of sex. 69% of the plants contributed to the 80% of the total yield in the first year while in the second and third year the contribution was 57%. At the end of the third year, 17 plants were selected by the average of the total yield and 43 by clusters. It is suggested to select for SW in the first year, reducing in 68% the experimental material. In the second year, the selection for SN would reduce to 5% the plants to evaluate for total yield in the third year. In this way the selected plants are the same but the number of plants to evaluate is dramatically reduced along the years, therefore facilitating the breeders work.

The production of globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) in the Horticultural Rosary Belt (33º 1' S.L and 60º 59' W.L) is concentrated from August to October. In order to increase the profitability it is necessary to bring toward the crop date to the months of higher prices, which could be achieved with the pulverisation of exogenous gibberellic acid (GA3). The behaviour of cultivars grouped according to their precociousness as compared to the application of GA3 as well as effect on the gross revenue were evaluated. A randomised complete block design with two replications was used. Fifty ppm of GA3 in April supplemented with 25 ppm were applied in May of 1994 and 1995. The number of heads per hectare, the average weight, the head diameter and height, yield, the average weight of the first range head, days to crop and crop days, were analysed through an ANOVA with 2 classification criteria for each year and in a combined year analysis. The application of GA3 in 1994 brought the production 52 days forward for the group I, 6 days for group II and only 3 days for group III, extending the crop days in 60, 8 and 3 days, respectively, showing equal trend in 1995. There were no significant modifications for the rest of the variables in the two trial years. The application of GA3 generated an increase in gross revenue, depending on its magnitude, on the evaluated years and on the analysed group.

En el Cinturón Hortícola de Rosario (33º 1' L.S y 60º 59' L.O.) la producción de alcaucil (Cynara scolymus L.) se concentra desde agosto a octubre. Para incrementar la rentabilidad debería adelantarse la fecha de cosecha a los meses de mayores precios, lo que podría lograrse con la pulverización exógena de ácido giberélico (AG3). Se evaluó el comportamiento de cultivares agrupadas según su precocidad frente a la aplicación de AG3 y su efecto sobre el ingreso bruto. Se utilizó un diseño en bloques completos aleatorizados con dos repeticiones. Se aplicaron 50 ppm de AG3 en abril más 25 ppm en mayo de 1994 y 1995. El número de alcauciles por ha, peso promedio, diámetro y altura, rendimiento, peso medio del capítulo de primer rango, días a cosecha y días de cosecha, fueron analizados a través de un análisis de variancia a dos criterios de clasificación por año y en un análisis combinado de años. La aplicación de AG3 en 1994 anticipó la producción en 52 días para el Grupo I, 6 días para el II y sólo 3 días para el III, ampliándose los días de cosecha en 60, 8 y 3 respectivamente, mostrándose igual tendencia en 1995. No se produjeron modificaciones significativas en el resto de las variables para los dos años de ensayo. La aplicación de AG3 generó un ingreso bruto superior dependiendo su magnitud de los años evaluados y del grupo analizado.