Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Objective:Characterize the growers and the dairy cattle value network in the municipality of Xico, Veracruz, based on interviews with key actors to analyze the concerns and issues and the identification of opportunity areas to improve cattle ranchers competitiveness. Design/methodology/approach:Interviews to 30 cattle ranchers selected by targeted sampling and snowballing, semi-structured interviews with key actors, and revision of documentary information were performed, to identify producer profiles and the structure of the value network. Results:Milk producers in Xico are the third generation dedicated to that activity; they are classified as small (83%) and medium (17%) cattle ranchers, with a mean age of 56.0 ± 12.1 years, and 30.0 ± 15.1 years of experience; they have 55.0 ± 33.8 heads per producer, producing 241 ± 156.8 L day-1; 57% of them have mechanical milking and cold tank storage. Their marketing channels are Nestlé and Liconsa, regional cheese factories, and direct sales to consumers within the municipality. Growers interact with the Local Xico Livestock Association (LXLA) for paperwork related to cattle management and for supplies purchase. Limitations/implications: Successors must be prepared to maintain the active in the region. Findings/conclusions: Producers have the experience, vocation, resources, and infrastructure to produce milk offered for sale, primarily to Nestlé and Liconsa. The LXLA is the center of the network and it has the capacity to promote dairy activity to generate benefits for the chain of actors in the value network. Keywords:value network, key actors, union organization, productive chain, associativity.

Objective: To evaluate the reaction of five inbred lines of habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) To the inoculation of Fusarium oxisporum and to identify genotypes with possible levels of resistance to this pathogen. Design/methodology/approach: Samples of stems of chili plants with typical symptoms of vascular wilting disease were obtained, due to their morphological characteristics of mycelium and conidia at the microscopic level it was identified as Fusarium oxisporum. By immersion of roots, at a concentration of 1x106 conidia per ml, five inoculated lines of habanero pepper were inoculated, in addition to the serrano-type cultivar Criollo de Morelos 334 (CM-334). The percentage disease index and the Area Under the Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) were estimated in a randomized complete block design, with three repetitions. Results: Significant differences (p?0.05) were observed for disease index and ABCPE in the evaluated genotypes, evidencing the existing difference in the genetic base of the genotypes and the resistance or susceptibility to Fusarium oxisporum. The cultivar CM-334, the Habanero 5 and Habanero 8 lines presented the lowest percentage of incidence of the disease (10, 20 and 30%, respectively) and ABCPE of 300, 560 and 880. In turn, the Habanero 9 and Habanero 6 lines presented the highest ABCPE values with 2220 and 2190, respectively. Limitations on study/implications: The disease resistance response in plants is complex and contains multiple interactions between genes, proteins, and metabolites. Findings/conclusions: The grouping of genotypes based on their reaction to Fusarium wilt disease facilitated the identification of resistant and susceptible lines, which can be considered in subsequent genetic improvement works for the cultivation of chili.

Objetive: The objective of this research was to select new sugarcane hybrids with better adaptation and performance in the field and industrial within the supply area of ??the Quesería sugar mill of the Beta San Miguel group (BSM). Design/methodology/approach: A group of 11 new hybrids were established in the agroindustrial phase, in order to compare their adaptation and field and the industrial performance using the commercial hybrid Mex 69-290 as control. Results: The results obtained indicated that during the soca cycle and under local soil conditions, the hybrids ColMex 05-484, ColMex 05-38 (c9) and ColMex 05-627, demonstrated the highest estimated field yields, with values ??of 154, 149 and 143 t / ha-1 respectively. Regarding the highest values ??of percentage of sucrose in cane (Pol), at 12 months of age of the plant, it was obtained by the hybrids ColMex 05-147 (16.8%), ColMex 08-38 (C8) (16.5%) and ColMex 05-897 (16.1%), considered by its intermediate cycle maturation curve. Limitations on study/implications: The limitations that could affect the results of the investigation were; the abundance of stones on the topsoil and the poor distribution of rainfall during the development of the crop (1203 mm). Findings/conclusions: It can be concluded that after analyzing the agricultural and industrial performance that, the best hybrid was: ColMex 05-484, surpassing the commercial control Mex 69-290.

Our research focused on the characterization of the nutritional and biochemical content of 25 genotypes: 5 S4 inbred lines and the 20 possible single crosses formed between them, due to the lack of knowledge about the nutritional composition and its variation within the germplasm of the white corn breeding program. In kernels of each genotype we determined the content of oil, starch, protein, ash and phytic acid. Results showed that for the parents and the crosses, correspondingly, the intervals of the substances under study were: a) Oil: from 5.99 to 3.84 and 6.40 to 3.55 g ? 100 g-1, b) Protein:  from 8.26 to 5.43 and 9.83 to 5.56 g ? 100 g-1, c) Starch: from 88.25 to 74.48 and 96.64 to 72.57 g ? 100 g-1, d) Ash: from 1.90 to 1.20 and 2.0 to 0.89 g ? 100 g-1, e) Phytic acid: from 2.40 to 1.08 and 2.29 to 1.11 g ? 100 g-1. We observed that in comparison to the parents, the crosses only were significantly superior in the content of starch; although, within each group there were statistical differences of the contents. The crosses that showed higher contents for a nutritional component were those in which at least one parent had a high composition of the nutrient. The variation in the nutritional and biochemical content showed that there is diversity among genotypes, which is linked to the contrasting genetic origin of the inbred lines and is feasible to be used. This research showed the potential of taking advantage of the nutritional components of white corn through crosses (specially its starch content).

Objective: to characterize the profile and level of empowerment of women in coffee production in the Las Altas Montañas region, Veracruz. Design / methodology: It was evaluated from two scenarios; as a woman owner of the coffee production (MDP) and as the wife of the coffee producer (EFP). The study was carried out in five municipalities considering a “non-probabilistic” sample, 80 questionnaires with a Likert-type scale were applied in Coatepec, Huatusco Sochiapa, Tlaltetela and Zentla. Results: The ages in both profiles range between 41 and 60 years, the marital status of the MDPs is: 20% single and 23% divorced, for the EFP 80% are married. Schooling for MDPs is higher than for VETs. 78% of MDPs have two or more occupations, while VETs are housewives (68%). At the level of empowerment, the MDPs presented a high level with 65% and a medium empowerment in 35% of them. In the GFS, 45% high and 55% medium were obtained. Limitations and implications: Survey on the perception of producers (men) regarding the participation of women in the sector and their empowerment. Conclusion: The level of empowerment is higher in women owners of production, which allows them greater leadership and autonomy in decision-making compared to women who depend economically on the producer, since this dependence defines both the role they exercise with their independence in making decisions.

  Objective: To analyze the presentation of reproductive seasonality and its relationship with the time of year, feeding, race and social environment in sheep in the municipality of Singuilucan Hidalgo. Design/methodology/approach: Using the data obtained from 41 surveys of sheep farmers, a logistic regression analysis was carried out, in which the degree of intervention that these variables have on the presence or absence of periods of seasonal anestrus of the sheep in the environment in which they develop and under the proper management of the production units. Results: 95.1% of the production units present periods of seasonal anestrus, the variables such as seasons of the year, type of feeding, racial type and social environment influence significantly (P <0.05). Spring is the season of the year that most influences the presence of anestrous periods (P <0.05), the reproductive season has its highest peak at the end of spring and during summer, with the calving season being at the end of autumn and during the winter. Study limitations/implications: Reproductive seasonality is a limitation in sheep production systems. Findings/conclusions: In the sheep production systems of the present study, it was found that those of estrus occurs at the end of spring and early summer, and that the variables season of the year, type of feeding, racial type and social environment influence so that the seasonal anestrus is present in spring.

Soil is the most biodiverse habitat on earth. Evidence shows that earthworms contribute to shaping the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems and agroecosystems. However, it is very well known and common to say earthworm (vermicompost and lixiviates) when there is a great diversity of earthworms found in the soil of various crops. In most tropical agroecosystems earthworms are the most abundant biomass and it has been suggested that domesticated plants have evolved together with earthworms. Also, earthworms have long shown to beneficially affect soil fertility and agricultural productivity. The overall objective is to review the invisible and silent role of earthworms “agroecosystem engineers” in the improving soil structure, there interaction with symbiont microorganism, mineralization and availability of nutrients, removal of contaminants, regulation of foliar herbivory and increase of crop yields. It is concluded that earthworms as a soil quality improver cannot be considered separately from agroecosystems. Therefore, their protection, promotion and management are suggested in order to manage, conserve and restore soil health and produce crops in a sustainable way.

Abstract Objective: Determine if the Los Alamos Agroecological Education Center (CEA) meets the elements of structure and function to be identified as an agroecological lighthouse.   Design/methodology/approach: A CEA case study was constructed to understand both the context and the structural and functional characteristics that are currently configured. In a second stage, a comparative analysis of the structural and functional characteristics of the agroecological lighthouses was performed with the data generated in the case study. In the third stage, the factors that allow or prevent the CEA from developing as an agroecological lighthouse will be analyzed. The whole of the research was carried out with a mixed approach (quantitative and qualitative).   Results: The CEA performs and fulfills in the youth sector, the characteristic function of agroecological lighthouses as it is an effective tool for education, training, exchange of knowledge and promotion of agroecology, favoring the dissemination and scaling up in the peasant communities where young people come from who participate in the CEA.   Limitations on study/implications: The results are only applicable to the case under study due to the limitations of this methodology in that its results do not allow the elaboration of general explanations.   Findings/conclusions: The CEA has enough elements to classify it as a sectoral agroecological lighthouse, which is providing a methodological and strategic light to respond to the challenge of the intergenerational transmission of knowledge, knowledge and agroecological projects in the rural indigenous youth field.   Keywords: Agroecology, agroecological lighthouse, social and rural development.

The objective of this work was to characterise the production systems of water users of the Chilhuacán canal in Atlixco, Puebla, and to identify the role they play in the persistence of wastewater use in agriculture. The characteristics of the vegetable and forage production systems in the study area were identified, the factors that favour or limit the persistence of the use of sewage for crop irrigation, the level of knowledge of the producers regarding the effects of this practice was determined, as well as the attitude of the users to the polluting effects on their plots and health caused by the use of sewage. Through the application of a questionnaire and field visits to the producers' plots, a characterisation of the producers in the region was made. It was found that there are seven types of producers that differ from each other by the type of crop they specialise in (fodder and vegetables), as well as by the size of farmland they have (<3ha, ?6ha and >6 ha). Keywords: Health, pollution, ignorance, typology.

Objective: Describe the main economic and ecological characteristics in the production of crops of native stingless bees (NSB) in the Yucatan peninsula (YP), Mexico. Design/methodology/approach: Through the snowball method, an exhaustive search for references on meliponiculture was carried out, using keywords individually or in combination, such as meliponiculture, Melipona, native stingless bee, Mayan meliponiculture, Yucatan peninsula, etc. Results: In Campeche and Yucatán there are a total of 216 producers who have a total of 3362 jobones destined for meliponiculture. However, economic and ecological studies are scarce and do not allow to know in depth the benefits of NSB in the YP, that is, information on production costs and economic spillover that would be obtained with the preservation of the NSB. Limitations on study/implications: This study describes the socioeconomic and ecological aspects of native stingless bees in the Yucatán peninsula, México. Findings/conclusions: Meliponiculture is an important activity from the cultural aspect, therefore its rescue and conservation is urgent; on the other hand, the selling cost of Melipona honey is higher compared to honey from the bee Apis mellifera L., being an economic alternative for producers in rural communities.