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

Introduction. The Bean Golden Yellow Mosaic Virus (BGYMV) is one of the factors that limit the production of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Cuba. Genetic improvement for resistance to this virus is one of the most effective strategies for disease control. Objective. To select common bean genotypes with resistance to BGYMV and grain yield stability. Materials and methods. Twenty-two bean genotypes (sixteen advanced lines donated by the Agricultural School of Zamorano, Honduras, the cultivar commercial ‘Cuba Cueto 25-9N’, the resistant and susceptible controls ‘Delicia 364’ and ‘Velasco Largo’, respectively). The presence of the bgm-1 gene, which confers resistance to BGYMV, was then identified from the presence of the SCAR SR2 marker. Results. The evaluation of the reaction in the field allowed the identification of nineteen genotypes with a resistant response to the natural infection of BGYMV. Sixteen common bean genotypes were identified with the presence of the SCAR SR2 marker and seventeen genotypes that showed stable grain yield behavior during the evaluation seasons, which may be useful for the genetic improvement of bean crops. Conclusion. The results allowed the identification of nineteen genotypes with resistance to BGYMV. The seventeen BGYMV-resistant with the SCAR SR2 marker and stable genotypes, could be included in the bean germplasm bank and as parents in crossing programs, as well as in regional yield trials in other bean-growing environments.

Introduction. Overturning is known as plant downfall, a phenomenon that affects the yield and quality of harvests in various crops. In Colombia, overturning has been evidenced in fique (Furcraea spp.) plantations, but its effects have been little studied. Objective. To determine overturning repercussions on fique plant growth and fiber production. Materials and methods. Twenty upright plants and twenty plants with overturning were evaluated under a completely randomized design in a forty-year-old crop in Totoro, Cauca, Colombia in March 2021. Growth, yield, and fiber length (LF) were evaluated. Additionally, the percentage of overturning and mortality was quantified through a random sampling of 166 plants. Results. The incidence of overturning was 58 %, of the overturned plants 23 % died due to stem rot. The overturning affected growth, reducing stem diameter (DT), leaf length (LH), leaf width (AH), total number of leaves (NTH) and the leaf length and width ratio (RLA) by 10, 23, 14, 39, and 10,5 %, respectively, compared to upright plants. Likewise, fiber length and yield decreased by 24 and 56 %, respectively. Conclusions. The overturning caused a greater affectation in fiber production than the reported by the macana virus, the most limiting disease of the crop. These findings highlighted the importance of seeking and implementing management strategies as a contribution to the sustainability of the chain in the country.

Introduction. Phenological information on Myroxylon peruiferum in Costa Rica is scarce. In addition, the characteristics of the oil and the equilibrium isotherm are unknown. The knowledge generated in this field will allow proper seed management and generate oil prospecting options. Objectives. (i) To document a flowering and fruiting event of a single M. peruiferum tree. (ii) To determine the characteristics of the fruit and seed oil. (iii) To generate a water absorption/de-absorption isotherm. Materials and methods. From March to May 2021, the flowering and fruiting of M. peruiferum tree was documented in Montes de Oca, San Jose, Costa Rica. Mature fruits were collected between June and July. The oil content of fruits and seeds was characterized separately. A water absorption/de-absorption isotherm was elaborated, with which the fit of the Cromarty equation was tested. Results. The flowering, fruiting, and dispersal period lasted five months. These phenophases occurred simultaneously. Oleic acid was the main fatty acid. There was a significant correlation between the percentages of fatty acid in the fruit and seed oil, and between the contents of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The oil is yellow, moderately intense, and luminous. As relative humidity increased, seed moisture content also increased. The linear relationship between the actual values and those obtained using the Cromarty equation was R2= 0.93. Conclusion. Mature fruit can be harvested between March and August, and be used for germination, propagation and oil prospecting studies. Once the relationship between relative humidity and seed moisture content is established, studies on seed storage and viability loss can be developed.

Introduction. In Costa Rica there are 51 native species of passion fruit plants that have commercial potential due to their phytochemical characteristics. In Passiflora the seminal characteristics can be used to taxonomically classify the genus species. The identification of plant material and the development of methodologies that enable quality assessment is essential for propagation, production, and conservation. Objective. To characterize Passiflora biflora and Passiflora adenopoda seeds based on their morphology and to optimize the protocol for determining their viability by means of the tetrazolium test. Materials and methods. Morphological characterization and viability trials were carried out in 2022, at the Centro de Investigaciones en Granos y Semillas (CIGRAS), Universidad de Costa Rica. Twelve external morphological characters and the internal structures of P. biflora and P. adenopoda were characterized. For the optimization of the tetrazolium test protocol, the effect of two types of cutting (longitudinal and angular), two concentrations of tetrazolium salt (0.5 % and 1 %), three temperatures (30, 35, and 40 ºC), and four incubation times (3, 6, 12, and 24 h) were assessed. Results. The morphological characters evaluated allowed the seeds to be classified as P. biflora and P. adenopoda. By using 1 % tetrazolium salt, a longitudinal cut, a temperature of 40 ºC, and an incubation time of 3 h, similar viability percentage was obtained (90 % in P. biflora and 91 % in P. adenopoda), and a staining of the same quality, as that obtained with the international standardized method. Conclusions. The seminal characteristics assessed allowed the classification of the analyzed seeds as P. biflora and P. adenopoda. In addition, the tetrazolium test protocol was optimized by reducing the incubation time from 24 to 3 hours.

Introduction. Once harvested, paddy rice is stored in aerated silos for temperature control, which is known as rice aging. During aging, physicochemical, and physiological changes occur in the rice grain, these changes affect its culinary quality. Objective. To determine the effect of aging time on the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of two rice varieties. Materials and methods. This study was carried out in Agrifood Science Faculty Laboratories of the Universidad de Costa Rica, between September 2018 and March 2019. The two rice varieties studied were grown in Osa, Puntarenas. The first cv. Lazarroz FL, indica type, and the second cv. UCR-168-10, aromatic type were stored for 4.5 months. During storage, total starch, resistant starch, amylose, moisture, protein, was determined, and sensory attributes were evaluated with a trained sensory panel. Results. The two rice varieties studied don’t show significant differences during 4.5 months of storage in moisture, total starch, and resistant starch. Amylose content showed variation without a clear trend. Protein content was reduced during aging until 2,5 months of storage. According to the sensory test, attributes such as integral flavor and stickiness did not show significant differences throughout the study, while the remaining parameters did, either over time or between varieties. Cooked rice appearance showed an improvement up to 2,5 months aging for the two varieties. Whiteness of rice increased for both varieties during aging. Conclusion. Storing rice for 2,5 months achieved the desired changes in protein and sensory attributes for the rice varieties evaluated.

Introduction. In carrot cultivation direct sowing is practiced because the seedling cannot resist the stress of transplanting. It is essential to use seeds that germinate in a maximum of seven days and uniformly. Seeds vigor is associated with yield performance in the field and, at the international level there are different test to measure it. However, in carrot, the methodologies are still scarce and are not standardized. Objective. To determine the physiological quality in seeds of two varieties of carrot (Daucus carota L.) by mean of vigor tests. Materials and methods. This research was carried out at the Centro para Investigaciones en Granos y Semillas (CIGRAS) of the Universidad de Costa Rica in 2018. Seeds of Bangor and Triunfo varieties with moisture percentages of 7 %, 10 %, and 13 % were used. The vigor tests used were the following: radicle protrusion, first germination count (seven days), accelerated aging, electrical conductivity, and the germination analysis by digital images. Pearson’s correlation analyses were performed between the variables studied. Results. Significant correlation coefficients (Pearson’s r) were observed for electrical conductivity with variables obtained from the image analysis: t10 (r=0.83), t50 (r=0.87), and the area under the curve (r=-0.72). Trough the electrical conductivity test, it was determined that the Bangor lot had greater vigor than the Triunfo lot (Tukey, p≤0.05). Conclusions. The analysis of digital images and the electrical conductivity tests allowed measuring the vigor in seed lots of Bangor and Triunfo varieties, and complementing them with germination results to determine their physiological quality.

Introduction. Digital image analysis (DIA) can be used to evaluate the quality parameters of rice grains, such as the percentage of whole grain. Objective. To quantify percentage of total broken grain by means of digital image analysis (DIA) applied to the quantification of rice (Oryza sativa L.) quality. Materials and methods. The present work was developed in facilities of the Centro para Investigaciones en Granos y Semillas (CIGRAS) of the Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR), Costa Rica, in 2021. The work was carried out with commercial rice samples. A sample plate was developed to facilitate the arrangement of the grains and to acquire the digital images. The length parameters established in the technical regulation of Costa Rica RTCR 202:1998 were used to quantify the percentages of small broken, broken grains, and whole grains, which were quantified conventionally and by means of digital images. The DIA included the segmentation and binarization process of the objects (small broken, broken grains, and whole grain) to quantify their areas and catalog the digitally identified elements in weight values. Results. It was possible to quantified the percentage of small broken and broken grain with DIA. The correlation between the variables quantified by DIA and those evaluated conventionally was greater than 0.93 for the small broken property and 0.98 for broken grain. Conventional analysis requires 1 to 2 hours to determine the percentage of total broken grain and other quality properties in each rice sample. The digital analysis requires 7 to 23 minutes per sample plate to analyze all the properties evaluated (small broken and broken grain). Conclusions. The digital analysis method applied allowed to determine the total broken grain properties in samples composed of hundreds of grains.

  El uso de la tecnología para la creación artística ha sido recurrente a lo largo de la historia del arte. Artistas de todas las épocas han utilizado la tecnología como herramienta para nuevas formas de expresión. En este artículo, quiero diferenciar dos usos de la tecnología para ayudar a la creación artística: a) uso aumentativo y b) uso sustitutivo. Defiendo la idea de que la mayor parte de la relación histórica entre arte y tecnología ha sido enmarcada dentro de un uso aumentativo, es decir, la tecnología ha ayudado a los artistas en la creación, producción y distribución de su arte. Sin embargo, las tecnologías digitales (TICs) y en concreto el uso de sistemas de Inteligencia Artificial (IA) y algoritmos están provocando un cambio de paradigma de un uso aumentativo hacia un uso sustitutivo. El uso sustitutivo de ciertas tecnologías -sistemas de IA y algoritmos- supone una transformación radical en la naturaleza del arte, su valor y el papel del artista. Ahora, sistemas de IA y algoritmos pueden pintar, componer música y escribir textos de manera no-supervisada. En otras palabras, la creatividad o la creación de arte se pueden automatizar. Dicho esto, quiero reflexionar sobre las implicaciones filosóficas del progresivo uso sustitutivo de la tecnología en el arte para explorar cuestiones como: ¿Las maquinas pueden crear arte?, ¿Es posible hablar de creatividad de las máquinas?, ¿Puede una máquina exigir derechos de autor o propiedad intelectual de una obra?  

La dirección de Nemesio Antúnez entre 1962 y 1964, y las administraciones que le siguieron en el Museo de Arte Contemporáneo (MAC), son un caso ejemplar de las dinámicas político-culturales desarrolladas durante la Guerra Fría. Este artículo analiza esta gestión museal desde la historia intelectual y la historia cultural, trabajando las redes de pensamiento que rodearon a Antúnez y la disquisición entre su programación y la influencia norteamericana en ese momento, atendiendo a cómo el MAC se involucró en la guerra fría cultural. De esta manera se busca aportar al conocimiento de las tramas institucionales que se dieron entre la intelectualidad periférica y los centros metropolitanos durante uno de los periodos claves del siglo XX, presentando ciertos programas expositivos que respondieron al impulso de los EE. UU. de inserción ideológica.

“Al compás de la semana” (“The Beat of the Week”) it is a section at Zig-Zag magazine published between 1927 and 1930. In this section converged both Elvira Santa Cruz (Roxane)’s editorial action and writing. In this article, on the one hand, we analyze the character of the section, and we argue that “Al compás de la semana” exposes a chronicler-editor which work overflows the boundaries of what it might be expected for a current affaires section.  On the other hand, we discuss this section from a gender perspective. We observe “women” or “feminine condition’s” as a magazine content that in this section takes on an unusual tone for this kind of magazine. The hypothesis of this article is that, behind the photographs that were included in the section and that referred, most of the times, to the social topic, the trip (or holidays) or to the political and cultural ones, a sui generis feminine section is hidden. That means a section whose written content accounts issues associated with the female condition, with a proposal close to some feminist ideas from the early twentieth century.