Revista de Protección Vegetal

Genesis and evolution of Plant Health at the Indio Hatuey Pasture and Forage Experimental Station, Matanzas, Cuba

2025-06-04T02:39:13+00:00

Plant protection, together with plant nutrition, are two of the most important cultural practices in productive systems, even more if they are destined to animal production, when they are long term systems. Thus, the “phytosanitary” topic has been present in the Experimental Station of Pastures and Forages Indio Hatuey (EEPFIH) since its foundation in 1962. In this regard, the objective of this paper was to review the scientific work and the contribution of this topic to the country by researchers of the station. The insertion of the topic into the science and technology plan started when the pest indicator was taking into account in the evaluation of the grassland and forages species to be approved as commercial varieties until arriving, at present, at the determination of the evolution of agroecosystems in the forest context, with a marked diversity of plant and animal species and the use of horizontal and vertical space, to secure the existence of microenvironments able to contribute to natural enemy conservation and creation of seminatural forests where no massive pest outbreaks occur and there is a stable biological balance. Hence, it is concluded that the topic of plant protection in the EEPFIH is on the right path in function of the crop and the productive system, on agroecological basis; similar to what happens in the country in the transformation process from conventional agriculture to agriculture in agroecological transition, which is seen as the challenge to maintain in the immediate future.

Contributions to the topic of entomopathogenic nematodes by institutions of higher education in Cuba

2025-07-07T20:13:12+00:00

The objective of this work was to summarize the contributions to the entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) development and use as biological control agents in the social practice in Cuba by researchers and professors from the Ministry of Higher Education (MES). More than 80 articles and book chapters published in the country and abroad were reviewed. The National Center for Plant and Animal Health (CENSA) and the Central University "Marta Abreu" of Las Villas (UCLV) have been the greatest contributors since the mid-90s. Numerous pest insects of the orders Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Homoptera were studied under semi-controlled conditions in the laboratory and, to a lesser extent, in the field to determine their susceptibility to EPN, especially to various species and strains of the genus Heterorhabditis. Effective results were obtained when important pests of food-security crops, such as corn (Zea mays L.) and sweet potato (Ipomoea batantas (L.) Lam), and others with relevance as exportable items, such as tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) and coffee (Coffea spp.), were treated with EPN in the field, and the studied EPN species and strain were incorporated as biological control agents in management programs. The potential to establish working alliances on various issues related to the development and efficient use of EPN in Cuba, to which MES specialists can contribute, was made evident, and so were the challenges of the subject, which could be research objectives in university-business alliances.

Studies at the University of Cienfuegos "Carlos R. Rodriguez", Cuba, for the management of mollusc pests in agroecosystems

2025-06-26T17:14:11+00:00

The production of vegetables in organoponics is a priority in the development of urban agriculture in Cuba. One of the main problems associated with this is the damage caused by pests, among which the phytophagous mollusks stand out. This cropping system does not allow using synthetic pesticides for pest control. Therefore, it has been a priority task for the country to seek alternatives such as the application of biopesticides for an agroecological management of mollusks. This work shows the results achieved in this field of research at the Universidad de Cienfuegos. It was developed and made available to the academic and productive community a guide for the identification of mollusk species of agricultural interest present in the organoponics of the province, such as Subulina octona (Bruguiére), Praticolella griseola (Pfeiffer), Bradybaena similares (Ferrusac), Zachrysia auricoma (Ferrusac), Leidyula floridana (Leidy & Binney in Binney) and Oleacina estraminea (Deshaye), and Huttonella bicolor (Hutton). In addition, it was proposed to use plant genetic resources with wide distribution in the national territory, among which are different species of the Agavaceae family (Agave americana L., Agave legrelliana Jacobi and Furcraea hexapetala Urban), for management.

Frequently occurring errors in agricultural research due to the incorrect use of statistical methods

2025-06-26T17:26:46+00:00

The objectives of this article were I) to warn about recurrent statistical errors that are frequently found in different scientific papers in agricultural research and associated with conceptual aspects and the misuse of computational tools, specifically, in the context of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and II) provide work methodologies that allow the correct use of these statistical procedures. Four types of errors are approached: an error associated with the assumption of normality; a second one linked to non-parametric multiple comparison tests; another error consists of not considering a single standard error when reporting confidence intervals in an ANOVA context; and the fourth error is related to the interpretation of the p-value when it is very close to the level of significance. An example is included and shows how to proceed by using statistical software. In general, criteria and work methodologies are established that favor the correct use of these procedures. Taking into consideration the aspects approached in this work will make it possible to avoid issuing biased conclusions, which will contribute to obtaining significant and valuable information from the results in research processes and scientific papers.

Doctoral training in Plant Health at the National Center for Animal and Plant Health: a contribution to postgraduate capacity building in the present context

2025-06-26T18:23:05+00:00

The objective of this work was to present the experiences of a Science, Technology and Innovation Entity (ECTI) of the Ministry of Higher Education (MES) in the training of highly qualified specialists in Plant Health. Today's agriculture requires a sustainable increase in yields to be guaranteed at a lower economic, environmental and social cost. For this, it is essential to master the biological complexities of the agents that affect the different agroecosystems, a basis on which pest management tactics must be based so that the most appropriate ones are applied taking into account the ability to manipulate their intrinsic characteristics, as well as the environment in which they develop. Training of highly qualified specialists is needed, which is a priority objective of the National System of Scientific Degrees (SNGC). Training of Dr. C. is developed within the framework of the Doctoral Program in Plant Health, which began in January 2019 with the purpose of training Doctors in Agricultural Sciences with an updated vision of the national and international challenges, conditioned by climate change, the protection of the human health, the environment, and food safety, with the novel “One Health” approach. This program provides for the strengthening of the theoretical-practical relationship so that the profile of the graduate is shaped for the development of skills that link the theoretical knowledge acquired and its application in productive practice. Details of the operation of the current Program in Plant Health are provided.

Taxonomy, biology, and ecology of phytophagous mites (Acari: Trombidiformes) in Cuba

2025-07-01T14:37:47+00:00

Several species of Trombidiform phytophagous mites are a serious threat for agricultural production because of the deleterious effects on crop yields by their feeding on plants. They have been studied on crops of interest such as citrus (Citrus spp.), plantain (Musa spp.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), and rice (Oryza sativa L.), on which their negative impact on yield is evident. The combination of taxonomic, biological, ecological and population studies of the endemic mite species Tetranychus urticae (Koch), Panonychus citri (Mc Gregor), Tetranychus tumidus Banks, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks), as well as of the exotic species Steneotarsonemus spinki Smiley and Raoiella indica Hirst, offered the scientific bases to support the management proposals adopted by the country. The present review is aimed to summarize the main results obtained in Cuba by science entities and universities from Higher Education institutions.

In vitro effect of Cuban strains of Trichoderma spp. on the growth of the pathogen Phyllosticta citricarpa (McAlpine) Aa

2025-06-03T23:14:37+00:00

The objective of this research was to evaluate the in vitro effect of Trichoderma spp. on Phyllosticta citricarpa (McAlpine) Aa growth. A total of twenty P. citricarpa isolates from major citrus-producing regions in Cuba were included in the analysis. Trichoderma harzianum Rifai (strains LBAT-34 and LBAT-53) and Trichoderma viride Pers. (strain LBAT-TS3) were tested for their ability to inhibit mycelial growth of P. citricarpa. Inhibition was evaluated using the in vitro dual culture assay. Percentages of inhibition of radial growth (PIRG) were determined after 3, 5, and 7 days, and type and intensity of the antagonism of Trichoderma were also classified. Kruskal-Wallis and non-parametric multiple comparison tests were implemented for the statistical analysis. Results showed that the percentages of inhibition of radial growth ranged from 38.7% to 29.2% after 3 days of co-culture. After the fifth day, the antagonist strains overran the P. citricarpa colonies and inhibited their growth completely. Furthermore, it was found that the mycelial growth inhibition of P. citricarpa isolates by Trichoderma spp. was through mechanisms of antibiosis and hyperparasitism. This study is the first evaluation of the susceptibility of P. citricarpa to biological control agents in Cuba.

Phytopathogenic agents associated with Plukenetia volubilis L. in Cuba: symptomatology and observations about their severity and degree of infestation

2025-07-01T13:57:22+00:00

The objectives of this work were to determine the presence of phytopathogens in important producing areas of Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) in Cuba and provide some observations of their severity and degree of the crop infestation. The soil and root samples analyzed were from plantations in three different areas of the western region, two from the province of Mayabeque and one from Pinar del Rio. In the field, areas of poorly developed and dead plants were found. The roots of these plants showed several damages, such as corky areas even up to the level of the plant neck, scarce secondary system, galls of variable size, and, in occasions, tumors with or without necrosis. The phytosanitary diagnosis allowed the detection of the nematode species Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood, Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal) Chitwood, Trichodorus spp., Helicotylenchus dihystera (Cobb) Sher, Aphelenchoides bicaudatus (Inamura), Tylenchorhynchus spp., and Xiphinema spp., predominating M. incognita. The fungi Fusarium spp. and Lasiodiplodia spp. was also observed. The combined effect of the Meloidogyne-Fusarium complex damaged Sacha Inchi seriously with important consequences for its production.

Modeling Spodoptera frugiperda larvae J. E. (Smith) density in corn (Zea mays L.) in Mayabeque Province, Cuba

2025-07-09T22:19:48+00:00

With the objective of estimating the density of Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. (Smith) larvae in an experimental corn (Zea mays L.) area, a mathematical model that described the population-climate relationship was implemented. To develop the model, the data were taken from samplings carried out from day 28 after the crop emergence to harvest in an experimental area of 0.1 ha of the commercial corn cultivar “Francisco” from INIFAT. The interior of the buds on 80 randomly selected plants was examined by traveling across the field in a zigzag pattern. In each sampling, the f plants with S. frugiperda larvae were counted and the density found recorded. The curves of infestation percentage and average density of larvae were described. It was developed a linear regression model that estimated larval density based on days after emergence, average temperature, solar radiation, relative humidity, wind speed, and accumulated precipitation. It was estimated that in the town of Mayabeque, Cuba, in2030, the average temperature will remain between 22 and 25 °C in the months of February, March and April, but rainfall will show a considerable decrease, which will influence the increase in insect populations. A validation of the proposed model in other locations, for this and other cultivars, will provide a tool for predicting the larval density of S. frugiperda in future climate scenarios.

Control of powdery mildew on pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) under greenhouse conditions

2025-07-09T22:32:49+00:00

The objective of this study was to define the optimal concentrations and timing of applications of oils, mineral salts, and biological control agents for powdery mildew management in squash (Cucurbita pepo L. cv. ‘Grey Zucchini’) under greenhouse conditions. After seven days of seed germination, the true leaves of the seedlings were removed and only the cotyledons remained. They were then inoculated with the pathogenic fungus, and three concentrations of the products were applied at two time: preventively or curatively. At the doses evaluated, the preventive applications of any of the products (oils, mineral salts, or biological control agents) showed some effect on the disease, and the disease severity did not significantly differ from the control. Compared with the control, which showed 80.93%, the curative treatments showed 41.67% and 71.43% disease severity with significant differences at medium concentrations for oils and low concentrations for salts (10 ml.L^-1) and (2 g.L^-1), respectively. On this basis, the curative applications for oils and salts were selected, with the intermediate concentration (10 ml.L^-1) for the former and the minimum concentration for the latter (2 g.L^-1, 2 ml.L^-1).

Nematicidal effect of essential oils from Lamiaceae family against Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood

2025-07-09T22:54:08+00:00

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of eight essential oils from plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family on Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood. The essential oils were obtained from Mentha arvensis L., Mentha piperita L., Mentha spicata L., Ocimum basilicum var genovese L., Ocimum gratisimum L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., and Thymus vulgaris L. by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger equipment. The biological activity in three populations of the nematode was evaluated by a 96-microwell plate immersion bioassay. The chemical composition of the oils was determined by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (CG/EM). The yields of the essential oils obtained were between 0.65 and 0.10% (v/m). All oils showed toxicity on M. incognita juveniles although the number of them with nematicidal effect varied for each population. The treated nematodes showed damaged in internal structures: a disorganized digestive system, large vacuole-like spaces along the body, a deformed intestine, and the presence of granules. The oils from O. tenuiflorum and M. arvensis were notable for causing high mortality rates in the three M. incognita populations evaluated. In the population from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), the LC₅₀ of the M. arvensis oil was 0.141% (0.126-0.163) and it was estimated as 0.118% for O. tenuiflorum after 24 hours. The analysis by GC/MS of the chemical composition of the essential oils studied revealed the presence of monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids and phenylpropanoids. The major components in the two oils with the highest activity were linalool (65.59%), α-terpineol (10.42%), eugenol (41.10%), β-caryophyllene (25.04%), and β-elemene (22.42%). The nematotoxic effect shown by these oils, especially those of O. tenuiflorum and M. arvensis, provides the basis for the development of new nematicides and alternative methods for nematode management in different crops of importance in Cuban agriculture.