Parasitoids diversity in organic Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum) associated with Basil (Ocimum basilicum) and Marigold (Tagetes erecta ) / Diversidade de parasitoides em Pimentão Orgânico (Capsicum annuum) associado com Manjericão (Ocimum basilicum ) e Cravo Amarelo (Tagetes erecta)

Abstract The sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the most important crops in Brazilian farming. Many insect are related to this crop, compromising the quantity and quality of the fruit, representing a production problem. Vegetable diversification is one of the main elements that can be managed for suppressing undesirable insect populations in organic production, once that supports the presence of natural enemies. The basil Ocimum basilicum L. and the marigold Tagetes erecta L. are attractive and nutritious plants for parasitoids, being important candidates for diversified crops. This study evaluated the parasitoids attracted by the association of basil and marigold to organic sweet pepper crop. The experiment comprised three treatments: a) sweet pepper monoculture; b) sweet pepper and basil intercropping; c) sweet pepper and marigold intercropping. Hymenopteran parasitoids were collected over 14 weeks. 268 individuals from 12 families and 41 taxa were collected. Sweet pepper monoculture, sweet pepper-basil intercropping, and sweet pepper-marigold intercropping hosted 40, 98, and 130 individuals and richness of 24, 24, and 23, respectively. Furthermore, the insects of greater abundance in the basil and marigold were different to those collected in the monoculture. The number of parasitoids increased in the associations of sweet pepper with basil and marigold, providing advantages in the use of vegetable diversification for the organic pepper crops management.

Resumo O pimentão (Capsicum annuum L.) é um dos vegetais mais importantes dentre os cultivados no Brasil. Muitos insetos pragas estão relacionados a esta cultura, comprometendo a quantidade e a qualidade do pimentão, tornando-se um grande problema para a produção. A diversificação vegetal é um dos principais componentes a serem manejados para suprimir as populações de pragas na produção orgânica, devido ao apoio a inimigos naturais das pragas. O manjericão ( Ocimum basilicum L.) e cravo amarelo (Tagetes erecta L.) são plantas atrativas e nutritivas para parasitoides, importantes candidatas em cultivos diversificados. Este trabalho avaliou os parasitoides atraídos pela associação de manjericão e cravo amarelo em cultivo de pimentão orgânico. O experimento foi composto por três tratamentos: a) monocultura de pimentão; B) pimentão consorciado com manjericão; C) pimentão consorciado com cravo amarelo. Foram coletadas amostras de parasitoides himenópteros durante 14 semanas. Os espécimes foram identificados até o menor nível de taxonomia possível. Foram coletados 268 indivíduos ao longo de 12 famílias e 41 táxons. Os tratamentos de monocultura, pimentão consorciado com manjericão e pimentão consorciado com cravo amarelo resultaram em 40, 98 e 130 indivíduos e riqueza de espécies de 24, 24 e 23, respectivamente. Além disso, os insetos de maior abundância coletados no manjericão e cravo amarelo, foram diferentes daqueles coletados na monocultura. Houve um aumento na abundância de parasitoides nas associações de pimentão com manjericão e cravo amarelo, proporcionando vantagens no uso da diversificação vegetal, podendo ser usada no manejo do pimentão orgânico.

Callus culture development of two varieties of Tagetes erecta and carotenoid production

Background The properties of natural pigments, such as antioxidants, functional, medical, and nutraceutical, have demonstrated the advantages of these natural compounds over synthetic ones. Some products are accepted only when they are pigmented with natural, food-quality colorants: for example poultry products (manly marigold flower extracts). Carotenoids such as β-carotene, β-criptoxanthin and lutein are very attractive as natural food colorants due to their antioxidant and pro-vitamin activities which provide additional value to the target products. Marigold (Tagetes erecta) is an Asteraceous ornamental plant native to Mexico, and it is also important as a carotenoid source for industrial and medicinal purposes but nowadays its production is destined mainly for ornamental purposes. Results Friable callus of T. erecta yellow flower (YF) and white flower (WF) varieties was induced from leaf explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 9.0 µM 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 8.8 µM benzyladenine (BA). Calluses developed from both varieties were different in pigmentation. Extract characterization from callus cultures was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This analytical process detected several carotenoids; the main pigments in extracts from YF callus were lutein and zeaxanthin, whereas in the extracts of the WF callus the main pigments were lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin and β-carotene. Callus cultures of T. erecta accumulated pigments even after several rounds of subculture. Conclusions WF callus appeared to be a suitable candidate as a source of different carotenoids, and tested varieties could represent an alternative for further studies about in vitro pigment production.

Momento óptimo de plantación y de cosecha en Tagetes lucida Cav / Optimal time for cultivation and harvesting of Tagetes lucida Cav

Introducción: es necesario establecer guías de cultivo de Tagetes lucida Cav y disponer resultados sobre el momento óptimo de plantación y cosecha en función del rendimiento y del contenido de principios activos. Objetivos: obtener de T lucida mayor cantidad de biomasa y conocer cómo influye la fecha de establecer el cultivo y la hora de realizar la cosecha en la concentración del aceite esencial. Métodos: se hicieron estaquilleros en 2 fechas de 2009 (10 de mayo, 10 de junio), que fueron trasplantados a los 30 d. Se determinó el porcentaje de estacas enraizadas que sobrevivieron al trasplante al lugar definitivo. En el momento de cosecha, realizada con plantas en floración completa, se calculó la altura de las plantas y el rendimiento fresco de las partes aéreas. Se evaluó del total cosechado: porcentajes de flores, ramas y tallos lignificados. Se hicieron recolecciones en una plantación en estado de floración a: 9:00 am, 27 ºC; 12:00 m, 32 ºC y 3:00 pm, 29 ºC. El contenido de aceite esencial se determinó por hidrodestilación durante 2 h. La identificación de componentes se realizó por cromatografía en capa delgada, utilizando como referencias: eugenol, linalol y mirceno (0,3 por ciento). Resultados: en ambas fechas de plantación hubo buena adaptación en el campo, 95 por ciento; se cosechó a 6 meses de edad en la plantación de mayo y a 5 meses de edad en la de junio. Se encontró que entre ellas hubo pocas diferencias en cuanto a altura, rendimiento total de la parte aérea, porcentajes de ramas, flores y tallos, y aceite esencial. Se comprobó que la hora de cosecha realizada en la mañana, produjo la mayor acumulación de aceite esencial (1,20 por ciento) en comparación con las otras horas que fue de 0,75 por ciento...

Introduction: it is necessary to set the guidelines for cultivation of Tagetes lucida Cav and to obtain results about the optimal time of cultivation and harvesting according to the output and the contents of active principles. Objectives: to get as much quantity of biomass from T Lucida as possible and to find out how the date of cultivation and the time of harvesting influence the concentration of the essential oil. Methods: stake-farming beddings were built on two different dates (10 of May and 10 of June, 2009); they were then transplanted after 30 days. The percentage of rooted stakes that survived after transplantation to the final place was calculated. At the time of harvesting of fully flourished plants, the height of plants and the fresh output of the aerial parts were determined. The total harvested amount was evaluated, that is, percentage of flowers, branches and stems. Harvesting occurred in one flourished plantation at: 9:00 am at 27 °C, at noon at 32 ºC and at 3:00 pm at 29 ºC. Hydrodistillation for 2 h allowed estimating the contents of the essential oil. Thin-layer chromatography identified components using eugenol, linalool and mircene (0.3 percent) as reference. Results: on both dates of cultivation, there was good adaptation to the soils, 95 percent. The plants were harvested at 6 months of age in May and at 5 months in June. There were slight differences in terms of height, total output of the aerial parts, percentages of branches, flowers and stems, and the essential oil. It was confirmed that harvesting in the morning accounted for the highest accumulation of essential oil (1.20 percent) compared with the other harvesting times (0.75 percent)...

Determinación de la fecha de plantación en Tagetes lucida Cav / Decision of the planting date in Tagetes lucida Cav

INTRODUCCIÓN: es necesario definir la época adecuada de plantación para cultivar exitosamente Tagetes lucida. OBJETIVOS: obtener valores altos de biomasa y aceite esencial. MÉTODOS: se establecieron estaquilleros y posterior trasplante en 2008 (30 de abril-27 de mayo; 27 de mayo-8 de julio; 24 de junio-30 de julio; 5 de agosto-11 de septiembre). Se determinó la supervivencia de estacas enraizadas en cultivo a pleno sol, la altura de las plantas en el momento de cosecha y el rendimiento fresco de follaje en 4 cosechas; generalmente, a 3 meses del trasplante y las restantes a intervalos de 3 meses. Se estimaron los contenidos de aceite en las cosechas segunda y tercera mediante hidrodestilación y la presencia de componentes por cromatografía en capa delgada (referencias: eugenol, linalol, mirceno). RESULTADOS: se obtuvo supervivencia 98 por ciento en el trasplante; la mayoría de las plantas no superaron 60 cm de altura, se determinó que en el período octubre-inicios de febrero las plantas presentaron completa floración, en mayo floración escasa y en junio-septiembre estado vegetativo y su crecimiento se detiene en invierno. Se demostró que en un período de explotación de 12-13 meses, se alcanzaron los mayores valores en la segunda fecha de plantación, que en la mayoría de las cosechas, salvo en la cuarta, presentaron abundante follaje en floración con altos porcentajes de aceite esencial y que se produce incremento significativo desde la primera hasta la cuarta cosecha, influenciada por las precipitaciones del período lluvioso (mayo/agosto-septiembre/2009). Se constató que después de 6 cortes del follaje, las plantas mostraron formación de tocones de tallos viejos que proporcionan mucho tallo lignificado y, consecuentemente, disminución de calidad del material vegetal a cosechar.

INTRODUCTION: it is necessary to define the appropriate planting period to cultivate successfully Tagetes lucida. OBJECTIVES: to obtain high values of biomass and essential oil. METHODS: picket fences were placed and posterior transplant in 2008 (April 30-May 27-July 8, June 24-30, and August 5-September 11). The survival of rooted stakes was determined in broad daylight culture, the plant's height at harvest and the fresh yield of foliage in four harvests; generally, at three months from the transplant and the remainder ones at three months intervals. The oil content in second and third harvests was estimated by hydrodistillation and presence of components by thin layer chromatography (references: eugenol, linalool, myrcene). RESULTS: there was a 90 percent survival in transplant; most of plants not passed of 60 cm height, determining that in October-the beginning of period February the plants showed a total flowering, in May a scarce flowering and in June-September a vegetative state and their growth stop in winter. It was demonstrate that a farming period of 12-13 months, the higher values in the second planting date were achieved than in most of harvests, except in the fourth one, where they had a abundant foliage in flowering with high percentages of essential oil and a significant increase from the first one up to the fourth harvest, influenced by rainfalls (May/August-September/2009). We confirmed that after the 6 foliage cuts, plants showed the stump of old stems with many lignin stems and consequently, a decrease in the plant material quality to be grown. CONCLUSIONS: the better planting date was where the picket fence was established was May 27, the harvests when plants has flowering and in culture must to be eliminated after 1,5 years

Estudios preliminares para el establecimiento del cultivo de Tagetes lucida Cav / Preliminary studies for Tagetes lucida Cav culture establishment

INTRODUCCCIÓN: Tagetes lucida Cav. se ha cultivado en Cuba en jardines por la belleza de su follaje, pero para su explotación con fines medicinales se requiere establecer su cultivo. OBJETIVO: determinar preliminarmente los parámetros agrícolas fundamentales que brinden la información necesaria para orientar los experimentos que proporcionen la introducción al cultivo de T. lucida. MÉTODOS: propagación de la especie mediante multiplicación sexual y asexual por estacas, establecimiento de los estaquilleros y porcentaje de estacas enraizadas, así como los relativos al cultivo: determinación del método de plantación en canteros de un 1 m de ancho, colocar 2 y 3 hileras de plantas y distanciamiento entre ellas de 30 y 40 cm; la evaluación de las mejores variantes se realizó mediante los resultados obtenidos en 2 cosechas de follaje. Se llevó paralelamente otro experimento preliminar relacionado con la distancia entre plantas, donde las estacas enraizadas se colocaron en 2 hileras y el distanciamiento fue de 30 y 50 cm entre plantas y se evaluaron 6 recolecciones de follaje. RESULTADOS: las semillas no germinaron, bajo nuestras condiciones, la multiplicación de T. lucida se debe efectuar mediante estacas de yemas terminales obtenidas de ramas jóvenes de plantas madres seleccionadas que han sido podadas con anterioridad, con lo que se logran altos porcentajes de estacas enraizadas y que puedan llevarse a cultivo a pleno sol, en un período de 25 a 30 d. Su cultivo mediante la plantación de 3 hileras de plantas por canteros con distanciamiento entre ellas de 30 cm, resultó la más adecuada, se determinó que en la segunda cosecha se duplican los rendimientos y que continúan incrementándose hasta la sexta recolección, donde los valores comienzan a disminuir y las plantas aparecen con alta proporción de tallos lignificados, lo que sugiere se haga una poda baja buscando obtener nuevos brotes o eliminar la plantación, aspecto que será estudiado ulteriormente...

INTRODUCTION: Tagetes lucida Cav. has been cultured in Cuba in gardens due to the beauty of its foliage, but to exploitation for medicinal aims it is necessary to establish its culture. OBJECTIVE: to determine before the fundamental agricultural parameters together with the necessary information to direct the experiment supplying the introduction to T. lucida culture. METHODS: authors used the species spreading by sexual multiplication and asexual by stakes, the establishing of the stretch with pegs and the percentage of rooted stakes, as well as the processes relative to culture: determination of 1 m wide planting in plots, to place 2 and 3 plant rows and a 30 and 40 cm distance among them; the assessment of the better variants was carrying out by results obtained in two foliage harvests. In parallel we made another preliminary experiment related to the distance among plants, where the rooted stakes were placed in two rows and the distance was of 30 and 50 cm among plants assessing 6 foliage harvests. RESULTS: under our conditions, seeds no germinate; multiplication of T. lucida must be carried out by terminal buds stakes obtained from young branches from the prior pruned selected mother plants achieving high percentages of rooted stakes that my be cultured in broad daylight during 25 to 30 days. Its culture by means of three row plantation by plots separated 30 cm was the better method and authors determined that in the second harvest yields are duplicate and remain increasing until the sixth harvest, where values decrease and the plants have a high ratio of lignified sprouts, suggesting the need of a low pruning looking for new buds or to eliminate the plantation, a feature that will be subsequently studied. CONCLUSIONS: these results are the basis for latter experiments to determine the agro-technology of this species due to its medicinal properties.

Preliminary survey of exotic invasive plants in some western and high plateau mountains in Yemen

Yemen Is the richest country in the Arabian Peninsula in Its biodiversity at all levels; genes, species, ecosystems and traditional knowledge. It is believed that the two serious threats to biodiversity are habitat destruction and nonnative species invasion in any ecosystem. Inspite of the observed threats of exotic invasive plant species In Yemen, these plants continue to be unchecked and unmonitored. The objective of study is to provide information and accurate identification of the most abundant exotic invasive plant species. Pilot survey of these plant species was carried out mainly in mountainous areas which is the most fragile ecosystems. Interviews with local people for primary assessment of the invasive plant species impact were also made, in addition to primary field observations. The results indicated that new invasive plant species were recorded in the country, although they are very abundant at this time, parthenium hysterophorus was recorded for the first time in hillsides In Hajah. Parthenium hysterophorus is sensitizer causes many health problems to human and animals, it also strong allelopathic weed. This weed in addition to the unpalatable and allelopathic Tagetes minuta has replaced native grazing vegetation in escarpment and the last has also invested the wastelands, roadsides, grazing lands, and abandoned fields even at above elevation of 3000 m. Tagetes minuta has led to reduction in population of Acacia asak trees and other species in the invasion areas. Opuntia dillenii was found at Bura mountains at the core of the protected area, its very serious threat to biodiversity and it causes blindness to animals and human whom get in contact with it. Other species were moving from the valleys upward in way to Bura mountains like prosopis sp., on the other hand, new Invasive species of nicotiania glauca was recorded In mountains surrounding Sana'a city. The distribution of some of the most abundant Invasive plant species and their observed impact will be presented in this paper