Santiago Pereira-Lorenzo

Ceratocystis wilt, caused by the ascomycete fungus Ceratocystis cacaofunesta , is a plant disease that threatens cacao cultivation in Ecuador. Seeds from resistant, self‐pollinated selections of Amazonian Forastero cacao identified in the 1950s continue to be recommended for rootstock production. Given the limited availability of genetic material, 52 cacao genotypes of diverse origins from INIAP's germplasm bank were screened to identify C. cacaofunesta ‐resistant genotypes suitable for use as rootstocks. Branches were inoculated both in the laboratory and in‐field with a suspension of 30,000 infective units mL ⁻¹ to evaluate mycelial and perithecial development, as well as the lesion index, to subsequently determine resistance levels. The inoculation and evaluation method employed enabled the identification of specific accession groups based on the homogeneity of their linear predictors and the rate of progression of the lesion index across the two evaluation periods. Furthermore, non‐linear regression determined disease progression in resistant versus susceptible genotypes. These results will enable the recommendation of new genotypes for use as rootstocks in the mass propagation of cacao plants.

Macleania rupestris is an underutilized wild fruit-bearing shrub native to the Ecuadorian Andes, with considerable ecological importance and potential for sustainable local development. However, information regarding its genetic, morphological, and phytochemical diversity remains scarce. This study aimed to characterize the genetic and morphological diversity and total phenolic content (TPC) of M. rupestris populations. A multilocus analysis was performed using three previously amplified concatenated sequences. Fruit characterization was conducted using quantitative morphological and physicochemical traits, while TPC was expressed as gallic acid equivalents and determined in fruits collected from the same individuals. Relationships among genetic, fruit, phytochemical, and environmental variables were also explored. The multilocus phylogenetic structure showed no clear geographic pattern, while most fruit traits exhibited limited differentiation among provinces. However, soluble solids content (°Brix), seed number, and pedicel length differed significantly among provinces. Fruit moisture content was moderately negatively correlated with soluble solids content (r = −0.45) and moderately positively correlated with seed number (r = 0.46). These correlations represent observational associations and do not demonstrate causal relationships. No significant correlation was detected between fruit traits and TPC. These findings provide important scientific basis for the conservation, selection of promising genotypes, and future domestication of this underutilized Andean fruit species.

Legumes represent a sustainable alternative for the production of nutritious foods, contributing to agroecosystem resilience, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation. Nonetheless, the productivity and nutritional quality of legumes are strongly influenced by environmental factors. These environmental conditions, together with crop management practices, explain a large proportion of the variability observed in chemical composition, highlighting the importance of genotype × environment interactions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of contrasting environments on the protein, fat, and quinolizidine alkaloid contents of Andean lupin (Lupinus mutabilis) seeds. Six genotypes of different origins and alkaloid contents were studied. The genotypes were evaluated across five contrasting field and greenhouse environments using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Chemical analyses of the legume grain were carried out in the Nutrition and Quality laboratory at INIAP’s Santa Catalina Experimental Station (INIAP-EESC). The results of the study indicate that the protein content was affected primarily by the environment, followed by the genotype × environment interaction and, to a lesser extent, by genotype. Fat content was similarly influenced by both genotype and environmental conditions, whereas total alkaloid content was predominantly controlled by genotype, which explained approximately 90.7% of the observed variation. Protein content ranged from 49.9 to 56.8 g 100 g⁻¹ DW across environments, while fat content varied between 14.0 and 18.3 g 100 g⁻¹ DW. Among the evaluated genotypes, AndxPro1 exhibited the highest average protein content (54.96 g 100 g⁻¹ DW), whereas LmPro17 combined the highest fat content (19.78 g 100 g⁻¹ DW) with the lowest total alkaloid concentration (0.13 g 100 g⁻¹ DW). Protein content showed high sensitivity to environmental conditions, whereas alkaloid accumulation exhibited strong genetic control and comparatively limited environmental influence. These findings suggest the importance of conducting evaluations of the different varieties of L. mutabilis in different environments to support breeding programs aimed at improving seed quality.

Galician and Northern Portuguese rye varieties constitute the basis for traditional bread in the northwestern Iberian Peninsula. This study evaluated the genetic diversity and structure of Galician and Portuguese ecotypes, primarily conserved at the Agricultural Research Centre of Mabegondo (CIAM) and the Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), in order to determine their origins and to differentiate them from commercial cultivars for traceability in flours and breads. A total of 411 samples, including 378 rye samples, 14 flours, and 19 breads, were evaluated using 17 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Fifteen Galician ecotypes (163 samples), 22 Portuguese ecotypes (109 samples), and 9 commercial cultivars (106 samples) were analyzed. The analysis identified 310 diploid genotypes and 68 putative trisomics, which, according to the literature, are associated with meiotic disturbances and environmental adaptation. The SSR loci revealed 147 alleles, with 139 detected in diploids, 6 in putative trisomics, and 2 unique to Galician flours. Galician and northern Portuguese ryes constitute a unique and distinct genetic group, moderately differentiated from commercial cultivars (Fst = 0.089). A total of 72 alleles were unique to ecotypes, Galician flours, or bread samples. Moreover, the number of alleles was significantly higher in diploid ecotypes compared to commercial cultivars (134 vs. 67, respectively). This trend remained consistent when putative trisomics were included in the analysis (142 vs. 75, respectively). Portuguese ryes showed a higher number of putative trisomics (37) than Galician ones (25), whereas Galician ecotypes showed a slightly higher number of alleles (127 vs. 118). Neighbor-joining and principal component analyses (PCA) support the separation between Galician and Portuguese ecotypes and commercial cultivars, highlighting the singularity of these Galician and Portuguese ryes. Flour and bread derivatives produced from Galician ecotypes and cultivars were clearly differentiated from commercial cultivars, even when blends were included in the analyses. These findings underscore the potential for genetic traceability in quality bread production and emphasize the importance of this distinct genetic pool for breeding programs.

Lupinus is recognized as a nutrient-dense legume rich in protein, raw fiber, antioxidants, and unsaturated fatty acids, contributing significantly to human nutrition and health. In Ecuador, the Andean Crops and Plant Genetic Resources program of INIAP maintains a germplasm bank comprising 257 uncharacterized accessions. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional and phytochemical composition of ten promising sweet Lupin genotypes (L. mutabilis) exhibiting good agronomic characteristics, resistance and/or tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, superior grain quality and significantly reduced seed alkaloid content in experimental trails. These genotypes were compared with two accessions of L. albus and L. angustifolius used as control genotypes. Except for carbohydrate content, L. mutabilis genotypes exhibited similar or superior nutritional profiles compared to genotype controls with high protein (44.7%), fat (19.91%), and ash (4.16%) contents and reduced alkaloid concentrations, notably, two genotypes LmAnds16 and LmFRs43 with 0.04%. However, it exhibited the highest polyphenol (8.84 mg·g⁻¹) and flavonoid (0.67 mg·g⁻¹) concentrations and antioxidant activity for ABTS (19.94 µmol TE·g⁻¹) and FRAP (300.30 µmol TE·g⁻¹) on a dry weight basis (DW). These results are important for the generation of new varieties of Lupinus focused on its nutritional quality and to produce nutraceutical and functional foods.

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton) is a major export crop in Guatemala; however, its genetic basis remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity and differentiation among 288 cardamom accessions from the Northern Transversal Strip, the country’s primary production area. Eleven molecular markers (SSR, ISSR, and EST-SSR) were used to generate multilocus profiles analyzed under a dominant model. Genetic diversity revealed average values of Shannon’s index (I = 0.316) and expected diversity (h = 0.207), with SSR markers providing the highest values (I = 0.364, h = 0.233). Bayesian and hierarchical analysis identified three genetic groups (K = 3). The relatively low diversity observed is consistent with the introduction history of this crop in Guatemala, human-driven selection, and historical bottlenecks caused by Cardamom Mosaic Virus and thrips infestations. Despite these constraints, private and high-frequency bands were detected across genetic groups, offering potential for marker-assisted selection. These findings provide the first genetic baseline for Guatemalan cardamom, supporting future breeding strategies aimed at improving resilience, productivity, and adaptation to climate change.

White clover (Trifolium repens L.), a grass species belonging to the Fabaceae family (Leguminosae or bean family), is an agronomically important pasture legume widely used in moist temperate climates. The Agricultural Research Centre of Mabegondo (CIAM, Xunta de Galicia, Spain) conserves a valuable collection of local white clover landraces originating from Northwestern Spain. The objective of this research was to study 15 local populations and cultivars by evaluating cyanogenesis (the ability to produce hydrogen cyanide after tissue damage), agromorphological traits, and molecular markers. Fourteen simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were analyzed on a total of 300 DNA samples identifying 300 genotypes. Genetic structure analysis using Structure and Genodive software revealed two reconstructed panmictic populations (RPPs): RPP1 (including 121 genotypes from 7 local populations) and RPP2 (covering 5 local populations and 2 commercial cultivars). A total of 225 alleles were detected, with a higher number of alleles in RPP1 than in RPP2 (189 vs. 164) and of rare alleles (114 vs. 96). Thirteen phenotypic traits were evaluated, including cyanogenic potential. Genotypic structure was related to phenotypic variation, with higher growth in the commercial RPP, albeit with substantial variability inside both RRP. Some of the white clover landraces conserved at CIAM presented low cyanogenic potential, suggesting their potential as locally adapted cultivars for Northwestern Spain.

Juglans neotropica Diels, classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List, plays a crucial role in the resilience of Andean montane forests in southern Ecuador—a megadiverse region encompassing coastal, Andean, and Amazonian ecosystems. This study examines how climatic, edaphic, and topographic gradients influence the species’ phenotypic traits across six source localities—Tibio, Merced, Tundo, Victoria, Zañe, and Argelia—all of which are localities situated in the provinces of Loja and Zamora Chinchipe. By integrating long-term climate records, slope mapping, and soil characterization, we assessed the effects of temperature, precipitation, humidity, soil moisture, and terrain steepness on leaf presence, fruit maturation, and tree architecture. Over the past 20 years, temperature increased by 1.5 °C (p < 0.01), while precipitation decreased by 22%, disrupting local edaphoclimatic balances. More than 2000 individuals were measured in forest stands, with estimated ages ranging from 11 to 355 years. ANOVA results revealed that Tundo and Victoria exhibited significantly greater DBH, height, and volume (p ≤ 0.05), with Victoria showing a 30% larger DBH than Argelia, the lowest-performing provenance. Soils ranged from loam to sandy loam, with slopes exceeding 45% and pH levels from slightly acidic to neutral. These findings confirm the species’ pronounced phenotypic plasticity and ecological adaptability, directly informing site-specific conservation strategies and long-term forest management under shifting climatic conditions.

Juglans neotropica Diels, an Andean native species classified as endangered by the IUCN, holds significant potential for reforestation and sustainable forest management programs. This study evaluated seed quality, phenotypic variability, and early establishment under nursery and field conditions in southern Ecuador. Three provenance sites—The Tundo, The Victoria, and The Argelia—were evaluated during the nursery phase, and two (The Tundo and The Victoria) in plantations, applying four pre-germination treatments: control, mechanical scarification, hot water, and water-sun exposure. Parameters assessed included seed weight, size, viability, germination, survival, and growth across three planting environments: secondary forest, riparian forest, and pasture. Significant differences in seed morphometry were observed among localities, while germination was influenced by treatment but not provenance. Seed viability remained high for up to six months, decreasing with a 2% loss of moisture. Survival reached 100% with urea application, and 96% of individuals exhibited straight stems after one year. No significant differences in growth were found between localities; however, basal diameter was highest in the pasture (13.2 mm/year⁻¹), and total height was greatest in the secondary forest (54.8 cm/year⁻¹). These findings provide key technical evidence to optimize the propagation and establishment of J. neotropica in ecological restoration and forest production contexts.