Twenty two Uromyces appendiculatus isolates were tested on 20 differential and 25 Ecuadorian Phaseolus vulgaris cultivars in the seedling stage. Based on the infection types 20 races could be discerned. The Ecuadorian cultivars differed greatly in their reaction to the isolates, from resistant to only one isolate ('Red Small Garden') to resistant to all isolates ('G2333'). The isolates showed a wide range of virulence to the Ecuadorian cultivars, from virulent to only two cultivars (isolate 13) to virulent to 21 cultivars (isolates 5 and 23).Seven cultivars with a basically susceptible infection type appeared to differ greatly in quantitative resistance when tested in three consecutive crop cycles. The disease severities in percentage leaf area affected averaged over the three cycles ranged between 83.9% for 'Red Small Garden' and 13.1% for 'INIAP-414'.Race-specific resistance does not seem an advisable breeding strategy, but the quantitative resistance offers a good alternative.

Henequen (Agave fourcroydes Lem.) is a high value plant species both for agricultural and ecological uses. The species is very well known worldwide by the quality of its fiber that is widely used for industrial purposes. This species is propagated at a large scale by asexual methods but current propagation technologies are not satisfying the grower's demands. A. fourcroydes has been cultivated in vitro but it has shown some recalcitrant behaviour during the multiplication and rooting stages. The combination of 6-benzylamynopurine (BAP) (0.75 mg L-1) and indolebutyric acid (IBA) (1.0 mg L-1) instead of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) significantly improved explant survival and shooting during the establishment of in vitro young shoots. Combining thidiazuron (TDZ) (0.5 or 0.75 mg L-1) with BAP (1.0 mg L-1) and IBA (1.0 mg L-1) in the basal medium increased the multiplication rate of henequen and significantly speeded out bud dormancy breaking. To improve rooting of the micropropagated shoots, the addition of IBA and naphthylacetic acid (NAA) was tested. The best rooting efficiency was obtained when the basal medium was supplemented with 0.5 or 0.75 mg L-1 of NAA, giving 100% of rooted explants and an average of 9.40 and 11.55 roots per explants, respectively. Over 94% of micropropagated plants survived the ex vitro weaning step and no morphological disorders were observed in any of the plants. Modification of plant growth regulators composition in the medium was a key factor to improve the efficiency of the micropropagation technology of henequen.

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Objective: To evaluate water consumption in ornamental plants (geranium, gazania and petunia) in two substrates with different particle sizes (fine and coarse) of tezontle and peat moss, through a suction irrigation system, which uses porous capsules as irrigation emitters. Design/methodology/approach: The experimental design was in complete randomized blocks, with six treatments (three ornamental species and two substrates) with four repetitions (24 experimental units). The first mixture contains fine substrate (composed of tezontle with particle size less than 0.4 mm) and peat moss, in a 1:2 v/v ratio; the second mixture presents coarse substrate (composed of tezontle with particle size between 0.4-0.6 mm) and peat moss, 1:1 in v/v. Results: In water consumption, there are significant differences by ornamental species and type of substrate, where the irrigation system has the ability to self-regulate. The highest water consumption was in petunia in the coarse substrate (which has a higher proportion of peat moss in its composition). Limitations on study/implications: With use in protected agriculture, rural and urban orchards, gardens, walls and green roofs and research purposes. Findings/Conclusions: The suction irrigation system through porous capsules has the capacity to continuously supply the water demanded by the plant-substrate-atmosphere system.