Although Diptera is one of the most diverse insect orders with a high potential for pollinating plants, it remains poorly studied and neglected. This is partly due to limited taxonomic efforts in species identification. For instance, despite being primary pollinators of trap flowers, species-level identification in these systems remains scarce. To highlight this taxonomic impediment, we reviewed the diversity of Diptera pollinators found on trap flowers of Aristolochia (Aristolochiaceae), a genus exclusively pollinated by flies. We recorded the number of morphospecies identified at the order, family, genus, and species levels across Aristolochia populations and calculated the percentage of species-level identification for each population. To propose a solution to the taxonomic impediment, we used data from an Aristolochia esperanzae population, comparing the taxonomic refinement without and with taxonomist collaboration. Our review yielded 531 Diptera records from 40 populations across 23 Aristolochia species. Of these, 1.9% were identified at the order, 41% at the family, 35.8% at the genus, and only 21.3% at the species levels. The mean percentage of species-level identification for the populations was 34.11%, with 40% of populations showing < 5% of species identified. Overall, 43 families, 109 genera, and 61 species of Diptera were recorded as potential pollinators of Aristolochia. Our case study demonstrated that collaboration with taxonomists improved taxonomic refinement, particularly at the genus and species levels, with this latter rising from 0% to 38.8%. This collaboration also enabled the identification of main pollinators of A. esperanzae, which belong to Ulidiidae, a little-known pollinator family. This study highlights a substantial taxonomic impediment in Diptera pollinators of Aristolochia, which may limit our understanding of their role in plant pollination. Additionally, we demonstrate the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration with insect taxonomists to improve our comprehension of biological and ecological patterns involving the highly diverse yet less-known dipteran pollinators.
In vitro root cultivation is a method that provides high production and volume of roots quickly due to controlled environmental conditions. However, few studies report the in vitro development of excised roots for the most diverse plant species. The objective was to evaluate the in vitro development of excised mint (Menta piperita L.) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) roots under different concentrations of IBA and verify tomato roots' growth in different cultivation media. Segments of 2 cm of roots were incubated in DSD1 culture medium with concentrations of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg. L-1 of AIB. Afterward, the 'M,' 'MSR', and DSD1 media were tested, supplemented with 1 mg L-1 of IBA. The cultivation of tomato roots shows greater in vitro development than mint, and 1 mg L-1 of IBA concentration was the most effective for tomatoes in DSD1 medium. The MSR medium resulted in a higher number and length of roots. Applying IBA increases the in vitro development of excised tomato roots compared to mint. For tomatoes, the concentration of 1 mg L-1 of IBA stimulates the most significant development of the roots. The MSR medium has the highest development of tomato roots at 60 days after in vitro introduction.
In integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS), pasture is intercropped with crops to provide grain for feed and forage mass for grazing. Although scientific results have shown the benefits of using ICLS instead of conventional livestock systems, few studies have investigated the best way to implement these integrated systems. The hypothesis of this study was that ICLS improves the nutritional value of forage and beef cattle performance. The aim of the study was to evaluate (1) different ways to intercrop maize and Marandu grass for pasture establishment, and (2) the effects of intercropping maize and Marandu grass on herbage mass, nutritional value and beef cattle performance. The control treatment consisting exclusively of Marandu grass pasture (livestock system, LS) was compared to four ICLS: maize plus Marandu grass sown simultaneously without herbicide (ICLS-1); maize plus Marandu grass sown simultaneously with herbicide (ICLS-2); maize plus Marandu grass in lagged sowing (ICLS-3), and maize plus Marandu grass sown simultaneously in maize rows and inter-rows with herbicide (ICLS-4). A randomised block design with five treatments and three replicates was used. The experiment was carried out in a field of 13.35 ha, divided into 15 paddocks of 0.89 ha each. The animals grazed for 370 days under continuous stocking. A put-and-take approach was used to adjust stocking rates throughout the year. Herbage mass was higher in the LS treatment than in ICLS-2 and ICLS-4 as a result of the greater accumulation of dead material. Light interception and leaf area index were higher in ICLS-4, in which Marandu grass was sown in maize rows and inter-rows, promoting better pasture establishment. Crude protein content of Marandu grass leaves was greater in the ICLS-4 treatment compared to LS and ICLS-2. Stem crude protein content was greater in ICLS-4 compared to LS, ICLS-1 and ICLS-2. The mean body weight gain was lower in the LS treatment (410 kg) compared to ICLS-2 (429 kg), ICLS-3 (437 kg) and ICLS-4 (426 kg). Intercrop maize with Marandu grass can be used for pasture establishment. The treatment ICLS-4 using maize plus Marandu grass sown simultaneously in maize rows and inter-rows with herbicide provides better pasture establishment and nutritive value.
Between 2023 and 2024, Uruguay focused on the construction of the National Family Farming Plan (PNAF), in line with the guidelines of the Global Decade of Family Farming at the United Nations and the agreement of the Specialized Meeting on Family Farming (REAF) to promote national plans. The aim is to position the sector on the public agenda, while promoting state actions in conjunction with civil society for the strengthening of a key player in the economy, rural territories and food sovereignty. In that context, the country carried out a construction process that had as a framework citizen participation, technical feasibility and prioritization in the political agenda. Under the coordination of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (through the General Directorate of Rural Development and REAF Uruguay), a 2024-2028 planning aimed at strengthening family farming in the work of public, agricultural and extra-agricultural institutions was convened, articulated and developed. This note seeks to synthesize the diagnostic elements that give rise to the plan, the methodology used in the process of construction of the PNAF at the Uruguayan level, and the characteristics and emphasis of the resulting product. It also introduces reflections from a perspective of Family Farming as State policy, on the elements of implementation and governance of the plan that, due to its periodicity, overlaps with an election process and change of government administration.
