EDITORIAL

I would like to take this opportunity to give the welldeserved recognition to all the professors, students and researchers who have reported the results of their research and programs through scientific and technical papers, reflections, reviews and research notes in Agronomía Colombiana and to all those who, in various ways, (evaluators of manuscripts, members of the Editorial Committee, editors and functionaries in the layout, translation, printing and administrative processes) have contributed to the journal for the last 30 years, making it a reality that, today, is found in several international databases such as Redalyc, Latindex, CABI, Agris, SciELO, Scopus and DOAJ and has national recognition with an A2 categorization in Publindex.

In this issue of Agronomía Colombiana, contributions from various fields of agricultural science are offered. In the area of P lant breeding, genetic resources and molecular biology, the presence of chemical and genetic diversity is reported for the aromatic species Lippia origanoides (Verbenaceae), a source of essential oils with great potential as a genetic resource and alternative crop for production in the semiarid areas of Colombia. Similarly, the topics presented in tissue Propagation and culture highlight the genetic resources of the uva camarona (Macleania rupestris), a plant of the Ericaceae family with adaptation to paramo and sub-paramo regions of Colombia and the Lippia (Verbenaceae) and Tagetes (Asteraceae) genera, proposing practical methods of propagation with air-layering in the uva camarona and seed germination in Lippia and Tagetes.

The Crop physiology section presents information on stomatal behavior in vegetative structures and fruits of purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) and yellow pitahaya (Hylocereus megalanthus) plants, showing a C3 plant behavior for the purple passion fruit and a CAM plant behavior for the yellow pitahaya. In addition, once again, the problems of horticultural production on the Bogota Plateau are put in a social context in terms of using the La Ramada irrigation district and the Bogota river, which have heavy metal contamination, as water sources; in this study, a negative effect from cadmium and chromium on germination and root elongation in three species of leafy vegetables was found.

In the Crop protection section, this issue discusses the management of the phytosanitary problem caused by the TSWV (Tomato spotted wilt virus), thrips as vectors and weeds as inoculum sources and reservoirs of vectors in tomato cultivation. Furthermore, the action mechanism of isothiocyanates, which are secondary metabolites of Brassicaceae family plants that exhibit anticarcinogenic properties, inducing protective genes, is presented.

This issue contributes to the area of P ost-harvest physiology and technology with an analysis of mechanical responses to the type of forces used in handling cape gooseberry fruits (Physalis peruviana) and leaves of the aromatic herb chives (Allium schoenoprasum) during harvest and postharvest, important factors in the proper management of these horticultural products.

The section on S oil, fertilizer and water management is comprised of a presentation of the contribution of arthropod fauna in the process of decomposition of plant material from trees and shrubs in logging processes and the symbiosis found in the roots of oil palm and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, the efficient use of fertilizers when applied by direct insertion into the vascular system of the pseudostem of harvested banana plants considering the connection of the mother plant with the daughter plant and, finally, the quantification of organic carbon in the soil to assess the negative impact that intervention activities have had on mountain ecosystems in Colombia.

Lastly, the discourse on Economics and rural development includes a significant contribution to the understanding of the characteristics of agricultural innovations, diffusion, adoption and impact.

Agronomia Colombiana contributes once again to the dissemination of topics related to the research and production of tropical agriculture in order to support the development of the agricultural sector, in the hopes that each day will see a greater impact from shared knowledge in unison with the possibilities that lie in the future for bettering the quality of life of our people.

Gustavo A. Ligarreto M.
Editor