Scientia Agropecuaria

Detection of late blight in potato leaves using drone images and Deep Learning techniques

J. A. Cairampoma — 2026-02-16

Phytophthora infestans causes one of the most devastating diseases of the potato crop, also known as late blight. Since early identification of this pathogen is crucial for the effective control of the disease, this study aimed to propose an automated methodology for the identification of its lesions in potato leaflets, using convolutional neural networks called “Mask R-CNN”. The evaluations were carried out during the rainy season, in crops conducted by farmers in the locality of Huasahuasi, in the central Andes of Peru. One hundred photographs (5472 × 3078 pixels) were taken with a Phantom 4 Pro unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at an altitude of 3 m in crops with a late blight incidence between 2 and 3. The images were divided into four parts and then passed thorough quality control, resulting in 200 photos (1825 × 1369 pixels). Of the total, 75% was used for model training and 25% for model validation. The models were evaluated under real conditions, using metrics such as accuracy and recall. It was determined that the Mask R-CNN neural network, based on the ResNet 101 deep neural network architecture, offers acceptable accuracy and effectiveness (73.5%) in the identification of late blight lesions at the leaflet level. This methodology constitutes a significant contribution to precision agriculture in the Andes, validating a non-invasive tool capable of overcoming the topographical limitations of the area. Its practical application would optimize the use of fungicides through targeted detection, thereby promoting more sustainable and profitable potato production systems for local farmers.

Screening commercial disinfectants to strengthen on-farm biosecurity for the prevention of Fusarium wilt of banana Tropical Race 4 in Ecuador

Lorena Monserrate-Maggi — 2026-02-16

Bananas (Musa spp.), often reported together with plantains, are among the most traded fruit commodities worldwide, particularly in terms of export volume and value, with Ecuador recognized as the leading global exporter, supplying approximately one quarter of the total international trade. However, its production is increasingly threatened by climate change and fungal diseases such as Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 (Foc TR4). To support preventive management strategies against Foc TR4, this study evaluated the in vitro efficacy of nine commercial disinfectants available in Ecuador—including quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), oxidizing agents, aldehydes, and alkaline substances—against conidia and chlamydospores of several Foc race 1 strains (VCG0120) as a model organism. Different concentrations and contact times were tested in the presence and absence of organic matter. Chlamydospores exhibited higher resistance than conidia, requiring greater concentrations for inhibition. Aldehyde formulations and QACs achieved the lowest minimum inhibitory concentrations (<1,000 ppm) and remained effective under organic load and variable contact times. These findings emphasize the need to select disinfectants with consistent efficacy under field-relevant conditions to ensure the application of proper biosecurity measures.

Partial replacement of Artemia sp. by Moina sp. as live feed and early weaning onto a commercial diet: effects on growth, survival, and digestive histology of paiche (Arapaima sp.) juveniles

Diana Castro-Ruiz — 2026-02-16

Paiche (Arapaima sp.) is an emblematic species of the Peruvian Amazon, yet sustainable production remains constrained by the limited availability of fry in captivity. This study aimed to evaluate the partial replacement of Artemia sp. by Moina sp. during the live-feeding phase and the effect of early weaning onto a commercial trout diet on growth, survival, and digestive system histology. The 37-day feeding trial was conducted with six treatments in triplicate, defined by three weaning sizes (3, 3.5, and 4 cm total length) and two live-feed regimes (100% Artemia sp. or 50% Artemia sp. + 50% Moina sp.). All groups were weaned onto the same commercial diet. Results showed that replacing 50% of Artemia sp. with Moina sp. did not compromise initial performance. However, fry assigned to weaning at 4 cm showed reduced growth while remaining exclusively on live feed, suggesting limitations of the live-feeding protocol at that size. Weaning at 4 cm was associated with better growth and survival indicators than weaning at 3 and 3.5 cm. Nonetheless, the commercial trout diet was unsuitable for early weaning, as evidenced at the histological level by alterations such as lumen obstruction, villi deterioration, and intestinal epithelial hyperplasia. Overall, these results highlight the need to develop paiche-specific starter diets tailored to the requirements of early life stages.