The Panoramic View of Ecuadorian Soil Nutrients (Deficit/Toxicity) from Different Climatic Regions and Their Possible Influence on the Metabolism of Important Crops

Raluca A Mihai; Erly J Melo Heras; Vanessa A Terán Maza; Iván A Espinoza Caiza; Eliza A Pinto Valdiviezo; Rodica D Catana

doi:10.3390/toxics11020123

The Panoramic View of Ecuadorian Soil Nutrients (Deficit/Toxicity) from Different Climatic Regions and Their Possible Influence on the Metabolism of Important Crops

Toxics. 2023 Jan 26;11(2):123. doi: 10.3390/toxics11020123.

Authors

Raluca A Mihai¹, Erly J Melo Heras¹, Vanessa A Terán Maza¹, Iván A Espinoza Caiza¹, Eliza A Pinto Valdiviezo¹, Rodica D Catana²

Affiliations

¹ CICTE, Department of Life Science and Agriculture, Universidad De Las Fuerzas Armadas-ESPE, Av. General Rumiñahui s/n y, Sangolquí 171103, Ecuador.
² Institute of Biology Bucharest, Romanian Academy, 296 Splaiul Independentei, 060031 Bucharest, Romania.

Abstract

Soil nutrients influence all stages (reproduction, growth, and development) of a plant species' life, and it is known that the deficit and/or toxicity of one or more nutrients has negative effects on the production of crops of commercial interest. Ecuador represents one of the "mega-diverse" countries in the world, with an agricultural sector of great importance, due to its contribution to the country's economy. This review provides a panoramic view of soil nutrients from different climatic regions of Ecuador and revises the importance of knowledge about the possible influence of nutrients from the soil on the plant metabolism able to influence the crop resistance against pathogens or to enrich the biological characteristics of these crops.

Keywords: agricultural sector; climate; crops of commercial interest; plant defense systems; secondary metabolites; soil characteristics; toxicity.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This research was funded by Universidad de Las Fuerzas Armadas—ESPE, grant number CV-GNP-0066-2020 and the Institute of Biology Bucharest, Romanian Academy, grant number RO1567-IBB08/2022. The APC was funded by Universidad de Las Fuerzas Armadas—ESPE.