Andean Group Research Articles

Mortality from COVID-19 in Amazonian and Andean original indigenous populations of Peru

ObjectiveTo compare the mortality rates from COVID-19 among indigenous populations of the Amazon and Andean regions of Peru during the years 2020, 2021 and 2022. MethodsSecondary analysis of 33,567 data from the COVID-19 Notification System of the National Epidemiology Center, Prevention and Control of Diseases (CDC-Peru), from the years 2020–2022. The variables were age, sex, belonging to the Andean or Amazonian ethnic group, number and type of symptoms and risk conditions, abnormal findings in chest X-rays, year of data collection for hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Poisson family generalized linear regression models with logarithmic linkage and robust variance were used to establish differences in mortality between ethnic groups. Crude and adjusted risk ratio (RR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results33,567 participants with an average age of 33.6 years were included, 44.4 % were men and 70.2 % belonged to the Amazonian ethnic group. Most of those affected by COVID-19 presented 2 symptoms (38.8 %), 4.8 % presented some risk condition, 1451 (4.3 %) were hospitalized, and 433 (1.3 %) died. The adjusted analysis showed that the Andean group, compared to the Amazonian, tended to have a higher probability of death, and this association was statistically significant, RR =7.6, 95 % CI (5.5–10.5). ConclusionsPatients from Andean indigenous communities had an almost 8 times higher risk of death from COVID-19.

Productivity assessment of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) germplasm from Serbia

Context In Serbia, common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production largely relies on improved commercial cultivars; however, many farmers still grow and maintain landraces. Productivity assessment of common bean landraces from Serbia may enrich knowledge of bean diversity from Western Balkans, Europe and worldwide. Aims The study aims were to describe the underlying structure of a selected set of landraces and commercial cultivars of common bean, identify relatedness of accessions, and determine breeding values. Methods and key results Overall productivity was assessed through main yield components during a 2-year field trial. Average seed yield per plant was 7.9 g, with 1000-seed weight 425 g, 7.4 pods per plant and 22.9 seeds per plant. Accessions were classified according to seed colour and shape, with the Albus group generally showing highest productivity traits. Phenotypic and genotypic variability of the selected set was previously determined. Principal component analysis was used to assess bean germplasm structure, revealing subdivisions partially according to gene pool (Mesoamerican or Andean), evident through the existence of one larger Andean group. Relatedness of genotypes was assessed by hierarchical cluster analysis. Additional variation concentrated within the Andean gene pool was detected. Positive correlations were observed among numbers of pods and seeds per plant, yield per plant and plant height. According to the Mantel test, positive associations were observed among productivity trait distance, genetic distance and descriptive trait distance. Conclusions Substantial variation in productivity was observed for bean landraces, with differences among gene pools and seed forms, revealing their agronomic value. Acknowledged structure of agronomic traits and recognised stratification will assist in multilevel organisation of common bean breeding programs. Implications Combined information on phenotypic, genotypic and productivity value should benefit selection of promising parental lines associating good agronomic performance with sufficient variability, according to consumer preferences.

Genetic diversity and inter-gene pool introgression of Mesoamerican Diversity Panel in common beans.

Brazil is among the largest producers and consumers of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and can be considered a secondary center of diversity for the species. The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic diversity, population structure, and relationships among 288 common bean accessions in an American Diversity Panel (ADP) genotyped with 4,042 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The results showed inter-gene pool hybridization (hybrids) between the two main gene pools (i.e., Mesoamerican and Andean), based on principal component analysis (PCA), discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC), and STRUCTURE analysis. The genetic diversity parameters showed that the Mesoamerican group has higher values of diversity and allelic richness in comparison with the Andean group. Considering the optimal clusters (K), clustering was performed according to the type of grain (i.e., market group), the institution of origin, the period of release, and agronomic traits. A new subset was selected and named the Mesoamerican Diversity Panel (MDP), with 205 Mesoamerican accessions. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed low genetic variance between the two panels (i.e., ADP and MDP) with the highest percentage of the limited variance among accessions in each group. The ADP showed occurrence of high genetic differentiation between populations (i.e., Mesoamerican and Andean) and introgression between gene pools in hybrids based on a set of diagnostic SNPs. The MDP showed better linkage disequilibrium (LD) decay. The availability of genetic variation from inter-gene pool hybridizations presents a potential opportunity for breeders towards the development of superior common bean cultivars.

Is the USDA core collection of common bean representative of genetic diversity of the species, as assessed by SNP diversity?

AbstractCore collections are envisioned to be a representative subset of larger germplasm collections. They were introduced to facilitate the characterization and use of these germplasm collections. The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) core collection of the USDA Western Regional Plant Introduction Station was one of the first collections to be established in the early 1990s. Here, we evaluate the representativity of this common bean collection in light of the availability of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) platform and new information about genetic diversity of the species, including phaseolin and seed type data. The SNP diversity was studied with a combination of STRUCTURE, principal coordinate analysis (PCoA), and neighbor‐joining analysis (NJA). STRUCTURE analyses were conducted for K (number of subpopulations) = 3 and K = 7, based on the ad hoc statistic ΔK. The K = 3 analysis recognized the split between Andean and Mesoamerican domesticates and the subdivision of the Mesoamerican domesticates into high‐ (Durango/Jalisco) and low‐altitude (Mesoamerica) ecogeographic races. The K = 7 analysis further subdivided the Andean group identified for K = 3, as well as the high‐altitude group from the Mesoamerican gene pool. It also identified smaller groups consisting of Mesoamerican wild beans. The PCoA and NJA confirmed the STRUCTURE results and highlighted the existence of presumed hybridization among groups. Our results suggest that this core collection should be updated by adding domesticated categories, developing a separate wild common bean core collection, and developing cores for specific purposes.

Genome wide association study discovers genomic regions involved in resistance to soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines) in common bean.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important high protein crop grown worldwide. North Dakota and Minnesota are the largest producers of common beans in the USA, but crop production is threatened by soybean cyst nematode (SCN; Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) because most current cultivars are susceptible. Greenhouse screening data using SCN HG type 0 from 317 plant introductions (PI’s) from the USDA core collection was used to conduct a genome wide association study (GWAS). These lines were divided into two subpopulations based on principal component analysis (Middle American vs. Andean). Phenotypic results based on the female index showed that accessions could be classified as highly resistant (21% and 27%), moderately resistant (51% and 48%), moderately susceptible (27% and 22%) and highly susceptible (1% and 3%) for Middle American and Andean gene pools, respectively. Mixed models with two principal components (PCs) and kinship matrix for Middle American genotypes and Andean genotypes were used in the GWAS analysis using 3,985 and 4,811 single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) markers, respectively which were evenly distributed across all 11 chromosomes. Significant peaks on Pv07, and Pv11 in Middle American and on Pv07, Pv08, Pv09 and Pv11 in Andean group were found to be associated with SCN resistance. Homologs of soybean rhg1, a locus which confers resistance to SCN in soybean, were identified on chromosomes Pv01 and Pv08 in the Middle American and Andean gene pools, respectively. These genomic regions may be the key to develop SCN-resistant common bean cultivars.

Micro-nutrient composition and end-user acceptable quality in potato in Ethiopia

ABSTRACTMicronutrient deficiencies in diets, including iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), are an important public health problem across population in Ethiopia. Potato is a modest source of dietary nutrients. The purpose of this study was to assess the mineral (Fe & Zn) composition of potato germplasm in Ethiopia and grower's willingness to try new potato types. The Fe and Zn contents were assessed in peeled tubers of popular farmer varieties, and newly introduced Andean diploid group Phureja accessions and improved tetraploid clones grown in multi-location trials. Grower's preferences for the new potato types was assessed using a participatory approach. Significant variations in mineral and tuber yield traits exist among the germplasm assessed and broad-sense heritability appears to be high for most traits measured, suggesting that progress through breeding can be made among these materials. However, the slightly negative correlation of tuber yield with Fe and Zn content and user appreciation traits found in this study suggests that progress in improving crops for yield and enhanced Fe and Zn concentrations with end-user acceptable quality will be challenging. The results from this study provide baseline information on Fe and Zn composition of many popular farmer varieties in Ethiopia and end-user preference criteria for evaluating new potato varieties that would help to orient the biofortification breeding to the conditions and preference of farmers.

“The Huacas of the Spanish”: Expressions of Indigenous Religion in the Mythologies and Aesthetics of Colonial Andean Religious Sculpture

Early scholarship on the colonial arts of the Andes assumed that the Spanish conquest and its accompanying missionary activity resulted in a complete destruction of Inca artistic tradition, and that the indigenous conception of art and representation had little to no effect on works produced during the colonial period. Since then, scholars have recognized a tremendous amount of indigenous influence on the stylistic, iconographic and representational aspects of colonial art forms. My paper examines the influence of two aspects of indigenous culture in particular, identified by the words huaca (sacred thing) and qillca (surface decoration), which were used by the Quechua, an Andean indigenous ethnic group, to describe religious objects in the pre-Hispanic era. They were then in turn appropriated and discouraged by colonial missionaries in an attempt to make their imported Catholicism more understandable to new converts. In examining the multiple, ambiguous meanings of these words in the minds of the Quechua people and colonial missionaries as evidenced in contemporary sermons and miracle tales, I will argue that they influenced the indigenous conception of colonial religious statuary. I will then conduct a visual analysis of ‘The Virgin of Cocharcas’, an 18th century Peruvian ‘statue painting’ (two dimensional depiction of a statue) to demonstrate how concepts of huaca and qillca influenced the aesthetics of colonial statuary.

Genetic diversity and population structure of native maize populations in Latin America and the Caribbean.

This study describes the genetic diversity and population structure of 194 native maize populations from 23 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. The germplasm, representing 131 distinct landraces, was genetically characterized as population bulks using 28 SSR markers. Three main groups of maize germplasm were identified. The first, the Mexico and Southern Andes group, highlights the Pre-Columbian and modern exchange of germplasm between North and South America. The second group, Mesoamerica lowland, supports the hypothesis that two separate human migration events could have contributed to Caribbean maize germplasm. The third, the Andean group, displayed early introduction of maize into the Andes, with little mixing since then, other than a regional interchange zone active in the past. Events and activities in the pre- and post-Columbian Americas including the development and expansion of pre-Columbian cultures and the arrival of Europeans to the Americas are discussed in relation to the history of maize migration from its point of domestication in Mesoamerica to South America and the Caribbean through sea and land routes.

Exposure to Inorganic Arsenic Is Associated with Increased Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number and Longer Telomere Length in Peripheral Blood.

Background: Exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) through drinking water causes cancer. Alterations in mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) and telomere length in blood have been associated with cancer risk. We elucidated if arsenic exposure alters mtDNAcn and telomere length in individuals with different arsenic metabolizing capacity.Methods: We studied two groups in the Salta province, Argentina, one in the Puna area of the Andes (N = 264, 89% females) and one in Chaco (N = 169, 75% females). We assessed arsenic exposure as the sum of arsenic metabolites [iAs, methylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA)] in urine (U-As) using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with hydride generation and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Efficiency of arsenic metabolism was expressed as percentage of urinary metabolites. MtDNAcn and telomere length were determined in blood by real-time PCR.Results: Median U-As was 196 (5–95 percentile: 21–537) μg/L in Andes and 80 (5–95 percentile: 15–1637) μg/L in Chaco. The latter study group had less-efficient metabolism, with higher %iAs and %MMA in urine compared with the Andean group. U-As was significantly associated with increased mtDNAcn (log2 transformed to improve linearity) in Chaco (β = 0.027 per 100 μg/L, p = 0.0085; adjusted for age and sex), but not in Andes (β = 0.025, p = 0.24). U-As was also associated with longer telomere length in Chaco (β = 0.016, p = 0.0066) and Andes (β = 0.0075, p = 0.029). In both populations, individuals with above median %iAs showed significantly higher mtDNAcn and telomere length compared with individuals with below median %iAs.Conclusions: Arsenic was associated with increased mtDNAcn and telomere length, particularly in individuals with less-efficient arsenic metabolism, a group who may have increased risk for arsenic-related cancer.

Regional Integration in Latin America

This paper assesses the welfare effects of integration in Latin America. It estimates trade creation and diversion of: 1) integration of the four Mercosur countries (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay) and 2) amalgamation of Mercosur with the Andean group (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru). The method used to proxy trade creation is the change in total imports of a country from before to after integration, while trade diversion is proxied by the change in the country’s external imports between the two periods. A “control country” approach is used to hold constant the effects on imports of factors other than integration, such as income and price changes. With some exceptions Latin American integration was found beneficial to welfare in that trade creation exceeded trade diversion.

Clusia nubium (Clusiaceae): a new species from cloud-forests of southwestern Ecuador

Clusia nubium from southwestern Ecuador is described as a species new to science. It grows as a hemiepiphyte in lower montane cloud forest. The species belongs to Clusia sect. Retinostemon, a largely Andean group characterized by male flowers with a resin-secreting synandrium of completely fused stamens and sometimes also anthers and staminodes. It differs from all other species in that section by the combination of creamy-white petals; male flowers with a dome-shaped synandrium with numerous fused stamens surrounding a group of resin secreting staminodia; and large fruits with 9–15 peltate stigmata forming a ring.

SNP discovery in common bean by restriction-associated DNA (RAD) sequencing for genetic diversity and population structure analysis.

Researchers have made great advances into the development and application of genomic approaches for common beans, creating opportunities to driving more real and applicable strategies for sustainable management of the genetic resource towards plant breeding. This work provides useful polymorphic single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for high-throughput common bean genotyping developed by RAD (restriction site-associated DNA) sequencing. The RAD tags were generated from DNA pooled from 12 common bean genotypes, including breeding lines of different gene pools and market classes. The aligned sequences identified 23,748 putative RAD-SNPs, of which 3357 were adequate for genotyping; 1032 RAD-SNPs with the highest ADT (assay design tool) score are presented in this article. The RAD-SNPs were structurally annotated in different coding (47.00%) and non-coding (53.00%) sequence components of genes. A subset of 384 RAD-SNPs with broad genome distribution was used to genotype a diverse panel of 95 common bean germplasms and revealed a successful amplification rate of 96.6%, showing 73% of polymorphic SNPs within the Andean group and 83% in the Mesoamerican group. A slightly increased He (0.161, n=21) value was estimated for the Andean gene pool, compared to the Mesoamerican group (0.156, n=74). For the linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis, from a group of 580 SNPs (289 RAD-SNPs and 291 BARC-SNPs) genotyped for the same set of genotypes, 70.2% were in LD, decreasing to 0.10%in the Andean group and 0.77% in the Mesoamerican group. Haplotype patterns spanning 310Mb of the genome (60%) were characterized in samples from different origins. However, the haplotype frameworks were under-represented for the Andean (7.85%) and Mesoamerican (5.55%) gene pools separately. In conclusion, RAD sequencing allowed the discovery of hundreds of useful SNPs for broad genetic analysis of common bean germplasm. From now, this approach provides an excellent panel of molecular tools for whole genome analysis, allowing integrating and better exploring the common bean breeding practices.

Diversity of Common Bean Landraces, Breeding Lines, and Varieties from Cuba

ABSTRACTCuba is the largest island in the Caribbean Sea and has a long history of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivation. The crop was introduced to the island along with immigration of Native American tribes both from the west and from the southeast of the Caribbean archipelago. This resulted in both the Andean and Mesoamerican genepools being present in Cuba since pre‐Colombian times and opportunities for genepool intermixing in this secondary center of diversity. Microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) have been found to be ideal for evaluating introgression in common bean because of their high polymorphism per locus. Therefore, the goal of this study was to use 36 SSR markers to evaluate a collection of 210 common bean landraces and cultivars from Cuba to determine the genetic diversity and common bean population structure found in this part of the Caribbean. The Cuban germplasm was very clearly divided into a majority Mesoamerican group and a minority Andean group. Surprisingly, the level of introgression between the genepools was lower than has been observed in previous studies of germplasm from other secondary centers of diversity. The optimum number of populations was K = 2, and subgroups were not evident, suggesting that only one race of each genepool is found on the island. In conclusion, Cuban beans are most likely to be derived from race Mesoamerica and race Nueva Granada, with very little mixing from other races. The implications of these results on the breeding of common beans in Cuba is discussed.

Mortalidad materna en el Perú, Responsabilidad de todos.

Por el menor número absoluto de muertes maternas en relación a las muertes infantiles, la verdadera dimensión de esta tragedia no fue valorada sino hasta después después de las conferencias mundiales de Ginebra y Nairobi, en 1985 y 1987, respectivamente, luego de las cuales se generó en el mundo, por fortuna, una corriente por una maternidad segura. La UNICEF calcula que cada año 585000 mujeres pierden la vida en el mundo, como consecuencia de complicaciones que se presentan en el embarazo, parto y puerperio1. Del total de éstas muertes, el 7% (35000) ocurre en América Latina y, de éstas, alrededor de 5000 corresponden al grupo andino (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú y Venezuela). Debo agregar que, de éstas muertes, aproximadamente 1600 corresponden al Perú.

A new cryptic species in a new cryptic genus in the Caesalpinia group (Leguminosae) from the seasonally dry inter‐Andean valleys of South America

AbstractThe generic affiliation of the Andean species Caesalpinia trichocarpa, C. mimosifolia, and their close relatives has remained uncertain in all recent studies of Caesalpinia s.l. (Leguminosae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae). A new densely sampled phylogeny based on four DNA sequence regions (rps16, trn D‐trnT, ycf6‐ psbM, ITS) strongly supports the monophyly of an Andean clade. We propose that despite the lack of obvious diagnostic morphological synapomorphies, this Andean group should be considered as a distinct genus, here described as the new genus Arquita. Phylogenetic analyses also suggest a problem with species delimitation in this group. Within C. trichocarpa, accessions from disjunct geographic areas in Argentina, Bolivia and Peru each form a robustly supported, unresolved clade that includes C. mimosifolia. The morphological and genetic cohesiveness of the C. trichocarpa complex is investigated using morphometric phenetic analyses of qualitative and quantitative flower and leaf traits, and reconstruction of a densely sampled phylogeny using three plastid and one nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence loci. Our results suggest that the most geographically isolated of these clades, narrowly endemic to two inter‐Andean valleys in central‐north Peru and separated by ∼1350 km, and extensive high Andean cordilleras above 4000 m, from the nearest populations in Bolivia, represents a genetically highly distinct and morphologically cryptic lineage here described as a new species (Arquita grandiflora). A full taxonomic account of the new genus Arquita and its component species is provided, with a distribution map and a key to the species.

Economía de Las Universidades Nacionales (1990-2010)

Esta investigación analiza la legislación universitaria para el periodo 1970-2010, el presupuesto fijado a las universidades estatales, discriminando aquel designado a las ubicadas en la ciudad de Lima, como aquel destinado a las de provincias, que a fines de nuestro periodo de análisis llegan a un numero de 46. Apreciándose que el estado, viene sustrayendo su apoyo a los presupuestos de la universidad estatal, las que han priorizado el gasto corriente frente a los de capital, la implementación de la ley del Canon minero y las universidades públicas receptoras y sus limitaciones en el gasto, así como un análisis comparativo de las asignaciones del presupuesto con el sistema de universidades de países del grupo andino (GRAN).

Progress in Breeding Andean Common Bean for Resistance to Common Bacterial Blight

ABSTRACTCommon bacterial blight is a severe disease of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) worldwide. Use of resistant cultivars is crucial for its control. The objectives were to (i) assess the progress made in breeding large‐seeded Andean bean developed between 1974 and 2010 and (ii) determine their resistance‐linked sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker composition. Ten Andean and four Middle American common bacterial blight resistant beans including checks were evaluated in the greenhouse in 2011. Bacterial strains ARX8AC and Xcp25 were used to inoculate primary and trifoliolate leaves. The mean disease score of the trifoliolate was 5.0 and of the primary leaf was 2.8. Strain Xcp25 had a mean score of 3.8 in primary and 5.9 in trifoliolate leaves. The respective scores for ARX8AC were 1.9 and 4.2. Andean ‘Montcalm’, with the SAP6 quantitative trait loci (QTL) and USDK‐CBB‐15, and USWK‐CBB‐17, with the SAP6 and SU91 QTL, showed an intermediate response to ARX8AC and a susceptible response to Xcp25. Middle American VAX 1 with SAP6, Andeans 08SH‐840 and CXR 1 with SAP6 and SU91, and RCS52‐2, RCS53‐3, and RCS63‐5B with SU91 and BC420 were resistant or intermediate to both strains. Middle American VAX 3 and VAX 6, with SAP6 and SU91, had the highest levels of resistance to ARX8AC, but their responses to Xcp25 were similar to the latter Andean group. Thus, significant improvement has been achieved, but breeding for yet higher levels of resistance, recovery of commercial seed types, and improving yield and other agronomic traits should be emphasized.

La Comunidad Andina: un paradigma de Integración Económica en Latinoamérica

El presente trabajo tiene por objetivo reseñar los antecedentes, el estado actual y las perspectivas de futuro de la Comunidad Andina (CAN). Este bloque regional nació en 1969 con el nombre de Grupo Andino o Pacto Andino. Fue reformulado en 1997 dando origen a la CAN, compuesta actualmente por Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia y Perú como países miembros. Luego de establecerse formalmente como una Zona de Libre Comercio, en la que se fomentara un libre flujo de mercancías y personas, la CAN ha hecho todo lo posible por impulsar dinámicamente el comercio intracomunitario. El desarrollo del trabajo está sustentado en una base informativa de sitios web confiables y algunos libros textos. En esta investigación se ponen de relieve la filosofía comunitaria del bloque, los avances institucionales y económicos de la CAN, los proyectos de futuro y los desafíos que se avizoran, para finalmente dilucidar en qué etapa de su proceso de integración se encuentra y si se han obtenido los resultados previstos estratégicamente. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/reice.v2i3.1447 REICE Vol. 2, No. 3, enero-junio 2014; 1-27

Distribution and Variability of Pseudocercospora griseola in Uganda

Pseudocercospora griseola the casual pathogen for angular leaf spot (ALS) on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is highly variable with many different races occurring in different agro-ecological zones. Therefore, for an effective breeding program, there is a need to continuously monitor the distribution and variability of the pathogen as a means of guiding breeders on which races to target. A study was conducted to assess the incidence, severity and variability of P. griseola in bean growing districts of Dokolo, Lira, Apac, Sironko, Mbale, Rakai, Lwengo, Bukomansibi, Kabale and Kisoro in Uganda. Forty five out of 80 isolates collected were tested on a set of 12 international bean differentials cultivars for ALS. Molecular markers were also used to elucidate the variability among isolates. In all districts, ALS was found wide spread with a mean incidence of 49.9%. Dokolo district had the highest disease incidence and severity, while Kisoro registered the lowest values respectively. In terms of altitude, incidence (60%) and severity (45%) were high for bean fields located between 1000-1200 m and low disease incidence (33.6%) and severity (20.7%) for fields lying above 1500 m. The standard differential cultivars and molecular markers defined 12 pathotypes and 30 haplotypes respectively. These belonged to Middle America and Andean group with considerably high level of diversity. Our findings indicated the presence of ALS in Uganda with high incidence, severity and variability across districts and altitudes. Hence strategic interventions involving integrated disease management and breeding for durable resistance are required to manage the disease.

Traditional medicine applied by the Saraguro yachakkuna: a preliminary approach to the use of sacred and psychoactive plant species in the southern region of Ecuador

BackgroundDuring the colonial period, the indigenous saraguros maintained their traditions, knowledge, and practices to restore and preserve the health of their members. Unfortunately, many of their practices and medicinal resources have not been documented. In this study, we sought to document the traditional healers’ (yachakkuna saraguros) knowledge about medicinal and psychoactive plants used in the mesas and in magical-religious rituals. The study was conducted under a technical and scientific cooperation agreement between the Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL), the Dirección Provincial de Salud de Loja (DPSL), and the Saraguro Healers Council (Consejo de Sanadores de Saraguro).MethodsFor the present study, the DPSL and Saraguro Healers Council selected the 10 yachakkuna most recognized for their knowledge and their use of sacred and psychoactive species. Ten interviews with the selected yachakkuna were conducted between 2010 and 2011 to ascertain how the Saraguro traditional healing system is structured and to obtain a record of the sacred and medicinal plant species used to treat supernatural diseases and for psychoactive purposes.ResultsThe present study describes the traditional health system in the Saraguro indigenous community located in southern Ecuador. It also describes the main empirical methods used to diagnose diseases: direct physical examination of the patient, observation of the patient’s urine, documentation of the patient’s pulse, limpia, palpation and visionary methods, including supernatural diseases (susto, vaho de agua, mal aire, mal hecho, shuka) and reports of the use of sacred and medicinal psychoactive plants, such as the San Pedro cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi), wandug (Brugmansia spp.), and tobacco (Nicotiana spp.). This study also describes the rituals (limpia, soplada) employed by the Saraguro yachakkuna to treat supernatural diseases. Finally, we report on the main plants used during limpia in the Saraguro community.ConclusionThe current traditional health system in the Saraguro community is the cultural expression of the Saraguros’ presence as an Andean group in southern Ecuador: it represents their character as indigenous group, their ability to survive as a community despite strong external pressure, and the desire to maintain their ancient healing heritage.