Six fungal strains were isolated from the textile industry effluent in which they naturally occur. Subsequently, the fungal strains were identified and characterized in order to establish their potential decolorizing effect on textile industry effluents. The strains of interest were selected based on their capacity to decolorize azo, indigo, and anthraquinone dyes. Three of the strains were identified as Emmia latemarginata (MAP03, MAP04, and MAP05) and the other three as Mucor circinelloides (MAP01, MAP02, and MAP06), while the efficiency of their decolorization of the dyes was determined on agar plate and in liquid fermentation. All the strains co-metabolized the dyes of interest, generating different levels of dye decolorization. Plate screening for lignin-degrading enzymes showed that the MAP03, MAP04, and MAP05 strains were positive for laccase and the MAP01, MAP02, and MAP06 strains for tyrosinase, while all strains were positive for peroxidase. Based on its decolorization capacity, the Emmia latemarginata (MAP03) strain was selected for the further characterization of its growth kinetics and ligninolytic enzyme production in submerged fermentation under both enzyme induction conditions, involving the addition of Acetyl yellow G (AYG) dye or wheat straw extract, and no-induction condition. The induction conditions promoted a clear inductive effect in all of the ligninolytic enzymes analyzed. The highest level of induced enzyme production was observed with the AYG dye fermentation, corresponding to versatile peroxidase (VP), manganese peroxidase (MnP), and lignin peroxidase (LiP). The present study can be considered the first analysis of the ligninolytic enzyme system of Emmia latemarginata in submerged fermentation under different conditions. Depending on the results of further research, the fungal strains analyzed in the present research may be candidates for further biotechnological research on the decontamination of industrial effluents.

Vanilla juice has been shown empirically to have antifungal activity against some fungal strains; however, there are no activity reported against Alternaria genre. In this work, the chemical profile of vanilla juice was obtained and its antifungal activity against fungal strains from the family Pleosporaceae, isolated from sorghum- and barley-diseased plants, was tested. The strains were identified as Alternaria alternata by their molecular and morphological characteristics. The vanilla juice characterization from Vanilla planifolia pods showed the presence of vanillin, vanillic acid, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, guaiacol, glucovanillin, vanillyl alcohol, and furfural. Vanilla juice showed a fungistatic effect against all A. alternata strains tested in this study and increased the lag time from 50 to 112 h, and no conidia were produced. This result indicates the possible application of vanilla juice as an alternative to control agricultural crops such as barley and sorghum in Mexico.

Globally, corn is the most economically important crop, surpassing crops such as wheat, rice and barley. However, the presence of pathogenic fungi associated with corn, have favoured the appearance of diseases that cause economic loss. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to assess the efficacy of treatments in vitro and in vivo with Trichoderma asperellum in controlling the disease severity and the yield reduction in corn plants caused by Fusarium verticillioides and Ustilago maydis. In vitro confrontation experiments demonstrated the high antagonistic capacity of the T. asperellum strains, which is able to reduce the radial growth of the pathogen’s colonies from 88.71% up to 100%. In the field experiments treatments 6 and 7, where T. asperellum was confronted with F. verticillioides and U. maydis, showed a significant reduction in the average damage of the disease by 8.3 ± 6.7 and 9.5 ± 3.0, and an increase in their grain yield by 4.43 ± 0.33 and 4.11 ± 0.15 t/ha, respectively. Similarly, the percentage of good ears of 66.75 ± 5.4 and 70.37 ± 5.4, obtained in treatments 6 and 7, was higher than those values obtained in treatments 2 and 3 without Trichoderma confrontation. These results indicate that the selected Trichoderma strains isolated from Zea mays could effectively control these phytopathogenic fungi in field.

Scyphophorus acupunctatus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae), which also is known as agave weevil, is distributed across 5 continents. In Mexico, their presence has been reported in 12 states. Many species of Agave (Asparagaceae) are suitable hosts, though not all are equally suitable. Plant infestation can start with either female or male weevils, and their presence can be detected by gummy secretions emanating from feeding sites. The punctures are observed principally in the lower part of the trunk and external roots of the infested plants. Eggs are deposited singly or in clusters of up to 4 eggs at the feeding punctures after tissue decay has begun. The eggs hatch after about 5 d, and young larvae begin to create tunnels in the plant tissue. The larvae display 11 instars, and require about 50 to 90 d for development. The pupae normally require 11 to 14 d. The life cycle lasts between 105 to 137 d depending on the agave species with which the weevil is associated. The active insect can attack during any mo of the yr, although it is more frequent in the rainy season. Scyphophorus acupunctatus dispersion is determined by the attraction of volatile agave compounds. This insect apparently introduces different microorganisms that have been associated with the agave maladies. Plant extracts and seed powders have been assessed as potential botanical insecticides on larvae and pupae, with plant extracts causing mortality of 43 to 53% in larvae and 3 to 15% in pupae, and with seed powders causing 90 to 100% larval mortality. Synthetic insecticides have not been successful because the larvae and adults live inside the plant tissues. Alternative effective control tactics are needed to avoid increased damage and destruction of this important crop.

Globally, corn is the most economically important crop, surpassing other cereals of economic importance. However, the tillage methods, monoculture and the abuse of synthetic agrochemicals used in Mexico have led to the loss of fertility and soil yield. In this sense, the application of alternative fertilization methods based on chemical fertilizer, organic matter and biofertilizer, applied alone or in combination, can stimulate the defense systems of corn plants and increase their yield. Therefore, in this research, some fertilization schemes were tested on purple corn plants of the Kculli race through the evaluation of some growth and yield variables, as well as the subsequent evaluation of the chemical characteristics of the corn grain produced in each fertilization scheme. The results indicate highly significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) between treatments, for the different growth and yield variables studied. Of all the fertilization schemes evaluated, treatment T7 obtained the best grain yield of 6.19 ± 0.07 t ha⁻¹, with respect to treatment T1 of 1.02 ± 0.01 t ha⁻¹, as well as the highest protein content and starch quality. Being clear the positive effect of the adequate contribution of the macro and micronutrients used exerts on the corn crop in each of the fertilization schemes studied. On the other hand, the analysis carried out on the grains was found within the values reported by other authors.