The increasing demand for food necessitates that agri-food systems adopt innovative techniques to enhance food production while optimizing the use of limited resources, such as water. In agriculture, hydrogels are being increasingly used to enhance water retention and reduce irrigation requirements. However, most of these materials are based on synthetic polymers that are not biodegradable. This raises serious environmental and health concerns, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable, biodegradable alternatives. Biomass-derived from agro-industrial waste presents a substantial potential for producing hydrogels, which can effectively function as water collectors and suppliers for crops. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in the application of agro-industrial waste for the formulation of hydrogels. Additionally, it offers a critical analysis of the development of hydrogels utilizing natural and compostable materials. Agro-industrial and food waste, which are rich in hemicellulose and cellulose, have been utilized to enhance the mechanical properties and water absorption capacity of hydrogels. These biomaterials hold significant potential for the development of effective hydrogels in agricultural applications; they can be either hybrid or natural materials that exhibit efficacy in enhancing seed germination, improving water retention capabilities, and facilitating the controlled release of fertilizers. Natural hydrogels derived from agro-industrial waste present a sustainable technological alternative that is environmentally benign.

The data on the incidence and diversity of anomalies in amphibian populations in Mexico are primarily derived from opportunistic observations, which pose challenges for conducting comparisons and monitoring long-term trends. In this study, we document new cases of morphological anomalies in amphibians from the Sierra Madre Occidental and provide a systematic bibliographic review of reported cases across Mexico. During the 2023 rainy season, we conducted surveys in Surutato, Sinaloa, documenting nine cases of morphological anomalies, including the first documented case of dyscoria in the country. The bibliographic review covered 34 sources and identified 31 types of anomalies, with the family Ambystomatidae being the most affected. We observed significant ambiguity in the terminology used across reports, which hinders data comparability. To address this issue, we propose promoting a standardized approach to the description and classification of anomalies. Based on the available data, we estimate a national mean anomaly frequency of 18.43% in amphibians, which can serve as a preliminary benchmark for future studies. The most commonly identified causes of anomalies include agrochemical pollution and parasitism; however, in 37% of the cases, no specific cause could be determined. These findings underscore the importance of standardizing anomaly reports, as they can serve as valuable early indicators of environmental degradation.

Protein malnutrition is present in developing countries but also in developed ones due to actual eating habits involving insufficient protein intake. In addition to this, it is estimated by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations that the world’s population will increase to 9.1 billion people in less than 30 years. This poses a significant challenge in terms of nourishing the population. Different strategies have been proposed to address this challenge, including exploring novel protein sources such as plants. For instance, Prosopis alba pods have an 85.5% protein content. Other examples are microorganisms, such as Halobacillus adaensis which produces 571 U/mL of protease, and insects such as those belonging to the Orthoptera order, like grasshoppers, which have a protein content of 65.96%. These sources have been found in dry lands and are being explored to address this challenge.

The objective of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of parasites and identify the ones with the zoonotic potential present in the feces of households dogs and stray dogs in Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico. Fifty fecal samples from household dogs and 50 fecal samples from stray dogs were collected and analyzed by sucrose flotation and McMaster techniques. The statistical analyzes showed a significant difference between households and stray dogs (p= 0.021). The highest prevalence was obtained by stray dogs with 22% (11/50), while household dogs got a majority of 6% (3/50). The parasites of morphologically identified household dogs corresponded to Cystoisospora canis (6%) and Trichuris vulpis (4%), while in stray dogs parasites corresponded to Ancylostoma spp. (12%), Cystoisospora canis (10%), Toxocara spp. (4%), Trichuris vulpis (4%), and Taenia spp. (2%). The Chi-square (X2) analysis showed that the prevalence of parasites in stray dogs according to age presented a significant difference (p= 0.002); 100% of the puppies were parasitized. In Gomez Palacio, parasites with zoonotic potential are present in the feces of households and stray dogs, representing a risk of infection for the human population.

Antecedentes: A nivel mundial se han realizado varios estudios relacionados con macrohongos y metales pesados, pero en México existen pocos registros al respecto. Anteriormente en la zona de la Comarca Lagunera se han registrado niveles de metales pesados en diversos organismos. Objetivos: Este trabajo tiene como objetivo determinar la concentración de metales pesados (Cd, Cu, Pb y Zn) en especies fúngicas en la zona metropolitana de la Comarca Lagunera, México. Métodos: Se realizaron dos recolectas anuales (2017-2018) en 30 sitios pertenecientes a principales áreas verdes y avenidas de tres municipios de la Comarca Lagunera. La identificación de los ejemplares se realizó mediante técnicas de micología básica y literatura especializada. En cuanto a la medición de metales se empleó la espectroscopía de absorción atómica con aspiración directa. Resultados y conclusiones: Se obtuvieron un total de 32 muestras, pertenecientes a nueve especies. Los resultados mostraron concentraciones altas en las nueve especies analizadas, sobrepasando los parámetros de límites permisibles por estándares europeos.

En este trabajo se realizó un biomonitoreo y un bioensayo con una población expuesta a plomo y fierro de la ranita Hyla plicata del estado de Hidalgo, México, para identificar posibles anomalías causadas por el contacto con estos elementos. Se utilizó esta especie ya que se encuentra en la categoría "amenazada" de acuerdo a la NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2001, y algunas de sus poblaciones viven cerca de zonas urbanas. Se utilizaron individuos en etapa postembrionaria. En el bioensayo se formaron tres grupos, uno control, otro en contacto con fierro y otro en contacto con plomo. Se identificaron anomalías macroscópicas tanto en los individuos del lago como en aquellos analizados en condiciones de laboratorio. Se encontraron anomalías en intestino, piel, pigmentación, extremidades y la espina dorsal. Los individuos del bioensayo presentaron mayores índices de anomalías que los obtenidos por biomonitoreo directamente de la naturaleza. En el bioensayo se presentaron mayores porcentajes de individuos con anomalías en los grupos en contacto con fierro y plomo que en el grupo control. Esto sugiere que la presencia de metales pesados produce anomalías macroscópicas en esta especie.