Natural biostimulants, such as microorganisms and seaweed extracts, are used in agriculture to improve crop yields with a sustainable approach. However, the interaction effects between different biostimulants have not been thoroughly investigated. The objective of this work was to evaluate the synergistic effects of microorganisms (Glomus intraradices and Azospirillum brasilense) and seaweed extract (Ascophyllum nodosum and Macrocytis pyrifera) on growth, yield and fruit quality of cucumber plants under soilless cultivation. Two doses of microorganisms (0 and 10 spores mL-1 + 106 CFU) and four concentrations of seaweed extract (0, 250, 500 and 2500 ppm) were evaluated. The experimental design used was a randomized complete block design with a factorial arrangement (2 x 4), with four replications per treatment. The results showed that the equatorial diameter of the fruit, yield and titratable acidity improve when applying microorganisms and seaweed extract in combination; however, when applying the two biostimulants the values ​​of plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, root length, biomass (fresh and dry), firmness, total soluble solids, vitamin C, chlorophyll (a and total) and indices of color (L* and b*) did not exceed those obtained when the biostimulants were applied individually. The combined application of microorganisms and seaweed extract improves cucumber yield, but not vegetative growth and, except for titratable acidity, fruit quality attributes.

Background. Sustainable agriculture promotes the use of mineral and biological origin inputs that act as plant growth stimulants, such as zinc oxide nanoparticles (NPsZnO) and rhizospheric microorganisms, which have positively intervened in the physiological response of plants, due to their unique properties. Objective. To evaluate the effects of NPsZnO applied via foliar and drench, and of rhizospheric microorganisms on the vegetative growth and biomass of tomato plants. Methodology. The doses of nanoparticles were applied at: 0, 10 and 30 mg·L-1 and in microorganisms 0 and 10 spores·mL-1. The variables evaluated were: plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, root length and volume, and total biomass. Results. It was observed that plant height, stem diameter and number of leaves were higher with the interaction of 10 mg·L-1 of NPsZnO and the microbial consortium. The root length decreased 25.88% with the foliar application of 30 mg·L-1 NPsZnO. Root volume decreased 18.49% with the drench application of 30 mg·L-1 NPsZnO and decreased 29.55% with the foliar application of 10 mg·L-1 NPsZnO. The total biomass increased 15.65% and 28.81%, respectively with the foliar application of 30 mgL-1 of nanoparticles and when 30 mg·L-1 of NPsZnO was applied in interaction with the microbial consortium. Implications. Although root length and volume had a negative effect with the application of NPsZnO, plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves and total biomass structural components for fruit production in tomato plants were promoted by the application of NPsZnO in interaction with rhizospheric microorganisms by generating synergism. Conclusion. The dose of the nanoparticles, the application method and the microorganisms in the substrate showed positive synergism in the growth and biomass of tomato plants.

In recent years, interest in nutrient and nanoscale biostimulant use in agriculture to improve seed germination and crop productivity has increased. Nanoparticle seed priming has improved growth and quality in crops of agricultural value. The following study shows the effect of seed priming on bell pepper RZ F1 (35-71) with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) with different morphology: spherical and hexagonal. Bell pepper seeds were primed with ZnO NPs at different doses, 50 and 100 mg L-1. The study was carried out in two phases. The first phase consisted of an in-vitro study in a germination chamber (28°C), where early growth variables were assessed: germination percentage, radicle, plumule and hypocotyl length; while the second phase was carried out under greenhouse conditions, where variables such as plant height, stem diameter, dry weight, leaf area, total chlorophyll and phenols were assessed, 45 days after sowing. Seed priming with different morphology ZnO NPs showed a positive influence, 100 mg L-1 dose giving the best results for early growth parameters, as well as for plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, total chlorophyll and phenolic content. These results suggest that ZnO NPs can be considered a promising seed preparation agent to improve germination, early growth parameters, and chlorophyll and phenolic contents.

Las chicharritas (Cicadellidae) son un grupo de insectos de importancia fitosanitaria; sus daños varían desde alteraciones fisiológicas y necrosis, producto de sus hábitos de alimentación y oviposición, hasta intensas infecciones causadas por los virus y otros patógenos que trasmiten. El trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar la diversidad y abundancia de especies de chicharritas en una plantación comercial de piñón (Jatropha curcas L.) en Morelos, México. Se capturaron 372 especímenes de Cicadellidae, distribuidos en 10 géneros; de éstos, los más abundantes fueron Draeculacephala (41.4%), Oncometopia (18.0%), y Dikrella (15.6%). El mayor número de individuos (132) se colectó en el estrato medio de los árboles de piñón. Los valores de los índices de diversidad de Shannon-Weaver (H′ = 0.60 bits/individuo) y Simpson (D_si = 0.33 bits/individuo) revelaron baja diversidad poblacional y de moderada a baja dominancia entre los géneros recolectados. La mayor riqueza de géneros se localizó en octubre y de especímenes en noviembre. Estos resultados enriquecen la información faunística de los cicadélidos y el conocimiento de los estratos arbóreos en que regularmente se refugian; pero sobre todo, se identificó la presencia de géneros con gran potencial para afectar diversas especies de plantas de interés agrícola. The leafhoppers (Cicadellidae) is a group of insects of phytosanitary importance. Their damage varies from physiological alterations and necrosis, produced by their feeding habits and oviposition, all the way to intense infections caused by viruses and other pathogens they transmit. The objective of this work was to evaluate the diversity and abundance of leafhopper species in a commercial pinion pine plantation (Jatropha curcas L.) at Morelos, Mexico. Three-hundred seventy-two cicadellids were captured, in 10 genera. Of these, the most abundant were Draeculacephala (41.4%), Oncometopia (18.0%), and Dikrella (15.6%). The largest number of individuals (132) was collected in the middle stratum of the pinion trees. The values of Shannon-Weaver diversity indices (H′ = 0.60 bits/individual) and Simpson (D_si= 0.33 bits/individual) revealed low population diversity and moderate to low dominance among the genera collected. The greatest richness of genera was found in October and of number of specimens in November. These results enhance the faunal information of the cicadellids and the knowledge of the arboreal strata in which they regularly take refuge. But, above all, the presence of genera with great potential to damage various species of plants of agricultural interest was identified.

RESUMEN. La nuez pecanera, originaria del norte de México y sur de Estados Unidos, enfrenta importantes amenazas por parte de plagas como Cydia caryana (Fitch, 1856) (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE). debido a los hábitos crípticos de las larvas de C. caryana, comprender su comportamiento es crucial para implementar medidas de control efectivas. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo adaptar dietas artificiales para insectos lepidópteros, dirigidas a C. caryana. Se formularon tres dietas, con diferentes fuentes de proteína como soya, algodón y nuez pecanera, cada una incorporando concentraciones variables de ruezno molido. Las larvas fueron criadas en condiciones controladas y se monitorearon las etapas de desarrollo. En las dietas a base de soya y algodón no se mostró diferencias significativas en la duración del desarrollo y crecimiento de C. caryana. Sin embargo, la formación de cocón se observó a partir de la concentración de 40% en la dieta con proteína de algodón, a diferencia de la proteína de soya, en la cual el cocón se desarrolló a partir de la concentración al 60%. Las dietas artificiales que contenían proteínas de soya y algodón no mostraron diferencias significativas en el desarrollo de C. caryana en términos de días. La duración del desarrollo en el estadio de huevo fue de 4 a 5 días, en larva 33 días, en pupa 7 a 8 días y en la etapa adulta 6 a 7 días. En cuanto a la dieta de nuez, se observaron porcentajes de mortalidad a partir del día 17 de evaluación, con un aumento gradual en las dosis superiores utilizadas en esta investigación.

Parthenocarpy is the ability of the ovary to develop without the need for the stimulation of pollination so that the fruit forms and grows normally until physiological or commercial maturity. In this study, 46 parthenocarpic varieties of squash (Cucubita pepo L.) type round zucchini obtained at the Autonomous University of Chapingo were analyzed, the objective was to identify the diversity and genetic variability existing between the varieties and obtain the corresponding genetic fingerprints. Molecular markers type RAPD (random amplification of polymorphic DNA) were used, in which 14 primers of the Operon series A were tested, of which five were selected associated to a total of 44 loci. 84.1% of the loci were polymorphic, among the parthenocarpic varieties, this indicated few genetic variability. The dendrogram of genetic similarity yielded five groupings, the genetic distance was very close to one, with a range of 0.6573 and 0.9770, indicating that they are highly genetically related varieties; this genetic variation between loci was expressed with 95.45% of the polymorphism. The genotypes studied provide a valuable source of parthenocarpy base for the genetic improvement of zucchini for vegetables that do not require stimulation of pollination to develop, suitable for production under cover.