Currently, agricultural systems are inadequate to meet the demand of the population, coupled with the constant degradation of natural resources. Therefore, it is necessary to explore alternatives to increase the productivity and quality of crops with minimal environmental impact. The use of plant growth-promoting bacteria can provide solutions to some agri-environmental problems and replace or minimize conventional agricultural practices. In this study, a Bacillus pumilus strain with plant growth-promoting properties was isolated from mature compost. In vitro, the ability of Bacillus pumilus to solubilize phosphate, inhibit the growth of phytopathogenic fungi, and its effect on the germination of tomato and lettuce seeds was evaluated. In vivo, its effect on stem thickness, height, and the number of leaves of tomato and lettuce seedlings was studied. The results show that, in vitro, Bacillus pumilus solubilizes phosphate, inhibits the growth of the fungus Fusarium oxysporum, and increases the germination percentage of tomato seeds. The results, in vivo, demonstrate that the bacteria increases the stem thickness of tomato seedlings, while, in lettuce, it increases the stem thickness and the number of leaves. The outcome implies that Bacillus pumilus has properties as a plant growth promoter and can be used as a promising inoculant to enhance the growth of tomato and lettuce seedlings.

The technology for reproducing orchids in vitro has had to evolve due to the demand for these plants and the high cost of the biotechnology used due to the agar, the gelling agent. Consequently, research has tended to search for natural substitutes for agar. Our work describes the use of pectin and mucilage hydrocolloids extracted from the local waste matter of two species of Opuntia (O. ficus-indica and O. robusta) to study as a gelling agent in vitro culture media for Cattleya sp. These hydrocolloids were obtained by alkaline hydrolysis. Subsequently, these were used in proportions of 0.8%, 0.6%, 0.4%, and 0.2% in combination with agar to study the gelation time, texture profile analysis (TPA), seed germination under light and dark conditions, and a phenological study, including orchid analyses of leaves and roots, root and leaf length, seedling height, and width of the best-designed treatment were studied. Our results demonstrate that the treatment composed of 0.4% O. ficus-indica pectin and 0.4% agar improves the germination time, plant growth, and the number of leaves and roots, resulting in a biostimulant formula for optimal in vitro growth of Cattleya sp.

This study investigates the potential of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) as biological control agents by exploring their occurrence and diversity in Amazcala, Querétaro. The aim was to characterise their distribution and evaluate their pathogenicity against insect pests. Soil samples were collected from various agricultural lands, followed by laboratory isolation and the molecular identification of EPN species. Morphological and genetic analyses confirmed the presence of several species with distinct pathogenic profiles. Pathogenicity assays using the larval stages of Galleria mellonella and Tenebrio molitor revealed that Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Heterorhabditis atacamensis exhibited significant virulence, with Galleria mellonella being more susceptible. Among the 12 recovered EPN isolates, three strains—AMZX05 (Heterorhabditis atacamensis), AMZX10 (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora), and AMZX13 (Heterorhabditis atacamensis)—demonstrated particularly high pathogenic potential. These strains represent promising candidates for biological control and could contribute to sustainable integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. Further research is recommended to optimise their application across diverse agroecosystems.