Cucumber is a vegetable crop of economic importance in Mexico. In 2023, fresh or frozen cucumber and pickle international sales reached USD 783M, placing Mexico in second rank among countries with the highest currency inflow in the world. This crop is mostly grown under protected environments with new production technologies, including rootstocks that are tolerant to biotic and abiotic factors that limit the yield and quality of the harvest. Therefore, the goal of this work was to assess three cucurbits as rootstocks (Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata and Citrullus lanatus), as well as studying the response of cucumber crop to the tested rootstocks. The following treatments were assessed: T1:PSP = cucumber Cv. Paraizo F1 without rootstock; T2:P/MA = cucumber grafted over Cucurbita maxima; T3:P/MO = cucumber grafted over Cucurbita moschata; T4:P/CL = cucumber grafted over Citrullus lanatus Citroides Var. The assessed variables included the number of fruits per plant (NFPP), fruit weight per plant (PFPP), average fruit weight (PPF), plant dry weight (PSP), xylem vessel area (AVX), number of xylem vessels (NVX), vascular bundle area (AHV) and number of vascular bundles (NHV) in roots (R), basal stalk (TB) and apical stalk (AT). Significant differences among treatments were found in the results for variables: NFPP, highlighting that T2:P/MA was superior by 46.15% versus T1:PSP and by 67.69% versus T3:P/MO. Regarding PFPP, T2:P/MA achieved the highest weight (5445 g), as it proved superior by 99.45% than the cucumber without rootstock (T1:PSP). Regarding PSP, T2:P/MA achieved the highest weight (196.65 g), significantly exceeding T1 by 137.5%. Regarding AVXR, T4:P/CL had the highest value (30,063 µm²). Regarding NHVR, watermelon had (T4:P/CL) 39.33% more vascular bundles than the root system of cucumber (T1:PSP). Treatments T2:P/MA and T4:P/CL had the highest values at AVXTB, while for variable NVXTB, treatments T3:P/MO and T2:P/MA were almost equal, surpassing non-grafted cucumber by 175.47%. However, T2:P/MA showed the greatest AHVTB, and T1:PSP was significantly superior to T3:P/MO, by 34.93%, for NHVTB. Furthermore, positive and significant correlations were found among PFPP, AHVR, and AVXTB, as well as among PSP, AVXTB, and AHVTB. Therefore, we may say that having a larger area of vascular vessels in the roots and a larger area of xylem vessels in the basal stalk leads to higher fruit yields per plant. In the same vein, the use of rootstocks is a sustainable alternative to increase fruit yield.

Habanero chili pepper has great economic importance in Mexico, but its production is limited due to different factors that affect quality. Given the high demand and prices of the fruit, the production of this crop is spreading to other regions in search of new production systems. The aim of this research work was to assess the yield and antioxidant components of the fruit by supplementing potassium from organic sources. The “Campeche”, “Palenque”, and “Jaguar” varieties were studied in five NPK treatments; replacing the % of potassium with humus and compost: (T1) 240-200-120+50% of K from liquid earthworm humus; (T2) 240-200-180+25% of K from liquid earthworm humus; (T3) 240-200-120+50% of K from vermicompost; (T4) 240-200-180+25% of K from vermicompost; and (T5) 240-200-240 (control, 100% chemical nutrition). For yield components, there were significant differences, highlighting the importance of the nutrition source for the yield and weight of fruits per plant. The control (T5) presented a value of 39 t·ha⁻¹ and was similar to treatments T2 and T3 with a supplement of 25 and 50% organic K. For the polar and equatorial diameter of fruit, as well as for plant height and leaf area, treatments supplemented with 50% organic K (T1 and T3) were more effective. For the varieties evaluated, no differences in yield and fruit weight were found; however, Campeche produced more fruits per plant with a greater equatorial diameter, while Palenque obtained fruits with a greater polar diameter and taller plants. The results of antioxidant compounds show that organic K supplementation improves the quality of total carotenoids, β-carotenes, and xanthophylls compared to 100% chemical fertilization, since total carotenoid content is improved by 54.2%, β-carotenes by 46.4%, and xanthophylls by 37.8%, respectively. The Campeche variety was the one that presented the best fruits with the highest antioxidant quality. These results indicate a positive effect of the combined application of chemical fertilizer with worm humus on yield and its components in pepper and other crops and show an economic, ecological, and sustainable alternative to the production of habanero chili pepper.

Sustainable agriculture is a good alternative for the healthy production of food in the present, without the risk to global agriculture in the future. Therefore, feasible production techniques have been sought, such as the use of rootstocks, which provide tolerance to biotic and/or abiotic stresses, to avoid an excessive use of agrochemicals and damage from pathogens, without affecting crop production. The objective of this study was to analyze the morphological and productive adaptation of three commercial hybrids (Avante, DiCaprio and Ucumari) grafted onto three rootstocks (Fundación, Yaocali and UAN), in order to evaluate and determine their effect on the quality and yield of bell pepper fruit, which has a high demand and great economic potential. Significant differences were found between the rootstocks and hybrids for the commercial classification of the fruits, with Yaocali producing larger fruits, which have the highest value in the export market, surpassing the UAN with 63.9%. The DiCaprio graft outperformed the Ucumari interactions by 231.5%, and the Avante interactions by 142.8%, for the extra-large (XL) fruit production. Based on the results obtained, it is possible to conclude that the grafted plants improved the quantity of the fruits of higher classification. However, they did not have a significant influence on the yield and quality of the fruits, which could be attributed to the lack of compatibility between them; therefore, the vigor of the plant was not expressed. This study showed that the rootstock did not influence the yield and fruit quality components of the grafts.

Species of the genus Opuntia exhibit considerable variation in chromosome number and ploidy level, making cytogenetic information essential for studies on evolution, taxonomy, and genetic improvement. However, cytogenetic information on several species of this genus remains limited. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine chromosome numbers and ploidy levels in seven Opuntia species and to characterize the karyotype of Opuntia microdasys as a representative diploid species. A total of 69 accessions representing seven species were collected from wild and cultivated populations in southeastern Coahuila, Mexico. Somatic cells obtained from root apices developed from cladodes were used to analyze chromosome numbers. Cytological preparations included determination of mitotic activity, pretreatment with p-dichlorobenzene, enzymatic digestion with pectolyase and cellulase, and acetocarmine staining, followed by chromosome counting and karyotype analysis of O. microdasys. The highest mitotic activity was recorded between 10:00 and 11:00 h. Chromosome counts revealed diploid (2n = 22), tetraploid (2n = 44), hexaploid (2n = 66), and octoploid (2n = 88) cytotypes. Notably, O. engelmannii exhibited intraspecific cytotypic variation, with both hexaploid and octoploid populations. The karyotype of O. microdasys was highly symmetrical, with a karyotype formula of 10m + 1sm, small chromosomes, and low asymmetry indices (A1 = 0.15; A2 = 0.106). These findings reveal substantial ploidy diversity among the seven Opuntia species analyzed and provide cytogenetic information relevant to the characterization, management, and conservation of Opuntia genetic resources, including their potential use in ex situ conservation and botanical collections.