The quality of the host plant affects the life history parameters of tetranychid mites. The biology and fertility life tables of Tetranychus merganser on five host plants (Carica papaya, Phaseolus vulgaris, Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum, Helietta parvifolia, and Rosa hybrida) were assessed under laboratory conditions at 28 ± 1 °C and 70–80% relative humidity (RH) with a photoperiod of 12:12 h (L:D). The development period of immature females differed among the tested host plants and ranged from 9.32 days on P. vulgaris to 11.34 days on H. parvifolia. For immature males, it ranged from 9.25 days on P. vulgaris to 11.50 days on H. parvifolia. The female survival rate varied from 53.97% on H. parvifolia to 94.74% on P. vulgaris. The highest total fecundity rate was recorded on P. vulgaris (125.40 eggs/female) and the lowest on H. parvifolia (43.92 eggs/female). The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) varied from 0.271 (H. parvifolia) to 0.391 (P. vulgaris). The net reproductive rate (R_O) was higher on P. vulgaris than on the other host plants. The longest mean generation time (GT) was calculated on C. annuum var. glabriusculum and the shortest on Rosa hybrida. The demographic parameters suggest the unsuitability of H. parvifolia as the host for the development of red spider mites, and the best performance of T. merganser was on P. vulgaris.

Synthetic chemicals are mainly used for the control of fungal diseases in tomato, causing the phytopathogens to generate resistance to the chemical active ingredient, with a consequent risk to human health and the environment. The use of plant extracts is an option for the control of these diseases, which is why the main objective of this research was to study an alternative biocontrol strategy for the management of plant diseases caused by fungi through obtaining polyphenol extracts from mistletoe plants growing on three different tree species—mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), cedar (Cedrus), and oak (Quercus), which contain flavones, anthocyanins, and luteolin. The overall chemical structure of the obtained plant extracts was investigated by RP-HPLC-ESI-MS liquid chromatography. The antifungal effect of these extracts was examined. The target phytopathogenic fungi were isolated from tomato plantations located in Altamira, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The microorganisms were characterized by classical and molecular methods and identified as Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium sp., and Rhizoctonia solani.

Agronomic responses to the use of agricultural inputs have been used in agriculture to identify the optimal level of nutrients to be supplied for high yield. This strategy helps to avoid economic losses and excessive application of fertilizers that has caused pollution of aquifers and soil degradation. The aim of the study was to evaluate water use efficiency, agronomic efficiency of nitrogen, heat units and use of evapotranspiration in yield and its components in sunflowers under hot climate conditions in function of nitrogen fertilizer application during two sowing season. The experiment was conducted in the field. The treatments were two sowing seasons and three levels of nitrogen fertilizer application and one control: 0, 60, 80 and 120 kg N ha^-1. The nitrogen source was urea. The experimental design was complete random blocks with factorial array and four replications. The occurrence of cv. Cobalto sunflower phenological stages were not modified by the treatments. Urea favored agronomic efficiency and water use efficiency. Yield components were modified positively, with increasing receptacle area, 100-grain weight, and grain yield per receptacle. Application of nitrogen fertilizer favored sunflower development, although environmental conditions are of critical importance as demonstrated by a clear interaction between the yield response to fertilizer application and the environment where the plants grew.

La salinidad es uno de los principales factores que causa pérdidas en los cultivos hasta un 50%, lo cual pone en riesgo la seguridad alimentaria mundial. Durante la evolución, las plantas han adquirido mecanismos de defensa, los cuales, son regulados por genes específicos cuya principal función es contrarrestar el daño por salinidad. Es necesaria la variabilidad genética en los cultivos para que se presenten genotipos tolerantes al estrés. Una de las estrategias que se puede emplear para encontrar tolerancia es la combinación de mutagénesis y cultivo de tejidos vegetales, ya que se producen miles de plantas en espacios reducidos y periodos cortos, además, con el uso de agentes selectivos como el NaCl pueden obtenerse plantas tolerantes a salinidad. La presente revisión abordará tópicos relacionados con el cultivo de tejidos vegetales, la mutagénesis inducida y la combinación de ambos como estrategias para obtención de plantas tolerantes a salinidad de interés agrícola.

El conocimiento y transferencia de tecnología al campo puede mejorar el índice de desarrollo humano en comunidades rurales. El objetivo de la presente investigación fue identificar las tecnologías transferidas a un grupo de jefas de familia con bajo nivel escolar que pretenden arraigarse como productoras de hortalizas. La investigación se llevó a cabo en el Ejido Vicente Guerrero, Tula, Tamaulipas durante 2015-2016. Se aplicaron encuestas a siete mujeres productoras de hortalizas, durante y después de tres talleres de capacitación, así como la toma de notas, datos y entrevistas, durante el desarrollo de las tareas asignadas del ciclo productivo en los diferentes cultivos hortícolas en la comunidad, se dio asistenciatécnica y transferencia de tecnología (fertiriego, selección de semilla, preparación de suelo y sustratos, manejo de plagas y enfermedades, diagnóstico y monitoreo ambiental entre otras), la aplicación de nuevos conocimientos y tecnologías modificaron el proceso productivo, facilitando las tareas en el campo, incrementando la producción generando un mayor beneficio económico. Se estimó un índice de desarrollo humano (IDH) antes de la capacitación, así como, variables económicas y desarrollo para evaluar el impacto de la aplicación de tecnologías. Se encontró que el IDH en el Ejido para las siete productoras fue entre 0.48 a 0.63, con un promedio de edad de 54 años, el nivel de escolaridad entre 0 a 9 años y con 2 a 9 hijos.