Research on medicinal plants is essential for their conservation, propagation, resistance to environmental stress, and domestication. The use of organic nutrition has been demonstrated to improve soil fertility and plant quality. It is also important to study the effects of the Basic Cation Saturation Ratio (BCSR) approach, which is a topic where there is currently controversy and limited scientific information. Evaluating the growth and yields of Agastache mexicana subsp. mexicana (Amm) in different environments is crucial for developing effective propagation and domestication strategies. This includes examining warm and subhumid environments with rain in summer in comparison to mild environments with summer rain. Significant differences were observed in the effects of cold, waterlogging, and heat stresses on the plant’s biomass yield and the morphometric-quantitative modeling by means of isolines. The biomass yield was 56% higher in environment one compared to environment two, 19% higher in environment one with organic nutrition, and 48% higher in environment two with organic nutrition compared to using only BCSR nutrition. In the second harvesting cycle, the plants in environment one did not survive, while the plants in environment two managed to survive without needing additional nutrition. Statistical and mathematical analyses provided information about the population or sample. Additionally, further analysis using isolines as a new approach revealed new insights into understanding phenology and growth issues.

Medicinal plants are crucial for developing new medicines; the Agastache mexicana subspecies mexicana (Amm) or “toronjil morado” is considered an at-risk plant because of its inability to grow outside of its natural habitat. This research aims to measure the response of Amm to achieve survival with low nutrient levels and water stress, supported by different dioxide silicon (SiO₂) (0.0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8%) and artificial shading (AS) levels (38, 87, and 94%). Applying AS and SiO₂ supported gradual tolerance to the effects of both waterlogging and drought stresses. The survival values were statistically significant in the interaction and simple analysis of SiO₂ and AS, where p = 0.0001. The highest survival percentage (SP) value was SP = 91.3% for treatment number six (τ₆), where AS = 94% and SiO₂ = 0.2%. Additionally, the index of survival efficiency under water stress (SI_ef) was calculated, with the highest value being SI_ef = 0.062 for the hypothetical interaction of AS = 94% and SiO₂ = 0.4. Research has shown that applying both SiO₂ and a high level of AS can guarantee the survival of Amm under water stress.

Projects integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) are essential to interdisciplinary research. This study presents a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) methodology with the primary objective of designing, constructing, and validating a functional cannabinoid extraction device. To inform the device’s drying parameters, the dehydration kinetics of female hemp buds or flowering buds (FHB) were first analyzed using infrared drying at 100 °C for different durations. The plants were cultivated and harvested in accordance with good agricultural practices using Dinamed CBD Autoflowering seeds. The FHB were harvested and prepared by manually separating them from the stems and leaves. Six 5 g samples were prepared, each with a slab geometry of varying surface area and thickness. Two of these samples were ground: one into a fine powder and the other into a coarse powder. Mathematical fits were obtained for each resulting curve using either an exponential decay model or the logarithmic equation $y\left(t\right)=A\left(e^{-kt}\right)+y_0$ calculate the equilibrium moisture (m_E). The Moisture Rate (MR) was calculated, and by modelling with the logarithmic equation, the constant k and the effective diffusivity (Deff) were determined with the analytical solution of Fick’s second law. The Deff values (ranging from 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻⁵) were higher than previously reported. The coarsely ground powder sample yielded the highest k and Deff values and was selected for oil extraction. The device was then designed using Quality Function Deployment (QFD), specifically the House of Quality (HoQ) matrix, to systematically translate user requirements into technical specifications. A 200 g sample of coarsely ground, dehydrated FHB was prepared for ethanol extraction. Chemical results obtained by Liquid Chromatography coupled with Photodiode Array Detection (LC-PDA) revealed the presence of THC, CBN, CBC, and CBG. The extraction device design was validated using previous results showing the presence of CBD and CBDA. The constructed device successfully extracted cannabinoids, including Δ9-THC, CBG, CBC, and CBN, from coarsely ground FHB, validating the integrated STEM approach. This work demonstrates a practical framework for developing accessible agro-technical devices through interdisciplinary collaboration.

This research investigated the inhibition of *Escherichia coli* ATCC 25922 (E. coli) bacterial growth in situ, specifically on the stems and aerial parts of *Agastache mexicana* subsp. mexicana (Amm) or “purple toronjil” and on food-grade paper, both contained within Kraft paper bags with a plastic window. The qualitative phytochemical profile of an aqueous extract of Amm revealed the presence of various compounds including alkaloids, coumarins, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, triterpenes, and sterols. The results indicate that these secondary metabolites exhibit a synergistic bactericidal effect, especially when combined with temperature and starvation stress. This was quantified using a decay equation referred to as the bacterial growth inhibition profile of E. coli (BGIPEc). Calculations, which included first derivatives, gradients based on substrate effects and temperature as well as the area under the curve of BGIPEc, demonstrated that higher temperatures led to the greater inhibition of colony forming units (CFUs), further enhanced by the presence of secondary metabolites. Additionally, a shorter half-life corresponded to a faster change rate and a lower area under the curve, indicating a reduced survival rate over time. At lower temperatures, E. coli exhibited a survival effect, which was corroborated by the preceding calculations.

Roselle spot caused by Corynespora cassiicola affects calyx production in Mexico. The aim of the present study was to evaluate twenty-two roselle genotypes against C. cassiicola under greenhouse conditions. The area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) was used to detect susceptible, tolerant and resistant genotypes. Considering the incidence in leaves, susceptible genotypes were Conpoz, Sudlaz, Morcot and Sudigua (AUDPC values of 7379.2 to 5891.7); tolerant genotypes were Conayu and Chinxal (AUDPC 1341.6 and 1313.2). Based on the severity in leaves, susceptible genotypes were Sudigua, Conpoz and Morena2 (AUDPC from 788.4 to 436.3); tolerant genotypes were Almatech, Crioxal, Rojatec and Conayu (37.7 to 28.76 AUDPC). Assessment of the incidence in calyces indicated that susceptible genotypes were Morena2, Morena, Conpoz, Descop and Chinayu (AUDPC from 6572.1 to 2319.4); for the severity in calices, susceptible genotypes were Morena2, Descop, Morena, Cabxal, Chinayu and Conpoz (AUDPC from 3355.4 to 779.2). Incidence and severity on calyces evidenced resistant genotypes, which were Almatech, Criolaz2, Criocot, Criolaz, Rojatec, Criopoz, Crioxal, Chinxal and Conayu (0.0 AUDPC). In the present study, tolerant and resistant genotypes were detected to leaf and calyx spot caused by C. cassiicola in roselle.

Understanding the impact of hydric stress on medicinal plants in the context of climate change is becoming increasingly important. This study aimed to assess the quality of a seed lot of Agastache mexicana subsp. mexicana (Amm) through a novel calculation of the Vigour Index on time basis (${VI}_T$). The evaluation was based on relationships among plant height, leaf number, survival time, and plant density across six irrigation regimes, referred to as stages, which differed in the timing and quantity of water, designed to impose water stress from seedling emergence until plant death. To maximise growth and survival time, we utilised two input factors: Artificial Shade Levels (ASLs) of 38%, 87%, and 94%, as well as Silicon Dioxide Levels (SDLs) of 0.0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.8%. The effects of these treatments were measured using the Survival Index (SI) and the ${VI}_T$. The plants achieved their highest SI and ${VI}_T$ values influenced by minimum mortality and maximum height and leaf number in stage three. This behaviour aligned with the field capacity of the substrate, supporting the evaluation of stages one and two as waterlogging stress, while the remaining stages were classified as drought stress. The ${VI}_T$ results showed statistically significant effects from ASL, particularly at 94%. However, the ${VI}_T$ in relation to SDL was not statistically significant. The ${VI}_T$ measurements were visualised using spline interpolation, a method that provides an effective approach to quantify adverse conditions affecting Amm’s development and that it can support to identify the hydric stresses type.