The synergistic effect between heavy metals and microplastics can affect soil properties as well as plant performance and yield. The objective of this study was to evaluate the combined effect of microplastics and cadmium on a soil–plant system. Specifically, we proposed to explore changes in soil microbiological activity, the growth and yield parameters of strawberry plants, and to evaluate the accumulation of these pollutants in the soil and root system. Plants were planted in clay pots under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was set up as a completely randomized design, with four treatments (Control; MPs; Cd; and Cd + MPs) and five replicates. The results showed that MPs and/or Cd affected plant growth, plant biomass, the number of fruits, root characteristics, dehydrogenase activity, acid phosphatase, and microbial biomass, and increased the accumulation of Cd in the roots and soil. The increased bioavailability of Cd, due to the presence of microplastics, could explain the observed negative effects on soil properties and the performance of strawberry plants.

One hundred twenty-five yeast strains isolated from table grapes and apples were evaluated for the control Botrytis cinerea of in vitro and in vivo. Ten strains were selected for their ability to inhibit mycelial growth of B. cinerea in vitro. In the in vivo assays, these yeasts were tested at 20 °C on ‘Thompson Seedless’ berries for 7 days; only three were selected (m11, me99 and ca80) because they significantly reduced the incidence of gray mold. These three yeast strains were then evaluated at different concentrations (1 × 10⁷, 1 × 10⁸ and 1 × 10⁹ cells mL⁻¹) on ‘Thompson Seedless’ grape berries at 20 °C. The strains m11, me99 and ca80 reduced the incidence of B. cinerea to 11.9, 26.1 and 32.1%, respectively, when the berries were submerged in a yeast suspension at a concentration of 1 × 10⁹ cells mL⁻¹ 24 h before inoculation with B. cinerea. The most favorable pH for antifungal activity was 4.6 in the three isolates. The three yeast strains secreted the hydrolytic enzymes chitinase and β-1-glucanase, and two strains (me99 and ca80) produced siderophores. The three yeast strains exhibited low oxidative stress tolerance and only strain m11 had the ability to produce biofilms. The strains were identified using 5.8S-ITS rDNA PCR-RFLP and correspond to the Meyerozyma guilliermondii (m11) and Aureobasidium pullulans (me99 and ca80) species.

Different concentrations of compost applied as organic fertilizer can modify productive, quality, and chemical parameters in several fruit tree species. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of increasing applications of compost on physiological, productive, and quality parameters in calafate fruit during the seasons of 2018–2019 and 2019–2020. The study was conducted on a commercial calafate orchard using a randomized complete block design with four treatments (CK: no compost application, T1: 5 Ton ha⁻¹, T2: 10 Ton ha⁻¹, and T3: 15 Ton ha⁻¹), each with four repetitions. The results did not show statistical significance for stomatal conductance (Gs), quantum yield of PSII, or photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) within treatments. As for fruit yield, a statistical difference was found between the control treatment and T1, which were lower than T2 and T3 in both seasons. The trees reached a higher leaf area index with T2 in both seasons. The highest antioxidant capacity was obtained with T3 and T2 for the first and second season, respectively. Polyphenols and total anthocyanin production showed statistical significance, with a higher content at the second season with T2. It is concluded that the dose under which yield, quality, and nutraceutical content of calafate fruit are optimized is the one used in T2, 10 Ton ha⁻¹.

Vegetable sprouts are a food source that presents high content of bioactive compounds which can also be enhanced through elicitation mechanisms. To better understand the scientific production and research trends on this topic, a bibliometric analysis by means of the Web of Science database was carried out. The results showed significant growth in research on the elicitation of edible plants sprouts. The three most productive journals were the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, followed by Food Chemistry and LWT-Food Science and Technology. The co-occurrence of keyword analysis of the different authors showed that the main research topics in this domain were ‘germination’, ‘antioxidant activity’, ‘sprouts’, ‘glucosinolates’ and ‘phenolics‘. The countries with the highest number of scientific publications were China, followed by India and USA. The productivity patterns of the authors conformed to Lotka’s law. This study provides an overview of research on elicitation to enrich bioactive compounds in sprouts, and the need to review and update the trends on this subject.

Aphids cause significant losses in many agricultural crops and in many cases cause repeated insecticide sprays, which increase the risk of resistance. Therefore, other alternatives are needed to control them. The toxic, anti- reproductive, and feeding deterrent effects of a mannose- binding lectin isolated from bulbs of Phycella australis Ravenna (Amaryllidaceae), named Phycella australis- agglutinin (PAA) was assayed on nymphs of the aphids Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris and Myzus persicae Sulzer fed with an artificial diet. After 72 h of PAA exposure, lethal concentration (LC50) values were 109 and 313 µg mL-1 for A. pisum and M. persicae, respectively, while LC90 values were 248 and 634 µg mL-1. Sub-lethal concentrations of PAA significantly reduced the aphid fecundity at a concentration of 80 µg mL-1. Only a total of 5.7 descendants per female were recorded for A. pisum (32% control progeny) and 12.4 for M. persicae (39% control progeny). Acyrthosiphon pisum was strongly deterred by PAA under choice conditions, as after 72 h exposed to 80 µg PAA mL-1 of diet, the feeding deterrent index was 0.91 for A. pisum and only 0.38 for M. persicae. In conclusion, the mannose- binding lectin isolated from bulbs of P. australis showed acute and chronical insecticidal activity against the pea and green peach aphids.