Soil salinity is a problem that affects soil fertility and threatens agri-food crop production worldwide. Biotechnology, through plant micropropagation and the use of biofertilizers such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), is an alternative to increase productivity and induce tolerance to salinity stress in different crops. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different doses of the fungus Glomus intraradices on the ex vitro development of taro (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott cv. Criolla) plantlets under salinity stress during the acclimatization stage. In vitro-obtained C. esculenta plantlets were inoculated at different doses (0, 100, and 200 spores per plantlet) of G. intraradices during acclimatization. At 60 d of acclimatization in the greenhouse, plantlets were exposed to 100 mM NaCl salinity stress for 10 d. After the stress period, plantlet development, colonization percentage, and biomass were evaluated. In addition, the content of chlorophyll, carotenoids, proteins, proline, glycine-betaine, soluble phenols, and antioxidant capacity were quantified. The results showed differences in the developmental, physiological, and biochemical variables evaluated; however, no changes in total protein content were observed. Spore colonization showed that the symbiotic association has positive effects on the development of plantlets with or without salinity stress. This symbiotic interaction contributes to salinity stress tolerance in C. esculenta plantlets. The early application of AMF in in vitro-obtained taro plantlets is an alternative to increase or maintain the productivity of this crop in saline soils.

Cellulolytic and ligninolytic enzymes play a vital role in biomass valorization as they can hydrolyze cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, enabling eco-friendly carbohydrate utilization. This study aimed to analyze research on the production of cellulolytic and ligninolytic enzymes using fungal strains. In this review, scientific articles were searched using keywords related to cellulolytic and ligninolytic enzymes and the utilization of agro-industrial waste. Priority was given to information from peer-reviewed articles published between 2020 and 2024. The primary findings highlight the high costs associated with enzyme production, which can be partly reduced by employing low-cost carbon sources like lignocellulosic biomass. Optimization processes were also identified as critical to enhancing efficiency by reducing fermentation times, lowering energy demands for temperature control, and minimizing the use of salts or other additives in the culture medium. Researchers have approached these optimizations using traditional one-factor-at-a-time methods and statistical tools such as response surface methodologies, suggesting practical routes to improve process sustainability.

The sugarcane industry plays a crucial economic role worldwide, with sucrose and ethanol as its main products. However, its processing generates large volumes of by-products—such as bagasse, molasses, vinasse, and straw—that contain valuable components for biotechnological valorization. This review integrates approximately 100 original research articles published in JCR-indexed journals between 2015 and 2025, of which over 50% focus specifically on sugarcane-derived agroindustrial residues. The biotechnological approaches discussed include submerged fermentation, solid-state fermentation, enzymatic biocatalysis, and anaerobic digestion, highlighting their potential for the production of biofuels, enzymes, and high-value bioproducts. In addition to identifying current advances, this review addresses key technical challenges such as (i) the need for efficient pretreatment to release fermentable sugars from lignocellulosic biomass; (ii) the compositional variability of by-products like vinasse and molasses; (iii) the generation of metabolic inhibitors—such as furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural—during thermochemical processes; and (iv) the high costs related to inputs like hydrolytic enzymes. Special attention is given to detoxification strategies for inhibitory compounds and to the integration of multifunctional processes to improve overall system efficiency. The final section outlines emerging trends (2024–2025) such as the use of CRISPR-engineered microbial consortia, advanced pretreatments, and immobilization systems to enhance the productivity and sustainability of bioprocesses. In conclusion, the valorization of sugarcane by-products through biotechnology not only contributes to waste reduction but also supports circular economy principles and the development of sustainable production models.

In vitro conservation and regeneration of potato germplasm is important in breeding programs. The objective of this study was to assess the combined effect of paclobutrazol (PAC) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) during reduced-growth conservation and their in vitro ability to regenerate S. tuberosum after conservation treatments. For the conservation system, apices were used as explants in Murashige and Skoog culture media with different combinations of PAC (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg L⁻¹) and AgNPs (0, 50, 100 and 200 mg L⁻¹). At six months of culture, plant length, number of lateral branches, number of leaves and roots, root length, stomatal density and total chlorophyll content were assessed. For regeneration, explants were internodes cultured in medium with only 2 mg L⁻¹ benzyladenine (BA). At 60 d of culture, the response percentage, number of shoots per explant and shoot length were assessed. For in vitro conservation, the combination of 2 mg L⁻¹ PAC and 50 mg L⁻¹ AgNPs was the best treatment, whereas for in vitro regeneration, the highest number of shoots was in explants that were treated with 1 or 2 mg L⁻¹ PAC with 50 mg L⁻¹ AgNPs. In conclusion, PAC and AgNPs are alternatives for in vitro S. tuberosum conservation, and their evaluation in other species recalcitrant to the effect of ethylene is recommended.

Tropical flowers have a growing market due to their exotic appearance and thus postharvest techniques are necessary to prolong their shelf life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of wax and salicylic acid (1 mM) in reducing chilling injury and increase the vase life in stems of Heliconia wagneriana stored at low temperature. For that, 120 stems were harvested in a commercial area. From these, 60 stems were waxed and air-dried; while 60 unwaxed stems served as controls. Then 2 groups of 48 stems from both treated and control were cold-stored at 13 °C and 84 % RH for 5 and 10 days. After storage, the stems were placed either in salicylic acid solution (1 mM) or tap water. The remaining stems (12 waxed and 12 control) were kept at room temperature. The variables evaluated were anatomical characteristics, fresh weight loss, solution uptake, vase life, enzymatic activity (polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase), and membrane integrity. The wax coating maintained the fresh weight and extended the vase life of the stored stems under room temperature for up to 2 more days. The vase life of the cold-stored stems of 5 and 10 days was extended by 3 and 2 more days respectively, as compared to the control. No significant effect was observed for the use of salicylic acid (1 mM). The bracts tissue of the waxed stems showed lower enzymatic activity, reflected in lower oxidative stress compared to the control. Tropical species as heliconia present a very low water absorption, then the use of wax coating is recommended to preserve the turgidity and shelf life of the stems.