Zinc intake deficiency is a public health problem and increasing the nutrient’s content in the edible parts of plants can help mitigate it. The objective of this work was to determine the effect of the edaphic and foliar application of zinc sulphate on the nutrient content, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant capacity of cowpea beans (Vigna unguiculata L. Walpers). A sample of 100 grains was taken, and the length, width, thickness, weight, ash content, fat, humidity, fibers, carbohydrates, protein, energy, macro- and micro- nutrients, total phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and antioxidant capacity were determined. The 0.250 g edaphic-12.5 mM foliar dose produced grains of a greater weight and size. All of the edaphic and foliar doses increased the grain zinc content, and the highest value was found with the 0.125 g edaphic-50.0 mM foliar dose. The total phenols increased with 12.5 g of edaphic zinc, while phenols, flavonoids, and the antioxidant capacity increased with 50.0 mM foliar zinc. The edaphic and foliar application of zinc sulphate increased the grain weight and size, zinc content, total phenols, and antioxidant capacity. Therefore, edaphic and foliar zinc biofortification enriches this nutrient in cowpea grains, and could reduce micronutrient malnutrition in the urban and rural communities of Mexico.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of zinc biofortification on the antioxidant capacity and nutritional quality of green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under greenhouse conditions. Zinc was applied using two forms (ZnSO4 and Zn-DTPA) at four doses of application (0, 25, 50 and 100 µmol) added under a hydroponic system, and were tested over a period of 40 days. The antioxidant capacity was assessed in seeds, as well as the nutritional quality. The results indicate that biofortification with Zn improves antioxidant capacity and nutritional quality of beans, considered the main attributes bean quality and consumer health. The highest antioxidant capacity was obtained with the dose of 25 µmol Zn chelate compared to the form of sulphate; while in the nutritional value of beans both forms of Zn chelate and sulfate content had similar doses of 25 to 50 µmol. Finally, we conclude that it is feasible to implement a program biofortification Zn bean, as this nutrient is more concentrated in the seeds (edible part of the plant), allowing improve its nutritional quality and antioxidant capacity.

The Neotropical cornstalk borer, Diatraea lineolata (Walker), is a pest of economic importance in maize, Zea mays L., in Mexico. The objective was to evaluate natural parasitism by Apanteles diatraeae Muesebeck on D. lineolata larvae during four ‘Mejen’ maize-growing seasons at Tabasco, Mexico. Parasitism by the braconid A. diatraeae on D. lineolata larvae was relatively low, from 0.29 to 2.8%. Of a total of 15 parasitized larvae, 46.6% were 3rd instar, 26.7% 4th instar, and 26.7% 5th-instar larvae. A. diatraeae is a gregarious endoparasitoid, with an average of 57.1 wasps emerging per parasitized larva and a sex ratio of 1:0.44 (female:male). The braconid should be studied in greater detail to know more about its interrelationship with its host during phenological stages of the crop, before physiological maturity of maize plants.

El pimiento morrón es uno de los principales chiles producidos en México a campo abierto después del chile jalapeño y el serrano. El principal factor que limita la producción de este cultivo, es la incidencia de marchitez del chile, enfermedad causada por el hongo Phytophthora capsici la cual ocasiona pérdidas entre 10 y 100% de la producción. Una alternativa viable para el control de la enfermedad, es el uso de portainjertos en hortalizas. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue estudiar el efecto del uso de portainjerto sobre el rendimiento, calidad del fruto y resistencia a P. capsici en pimiento morrón. Se utilizaron las variedades comerciales de pimiento morrón Fascinato y Janette y el portainjerto comercial Terrano. El experimento se desarrolló en un sistema de malla sombra en Delicias, Chihuahua, México durante el ciclo de producción 2012. Se usó un diseño experimental de bloques completos al azar con cuatro tratamientos y cuatro repeticiones; los tratamientos fueron: Terrano injertado con Fascinato, Terrano injertado con Janette, Fascinato sin injertar y Janette sin injertar. Las variables evaluadas fueron: rendimiento, calidad del fruto y mortandad de plantas. Los resultados obtenidos indican que la combinación variedad/portainjerto Fascinato/Terrano y Janette/Terrano produjeron los más altos rendimientos en fruto, registrándose incrementos del 53.47 % y 49.40 % respectivamente en relación a las mismas variedades sin injertar. Además, Fascinato/Terrano presentó la menor mortandad de plantas provocada por P. capsici (32 %), seguida por Janette/Terrano (36 %); mientras que las variedades Fascinato y Janette sin injertar presentaron la mayor cantidad de plantas muertas (57 % y 53 %, respectivamente), lo que indica que el portainjerto Terrano confirió resistencia a la enfermedad provocada por P. capsici. El portainjerto Terrano aumentó la producción en un 50 % y mejoró los parámetros de calidad del fruto del pimiento morrón, asumiéndose que el uso de portainjertos podría ser una técnica viable en la horticultura sustentable del futuro.