The excessive fertilizer application is a recurring problem in agriculture as it not only harms the soil texture but also diminishes the micronutrient availability i.e., zinc (Zn). Zn is an essential element for crop production and quality, and is also indispensable for human diet. Zn deficiency is a common problem in alkaline soils. This study aims to assess the efficiency of three different Zn fertilizers in Phaseolus vulgaris plants, grown in an alkaline soil. P. vulgaris plants were grown in an experimental greenhouse under four different treatments: control (no Zn fertilization), ZnSO₄, the chelate diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA-Zn), and Zn nanoparticles (NfsZnO). Each Zn source was applied at three different doses (0, 25, 50, 100 mg kg⁻¹). Parameters related to biomass, photosynthetic pigments, and Zn accumulation were analyzed. Zn sources enhanced bean pod growth and yield. Furthermore, the three Zn sources increased Zn accumulation in all plant organs, except in leaves. Whereas, plants supplied with 100 mg kg⁻¹ of DTPA-Zn and 25 mg kg⁻¹ of NfsZnO accumulated the highest bean Zn concentration. Generally, plants supplied with DTPA-Zn and NfsZnO showed the highest Zn content values. Besides, Zn sources enhanced the values of Zn efficiency parameters in a dose-dependent manner. According to the results, the three Zn fertilizers were effective to increase the parameters analyzed in P. vulgaris. However, DTPA-Zn and NfsZnO were more effective to enhance yield and bean Zn content, and thus can be useful for bean cultivation in alkaline soils.

The study evaluated the effect of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and Trichoderma asperellum (Ta) as biostimulants in hydroponically grown tendril pea (Pisum sativum) microgreens. A completely randomized experimental design was conducted under controlled conditions; the study included the root pea-spraying treatment with Bt, Ta, and their combination, alongside a non-inoculated control. The results showed that treatments with Ta significantly enhanced growth parameters, such as stem length and diameter, stipular leaf area, and fresh weight of the microgreens. Specifically, fresh biomass increased by 140% and dry biomass by 80% with Ta compared to the control, while combined treatment with Bt and Ta reduced nitrates by 39.6%. Bt and Bt + Ta increased chlorophyll b and carotenoids contents, suggesting improved photosynthetic activity. No significant differences in visual appearance were observed. In conclusion, the application of Ta and Bt can enhance tendril pea microgreens’ yield and certain biochemical (chlorophyll b and carotenoids) qualities without affecting their visual quality, supporting the application of these microorganisms as biostimulants. These findings underscore the potential to scale these treatments in commercial hydroponic systems, offering a sustainable approach to optimizing the production of this emerging crop type.

With the purpose of finding plant compounds with the potential use as herbicides and insecticides, a research was realized with the objective of evaluate the phytotoxic and dissuasive activity of four Chihuahua desert plants. The phytotoxic activity evaluation was tested on Lactuca sativa and Lolium perenne, while the dissuasive activity was realized on three species of phytophagous insects: Myzus persicae, Rhopalosiphum padi and Spodoptera littoralis. Raw extracts were used, the solvents hexane, methanol and ethanol of different plants’ organs (root, steam, leaf and flower) of four species: Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo), Larrea tridentate (governor), Astragalus mollissimus (wild grass) and Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum (echo), by the establishment of in vitro bioassays at a concentration of 10 mg/ml extract/solvent. In the toxicity bioassay, the percentage of germination, root and leaf length were measured. The results showed that the leaf extract of L. tridentata had phytotoxic activity for L. sativa, while for L. perenne the phytotoxicity was observed within the ocotillo, governor and echo extracts. In the dissuasive bioassay, each treatment had 20 repetitions with 10 adult insects per repetition. The methanolic extracts of F. splendens leaf and root, ethanolic extract of A. mollisimus sheet and the ethanolic extract of P. pecten-aboriginum stems showed moderate dissuasive response of feeding against M. persicae, presenting a settlement inhibition index of 53.53, 54.35, 60.00 and 48.84% respectively. Nevertheless, the results indicated that none of the 10 extracts tested on S. littoralis showed significant dissuasive properties for this Lepidoptera, while for R. padi all the tested extracts presented dissuasive properties. The treatments of the four vegetable species evaluated showed defensive or dissuasive properties of moderate to strong feeding against the insects M. persicae and R. padi, presenting interesting potential for being used as insecticides, while the tested extracts that presented phytotoxicity for both lettuce and ryegrass present possibilities for the realization of herbicides.

Objetivo: caracterizar los parámetros que determinan la calidad de los vinos de la variedad Tempranillo elaborados con uvas provenientes de tres zonas geográficas del estado de Chihuahua, México. Metodología: se determinó la calidad en vinos de doce meses de maduración, obtenidos de uvas producidas en tres viñedos: Faciatec, Hacienda Bustillos y Paralelo Meridiano; se les efectuaron análisis fisicoquímicos, acidez total titulable (ATT), índice de polifenoles totales, así como composición del color; evaluados en un diseño de bloques al azar con tres repeticiones. Resultados: el pH y ATT, se presentaron niveles óptimos para vinificación, sin embargo, la acidez volátil presenta niveles bajos; el vino con mayor grado alcohólico y composición fenólica, fue el vinificado con bayas del viñedo Faciatec, es apropiado para envejecer, además por sus características cromáticas y sensoriales, presentó mayor tonalidad. Limitaciones: condiciones climáticas prevalecientes durante el periodo de estudio y falta de vigilancia de entrada de personas a los viñedos. Conclusiones: la altura sobre el nivel del mar, temperatura y precipitación durante la madurez de las bayas, influyen en la vinificación, al impactar en las características fenólicas y cromáticas del vino, por lo tanto, el que proviene del viñedo de Faciatec, probablemente, sea el más apto para añejamiento en barrica, y el resto para vinos jóvenes.

Most crops are fertilized with high amounts of nitrogen, and have an alarmingly low utilization efficiency. For this reason, the coordination between the fertilizer contribution and the nitrogen requirements of the crop is very important. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to establish new indices to determine nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and to define the amount of assimilated nitrogen, which is used for the formation of green bean plant organs, fertilized with molybdenum nanofertilizer applied foliarly, and combined with edaphic fertilization of ammonium nitrate. The plants were grown in a greenhouse covered with anti-aphid mesh and irrigated with nutrient solution. Three sources of foliar molybdenum (Nanofertilizer, molybdenum Chelate and Sodium Molybdate) were applied in four doses of 0, 5, 10 and 20 ppm Mo, complemented with edaphic fertilization of NH₄NO₃ (0, 3, 6 and 12 mM of N). As results, the NUE indices showed that with the application of the nanofertilizer, the total biomass production increased 41.65% more than with the application of the chelate, and 36.84% more than with the application of molybdate. In summary, the dose that presented the highest efficiency was 6 mM-N with 10 ppm-Mo. Finally, it is concluded that the use of NUE indices is an important approach that evaluates the fate of nitrogen and accurately estimates plant yield.

One of the great challenges that apple producers face is to substantially improve the quality of fruit, including after harvest. A balanced and timely supply of calcium (Ca) during growth and in the post-harvest stage is considered a technique that could improve shelf life and fruit quality; thus calcium plays a key role during post-harvest, with calcium carbonate and calcium sulphate being an alternative of foliar spraying. The study was carried out on ‘Top Red’ and ‘Golden Delicious’ apple cultivars, in a randomized complete block design with 13 treatments (referring to different commercial presentations of calcium) and 6 repetitions; 8 foliar sprays were applied weekly, from June 22 until harvest; ‘Top Red’ (151 days after full flowering, DDCF) and ‘Golden Delicious’ (145 DDCF) fruit were evaluated in regard with fruit traits (diameter, weight and colour) and maturity (pulp firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and sugar acidity ratio). In ‘Top Red’ cv., calcium carbonate presented the best results, with intermediate to high quality apple fruit, while for cv. ‘Golden Delicious’ the best results were obtained with calcium sulphate, which increased fruits’ diameter, weight, colour and titratable acidity. Even more, of the products evaluated, CaCO3 and CaSO4 had the lowest costs, and can be considered as good alternatives of foliar calcium supplement applied in order to preserve the quality of the apple during post-harvest. ********* In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 4, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue. *********