Large quantities of seeds are generated and discarded during agro-industrial mango processing. However, mango seeds still contain valuable components such as starch, which has applications in various industries. This study aimed to obtain and characterize starches from the seeds of five mango cultivars (Ataulfo, Manililla, Piña, Tapana, and Tommy Atkins). The isolated starches were evaluated for their physicochemical, morphological, structural, thermal, and rheological characteristics. The starches showed creamy white colorations, and their granules had spherical and oval shapes. This starch source contains a high percentage of apparent amylose, greatly influencing its thermal, rheological, and functional properties. Structural and molecular studies showed that all starches presented an A-type X-ray diffraction pattern, impacting their water absorption and viscosity. The transition temperatures were relatively high, which could be influenced by the length of the amylopectin chains and their intermediate components, the apparent amylose content, and other components such as lipids and anomalous amylopectin. The starches evaluated behaved as pseudoplastic materials, while oscillatory tests revealed that the pastes formed with mango starches are more elastic than viscous. In conclusion, research on the seed starch properties of different mango cultivars provides interesting results for their potential application in foods. It could contribute to the value-added processing of mango seeds as a potential starch source.

Using beneficial microorganisms as biostimulants is a promising strategy to enhance crop growth and productivity in hydroponic systems. Trichoderma asperellum has demonstrated plant growth-promoting effects in soil cultivation; however, its efficacy in hydroponic Deep-Water Culture (DWC) systems remains underexplored. This research evaluated the effect of T. asperellum strains TaMFP1 and TaMFP2 on the growth, nutrient uptake, and visual quality of hydroponically grown spinach cv. Stella Plus F-1 (Spinacia oleracea L.). A randomized complete design was used, comparing inoculated plants with a control and a commercial Trichoderma harzianum product. After 28 days, the results showed that T. asperellum significantly increased plant height (23.1%), collar diameter (21.8%), root length (39.6%), leaf area (22.0%), number of leaves (18.05), and fresh biomass accumulation (23.5%) compared to non-inoculated plants. Furthermore, inoculation with TaMFP1 improved spinach yield by 34.5%, while nutrient analysis indicated enhanced phosphorus and calcium uptake. No significant changes were observed in photosynthetic pigment concentrations, and the visual quality of the harvested spinach was unaffected. These findings highlight the potential of T. asperellum as a sustainable biostimulant in hydroponic spinach production. These results contribute to developing beneficial microorganism-based strategies to enhance the sustainability of hydroponic agriculture.