Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is an important crop due to sugar, ethanol and bioenergy production. Its cultivation may occur in tropical regions exposed to high salinity. The aim was to identify cultivars tolerant to salinity to allow the cultivation of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) in saline soils. To test the hypothesis that sugarcane show natural genotypic variation to salinity tolerance, we tested ten cultivars (SP80-3280, RB855453 RB966928, RB855156, SP80-1842, SP80-1816, RB928064, RB867515, RB92579, RB855536) and two sugarcane species: IM76-228 (S. robustum) and IN84-82 (S. spontaneum) under two concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl): control (concentration found naturally in the soil used: electrical conductivity of 0.083 dS m-1) and soil enriched with NaCl: EC of 7.2 dS m-1. Biometry and photosynthesis traits were evaluated. The plants were collected and leaf (LDM), stem (SDM), root and total dry matter were used to estimate the tolerance index (TI). A cluster analysis was done to identify phenotypic dissimilarity. Three distinct groups regarding salinity tolerance on biomass-basis were formed. The cultivars RB855156, SP80-1842, SP80-1816 and species IM76-228 showed no reduction in LDM and SDM. Nonetheless, the cultivars SP80-3280, RB928064, RB92579 and species IN84-82 were impaired by salinity. The cultivar SP80-1816 showed the highest biomass accumulation and the highest TI. Therefore, we found a great genotypic variation regarding salinity tolerance in sugarcane, which can be explored by growers to cultivate in saline soils. Also can be used by the Sugarcane Breeding Programs to improve the salinity tolerance.

Events by changes in climate alter the growth and physiology of sugarcane. In this context, the study aimed to investigate the morphological, anatomical, and physiological responses of two different sugarcane varieties under a condition of high carbon dioxide (CO₂) associated with water deficit, testing the hypothesis that sugarcane responses to drought are modulated by high (CO₂) in different plant scales. Thirty days after sprouting, the plants were grown under two (CO₂) in the atmosphere (400 and 680 μmol CO₂ mol⁻¹ of air) and under water restriction conditions. At the morphological level, we assessed total biomass, plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, and root-shoot ratio; at the physiological level, relative water content, water use efficiency, in vivo maximum rate of Rubisco, and PEPC carboxylation, photosynthesis, total organic carbon, and nitrogen, and carbon-nitrogen ratio. At the anatomical level, we assessed stomatal density at adaxial and abaxial surfaces and wall thickness bundle sheath cells. The results indicate that at all levels, the response of sugarcane plants exposed to high CO₂ concentration and drought is genotype-dependent. In general, variety RB855536 showed greater physiological responses: a better water use efficiency and alteration in the carboxylation rate of Rubisco enzyme, while variety RB867515 showed a greater morphological response determined by changes in biomass allocation and anatomical alterations of stomatal densities and functionality. The sugarcane varieties exposed to water deficit and high CO₂ concentration developed different strategies based on morphological, physiological, and/or anatomical changes that are useful for facing climate change scenarios, and the effects of drought can be mitigated by the high (CO₂) in the air.

The characterization of weed community associated to crops allows to monitor the effect of human activities on ecosystems, besides being the basis for the establishment of efficient management strategies. With the objective to characterize the active seed bank of two farms dedicated to carrot production in the municipality of Villa Pinzón, samples were taken at three depths (0-15; 15-30 y 30- 45cm), carried to the UPTC greenhouse where they were kept at moisture field capacity to germinate the seeds present; emerging species were identified every 15 days, also the number of species present by recipient and the number of individuals per species, were counted in order to apply parameters as the Jaccard coefficient, the diversity index, the dominance and the importance of value IVI value. A total of eight species belonging to six families were registered (Polygonaceae, Poaceae, Asteraceae, Leguminosae, Chenopodiaceae, Capparidaceae). For the two farms the diversity index reaches a maximum value of 1.28, while for the dominance Simpson the values amounted to 1. The species Polygonum segetum recorded the highest IVI values between 0.32 to 0.93, along with a relative abundance of 0.7 and 0.5 for the both properties. The value for the Jaccard coefficient, was 0.55 indicating that there is similarity in the weed community in the first 30cm. After 135 days a depletion of the emerging populations was observed. It was concluded that P segetum is the most persistent weed in time and in the depths evaluated. La caracterización de la comunidad de malezas asociadas a cultivos permite monitorear el efecto de las actividades humanas sobre los ecosistemas, además de ser base para el establecimiento de estrategias de manejo eficientes. Con el objetivo de caracterizar el banco activo de semillas de dos fincas dedicadas a la producción de zanahoria en el municipio de Villa Pinzón, se recolectaron muestras a tres profundidades; se llevaron al invernadero de la Uptc, donde se mantuvieron a capacidad de campo, para que germinaran las semillas presentes. Cada 15 días, se identificaron las especies emergentes, el número de especies presentes por matero y número de individuos por especie, con el fin de establecer parámetros como coeficiente de Jaccard e índices de diversidad, dominancia y de valor de importancia IVI. Se encontró un total de ocho especies pertenecientes a seis familias (Polygonaceae, Poaceae, Asteraceae, Leguminosae, Chenopodiaceae, Capparidaceae). Para las dos fincas, el índice de diversidad alcanzó un valor máximo de 1,28, mientras que para el de dominancia Simpson, los valores ascendieron a 1; la especie Polygonum segetum registró el IVI más alto, con valores entre 0,32-0,93, además de una abundancia relativa de 0,7 y 0,5, para las dos fincas. El valor para el coeficiente de Jaccard fue de 0,55, indicando que hay similitud en la comunidad de malezas en los primeros 30cm. Luego de 135 días, se observó un agotamiento de poblaciones emergentes. Se concluyó que P. segetum es la especie más persistente en tiempo y en las profundidades evaluadas.

Tomato is one of the most important vegetables in Colombia. This crop is sensitive to salinity, so high salt concentrations in the soil can negatively affect its growth and development; tolerance levels vary among cultivars. A viable strategy used in other cultivated species is the application of phytohormones that help plants acclimate to variable environments. Since few studies report the influence of growth regulators that alleviate this type of stress in tomatoes, this research aimed to determine the effect of different naphthaleneacetic acid and gibberellic acid doses on some physiological and growth parameters in tomato plants subjected to saline stress. We implemented a randomized design with a 2 × 6 factorial scheme. The first factor corresponded to salinity with two levels (0 and 40 mM), and the second factor involved the individual application of hormones (auxins – naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and gibberellins – gibberellic acid (ProGibb SP®)) at doses of 50, 75, and 100 μM each, for a total of 12 treatments with six replicates. We evaluated growth variables such as plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, fresh biomass of the aerial part and roots, as well as physiological variables of chlorophyll content and stomatal conductance (gs). The application of gibberellins at 100 μM demonstrated the ability to mitigate the deleterious effects of salinity on some growth parameters in tomato plants by improving leaf expansion and aerial fresh biomass.

Cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) cultivation is strategic for sustainable rural development in the tropics; however, yields remain low due to inadequate agronomic practices. This systematic review aims to identify agronomic management practices that increase cocoa crop yield by conducting a systematic search of Scopus following the PRISMA methodology. A total of 134 original scientific articles were selected from 2015 to 2025. Their data were analyzed using bibliometric tools such as R-Bibliometrix and VOSviewer, enabling identification of trends, key authors, and the frequency of agronomic practices. Approximately 12 key agronomic practices were identified, with the most relevant and widely studied being soil amendment, fertilization, agroforestry systems, pruning, irrigation systems, and phytosanitary control, implemented throughout the production cycle, from the nursery stage to the crop production phase. Limitations were identified, including the lack of longterm trials and the limited availability of specific data for local edaphoclimatic conditions, highlighting the need to strengthen applied research. This review demonstrates that when agronomic practices are employed in an integrated manner, they are essential for enhancing sustainability and productivity by more than 40%. Several challenges are addressed in implementing adequate agronomic practices for the cocoa crop in Colombia.

Melatonin, a molecule initially discovered in animals, has gained increasing importance in recent decades due to its wide range of functions in the plant kingdom. This review examines the role of melatonin in crops, from its biosynthesis to its effects on various stages of plant development, including germination, vegetative growth, flowering, and senescence. Melatonin has been shown to act as a biostimulant in plants, enhancing germination, improving tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity, and boosting both photosynthesis and biomass production. Recent studies have underscored its importance in regulating the circadian cycle and the plant’s antioxidant response. Notable advances include research on high-value commercial crops, such as rice (Oryza sativa L.) and maize (Zea mays L.), where the exogenous application of melatonin has increased yield by 15% to 20% under stress conditions. The findings presented in this review highlight melatonin's potential, not only as a stress mitigator but also as a key component in the agronomic management of crops, enhancing productivity and sustainability in the face of current climate challenges. However, further research is needed to better understand its interactions with other phytohormones and its effectiveness across different agricultural species.