Tomato plant waste (TPW) is a significant agricultural byproduct that has been often underutilized. Recent studies have shown that its use to obtain methane in an anaerobic digestion (AD) process is viable. However, there is not much information available on studies to improve methane production from this substrate using statistical methods for optimization processes such as central composite design (CCD). For this investigation, CCD was adopted to analyze the effect of S/I ratio (substrate/inoculum ratio) (0.32–1.12), temperature (27–43 °C), and inoculum concentration (10.35–20.95 g VS/L) on methane generation and volatile solids (VS) removal in a batch AD system mono-digestion of TPW. The highest average value of methane yield was found to be 210.8 mL CH₄/g VS (S/I ratio 0.48, 40 °C, and 18.80 g VS/L), and the highest average value of VS removal was found to be 36.9% (S/I ratio 1.12, 35 °C, and 15.65 g VS/L). We obtain a model with a better fit for the VS removal (R² = 0.9587) than for the methane production (R² = 0.9156). Temperature and S/I ratio were the factors most important for methane production and VS removal, respectively.

Agave species possess substantial cultural, ecological, and economic significance, particularly in Mexico, where they are traditionally utilized for food, fiber, and beverages. Their industrial relevance has expanded to include bioenergy, nutraceuticals, and sustainable agriculture. However, conventional propagation methods are constrained by long life cycles, low seed germination rates, and susceptibility to phytopathogens. In vitro culture has emerged as a pivotal biotechnological strategy for clonal propagation, germplasm conservation, and physiological enhancement. This review presents a critical synthesis of plant growth regulators (PGRs) employed in agave micropropagation, emphasizing their roles in organogenesis, somatic embryogenesis, shoot proliferation, and rooting. Classical PGRs such as 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), benzyladenine (BA), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) are widely utilized, with BA + 2,4-D and BA + IAA combinations demonstrating high efficiency in embryogenic callus induction and shoot multiplication. Additionally, non-traditional regulators such as abscisic acid (ABA) and putrescine (Put) have been shown to affect embryo maturation. This review synthesizes recent studies on agave in vitro culture protocols, identifies trends in PGR use, and highlights key research gaps. These insights reveal opportunities for innovation and underscore the need for species-specific optimization and molecular validation to improve reproducibility and scalability.

The pollution of water bodies has deteriorated the quality of freshwater and the health of the natural ecosystem. In the present study, the water quality index (WQI) was used to evaluate the spatial and temporal contamination levels in Lake Yuriria, Guanajuato, Mexico. Water quality was monitored at 27 different locations (monitoring points) in the dry season (April) and after the rainy season (November), measuring 21 physicochemical water parameters, 2 biological parameters, and 19 metal concentrations. The data analysis revealed that Yuriria Lake is a eutrophic water body. Six monitoring points exhibited a poor WQI (25–50) in April, and seven monitoring sites were classified as having poor water quality in November. The remaining monitoring points showed a WQI categorized as fair (51–70) in both periods. The present study analyzes an extensive distribution of monitoring points over the lake’s surface in two periods, showing a significant spatial and temporal representation of water quality. In addition, the major pollution sources identified include agricultural runoff and effluents from a nearby waterway and freshwater river. Finally, the key physicochemical parameters that determined the water quality were identified. BOD₅, NH₄⁺, P, orthophosphates, DO, conductivity, TSS, and color were linked to anthropogenic pollution sources, and Li, Ni, Zn, Cd, Ba, and Pb concentrations were linked to natural contamination sources. This study demonstrates the utility and versatility of these methodologies in water quality research, and it is the first spatial and temporal WQI analysis of Yuriria Lake.