Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Agrícolas

Antifungal effect of pirul essential oil against phytopathogenic fungi of corn

Anareli Quintero-Jiménez — 2025-08-14

The present study evaluated the efficacy of pirul essential oil in the control of corn pathogens, including those responsible for significant diseases of this crop. Essential oil was extracted from fresh pirul leaves using the steam distillation method, obtaining a yield of 0.5%. The oil obtained was analyzed using the GC-MS technique, identifying main compounds, such as α-pinene, β-pinene, and D-limonene, known for their antimicrobial properties. Disc diffusion and cell viability assays showed dose-dependent inhibition of mycelial growth and a significant reduction in pathogen viability with increasing essential oil concentration. At a concentration of 1 000 ppm, the relative viability of the pathogens decreased to less than 10%, demonstrating potent antifungal activity. Comparatively, the control with tebuconazole showed a very low relative viability (1.5%), confirming the superiority of pirul essential oil as a natural antifungal agent. These results suggest that pirul essential oil is a promising and sustainable alternative to synthetic fungicides for the control of corn pathogens, contributing to safer and greener agricultural practices.

GIS for the management of phytosanitary problems of coffee in Sultepec

Alfredo Ruiz-Orta — 2025-08-12

Geographic information systems, as well as thematic maps, are used in precision agriculture for the collection, analysis and representation of data of interest; to enable crop efficiency and minimize the costs and resources used for different activities, such as pest and disease monitoring. The research aimed to design a geographic information system for the sustainable management of phytosanitary problems of coffee in the municipality of Sultepec, State of Mexico. Databases were created and the QGIS 3.24 Tisler program was used to make 108 thematic maps that represent a monthly average of the incidence of rooster’s eye, rust and iron spot in three sampled plots, in which the progress of each of the problems is observed during a year of sampling. These maps allowed us to identify well-marked sources of infection, as well as the months with the highest incidence, September to December for rooster’s eye and iron spot, with an infected area of up to 86%, and for rust, the months with the highest incidence were from January to April, reaching an infected area of up to 82%. The thematic maps allow the dissemination of the usefulness of technologies and the development of the most timely and effective decision-making in the management and control of coffee pests and diseases, with the challenge of sustainable crop management.

Enzymatic activity in Sorghum bicolor by micro-nano encapsulated microbial metabolites and plant extracts

Marco Antonio Tucuch-Pérez — 2025-08-09

Chemical herbicides for weed control represent a current problem, since their indiscriminate use causes the emergence of resistant weed populations, in addition to affecting the environment and human health. Therefore, secondary metabolites of microorganisms and plant extracts in micro-nano encapsulated formulations emerge as a possible alternative to the use of chemically synthesized herbicides. Therefore, elucidating their mechanism of action is necessary to understand the biochemical changes they induce in plants and to develop weed control strategies. The objective of the research was to determine the activity of the antioxidant enzymes phenylalanine ammonia lyase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase in Sorghum bicolor plants treated with secondary metabolites of Alternaria sp. The secondary metabolites of microorganisms and a plant extract of Solanum rostratum, alone and formulated in micro-nano encapsulated formulations based on the biopolymer’s alginate and chitosan. The study was carried out during the month of June 2024, for this, S. bicolor y plants were used and the activity of the enzymes was determined for 0, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h. It was observed that the formulations loaded with the Solanum rostratum plant extract and the secondary metabolites of microorganisms were those that induced the highest enzymatic activity at different times, reaching 0.36 and 0.34 U mol^-1 respectively in the case of PAL, 4.7 and 4.3 U mol^-1 with the peroxidase enzyme and 7.3 and 6.5 U mol^-1 with super oxide dismutase. It is concluded that the secondary metabolites of microorganisms and the Solanum rostratum plant extract formulated in micro-nano encapsulates have potential as agents that can modify biochemical processes in plants.

Assessment of the agricultural mechanization index in Mexico in the period 1930-2023

Marco Antonio Caballero-García — 2025-08-07

Agriculture in Mexico is increasingly modern and competitive in international markets, so it plays an important role in the growth and development of the country’s economy. Mexico ranks twelfth in the world in the production of agricultural crops; this growth, among other factors, is due to technological changes derived from agricultural mechanization incorporated in agricultural production units during the last decades. This research aimed to analyze the current level of mechanization of agriculture in Mexico, as well as to update the national agricultural mechanization index for each state based on data from the agricultural census of 2022. The results indicate that the current mechanization index in Mexico is adequate and, in some states, it exceeds the FAO recommendation of 50 ha per tractor. Support programs from the federal and state governments have been the most important factor in achieving an adequate mechanization index. However, a significant number of existing tractors are about to exceed their useful life, so it is necessary to establish appropriate strategies for their renewal.

Seed disinfection and culture media in the in vitro germination and growth of seedlings of Eysenhardtia polystachya (Ortega)

Norma Angélica Lorenzo-Barrera — 2025-08-05

Eysenhardtia polystachya is a plant prized for the strength of its wood and medicinal use. It is propagated by seed; nevertheless, low germination and attack by insects and fungi in natural conditions limit its availability, which makes it highly vulnerable. In vitro culture allows the number of individuals to increase rapidly. The objective was to evaluate the effect of mineral salts of Murashige and Skoog and Woody Plant Medium culture media, both in concentration of 50, 75 and 100% (macro and micronutrients), in combination with two methods of seed disinfection. E. polystachya seeds collected in November 2021 in Tlayacapan Morelos were used; these were disinfected with silver nanoparticles, applied once or twice, and then seeded in vitro. The experimental design was completely randomized with factorial arrangement of treatments, with 10 replications of five seeds. Double application of silver nanoparticles generated 98.3% of aseptic seeds, compared to applying them once (86.7%). Plant height was also 34.5% higher. The MS medium generated better germination in the three concentrations (90 to 99%). Root length and dry matter were more abundant in the MS medium at 50%. It was concluded that it is convenient to use silver nanoparticles twice to disinfect E. polystachya seeds and to use the 50% MS culture medium for germination and seedling growth.

Application of silver nanoparticles and their relationship with the growth of strawberry

Disraeli Eron Moreno-Guerrero — 2025-08-01

The use of silver nanoparticles has increased recently due to their application in different areas of science. In plants, they have shown different effects depending on the species and concentration. The present research aimed to evaluate the effect of applying silver nanoparticles via the leaves and roots at increasing doses on the growth of plants of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) cultivar Festival. The experiment was established in a greenhouse in the experimental agricultural field of the UACH, Texcoco, State of Mexico, in 2022 and 2023. Strawberry plants of the Festival cultivar were used as plant material and placed in an open hydroponic system. Subsequently, silver nanoparticles were applied via the leaves (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 mg L^-1) and roots (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg L^-1), respectively. At 56 days after the start of treatments, plant height, crown diameter, number of leaves, number of runners, number of flowers and number of fruits were recorded, showing as results that foliar dosing of silver nanoparticles increased crown diameter (25.8%), number of leaves (19.8%), number of flowers (18.3%), number of fruits (28.3%) and number of runners (50%), and root dosing increased plant height (11.9%), number of leaves (14.9%), number of flowers (21.1%), number of fruits (31.8%), and number of runners (31.8%). In conclusion, the application of silver nanoparticles via the leaves and roots increases the growth variables measured in strawberry plants of the Festival cultivar; therefore, silver nanoparticles are an alternative for food sovereignty.

Econometric estimation of the surplus of the consumer of recreational environmental services

Isaí Mendoza-Martínez — 2025-07-31

Public goods, such as forests, rivers, lakes, or dams, provide recreational services that lack market prices. This research aimed to estimate the consumer surplus proposed by the microeconomic theory to make a valuation of recreational environmental services using the individual travel cost methodology. The sample used consisted of 213 observations and was collected in four recreational sites located in the area of the La Boquilla Dam, municipality of Camargo, Chihuahua within the Conchos River basin in 2019. The method used for econometric estimation was the Poisson regression model since the number of visits to the site is a count variable. The average surplus benefit per visitor was MX$33.12 (US$1.72). The research assumed an influx of 300 000 visitors, so the value of the recreational environmental service generated by the La Boquilla Dam in the year the research was carried out (2019) would have been MX$9 936 000 (US$515 888). It is concluded that the Poisson model is the one that best fits the count data obtained through the travel cost method and that the results could be useful to guide the design of environmental policies.

Trichoderma spp. evaluation, disinfestation and soil chiseling in alfalfa

Dora Acela Rodríguez-Díaz — 2025-07-28

Crops of alfalfa Medicago sativa L. are limited by crown rot (Rhizoctonia solani), Texas root rot (Phymatotrichopsis omnivora) and soil salinity and compaction. To attenuate crop rots, the objectives were, at the laboratory level, to evaluate methods of inoculation of Trichoderma spp. in alfalfa seed and in the field, to evaluate agronomic parameters, crown rot and Texas root rot after inoculating the seed with T. harzianum (T), deep soil chiseling (C) and reductive soil disinfestation (D), the combinations C+T, C+D, D+C+T, and uninoculated seed and untreated soil as the control (Co). Dishes (PDA) of T. harzianum of 1, 2, 4, 8 and 10 d of growth were used to place previously germinated (GS) or non-germinated (NGS) alfalfa seeds; after 17 d, the size and survival of the NGS seedlings was greater than their corresponding GS (Tukey p< 0.05). In the field, the weight and size of D+C+T vs. Co plants were between (27-35) and (9-3)% higher, respectively, but without statistical significance. Only in the first sampling, a 30% higher yield of D+C+T was detected when compared to Co (Tukey p= 0.05). The quality, yield and plants per m² of alfalfa were similar to what had been previously reported.

Carbon variability in the soil of a rice field in Costa Rica

Roberto Aguirre-Elizondo — 2025-07-23

Knowledge of the soil carbon stock (SCS) is vital for appropriate farming practices management, ie. tillage and to monitor SCS changes as mitigation strategies of carbon footprint. This study aims to quantify the variability and spatial distribution of the SCS. In an area of 1 ha 45 micro-pit (1 x 0.8 x 1 m) were divided into four strata. Vertical distribution of soil carbon was quantified along with other chemical and physical soil properties that affect rice production in Parrita, Costa Rica. A map of spatial prediction of the distribution and goodness-of-prediction values were calculated to estimate the effectiveness of the SCS prediction when different numbers of sampling points were used 45, 27, 15 and 7 microplots. As accurate measurements, the Mean Absolute Error and the Mean Square Error were calculated. In this study, the SCS was 85.8 (±2.6) Mg C ha^-1, into the total profile (0-100 cm), where the first 30 cm represented 46.2%. Prediction of the spatial distribution suggests that in annual agricultural crops, with tillage systems 15 sampling points ha^-1 a can effectively estimate the SCS.

Image analysis applied to morphological properties in wheat and oat cookies

Samuel Verdú-Amat — 2025-07-21

The present study was conducted at the Center for Research in Food and Development in 2024. Image analysis is an essential tool that can be used in food process control. This study aimed to analyze, using imaging techniques, the morphological properties of cookies made with wheat and oats in different percentages and their relationship with cookie firmness. The texture profile of the dough obtained from the different formulations, and the weight, diameter, height, and firmness of the cookies were determined. A morphological characterization of the cookies was carried out by means of image analysis. These measurements focused on the overall color of the surface, as well as the characteristics of the surface and internal texture of the cookies through the analysis of the crumb. The results showed decreased firmness (151.96 N to 103.17 N) as the percentage of substitution increased, a similar behavior was observed in the weight and height of the cookie, whereas the diameter was not affected. Regarding the image analysis, greater cracking of the cookie surface was observed as the percentage of substitution increased. Color changes were observed in the crumb towards lighter areas, indicating a decrease in bubbles in the cookie crumb. Image analysis can be an important alternative to determine the quality of a finished product, in this case, a cookie.