Explore the vast range of titles available.

Agricultural biodiversity includes many species that have biological variants (natives, ecotypes, races, morphotypes). Their use is restricted to local areas because they do not fulfill the commercial requirements; however, it is well documented that these species are a source of metabolites, proteins, enzymes, and genes. Rescuing and harnessing them through traditional genetic breeding is time-consuming and expensive. Inducing mutagenesis may be a short-time option for its genetic improvement. A review of outstanding research was carried out, in order to become familiar with gene breeding using gamma radiation and its relevance to obtain outstanding agronomic characteristics for underutilized species. An approach was made to the global panorama of the application of gamma radiation in different conventional crop species and in vitro cultivated species, in order to obtain secondary metabolites, as well as molecular tools used for mutation screening. The varied effects of gamma radiation are essentially the result of the individual responses and phenotypic plasticity of each organism. However, even implicit chance can be reduced with specific genetic breeding, environmental adaptation, or conservation objectives.

Vanilla pompona is the third most important commercial species of the genus Vanilla, but the morphometric variation of its flowers is not well known. In orchids, infraspecific variation is expressed in the labellum. This study had the objective of analyzing the floral variation of V. pompona collections from the localities in Veracruz, Puebla, Jalisco and Oaxaca, in Mexico. During the flowering period, we obtained 55 collections of V. pompona flowers, and the labellum of each flower was dissected. We used ImageJ to measure and portray 54 lines and 7 angles in these labella. With the data obtained, we performed an analysis of variance, principal component analysis and cluster analysis. The results showed significant differences among the collections and localities in the means of the lines of the basal, middle, and apical regions of the labellum. Also, six morphotypes were obtained, and we found that variation was associated with factors such as the environment, geographic barriers, and pollinator pressure. Moreover, we observed variation in flowering periods in one locality of Veracruz. We concluded that there is infraspecific variation within and between the collection localities of V. pompona in the Atlantic region (Puebla and Veracruz) and the Pacific region (Jalisco and Oaxaca), Mexico.

(1) Background: Chayote [Sechium edule Jacq. (Sw.)] is a non-traditional export product; recently, demand has increased due to its nutritional and functional properties. There is a wide diversity of varietal groups (VGs) within this species. Despite this, only virens levis and nigrum spinosum varieties are commercialized on a large scale, while the rest are underutilized and poorly studied, so the genetic pool of this species is at risk. (2) Methods: The following variables were evaluated in the fruits of 10 chayote groups of varieties: shape, size, weight, stomatal frequency (SF), stoma size, stomatal index (SI), color index (CO*), pigments, titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), total sugars and moisture content. In addition, the postharvest behavior of the ten VGs stored at room temperature and the effect of 1-MCP on fruit quality during cold storage were evaluated. (3) Results: The groups a. minor and n. minor showed rapid weight loss, the albus varieties showed high epidermis oxidation, while v. levis, n. maximum, n. spinosum and n. xalapensis were susceptible to viviparity, blisters and fungal incidence. 1-MCP prevented chilling injury (CI) and weight loss. (4) Conclusions: The diversity of postharvest characteristics allows the use of VGs for different uses such as a fresh fruit, agroindustrial transformation or mixing with other vegetables.

In this study, we investigated how increasing temperature affects tomato fruit physicochemical traits and looked for genetic variability to help maintain fruit quality in the context of climate change. High temperature (HT: +3 °C) was applied at four fruit developmental stages, from anthesis and 15, 30 or 45 days after anthesis until ripening to three genotypes, a commercial cultivar (Money Maker, “MM”) and two genotypes likely more tolerant to HT (Campeche 40 “C40”, a landrace from a warm, humid region, and a hybrid Chapingo F1, “F1”, resulting from crossbreeding landraces tolerant to high temperature). Increasing average diurnal temperature (from 27.0 to 29.9) reduced fruit firmness and size and affected fruit composition according to genotype. Sugar and acid contents were highly impacted in MM and C40 fruits, especially when HT was applied during the rapid fruit growth period. The application of HT at different fruit developmental stages revealed that HT could enhance acid accumulation and degradation (rate and/or duration), resulting in different effects on fruit acidity between genotypes. The F1 genotype appeared to be more adapted to HT, producing larger fruits with higher sugar, lower acid and increased vitamin C and calcium content. These results provide interesting directions for breeding programs that want to maintain future tomato fruit yields and quality.

Opuntia ficus-indica L. (Mill) belongs to the Cactaceae family. The plant produces edible and juicy fruits called cactus pear, recognized for their pleasant flavor and functional properties. However, the fruits have a short shelf life, hard seeds, and the presence of glochidia in the pericarpel. Recently, by inducing parthenocarpy, seedless fruits of cactus pear have been obtained. They have attractive colors, soft and small seminal residues, with a similar flavor to their original seeded counterparts. Nevertheless, their postharvest physiological behavior has not yet been documented. The aim of this study was to compare the biochemical, anatomical, and physiological characteristics of pollinated fruits, CP30 red and CP40 yellow varieties, with their parthenocarpic counterparts (CP30-P and CP40-P), obtained by the application of growth regulators in preanthesis. Fruits of each type were harvested at horticultural maturity, and analyses were carried out on both pulp and pericarpel (peel), using a completely randomized design. Results showed that red fruits CP30 and CP30-P showed higher concentrations of betacyanins in pulp (13.4 and 18.4 mg 100 g−1 FW) and in pericarpel (25.9 and 24.1 mg 100 g−1 FW), respectively; flavonoid content was significantly higher in partenocarpic fruits compared with the pollinated ones. Parthenocarpy mainly affected the shelf life, in pollinated fruits, CP30 was 14 days but 32 days in CP30-P; for CP40, it was 16 days, and 30 days in CP40-P. Also, the partenocarpic fruits were smaller but with a thicker pericarpel, and lower stomatal frequency. Overall, parthenocarpic fruits represent a viable alternative for commercial production due to their extended shelf life, lower weight loss, and soft but edible pericarpel.

The lulo plant (Solanum quitoense Lamarck) is native to South America. In Mexico, this species shows potential for the conversion of agroecosystems. It is used as food and pharmaceutical sources for metabolites. However, there are few papers related to how this species can grow under conditions outside of the Andean countries (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru). The objective of this research was to evaluate the development of lulo under cloud forest conditions and the effect of inoculating the plant with mycorrhizae (Funneliformis mosseae (T. H. Nicolson and Gerd.) C. Walker and A. Schüssler, and Entrophospora colombiana Spain and N. C. Schenck) and diammonium phosphate (DAP: NPK 18-46-00) fertilization. The plant growth, leaf area, mycorrhizal colonization, and leaf mineral content were evaluated from transplant to fruit formation. The experiment was conducted under field conditions in volcanic soils (clayey Vertisol) in a cloud forest. The inoculation of E. colombiana was 86.19% of the colonization, and the content of N, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Fe in the leaves was the higher in these plants. The highest P content was obtained from the DAP treatment and the height of the plant was 11.8% and 12.5% in the treatments using DAP and E. colombiana, respectively. The plant growth was significantly higher in the plants inoculated with E. colombiana followed by DAP. The plants inoculated with F. mosseae registered lower values than the control. Lulo plants grow in the climate and soils of volcanic origin of the cloud forest. The results showed that AMF colonization was beneficial and outperformed the native strains. The results are new for the introduced lulo plants in Mexico and can help reduce the learning path for commercial cultivation.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are secondary metabolites emitted by all living carbon-based organisms. These VOCs are of great importance in the agricultural sector due to their use as biofungicides and biopesticides. In addition, they can also be used as indicators of microbial contamination. The latter has rarely been studied; however, such a role is very relevant because it allows the timely application of corrective treatments that avoid food waste, the development of toxins dangerous to humans, and the design of biosensors. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), electronic nose (e-nose), and proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) are some of the techniques used to detect VOCs in fruits and vegetables contaminated by microorganisms. Therefore, the objective of this work is to deepen our knowledge of VOCs emitted by microorganisms in terms of their use as an indicator of microbial contamination of fresh agricultural products, as well as the analytical techniques used for their detection.

Species distribution models identify regions with ideal environmental characteristics for the establishment and proliferation of species. The chayote ( Sechium edule ) is a crop that originated and domesticated in Mexico; however, it is cultivated in different parts of the world due to its nutritional and pharmaceutical importance. The objective of this research was to locate the potential distribution of S. edule in Japan supported on seven machine learning models, to also determine which bioclimatic variables influence its distribution, and which are the most suitable regions for its establishment. Thirty-one occurrence points, elevation, and the bioclimatic variables bio1, bio3, bio4, bio7, bio8, bio12, bio14, bio15, and bio17 were used to infer the models. Hundred percent of the occurrence points coincided with the Cfa climate distributed in Acrisol (60.9%), Andosol (17.4%), Cambisol (13%), Fluvisol (4.35%), and Gleysol (4.35%) soil. The maximum entropy model (Maxent) model reported the highest area under the curve (AUC) value (0.93), while the generalized linear model (GLM) obtained the best true skills statistics (TSS) value (0.84); the super vector machine (SVM) model reported the largest suitability area ≥ 0.5 with 100,394.4 km 2 . Temperature-related variables were the major contributors to the models and the ones explaining the distribution limits of S. edule in Japan. The coastal eastern prefectures of Kantō, Chūbu, Kinki, Chūgoku, Kyūshū, and Shikoku regions showed a suitability ≥ 0.5.

The aim of this study was to apply osmotic dehydration (OD) to produce minimally processed chayote (Sechium edule (Jacq.) Swartz) slices. Thus, the effect of osmotic solution concentration, temperature, processing time, and vacuum pulse application on mass transfer during osmotic dehydration of the fruit was evaluated. The kinetics of water loss (WL), solids gain (SG), and water activity (aw) were obtained using sucrose solutions with concentrations of 40, 50 and 60 °Bx at 25, 35 and 45 °C. Osmotic solution concentration, temperature, and processing time had a greater influence than vacuum pulse application on WL and SG. The temperature showed an Arrhenius-type dependence on effective diffusivity. The osmodehydrated chayote had lower aw (up to 0.846), higher total soluble solids (TSS) content (up to 31.9 °Bx) and purer and more intense color (up to 18.75 in chroma) compared to fresh chayote. These findings suggest that OD allows for the production of minimally processed chayote that could be included in quick-cook products, such as salads or soup mixes.

Fruits of chayote [Sechium edule (Jacq.) Swartz] are a non-traditional vegetable widely consumed in Latin America, with the state of Veracruz, México being the world’s main producer, but little is known about the nutraceutical potential. This study aimed to determine the chemical compositions and antioxidant activities from the juice fruits from two commercial varieties of chayote cultivated in Mexico, as well as a proposal for the elaboration of chayote juices with stevia leaves and pineapple juice. The physicochemical properties of juice from virens levis (VL) and nigrum spinosum (NS) varieties were determined using standard methods. The juice of the two varieties differ significantly regarding the concentrations of total soluble solids and total sugars, but not vitamin C. The total concentration of phenolics in NS extracts was slightly higher than in VL (1005 and 856 mg 100 g−1 dry-weight, respectively), but the total flavonoid contents were similar (27 and 26 mg 100 g−1 dry-weight, respectively). Cucurbitacin D was predominant in both varieties. The radical scavenging capacities of VL and NS extracts varied slightly (IC50 = 0.45 to 0.65 mg mL−1), while the antioxidant activities were similar (~80%). The NS variety is particularly promising regarding nutraceutical application. The chayote juice combined with stevia and pineapple maintained the original nutraceutical characteristics of the fruit, but enhanced the organoleptic characteristics like density and sugar/acidity balance.