Characteristics of the agricultural sector of Aguascalientes, challenges and perspectives

This research aims to identify the characteristics of the population in the agricultural sector of Aguascalientes. This entity has comparative advantages due to its strategic geographic location to supply a demanding market for food products. It is estimated that there are approximately 17,234 heads of households dedicated to agricultural businesses with an average age between 49 and 57 years. Furthermore, 36.43% of the members have food insecurity problems (mild, moderate, severe). We used a logistic regression model; socioeconomic variables of the sector are analyzed. The results show that the agricultural population has high levels of social service deficiencies. It is suggested the importance of undertaking social public policies that address problems related to the rational use of water, protected agriculture, access and quality of public services, promote value chains in the sector, and undertake a process of productive reconversion.

Pollen management and controlled pollination in Eucalyptus urophylla

The genus Eucalyptus has shown great potential for the establishment of commercial forest plantations, it is one of the most widely planted worldwide, it is planted in different regions of the planet, which indicates its ability to adapt to various environmental conditions. Eucalyptus urophylla is a species of this genus that adapts to tropical and subtropical regions, in suitable sites it can achieve high growth rates. It is one of the species with the most research in breeding programs in the world, mainly due to its capacity to hybridize naturally, since it generates populations with high genetic diversity, coupled with its ability to reproduce asexually. In Mexico, the breeding programs for Eucalyptus urophylla are in the initial phase, although plantations are already managed under clonal silviculture, controlled crossing are just beginning, so pollen management and crossing techniques are the most important activities in these programs. Since there is currently no information about the management of pollen for Eucalyptus urophylla in Mexico, the aim of this paper is to show a methodology based on the information documented in other parts of the world and the recent experience acquired in the collection and management of pollen, as well as the controlled pollination techniques recently employed in the breeding programs of Eucalyptus urophylla in southeastern Mexico.

Comparative analysis of the agricultural risk administration mechanisms in Mexico

The agricultural sector in Mexico is vulnerable to climatic variations and the happening of natural disasters. We analyze the Component of Attention to Agricultural Incidents (CADENA in Spanish) that is focused on small peasants with low incomes, and without access to insurance coverage and the Agricultural and Rural Insurance Funds. (FAAR) they operate under the logic of mutualism, so they only offer coverage to their partners. The geographic coverage of both mechanisms is differentiated; the FAAR concentrate their operation in regions with high commercial value agriculture and the CADENA operates throughout the country promoting incentives for contracting catastrophic insurances in municipalities with high and a very high degree of marginalization. It is concluded that both mechanisms complement each other as a public policy for agricultural risk management.

Effect of Pseudomonas rhodesiae GRC140 on Cucumis sativus L. seedlings with and without Cadmium

Pseudomonas rhodesiae GRC140 is an endophytic bacterium isolated from the roots of Typha latifolia collected in a Cd-contaminated site. This bacterium has biochemical abilities similar to those exerted by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria. Moreover, it has been shown that P. rhodesiae GRC140 improves the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings in the absence and presence of Cd. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of P. rhodesiae GRC140 in Cucumis sativus L. growing in nutritive medium with and without Cd. For this, cucumber seeds were superficially disinfected and exposed to a suspension of P. rhodesiae GRC140. Inoculated seeds were placed in a nutritive medium with and without Cd, then were incubated at 28 oC for eight days. After incubation, seedlings were recovered and determined the length of the primary root, the number of roots per plant, hypocotyl length, and the fresh weight. The results showed that P. rhodesiae GRC140 negatively affects the growth of C. sativus L. seedlings grown in the absence of Cd. On the other hand, in Cd-exposed seedlings, P. rhodesiae GRC140 improves the growth of C. sativus L. These results suggest that P. rhodesiae GRC140 decreases the deleterious effect of Cd in C. sativus L.

Effect of inoculation of Bacillus strains on flowering of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus)

The carnation flower (Dianthus caryophyllus) is one of the most accepted and distributed worldwide, for its production, fertilization and the application of phytohormones have been optmized, thereby seeking to improve flower quality. However, little has been tested on the effect of the application of plant growth promoting bacteria. In the present work, carnation plants cv. Lilliput, were inoculated with 5X107 cells of Bacillus megaterium M6 and Bacillus subtilis P12, both individually and in interaction (M6 x P12), registering agronomic parameters related to flowering. The results showed that none of the inoculations had an effect on the percentage of flowering plants, neither on the height nor the diameter of the flower, only P12 increased flower number per plant by 38 %, compared to the control without inoculation. Being the period between 96 and 127 days after transplantation (dat), where tha highest number of total flowers was recorded (70) with respect to the other treatments (M6:36, M6 x P12: 24 and control: 32). In conclusion, Bacillus subtilis P12 has a promoter activity to improve the flowering of carnation plants.

Systemic approach diagnosis to development and technological packages adoption for a sustainable sectoral agricultural

Technology in the agricultural sector can be defined as the set of technical knowledge that can result from the study and / or individual or collective experience that, in conjunction with practice, develops human skills and abilities. Technological innovation is fundamental to reach and maintain the levels of competitiveness that market requires, such as quality, organic production and nutritional content. The detection of actors, their activities, resources and capacities of a product chain system is needed, in order to develop technological packages for a singular type of crop, local circumstances and characteristics of the producer. The growing development of the wine sector in the country is a fertile field for the adoption of technological packages that promote precision agriculture in a harmonic and sustainable development. Improving the conditions and quality of the grape for winemaking, increasing the wine's storage potential and its nutraceutical nature. The opportune diagnosis of opportunity areas in the vineyard will help a sustainable management of the crop applying natural treatment in the opportune moment and precise place.

Comparative characterization of starch biopolymers extracted from cereals using two different techniques

In the field of research and consequent elaboration of biopolymers it has been growing in the last decade, either due to the hardening of the environmental legislation of each country or due to ecological awareness, in any case the term biopolymer is quite broad, these being used as material premium in medicines, food supplements and of course in the production of bioplastics. Since the topic of interest is the comparative characterization of biopolymers using starch extracted from two different cereals, oats and rice, using the alkaline technique with NaOH treatment and the milling technique, assuming that the starch extracted from the Oryza sativa cereal presents chemical characteristics, geometric and mechanical superior in both techniques used unlike the polymers made with Avena sativa starch. These results suggest that the starch quality of each cereal is relevant for the production of biopolymers [1]. The commercially significant properties of starch, such as its mechanical strength and flexibility, depend on the strength and character of the crystalline region, which depends on the ratio of amylose and amylopectin.

Review of floral polymorphism in chía (Salvia hispanica L.): Modified cause

This article reviews the current state of knowledge about the color of the flower of the chia (Salvia hispanica L.) plant because it presents different colors, within a population that was the basis for the generation of five internationally marketed varieties. After a historical review of the most influential studies on floral color polymorphism, the different types of pigments involved and other anthropogenic manipulations such as the application of ionizing radiation that may affect the final color of flowers are analyzed; the latter is involved in the current polymorphism of this species. Although there is a great diversity of types of floral polymorphism, those related to the loss of anthocyanic pigments are the most frequent in wild species. On the contrary, in chia it is the opposite, so far there are no study reports on chia cultivation that support this relationship, in this article we propose a possible hypothesis in relation to a genetic mechanism that is the modified cause of the floral polymorphism it presents.

Antibacterial activity of Costus pulverulentus (Costaceae) C. Presl

Antimicrobial resistance is a great concern in public health. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain new compounds to treat diseases caused by bacteria. Medicinal plants are an alternative to search natural compounds to improve human health, including antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobials compounds. Costus pulverulentus (Costaceae) C. Presl is a plant used traditionally in Huasteca Potosina to treat bacterial infections. However, the compounds involved in this activity remain poorly understood. To determine the antibacterial activity of C. pulverulentus, an ethanolic extract was obtained. Plant stem was macerated in ethanol and then was fractionated with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol, and methanol. Ethanolic extract and derived fractions were tested against bacteria by the disk-diffusion agar method. The results showed that the ethanolic extract of C. pulverulentus exerted activity against Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 and Bacillus sp. at 10 and 30 μg/disk, whereas only the methanolic fraction showed similar activity to complete extract. Fraction 8 obtained from methanolic fraction showed inhibitory activity against Bacillus sp., S. aureus, and S. aureus Oxacillin resistant. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry characterization of active fraction 8 showed that it contains vanillic acid and pcoumaric acid suggesting that they are involved in the antibacterial activity of C. pulverulentus.

Phenology and biomass distribution pattern in two varieties of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

In Mexico, bean crop is one of the most important agricultural resources to provide food also for its economic value as product. However, there is a lack of research related with Phaseolus vulgaris varieties, specifically for plants cultivated for human consumption as common bean pods. It was characterized the main phenological events and the biomass distribution in two different varieties “Black Valentine” (BV, green pod) y “Black Wax” (BW, yellow pod) of common bean. For each variety it was chosen 4 plants and every 10 days after planting (DAP) from each organ emerged the fresh and dry weight and the leaf area were recorded. Then, at 7, 14 , 21 , 28 and 35 days after anthesis (DAA) the growth, fresh and dry weight and nitrogen content were evaluated from pods (n=10) of each variety of common bean. During the first 30 DAP the dry weight accumulation in both varieties was correlated with leaf area. The beginning of flowering and fruit growth was an important factor in the source-sink relationship. Differences were not noted in the final fresh and dry weight of the pods between “BV” and “BW” varieties.