Charcoal rot is an emerging disease for peanut crops caused by the fungus Macrophomina phaseolina. In Mexico, peanut crop represents an important productive activity for various rural areas; however, charcoal rot affects producers economically. The objectives of this research were: (a) to identify and morphologically characterize the strain “PUE 4.0” associated with charcoal rot of peanut crops from Buenavista de Benito Juárez, belonging to the municipality of Chietla in Puebla, Mexico; (b) determine the in vitro and in vivo antagonist activity of five Trichoderma species on M. phaseolina, and (c) determine the effect of the incidence of the disease on peanut production in the field. Vegetable tissue samples were collected from peanut crops in Puebla, Mexico with the presence of symptoms of charcoal rot at the stem and root level. The “PUE 4.0” strain presented 100% identity with M. phaseolina, the cause of charcoal rot in peanut crops from Buenavista de Benito Juárez. T. koningiopsis (T-K11) showed the highest development rate, the best growth speed, and the highest percentage of radial growth inhibition (PIRG) over M. phaseolina (71.11%) under in vitro conditions, in addition, T. koningiopsis (T-K11) showed higher production (1.60 ± 0.01 t/ha−1) and lower incidence of charcoal rot under field conditions. The lowest production with the highest incidence of the disease occurred in plants inoculated only with M. phaseolina (0.67 ± 0.01 t/ha−1) where elongated reddish-brown lesions were observed that covered 40% of the total surface of the main root.

Birth weight (BW) and weaning weight (WW) data from Pelibuey and Blackbelly lambs belonging to the Asociación Mexicana de Criadores de Ovinos (AMCO) were used with the objective of estimating genetic parameters (heritability and genetic correlations) and analyzing the growth characteristics of ewes born and weaned at different times of the same year from different herds with pedigree registration. In the case of Pelibuey lambs, the animal model included the weaning weight at 75 days of age, considering the direct additive genetic effect, maternal additive genetic effect, covariance between direct and maternal effects, as well as the permanent environmental effect of the mother. The direct estimators of heritability for Pelibuey were BW = 0.01 ± 0.021 and WW = 0.31 ± 0.074 and for Blackbelly they were BW = 0.05 ± 0.042 and WW = 0.41 ± 0.146. In the case of the maternal heritability estimators in Pelibuey they were BW = 0.02 ± 0.040 and WW = 0.21 ± 0.121 and for Blackbelly they were BW = 0.12 ± 0.054 and WW = 0.28 ± 0.121. The magnitude of the estimates of genetic correlations between direct and maternal effects for adjusted weaning weight at 75 days of age indicate that genetic progress may be slow in a breeding program. However, these selection results could be included in the short term in the breeding programs for the Pelibuey and Blackbelly breeds in Mexico, for livestock development in low-income rural areas.

Strawberry wilt is an established disease of strawberry crops caused by fungus Fusarium solani. In Mexico, strawberry cultivation represents an important productive activity for several rural areas; however, wilt disease affects producers economically. The objectives of this research were: (a) to identify and morphologically characterize strain “MA-FC120” associated with root rot and wilting of strawberry crops in Santa Cruz Analco, municipality of San Salvador el Verde, Puebla-Mexico; (b) to evaluate the potential of single and multiple applications of four broad-spectrum fungicides used against F. solani in vitro. Plant tissue samples were collected from strawberry crops in Puebla-Mexico with presence of symptoms of desiccation and root rot. Strain “MA-FC120” was identified as F. solani, being the causal agent of wilt and root rot in strawberry plants from Santa Cruz Analco. Fungicide Benomyl 50® showed the highest percentage of inhibition on F. solani (100%) under in vitro conditions. The fungicide Mancosol 80® and Talonil 75® at low concentration (600 and 450 mg L−1) showed no toxicity, being harmless to strain MA-FC120. However, fungicide Talonil 75® showed slight toxicity at the dose recommended by the manufacturer and moderate toxicity in high concentration (1350 mg L−1). Likewise, Captan 50® in its three concentrations evaluated showed slight toxicity, obtaining around 50% on the classification scale established by International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC).

El presente trabajo evaluó la capacidad germinativa de Pinus patula Schl. et Cham en vivero, utilizando composta de cáscara de nuez de castilla y sustituyendo paulatinamente el Peat Moss. Se utilizó un diseño experimental completamente al azar con 100 repeticiones por tratamiento, donde se estudiaron cuatro mezclas de sustratos a base de cáscara de nuez, más agrolita y vermiculita en proporciones que variaron desde 33 % hasta 80 % de cáscara de nuez y la mezcla de sustratos comerciales.

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