In the current study were evaluated the nutrimental quality, fatty acid and mineral content, and antioxidant capacity of pecan nut of Criolla and Improved walnut varieties. Nut fruit samples of three Criolla walnut varieties (‘Nazas I’, ‘Nazas II’ and ‘Norteña’), and two Improved varieties (‘Western’ and ‘Wichita’) were collected in La Laguna (Nazas, Durango) in Northern Mexico. The analyses run in nut samples were: bromatological and mineral content, fatty acids profile and antioxidant capacity. The results showed that Criolla and Improved varieties had similar bromatological content except ‘Nazas I’, which had the lowest protein and fat content. Furthermore, nuts from Criolla varieties had a higher mineral content, including iron (~38 mg/100 g dw), zinc (~51 mg/100 g dw) and manganese (25 mg/100 g dw). Besides, the fatty acid profile indicates a higher rate of oleic acid (71%) in nut oil of Criolla varieties than in Improved varieties (61%). Regarding antioxidant capacity (AC) the obtained values were similar in all varieties, with ‘Norteña’ variety (850 µM trolox equivalent/g of oil) in Criolla, and ‘Western’ (800 µM trolox equivalent/g of oil) in Improved as the highest values of AC among all varieties. Hence, pecan nut fruits of Criolla varieties are good nutrients and beneficial health compounds source for consumers, and their production and marketing represent interesting opportunity areas for nut producers.

Opuntia spp. plants occupy an important socioeconomic role in arid and semiarid zones where water is scarce. Irrigation increases the productivity of these plants; however, its effect on the yield, composition, and physicochemical properties of the mucilage is unknown. Three irrigation regimens were tested: non-irrigated (rainwater), supplemental irrigation (irrigation between field capacity (0.28 m3 m−3) and permanent wilting point (0.14 m3 m−3)), and full irrigation (100% of crop evapotranspiration), on the four cactus pear varieties (‘Amarilla Olorosa’ (Opuntia spp.), ‘Cristalina’ (Opuntia albicarpa Scheinvar), ‘Dalia Roja’ (Opuntia spp.), and ‘Roja Lisa’ (O. ficus-indica (L.) Mill)). Irrigation regimens were applied during the dry season (March to June in the northern hemisphere). Composite samples of cladodes per replicate and treatment were collected for mucilage extraction. The mucilage was characterized for yield, color, chemical composition, infrared spectroscopy, viscosity, and molar mass. The combination with the greatest yield was ‘Amarilla Olorosa’ with no irrigation (22.2%), while the least yield was from ‘Cristalina’ undergoing full irrigation (12.2%). In general, non-irrigated plants yielded more mucilage, their color was brighter and less green, and they had more protein and fiber. The viscosity and molar mass were greatest in non-irrigated plants. Total carbohydrate content was similar between non-irrigated and supplementally irrigated plants. Thus, for the cactus pear varieties studied here, either no irrigation or supplemental irrigation could be a feasible strategy to produce mucilage with good characteristics for agro-industrial and pharmaceutical use.

En los últimos años, el mucílago extraído de cladodios de diferentes especies de Opuntia ha recibido considerable atención por ser un material orgánico de fácil obtención y purificación para usarse en múltiples sectores industriales. Es un hidrocoloide natural soluble en agua y un compuesto prometedor como aditivo agroindustrial debido a que puede actuar como agente espesante, gelificante, estabilizante, antioxidante y como película de recubrimiento para frutas y verduras frescas o mínimamente procesadas. Actualmente, rendimientos altos de mucílago pueden ser extraídos con métodos más eficientes en términos de tiempo, energía y amigables con el medio ambiente. Por lo tanto, esta revisión destaca, no sólo la composición y métodos de extracción, sino también, enfatiza en las aplicaciones de este hidrocoloide como aditivo alimenticio.