Objective: To improve the nutrition of the pineapple (Ananas comosus) cultivation using fertilizers. Design/Methodology/Approach: The Sistema Integrado para Recomendar Dosis de Fertilizantes (SIRDF) established the fertilization doses for pineapple in the Cutanic Acrisol (Endoclayic, Hyperdystric, Ferric) (ACct(ncehdfr)) —N(230kg)-P(183kg)-K(300kg)— and Cutanic Acrisol (Endoclayic, Ferric) (ACct(ncefr)) —N(253kg)-P(138kg)-K(360kg)— soil sub-units. The SIRDF doses were compared with the control dose (producer): N(85kg), P(85kg), and K(85kg). Results: The fruits harvested from the ACct(ncehdfr) soil to which the SIRDF dose was applied were larger (cm, without the crown), heavier (kg, with and without the crown), and also had higher °Brix values compared with control. This was not the case for the crown, which was heavier when the producer dose was applied. Meanwhile, the produce harvested from the ACct(ncefr) soil to which the SIRDF dose was applied included taller plants (cm), larger fruits (cm, with crown), larger crowns (cm), wider fruits (cm, circumference), heavier fruits (kg, with and without crown), and higher °Brix values; on the contrary, the crowns were heavier (kg) in control. Study Limitations/Implications: Yield and fruit quality observations are affected by the quality of the Cabezona pineapple vegetable materials, agronomic management, and the attack of citrus mealybugs. Findings/Conclusions: The fruits produced using the SIRDF doses had lower °Brix than the Cayena Lisa and MD pineapples. A 56-58 t ha-1 volume of fruit can be produced. This study proves that the doses established by the SIRDF had positive results for the improvement of the Cabezona pineapple production in Tabasco, Mexico.

No abstract

Objetivo: Obtener y caracterizar un material biodegradable, utilizando como materia prima el almidón del fruto del pan de sopa (Artocarpus altillis (s. park) fosberg) Diseño/metodología/aproximación: Se extrajo el almidón del fruto del pan de sopa por el método húmedo. El almidón seco, se mezcló con glicerol, agua y HCl 1N aproximadamente a 75 °C hasta obtener un bioplástico, el cual se caracterizó por espectroscopia de FT-IR y SEM-EDX. Resultados: El mayor contenido de almidón se obtiene en la etapa intermedia de desarrollo del fruto (verde-maduro) con un 10% de rendimiento. Se realizaron pruebas de infrarrojo y SEM-EDX, tanto del almidón como del bioplástico obtenido. El SEM-EDX mostró que para el almidón el diámetro de granulo promedio es entre 2.5 ± 0.2 a 8.4 ± 0.2 µm con una geometría de tipo esférica, con cortes en direcciones aleatorias. Limitaciones del estudio/implicaciones: No se observan limitaciones tecnológicas importantes, pero si implicaciones que impactan en el desarrollo acelerado del comercio de bioplásticos. Hallazgos/conclusiones: Se aisló almidón del fruto pan de sopa y se caracterizó con técnicas de Infrarrojo y SEM-EDX. Se obtuvo un material bioplástico a partir del almidón, empleando como plastificante glicerol y agua, encontrándose que la proporción (1:10, almidón:agua)  genera un material con las mejores características de termoplástico.

Objective: Obtaining films from a vegetable biopolymer from the peel (a by-product) of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) (BPM) and contribute to reduce the environmental pollution generated by the consumption of petroleum-derived plastics.Design / methodology / approach: By acid hydrolysis at four concentrations of citric acid (0, 1, 2, and 3 %), pectin was extracted of passion fruit peels, making a paste mixture with glycerol. The obtained biofilms with an approximate 1 mm thickness wereNcharacterized by transformed Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with coupled elemental analyzer (EDS).Results: XRD diffractograms revealed that passion fruit bioplastic had a semi-crystalline structure and a calculated crystallinity index of 74.6 %. Its value reduced by the half as the citric acid increased concentration, the samples with lower concentration with greater flexibility (1 %). FTIR analysis suggested alterations in the BMP structures and adecrease of methoxyl groups in the polymeric chains with the increasing in citric acid content. Limitations/implications: SEM micrographs showed homogeneity in the films, although with some granular irregularities and folding.Findings/conclusions: The increase in citric acid concentration decreased the degree of gelation in the writing of the obtained biofilms, suggested by EDS and FTIR results, with a consequent reduced flexibility of the GMP films.

Objective: To evaluate the anthelmintic activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Musa balbisiana Colla, against H. contortus eggs. Design / methodology / approach: The anthelmintic activity was evaluated using an egg hatching inhibition test. The aqueous extracts from leaves, peels and roots were obtained by infusion and subsequently lyophilized. Ethanolic extracts were obtained by maceration and later concentrated in a rotary evaporator. Spectroscopic, phytochemical, chemical and total polyphenol content analyzes were performed. The 50 % lethal concentration to inhibit H. contortus eggs from hatching was calculated following a Probit analysis. Results: The identified functional groups in the FT-IR analysis were hydroxyl (-OH) and methyl groups (CH3). The proximal analysis revealed significant differences in the dry matter percentage (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in the protein content (P > 0.05). The egg hatching inhibition rates at the highest concentration 4.8 mg / mL were 100 % for the aqueous and ethanolic extracts from leaves, and 93.7 and 62 % for the shell and roots, respectively. Study limitations / implications: Further studies are required in in vivo systems. Findings / Conclusions: With a LC50 of 225 µg / mL and a 95 % confidence interval, with a range between 33 and 418.4 µg / mL, the aqueous extract from the leaves was the most active.