This review focuses on the potential of halophytes for food, fodder and biofuels production, as well as their impacts on the environment and societies. Moreover, to open new areas in production systems using novel technologies such as halophytes in a desert agriculture. We are faced with the crisis and the shortage of freshwater in arid, semi-arid and desert regions. For this reason, we have to apply sustainable systems for human food, fodder and biofuels. Halophytes are naturally resistant to salt and develop on the coastal coast and arid-saline areas. We present a complete summary of the current situation of human population growth and food demand, a sustainable alternative such as halophilic crops of agro-industrial importance compared with conventional crops and how they can be incorporated into agriculture sustainable in arid, desert and coastal areas, basing the above on success stories.

Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs), es una bacteria fitopatógena de gran importancia a nivel mundial conocida por provocar la enfermedad de la marchitez bacteriana. Esta es una enfermedad que devasta numerosos cultivos, entre ellos se encuentra la papa. Con el propósito de encontrar una alternativa natural para controlar la bacteria Rs, se evaluó el poder bactericida de los aceites esenciales de orégano (Thymus vulgaris) y tomillo (Lippia graveolens). La técnica utilizada para el análisis de la actividad antibacteriana fue la difusión en agar, utilizando discos de papel filtro estériles, se evaluaron 3 diferentes diluciones (1:1, 1:5 y 1:10) y se colocaron 7.5, 10 y 15 μl de cada una de las concentraciones de los aceites. Se utilizó alcohol al 70% en uno de los discos de papel filtro como control negativo. Además, se utilizó como control positivo un disco de estreptomicina (10 μg/disco) y otro de ampicilina (10 μg/disco). Se utilizó medio de cultivo agar dextrosa y papa previamente inoculado con la cepa en estudio. Después de la incubación, se midieron los halos de inhibición del crecimiento bacteriano en milímetros. Los análisis fueron por triplicado. Los aceites esenciales de orégano y tomillo mostraron efectos inhibitorios sobre el crecimiento de Rs en la dilución 1:1 que resulto ser más efectiva que el resto de las diluciones evaluadas, y la cantidad aplicada más efectiva fue de 15 μl de aceite esencial de orégano y tomillo en comparación de los antibióticos utilizados. Los aceites esenciales se podrían considerar como una alternativa para el control de Rs en plantas.  

Disordered iron oxide thin-films synthesized from grain-oriented iron foils were grown on both glass and Si (100) n-type substrates by vacuum evaporation followed by thermal oxidation at low temperatures. Defects such as vacancies formation has been studied using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Raman Spectroscopy. The kinetic of oxidation as a function of surface parameters was investigated by AFM studies. The vibrational modes (bands) connected with the vacancies formation and magnetic ordering into the iron oxide structure were validated by Raman spectroscopy. Space-charge effects can be influenced by discontinuous growth of iron oxide and correlated with their structure parameters. Finally, the disordered iron oxide will be useful for the next generation of adaptive oxide devices.

Worldwide, potato is considered the fourth most important crop for human consumption. In recent years, in some regions of the USA and Canada, the bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs), called bacterial wilt (Mb), has caused serious damage. Given the proximity of these countries, with Mexico as a tuber importer, the odds of an eventual introduction of these diseases are significant, especially in areas with large tracts of potato. Therefore, this research was performed to detect the presence of Rs in tuber and vegetative material of Solanum tuberosum and evaluated the bactericidal effect of essential oils. The results indicated that the presence of the bacterium Rs was negative in tuber from abroad. Nevertheless, we detected the presence of the causal agent of bacterial wilt in potatoes for domestic consumption that producers could use these tubers as production material. Oils of oregano and thyme showed inhibitory effects on the growth of Rs. Essential oils are considered as an alternative for the control of Rs.