Calcium Oxalate and Other Cladode Features in Opuntia ficus-indica Resistant Cultivars to Dactylopius coccus Costa

Multipurpose cactus pear plant with great potential as a source of food and livestock faced a threat from Dactylopius spp in different countries. Specifically, D. coccus is an important pest damaging significant areas in Tigray-Ethiopia. Using pest-resistant cultivars is an important element of an integrated pest management strategy, and studying the mechanisms of resistance is vital. It can be chemical or physical such as oxalate crystals and other cladode characteristics. Cladode features of six cultivars (three O. ficus-indica, two O. cochenillifera, and one O. robusta) were examined for resistance to D. coccus in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. ‘Rojo Pelón’ (O. ficus-indica), ‘Robusta’ (O. robusta), and ‘Bioplástico’ (O. cochenillifera) are resistant cultivars;and ‘Atlixco’ and ‘Chicomostoc’ (O. ficus-indica) and ‘Nopalea’ (O. cochenillifera) are susceptible. Cultivars showed a significant difference in cladode weight in g, and cladode length, cladode width, and cladode thickness in cm, where cladode thickness was higher in ‘Rojo Pelón’ followed by ‘Robusta’. Calcium oxalates number per mm was higher in ‘Bioplástico’ (20.7 ± 2.08) followed by ‘Robusta’ (18.9 ± 2.31) and ‘Rojo Pelón’ (15.9 ± 0.34);and similarly, epidermis thickness found higher in ‘Bioplástico’ (0.21 ± 0.032) and ‘Robusta’ (0.19 ± 0.014), but similar with ‘Rojo Pelón’ (0.18 ± 0.026). However, cuticle thickness didn’t show a difference among cultivars. Cladode thickness, calcium oxalate number, and epidermis thickness had positive correlations with resistance. These results demonstrate that calcium oxalate number and epidermis thickness might have a positive role in D. coccus resistance in O. ficus-indica. This feeding-barring role and the insect-plant interaction need to be studied.

Spectrofluorometric Study of the Inclusion Complexation of Fluorescent Whitening Agents and β-Cyclodextrins

The inclusion complexation behavior of 2,5-Bis(5-tert-butyl-benzoxazol-2yl)-thiophene (UVOB) with native β-cyclodextrin (βCD) and βCD-monochlorotriazinyl (βCD-MCT) was evaluated by fluorescence spectroscopy. The association constant (Ks), stoichiometry, , and were evaluated at 25℃ ± 0.1℃ in phosphate buffer solution (pH = 10.5, 0.1 mo•dm–3) in order to find out the complex formation ability and stability. Fluorescence enhancement for UVOB and UVBNB with both CDs has been observed as a result of the complex formation. A stoichiometry 1:1 for UVOB in both CDs was observed;a stoichiometry 3:1 for UVBNB in both CDs has been observed. The Ksvalues for UVOB were 4916 ± 137 M–1 and 655 ± 19 M–1 (acetone: water 90/10, v/v) with βCD and βCD-MCT, respectively. The value obtained indicates a spontaneous and stable complex formation, but the complex βCD-UVOB showed high Ks value as an indicative of a high concentration of complex formed. Additionally, Ks and thermodynamic parameters and were evaluated in a commercial product UVBNB (UVOB, 13%, v/v). In aqueous solution, the values obtained were 2552 ± 115 and 1787 ± 75 M–1 respectively. Complexation of UVOB with CDs is an interesting approach for utilization of UVOB in aqueous systems without the need of solvents and or surfactants used in commercial product (UVBNB).

Composting of Food and Yard Wastes under the Static Aerated Pile Method

This work presents the results that were obtained in a commercial composting plant where food (149,690 kg) and yard wastes (144,520 kg) were used as raw materials for its stabilization under the aerated static pile (ASP) method as an alternative to the mechanically mixed windrow method to solve problems of flies and odor nuisance complaints. In a pile of approximately 498 m3, the change in temperature was the main parameter that was evaluated during 49 days of positive forced aeration. Subsequently, a part of the material of the ASP (62 m3) was subjected to a curing period for 44 days recording changes in temperature and humidity. The results of carbon dioxide and volatile ammonia emissions analyses (NH3) and of a bioassay to screen for the presence of phytotoxic conditions showed a very mature compost with an emergence > 90% and a seedling vigor > 95%.

Use of By-Products from the Tequila Industry. Part 12: Composted Agave Bagasse for Growing Grape Tomatoes

Here, we evaluated the possibility of growing grape tomatoes on three different mixtures of composted agave bagasse substrate. Tomatoes were grown in 28-L pots for 106 days under a drip irrigation system with a hydroponic crop nutrient solution. The average production of grape tomatoes was 338.9, 358.9, and 325.7 g/pot/cut for each of the substrates studied, and no significant difference was observed between treatments (p > 0.5). The mean of numbers of grape tomatoes were 34.6, 38.8, and 34.2/pot/cut for each of the substrates studied, and no significant difference was observed between treatments (p > 0.5). The mean weight of individual grape tomatoes was about 10.4 g for all of the substrates tested. These results confirmed the notion that a composted agave bagasse substrate could replace an expensive imported substrate. The remaining challenge is to produce agave bagasse substrate commercially, because to date, agave bagasse substrates have only been produced on a pilot scale for testing. Therefore, it is necessary to implement a stabilized process for producing agave bagasse at a commercial level. This process must consider economic production costs and market value to ensure that the product is competitive with other substrates typically used in soilless crops.

Recycling Agave Bagasse of the Tequila Industry

This paper presents an overview of different handling systems and use of the agave bagasse. These systems have appeared from different research works always taking in account the environmental sustainability. It is mentioned that the agave bagasse can be used for animal feeding, for the elaboration of compound materials, as an element for agricultural and hydroponic vegetables cultivation purposes, and also as a means to treat biosolids, vinasses, and bagasses of slaughterhouses and tanneries.