The cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var botrytis L.) has received increased interest due to its high price and high demand. The study aimed to assess the effect of planting time and plant spacing on the growth and yield of cauliflower plants intercropped with sweet corn under high-temperature conditions in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. The main plot consisted of three different sweet corn planting times: four weeks before cauliflower planting, two weeks before cauliflower planting and simultaneous planting with cauliflower. In the sub-plots three different plant spacing distances were used for sweet corn: J1 = 60 cm, J2 = 30 cm and J3 = 20 cm. Variables analyzed in this study were air temperature, leaf area, plant dry weight, curd weight, curd diameter and curd yield. Results showed that planting sweet corn two weeks before transplanting the cauliflower and the J1 distance gave an air temperature, in the cauliflower plant canopy, suitable for leaf area growth and an increase in both plant dry weight and caul flower curd yield (4.18 and 5.07 t∙ha^-1).

The low quality of the apple produced in Querétaro, Mexico, impedes its efficient fresh marketing. One possible solution to this problem is to produce champagne-type sparkling cider. Therefore, the objective of this work was to select strains of Saccharomyces yeasts isolated from apple varieties of the region, based on desirable traits to make sparkling ciders. To select the yeasts, we induced the spontaneous fermentation of the must of 14 varieties, from which 135 strains (102 Saccharomyces spp.) were isolated and three (MM7, 436.4 and RY5) were selected, all with killer phenotype, β-glucosidase activity, tolerance to 8 % ethanol and 50 mg∙L^-1 of SO2, a different degree of flocculation and with the ability to produce more than 3 atm of pressure in the bottle. With MM7, a base cider of good quality was obtained (glucose < 2 g∙L^-1, pH 3.57, total titratable acidity of 4.03 g∙L^-1 and volatile acidity of 0.27 g∙L^-1). For the second fermentation, the base ciders made with MM7 were bottled, 15 g∙L^-1 of sucrose were added and then they were inoculated separately with MM7, 436.4, RY5 or K1-V1116. By day 21, they all reached about 6 atm of pressure. Sensorially, ciders made with MM7 stood out in effervescence speed, and those made with RY5 in taste acceptability. The amplification and sequencing of the ITS1/ITS4 domain identified MM7 and 436.4 as S. cerevisiae, and RY5 as S. paradoxus. The selected yeasts showed desirable traits for the production of quality sparkling ciders typical of the region.

The effect of salicylic acid (SA) and progesterone (P4) on physiological and biochemical parameters of Kentucky bluegrass under salinity stress was assessed. A factorial experiment was established based on a randomized complete block design with four replications, under greenhouse conditions. The experimental treatments included four levels of salinity (0, 2, 4 and 6 dS∙m-1) and two plant growth regulators (P4 and SA) at six levels including the control (1 and 10 mg∙L-1 P4, 1 and 3 mM SA, and 1 mg∙L-1 P4 + 1 mM SA). The increase in salinity impaired the quality of grass, but SA and P4 application alleviated the impacts of salinity and ameliorated the quality of grasses under salinity. The highest electrolyte leakage was observed under 6 dS.m-1 salinity and 3 mM SA. The application of SA and P4 improved the carotenoid content in bluegrass subjected to saline stress compared to plants not treated with growth regulators. The highest total chlorophyll content was obtained from 2 dS∙m-1 salinity and 10 mg∙L-1 P4. Leaf proline content was increased with salinity level. However, slight differences existed between different levels of growth regulators. The SA and P4 increased proline content. Salinity increased the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the grass from 12 to 50 %, and growth regulators helped to reduce this concentration. Also, an increase in peroxidase activity with 6 dS∙m-1 salinity was observed when SA and P4 were applied simultaneously. Overall, it was observed that SA and P4 increased salinity tolerance through enhancing grass quality, chlorophyll, and carotenoid content and scavenging free oxygen radicals through influencing antioxidant enzymes.