The cost of highly soluble fertilizers has increased in recent years, impacting on the economic profitability of crops grown in greenhouse hydroponic systems. The aim was to evaluate water and macronutrient consumption in tomato plants, to compare the yield when using a nutrient solution made with low-cost, poorly soluble fertilizers versus a high-cost, highly soluble conventional formulation, and to compare the use of a conventional nutrient solution at different concentrations. An ‘El Cid’ tomato crop cycle of 85 days from transplanting to harvest was established. Two nutrient solution formulations (conventional and alternative) were tested at two concentrations (100 and 80 %). Morphological variables, dry matter weight, yield, and nutrient dynamics of N, P, K, Ca and Mg were evaluated. A randomized complete block design with six replications was used. Treatments with conventional formulations had higher yields than those managed with less soluble sources (2.12 vs. 1.62 kg∙plant^-1). The 80 % conventional formulation, with a yield of 2.11 kg∙plant-1, was the most cost-effective. To produce 1 kg of fruit, plants consumed 28.4 L of water and absorbed 1.58 g of N, 0.70 g of P, 3.17 g of K, 1.51 g of Ca and 0.60 g of Mg.

In Mexico, tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivation is of great economic and social importance; however, the generation of innovative national varieties is limited. This research aimed to determine the agronomic potential and fruit quality of 29 F₅ tomato lines with indeterminate growth habit (IGH) and round fruit, for their possible commercial use and as a source of germplasm for breeding. The 29 lines and the commercial variety Caimán (used as a control) were evaluated in a hydroponic greenhouse system during two growing cycles (2020 and 2021), under a randomized complete block experimental design with three replications. Phenological data, physical and fruit quality traits, and total number and weight of fruits per plant were recorded. An analysis of variance, a comparison of means (Tukey, P ≤ 0.05) and a Pearson correlation analysis were performed. Significant differences were found among lines in days to flowering and ripening, length, diameter, weight, firmness, soluble solids content, and total number and weight of fruits. Outstanding lines were identified in earliness, yield and fruit quality, making them suitable for fresh consumption. Twenty-eight genotypes showed no significant differences in yield with respect to the control, while line 21136 outperformed it with a 34.9 % higher yield (P ≤ 0.05), suggesting its potential to be used as a commercial variety or as a source of germplasm in breeding programs.

In Tamaulipas, citrus production faces a phytosanitary risk due to the presence of Anastrepha ludens (Loew,1873), Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart, 1835), Anastrepha serpentina (Wiedemann, 1830), and Anastrepha striata (Schiner, 1868), since the females of these species oviposit inside the fruit, and the larval instars feed on them. However, the population fluctuation of these four species in the citrus-growing region of Tamaulipas remains unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the population fluctuation of A. ludens, A. obliquas, A. serpentina, and A. striata in Early orange (Citrus sinensis var. Navelina), Valencia orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) and Red grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macfad var. Red Blush) cultivars in the municipalities of Güémez, Llera de Canales, Padilla and Victoria, Tamaulipas. To accomplish this, Multilure traps baited with hydrolyzed protein were deployed for 52 weeks, and the number of captured adults was recorded to calculate the FTD (Flies/Trap/Day) index. The data were then analyzed using analysis of variance and the Kruskal-Wallis test to assess differences among crops. The results showed that the average capture rates of A. ludens, A. serpentina and A. striata were similar in three citrus varieties, while the abundance of A. obliquas was significantly different in Valencia orange crop. Additionally, A. obliquas, A. serpentina and A. striata were recorded from January to August, whereas A. ludens was present from January to December, with peak abundance in March, May and October.

El éxito de la propagación vegetativa de pitahaya depende de factores endógenos y exógenos, como el tamaño de esqueje, la aplicación de reguladores de crecimiento de tipo auxínico y el sustrato. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto de auxinas (ácido naftalenoacético [ANA] y ácido indolbutírico [AIB]) y diferentes sustratos sobre el enraizamiento de esquejes de distintos tamaños en la variedad de pulpa roja ‘Physical Graffiti’ de pitahaya. Se empleó un diseño factorial 3×2×3, donde los factores estudiados fueron: concentración de auxinas ANA + AIB (0, 20 + 5 y 40 + 10 ppm), tamaño de esquejes (20 y 40 cm) y tipo de sustrato (arena, arena:vermicompost [1:1, p/p] y vermicompost). Se evaluaron la longitud y el número de raíces, así como la biomasa fresca y seca de raíces y de esquejes. Se realizaron análisis de varianza, comparaciones múltiples de medias (Tukey) y correlaciones de Pearson. La inmersión de esquejes de 20 cm de largo en la solución de 20 ppm de ANA + 5 ppm de AIB por 30 s y el uso de arena:vermicompost como sustrato promovieron el mayor crecimiento de raíces, tanto en longitud (15.8 cm), número (80.5), biomasa fresca (8.6 g) y seca (3.3 g). La combinación de AIB + ANA en sustratos mixtos representa una opción viable para optimizar la propagación por esquejes de la pitahaya de pulpa roja ‘Physical Graffiti’.