Juan Arturo Ragazzo-Sánchez

El objetivo fue formular insecticidas a base de Larrea tridentata, Allium sativum y Melia azedarach L. para el control de Trialeurodes vaporariorum. Las muestras fueron secadas (40 °C). Se utilizó la extracción asistida por ultrasonido (30 min a 42 kHz). Se formularon 4 insecticidas a partir de los extractos en una disolución acuosa al 1 % (v/v); Larrea tridentata (1), Allium sativum (2), Melia azedarach (3) y la mezcla de los anteriores (4) a la misma proporción (33.33 %). Las formulaciones se caracterizaron fisicoquímicamente, así como la actividad insecticida. Se realizó la caracterización fitoquímica tentativa por máximos de absorción y la fisiológica del estrés vegetal en plantas de Helianthus annuus con Trialeurodes vaporariorum. Se evaluó la mortalidad en Apis mellifera. Los valores de pH se mantuvieron en 4.68 y 6.10, la conductividad fue < 65.62 μS/cm, los SST fueron < 0.2°Bx y los insecticidas se mantuvieron estables (> 91 d). Los insecticidas resultaron efectivos manteniendo una repelencia hasta el 40 % desde las 240 h. De acuerdo con la toxicidad aguda, los insecticidas mostraron un efecto significativo debido al 100 % de supervivencia de Apis mellifera. Los insecticidas presentaron estabilidad fisicoquímica, y capacidad para el control de Trialeurodes vaporariorum.

1. The development of new formulations for the control of phytopathogenic fungi in agriculture is a priority area of research, especially in light of growing concerns about the environmental and to...

The research focused on the thermal decomposition characteristics and the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of hexane extracts from Coccoloba uvifera leaf (CU), Byrsonima crassifolia bark (BYR), and Bursera copallifera resin (BUR). Additionally, it explored the relationship between these thermal properties and radical-scavenging activity (RSA). The preexponential factor (A), activation energy (Ea), enthalpy (ΔH), entropy (ΔS), and Gibbs free energy (ΔG) were obtained via the Coats–Redfern method. The CU extract showed higher RSA than the BYR and BUR extracts. In thermal analysis, the BYR and BUR extracts had two mass-loss events, whereas the CU extract had three. BUR had the lowest Ea, A, ΔH, and ΔS values, coinciding with its low RSA. Meanwhile, in CU, these parameters had the highest values. The thermal decomposition of the extracts was an endothermic process. Variations in the thermal profile were associated with composition and RSA.

Mango leaves (Mangifera indica), an underutilized residue, represent a promising source of functional proteins with potential applications in emulsion-based delivery systems. Leaf protein concentrate (LPC) was extracted and modified by high-intensity ultrasound (HIU) to enhance its techno-functional properties. The modified protein was subsequently used as a natural emulsifier to develop oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions enriched with Curatella americana leaf extract, a phenolic-rich source of antioxidant bioactive compounds. Ultrasound-assisted emulsification (UAEm) conditions were optimized using a Box–Behnken experimental design, evaluating the effects of protein concentration (0.5, 1, and 1.5%), oil-to-water ratio (1:4, 1:4.5, and 1:5, mL:mL), and sonication time (2.5, 5, and 7.5 min) on droplet size (D_[4,3], µm). The optimized formulation consisted of 1.5% protein, an O/W ratio of 1:4 mL, and a time of 7.5 min, producing an emulsion with a droplet diameter of 7.23 µm. The emulsions exhibited high resistance to storage, pH variation (2–10), ionic strength (100–500 mM NaCl), and thermal treatments up to 50 °C. Additionally, incorporating C. americana extract enhanced thermal stability, photostability, and antioxidant retention under UV exposure, suggesting the formation of reinforcing protein–polyphenol interactions. These findings demonstrate the potential of mango leaf protein as a sustainable emulsifier and protective carrier for sensitive bioactive compounds, supporting its application in functional food and nutraceutical formulations.

In this study, mango fruit trees cv. Kent (Mangifera indica L.) grown in Nayarit, Mexico, during the 2024 and 2025 seasons were preharvest-treated with four applications of microencapsulated Meyerozyma guilliermondii LMA-Cp01 (0.4 g L⁻¹), either alone or combined with sodium benzoate (SB, 1 g L⁻¹) to manage anthracnose disease. Benomyl served as a positive control, while untreated trees were considered negative controls. The impact of preharvest treatments on mango trees’ flowering and bud development was examined, and population dynamics of M. guilliermondii on flowers and fruit surfaces were monitored. Postharvest evaluations included natural anthracnose incidence, severity index, and fruit quality under two storage conditions. Flowering and bud development were unaffected by any treatment. M. guilliermondii successfully adhered to and colonized flower and fruit surfaces, maintaining its viability throughout the experiments. All tested treatments significantly reduced anthracnose incidence and severity. Individually, microencapsulated M. guilliermondii or SB showed limited efficacy, whereas their combination demonstrated additive and synergistic effects, achieving higher anthracnose reduction. Combined treatments performed comparably to Benomyl across both seasons. Postharvest spraying did not enhance bio-efficacy beyond preharvest applications. Overall, the biofungicide combining M. guilliermondii with SB consistently reduced anthracnose and maintained fruit quality, representing a promising alternative to chemical fungicides for sustainable mango production.

The presence of fungi in common bean seeds is a recurring problem that compromises the physiological and sanitary quality of the plant material. In this context, antagonistic yeasts are presented as a sustainable alternative, but their application is limited due to their low stability during storage. Then, encapsulated bioformulations that preserve their viability and facilitate their use need to be developed. In this regard, the solution blow spraying technique is an aerohydrodynamic process that promotes the formation of microcapsules and preserves the viability of the encapsulated yeasts. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of antagonistic yeasts encapsulated by solution blow spraying for controlling fungi in bean seeds. Five yeasts were preliminarily evaluated by in-vitro tests against fungi associated with bean seeds. After selecting the three yeasts to be tested on seeds, they were applied both in fresh and encapsulated form to evaluate their antifungal efficacy and verify that they did not affect seed germination or vigor. The results showed that Meyerozyma guilliermondii,Meyerozyma caribbica, and Yamadazyma mexicana had the greatest antagonistic potential against the evaluated fungi. The application of these yeasts, both fresh and encapsulated, reduced pathogen incidence during storage without affecting seed germination or vigor. These findings support the use of encapsulated antagonistic yeasts as a sustainable strategy for managing fungi in bean seeds.