Liliana Saraí Muñoz Ramírez

Nixtamalization is an ancestral process with significant influence on Mexican culture and gastronomy, particularly in corn-based foods. To achieve a high-quality product, corn kernels must meet specific criteria prior to nixtamalization. This study aimed to evaluate eight accessions of native Mexican maize and two commercial hybrid maize cultivars for nixtamalization, in accordance with NMX-FF-034/1-SCFI-2020 standards. The accessions examined were Amarillo Zamorano 1 (AMZA1), Amarillo Zamorano 2 (AMZA2), Criollo Rojo Pozolero Tepatitlán (CRPT), Negro Jalisco (NJ), Negro Michoacán 1(NM1), Negro Michoacán 2 (NM2), Rojo Occidente Pozolero (ROP), Tabloncillo Ahumado (TAH), and the white (HBC) and yellow (HAC) commercial hybrid corns, which served as controls. The results showed significant differences (p= < 0.05) in parameters such as impurities (0.05-0.20%), broken kernels (0.08-1.28%), moisture (10.03-12.67%), hectoliter weight (65-76 kg/hl) and flotation index (58.67-99.67). The grains of the accessions were classified as very soft (AMZA1, AMZA2, CRPT, NJ, NM1, NM2 and ROP), soft (TAH and HAC) and intermediate soft (HBC). In conclusion, understanding the parameters for grain nixtamalization is essential. The findings demonstrate that the evaluated accessions can be adapted for nixtamalization, although protocol adjustments are necessary to accommodate their unique physical properties, underscoring their potential for both traditional and industrial applications.

Background/Objectives: Hylocereus undatus is a high-value crop whose conventional propagation is inefficient for commercial scaling. This study aimed to develop an optimized protocol for in vitro establishment and to define optimal plant growth regulator (PGR) formulations for shoot multiplication. Methods: methods involved testing six surface sterilization protocols using combinations of a surfactant, a systemic fungicide, ethanol, and sodium hypochlorite. Subsequently, nodal explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with ten different concentrations of benzylaminopurine (BAP) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), with morphogenic responses evaluated over 60 days. Results: We identified a sterilization treatment that achieved contamination-free cultures with high explant survival percentages. Shoot multiplication was strictly dependent on cytokinin supplementation, with the highest BAP concentration inducing maximal shoot proliferation, while lower concentrations favored shoot elongation. The inclusion of IBA demonstrated a synergistic effect; a balanced BAP–IBA combination optimized shoot proliferation and vigor, whereas a high auxin-to-cytokinin ratio severely repressed organogenesis. Conclusion: this research establishes a reproducible, two-phase protocol that integrates rigorous aseptic establishment with tailored PGR application, effectively balancing high multiplication with superior shoot morphology for the commercial micropropagation of pitahaya.

The Habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) is the main crop of the Yucatán Peninsula and is recognized and distinguished from other Habanero peppers cultivated elsewhere in the world due to its aroma, flavor, and high pungency, which is conferred by a group of compounds called capsaicinoids. These compounds are in high demand by various industries due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antimicrobial properties. The present study aimed to quantify capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin contents in 29 Habanero pepper hybrids cultivated under greenhouse conditions in Yucatán and to evaluate their pungency potential. Capsaicinoids were extracted from mature fruits using acetonitrile and quantified by HPLC with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). Capsaicin concentrations ranged from 19.95 to 73.55 mg g⁻¹ dry weight (DW), while dihydrocapsaicin varied from 4.57 to 14.36 mg g⁻¹ DW. Total capsaicinoid content differed significantly among hybrids, ranging from 27.33 to 85.05 mg g⁻¹ DW, corresponding to pungency levels between 439,979 and 1,369,360 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Hybrids H14, H15, and H3 exhibited exceptionally high pungency, exceeding 1.1 × 10⁶ SHU. The wide variability observed under uniform growing conditions indicates pronounced genotype-dependent differences in capsaicinoid accumulation and identifies promising hybrid materials for breeding programs and agro-industrial applications requiring elevated capsaicinoid content.

En el ámbito universitario, el uso de la IA sugiere desafíos relacionados con la privacidad de los datos, la transparencia de los algoritmos, la equidad en los procesos educativos y la posible deshumanización de la enseñanza. Esta investigación se enfocó en determinar las percepciones éticas, las actitudes y el patrón de uso de las herramientas de la IA por parte de los estudiantes de la licenciatura en administración del Centro Universitario de la Ciénega sede La Barca. Se utilizó un diseño mixto con un alcance descriptivo y exploratorio. La muestra fue de 40 estudiantes con un nivel de confianza del 95%. Se aplicó un instrumento de 13 ítems. En conclusión, tanto la IA como IAG son herramientas fundamentales y funcionales que se pueden emplear en la cotidianidad del entorno universitario, con un índice de adopción del 90% entre los estudiantes. La IA es una excelente aliada estratégica en el proceso de aprendizaje- enseñanza, pero para su correcta aplicación y uso se requiere que las instituciones de educación superior alfabeticen digital y éticamente al alumnado y profesorado. Además, se debe considerar la preocupación de los estudiantes sobre la privacidad, uso de datos personales y la propiedad intelectual.

Las tecnologías de la información y comunicación (TIC), forman parte de nuestra vida diaria y los recursos digitales son usados en diferentes ámbitos como el académico. El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar el grado de alfabetización digital de los estudiantes de la licenciatura en Agronegocios del Centro Universitario de la Ciénega sede La Barca. Se empleó un diseño metodológico cuantitativo, descriptivo, no experimental y transversal. La muestra fue de 76 estudiantes y se consideró un nivel de confianza del 95% y un error alfa del 5% para calcularla. Se utilizó el instrumento diseñado y validado por Gutiérrez-Castillo que consta de 44 ítems y está conformado por seis dimensiones. Prácticamente el 100% de los encuestados tienen un elevado conocimiento en el uso de las TIC y no les costaría mucho esfuerzo adaptarse a las nuevas tecnologías emergentes.

This study evaluated 29 F1 lines and the 11 genotypes of habanero peppers used in the crossbreeding program developed by the Scientific Research Center of Yucatan, México. A randomized complete block design with four repetitions was used. Eight plants of each of the genotypes were studied per block. A total of 22 qualitative and 18 quantitative descriptors established in the manuals of the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) and the National Service for Seed Inspection and Certification (SNICS) was used. The multiple correspondence analysis of the qualitative traits explained 38.2% of the total variability. The trait that contributed the most to the qualitative variability identified was the presence of anthocyanins in the node. Principal component analysis showed that the first two axes explained 85.1% of the total variability and that capsaicin content and fruit pericarp thickness were the major contributors to the variation recorded. Based on these results, four F1 hybrids of habanero pepper were selected because of their promising traits for the different markets, i.e., high productive potential and/or high pungency. These traits are described in the section on Results.

Knowledge of the reproductive biology of a species is fundamental in order to develop an efficient program of genetic improvement by hybridization. The viability of the pollen, anther dehiscence, receptivity of the stigma and the anthesis of 12 improved lines of Habanero pepper were studied to develop a cross-breeding program. Among the results, the greatest number of flowers in anthesis was quantified at 8:00 a.m. for most genotypes. The dehiscence of the anther differed significantly in stages evaluated, observing in flower buds 100% of the closed anthers. The receptivity was positive in all the stages evaluated (before, during and after anthesis) and in all the genotypes, the most outstanding being the genotype AKN-08, which presented 100% of receptivity in the three stages evaluated. The viability of the pollen varied among the different conservation times evaluated (0, 24 and 48 h) while the highest percentage of viability (80%) and the largest number of seeds per fruit (56) were obtained when recently collected pollen was used (0 time). These results will have an important repercussion on the improvement of the Habanero pepper by increasing the efficiency of the programs to obtain hybrids and/or improved varieties.

Somatic embryos (SE) of habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) represent persistent deformations in the shoot apical meristem (SAM), which inhibits their capacity to form organs and subsequently plants. In dicotyledonous plants, SAM is formed in the apex, between cotyledons and it plays a central role in postembryonic shoot organ formation. Based on the previous knowledge on the role of some families of gene in the formation, organization and maintenance of the SAM, the expression patterns of WUS, WOX2, NAM, STM, PIN1 and PIN7 genes were analysed, which would allow us to elucidate the possible implication of these genes in SAM deformations in the SE of C. chinense. The results show that the expression patterns of STM and PIN1 in the SE were completely opposite to the respective expression pattern obtained in zygotic embryos (ZE). Moreover, NAM and PIN7 showed an over accumulation of transcripts in SE, compared with ZE. This is the first time in the genus Capsicum that alterations in the expression pattern of key genes of the SE development are reported, as well as its possible implication in the persistent deformations of the SAM.

The variability and genetic parameters of seven agronomic characteristics were estimated for 11 genotypes, and high values of the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) of capsaicin content (CC) were obtained. Heritability (h ² ) was high for yield per plant (YP; 0.98) and CC (0.93). The principal components analysis (PCA) revealed that the first three components explained 94.02% of the total variation; therefore, genotypes with higher YP values and fruit weight (FW) (AKN-08, ASBC-09) were placed in quadrant I. Those with greater CC and lowest YP and FW (MBI-11, RES-05) were placed in quadrant II. The greatest fruit length (RNJ-04) was placed in quadrant III. Those with the greatest number of fruits per plant (NBA-06, RKI-01, RHC-02, RHN-03, NKA-07, and MSB-12) were placed in quadrant IV. The results showed that the genotypes studied comprise an excellent source of genetic material for Habanero pepper improvement programs.

The Yucatan Peninsula is recognized as the center of genetic diversity of Habanero peppers ( Capsicum chinense Jacq.), which can be distinguished from those cultivated in other regions of the world by their aroma, taste, and—most of all—by their pungency. We evaluated three commercial varieties of chili peppers reported as being the hottest in the world: ‘Bhut Jolokia’, ‘Trinidad Moruga Scorpion’, and ‘Carolina Reaper’. The aim of our study was to determine the behavior of the pungency when cultivated under the edaphoclimatic conditions of Yucatan. Our results show that the three varieties registered greater contents in comparison with those reported in other regions of the world. ‘Carolina Reaper’—considered to be the hottest variety in the world, with a pungency of 2,200,000 Scoville heat units (SHU)—when cultivated in Yucatan, had a pungency of 3,006,330 SHU, which was greater than all the other varieties analyzed.