José Luis Estrada-Rodríguez

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a globally important vegetable, prized for its nutritional value and antioxidant content. Given the increasing demand for foods with health-promoting properties and the need for sustainable production practices, this study evaluated the impact of different growth substrates combined with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) inoculation on the yield and nutraceutical quality of greenhouse tomatoes grown in a semi-hydroponic system. ‘Nereida’ variety saladette tomato plants were either inoculated with a single PGPR consortium (1 × 10⁸ CFU mL⁻¹) or uninoculated. Three substrates were used: a chemical fertilization control and a sand-vermicompost mixture with two inherent levels of phosphorus (253 and 442 ppm). The chemically fertilized substrate without inoculation served as the control treatment. The results indicated that the chemically fertilized substrate presented a significantly higher yield per square meter (p < 0.05), reaching values of 5.20 ± 0.70 kg m⁻² and 4.83 ± 0.35 kg m⁻² in the control treatment. However, fruits grown in the vermicompost-based substrate with higher phosphorus content (442 ppm) and PGPR inoculation exhibited significantly greater antioxidant capacity (54.16 µmol TE g⁻¹ FW) and higher concentrations of vitamin C (14.03 mg·100 g⁻¹ FW), lycopene (47.68 mg·100 g⁻¹ FW), flavonoids, carotenoids, and glutathione. This represented an increase of 28–45% in bioactive compounds including lycopene, vitamin C, flavonoids, carotenoids, and glutathione compared to the chemical control. While the interaction between substrate and inoculation was significant only for soluble solids, both factors independently and additively contributed to the enhancement of nutraceutical parameters. These findings suggest that the use of vermicompost-based substrates, particularly those with higher phosphorus content, in combination with PGPR inoculation, is a promising strategy to enhance the accumulation of health-promoting bioactive compounds in tomato fruits, despite a trade-off in total yield.

This paper describes a new genus and species of stygobitic gastropod from a small groundwater-fed spring in Los Chorros, Coahuila, northern Mexico. Microphreatus saltillensis gen. et sp. nov. is described based on shell morphology, because so far, no living individuals could be obtained. Conchologically, the new genus can be well distinguished from all other subterranean genera by a unique combination of characteristic proto- and teleoconch features. We also reassigned into the new genus Balconorbis coronae (Hershler, 1987), a subterranean snail from Southwestern Texas, so that the new genus consists of two species. One of the most striking features of the new snail is its extremely small shell (about 0.73 mm shell width, 0.36 mm shell height) making the species probably the world’s smallest known freshwater gastropod. Microphreatus saltillensis gen. et sp. nov. is restricted in its distribution to a small water source in a touristic recreation area. This limited distribution and increased anthropogenic impacts make conservation efforts urgently necessary.

We describe two new species and a new record of stygobitic gastropods from small groundwater-fed springs in Candela, Coahuila, northern Mexico. Phreatomascogos garciasaucedoi n. sp. is described based on shell morphology and is the second species of this formerly monotypic genus. According to the current classification, we have transferred this genus to Cochliopidea. Phreatodrobia candelensis n. sp. is described, and represents the first record of the genus in Mexico extending its known range more than one hundred kilometers to the south. Also found with the new stygosnails was Coahuilix hubbsi Taylor, 1966, which was previously known only as an endemic species from the neighboring Cuatro Ciénegas valley. The reported new subterranean snails are restricted in their distributions to two small water sources only a few meters long which flow directly into a touristic zone with swimming pools and other recreation areas. Using NatureServe Ranking, both new species were assigned as critically imperiled. The very limited distribution and negative anthropogenic impacts within the sites should draw special conservation attention for the reported stygobionts.

A new monotypic genus of freshwater snail from late Holocene spring deposits in Viesca, Coahuila (Mexico), is described based on shell morphology. Spinopyrgus luismaedai n. gen. et n. sp. has two to three carinate shells with long and wide shovel-shaped spines, strong axial ridges and a pointed protoconch. All sculptural ornamentations on the teleoconch are part of the calcareous shell material and not projections of the periostracum. This combination of shell features and their almost ???marine-like??? appearance is unknown among North American recent and fossil freshwater snails. Because of its shell characteristics, we placed the new genus tentatively in the Cochliopidae. The springs of Viesca dried up in the second half of the 20th century so that any living occurrence of this species in neighboring areas is unlikely, rendering the new genus and species possibly extinct.

This paper describes a new genus and species of subterranean gastropod from a karstic region near Viesca, Coahuila in northern Mexico. Shells of Phreatoviesca spinosa gen. nov. et sp. nov. were found in spring-deposited sediments near the outlet of a cave that dried up in the late 20th century. The new genus can be primarily distinguished conchologically from other phreatic genera by three remarkable characteristics: (i) prominent open coiling of the last whorl, (ii) shovel-shaped spine ornamentations on the teleoconch, and (iii) a coarsely honeycomb-like pitted protoconch structure. Since only dry shells were found, the new species could already be extinct. However, in view of the relative recent drying up of the spring, we consider that Phreatoviesca spinosa is possibly extant in the aquifers in or adjacent to the Viesca region.

The industrial production and commercialization of distilled beverages from Sotol plants (Family: Asparagaceae, Subfamily: Zolinoideae and Genus: Dasylirion) has witnessed a steady growth in recent decades; this condition involves a greater use of the raw material that comes almost exclusively from natural populations, which could compromise the sustainability of the marginalized areas of Northern México. In the present work, habitat availability was evaluated for the presence and use of the species; Dasylirion wheeleri (S. Watson ex Rothr.), Dasylirion cedrosanum (Trelease), and Dasylirion durangense (Trelease) in México, considering different scenarios of climate change. For this purpose, we used the niche’s spatial analysis from a correlative approach. The results show that under the current climate, the species studied have a predominantly low habitat suitability in the central region of the Chihuahuan desert, with D. cedrosanum being the species with the lowest suitability. For the year 2050, a slight increase in the habitat suitability is expected only for D. durangense and D. wheeleri. This suggests that D. cedrosanum could be considered as the species with the greatest vulnerability to the possible climatic variations generated by global climate change. Likewise, the analysis of the results indicates that D. durangense is the one who has the greatest potential for use; however, it is necessary to consider that many of its populations may be climatically stressed and an inappropriate use could put them at risk.

We present an updated checklist of native Mexican freshwater gastropods with data on their general distribution, hotspots of endemicity, threats, and for the first time, their estimated conservation status. The list contains 193 species,representing 13 families and 61 genera. Of these, 103 species (53.4%) and 12 genera are endemic to Mexico, and 75 species are considered local endemics because of their restricted distribution to very small areas. Using NatureServeRanking, 9 species (4.7%) are considered possibly or presumably extinct, 40 (20.7%) are critically imperiled, 30 (15.5%) are imperiled, 15 (7.8%) are vulnerable and only 64 (33.2%) are currently stable. With 61 species in 21genera, the Cochliopidae are the most diverse family, followed by the Planorbidae (37 species) and Pachychilidae (31). Pachychilus is the most species-rich genus with 30 species. Despite the high number of imperiled species (84), only 7 species (3.6%) are currently listed as endangered by the Mexican Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources. We identified 3 hotspots and 2 potential centers of gastropod endemicity. Our research serves as a first step for determining priority areas for conservation of imperiled Mexican freshwater gastropods.

This paper describes a new genus, two new species and new records of subterranean gastropods from the Sabinas and Álamos River, Coahuila, and the Nazas River, Durango, in northern Mexico.Phreatomascogosgregoigen. n. et sp. n.from Don Martín Basin, Coahuila, is described based on shells and opercula that show some morphological similarities with shells ofPhreatodrobiaHershler & Longley, 1986 (Lithoglyphidae), which is a subterranean genus from neighboring area in Texas, United States. Conchologically, the new genus can be distinguished fromPhreatodrobiaand all other subterranean genera by a unique combination of characteristic shell morphology and opercula apomorphies.Balconorbissabinasensesp. n.(Cochliopidae) is the second species of this genus, which was previously known only from caves and associated subterranean habitats in Texas. The new record ofCoahuilixparrasense, Czaja, Estrada-Rodríguez, Romero-Méndez, Ávila-Rodríguez, Meza-Sánchez & Covich, 2017 (Cochliopidae) from Durango and Coahuila is the first record of extant member of this genus out of its hitherto known habitat in the Cuatro Ciénegas basin, Coahuila. These records are remarkable becauseC.parrasensehad been described recently as a fossil species. Shell morphologies of the new subterranean snails could be interpreted as possible evolutional adaptations to different hydrodynamic and other specific conditions in their habitat.

It has frequently been reported that species with strong niche conservatism will not be able to adapt to new climatic conditions, so they must migrate or go extinct. We have evaluated the shifts in climatic niche occupation of the species Astrophytum coahuilense and its potential distribution in Mexico. We understand niche occupation as the geographic zones with available habitats and with the presence of the species. To assess shifts in climatic niche occupation, we used niche overlap analysis, while potential distribution modeling was performed based on the principle of maximum entropy. The results indicate that this species presents a limited amplitude in its climate niche. This restriction of the climatic niche of A. coahuilense limits its ability to colonize new geographical areas with different climatic environments. On the other hand, the potential distribution models obtained from the present study allow us to identify potential zones based on the climatic requirements of the species. This information is important to identify high priority areas for the conservation of A. coahuilense.