Miguel Abud-Archila

Formulation of a liquid fertilizer for sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) using vermicompost leachate.

Leachate from vermicomposting contains large amounts of plant nutrients and can be used as liquid fertilizer, but normally diluted to avoid plant damage. The amount of nutrients applied is thus reduced so that an additional fertilizer is required. We investigated how dilution of vermicompost leachate combined with different concentrations of NPK triple 17 fertilizer, and polyoxyethylene tridecyl alcohol as dispersant and polyethylene nonylphenol as adherent to increase efficiency of fertilizer uptake, affected sorghum plant development. The vermicomposting leachate with pH 7.8 and electrolytic conductivity 2.6 dS m(-1), contained 834 mg K(+) l(-1), 247 mg NO(3)(-)l(-1) and 168 mg PO(4)(3-) l(-1), was free of pathogens and resulted in a 65 % germination index. Vermicompost leachate can be used as liquid fertilizer for the cultivation of sorghum without dilution and mixed with 140-170 g l(-1) of NPK triple 17 fertilizer and 2-3 ml(-1) of dispersant and 0-1 ml l(-1) adherent. It was found that vermicompost leachate stimulated plant development, but fertilization with NPK was required for maximum growth.

Sheep manure vermicompost supplemented with a native diazotrophic bacteria and mycorrhizas for maize cultivation

An orthogonal experimental design L9 (3(4)) with 10 repetitions was used to investigate the effect of Glomus claroideum (0, 1 or 2g(-1) plant), G. fasciculatum (0, 1 or 2g plant(-1)), native diazotrophic bacteria (0, 10(3) and 10(5) UFC ml(-1)) and sheep manure vermicompost (0%, 5% and 10% v/v) on maize plant growth, N and P in leaves and mycorrhization percent. Vermicompost explained most of the variation found for leaf number, wet weight, stem height, and diameter. Both mycorrhizas increased the plant wet weight but G. fasciculatum the most. Mycorrhization increased the P content, but not the N content. Mycorrhizal colonization increased when diazotrophic bacteria and vermicompost were added. It was found that weight of maize plants cultivated in peat moss amended with vermicompost increased when supplemented with G. fasciculatum and diazotrophic bacteria.

Growth, Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity in Chincuya (Annona purpurea Moc & Sesse ex Dunal) Cultivated with Vermicompost and Phosphate Rock

ABSTRACT The aim of this investigation was to determine the effect of vermicompost and phosphate rock on plant growth, total phenols, flavonoids, flavanones, and antioxidant activity in Annona purpurea Moc & Sesse ex Dunal leaves. Annona purpurea seedlings were planted according to factorial 32 experimental design with nine repetitions. The factors were vermicompost (0, 50, and 100 g plant−1) and phosphate rock (0 and 10 g plant−1). Plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, and chorophyll content were determined one month after application of the different treatments and total phenols, flavonols, flavanones, total flavonoids, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity in dry leaves after 4 months. Plant height and stem diameter increased by phosphate rock, but not by vermicompost. Total phenols in leaves decreased by vermicompost. Flavonol content decreased by rock phosphate, whereas flavanones increased by vermicompost. Antioxidant activity decreased by vermicompost addition.

INFLUENCIA DE LOS HONGOS MICORRIZICOS ARBUSCULARES SOBRE EL CRECIMIENTO DE VITRO PLÁNTULAS DE PINA (ANANAS COMOSUS (L.) MERR.) CON DIFERENTES NIVELES DE FOSFORO

El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar el efecto de dos hongos micorrizicos arbusculares (HMA) a diferentes concentraciones de fosforo sobre la sobrevivencia y el crecimiento de plantulas de pina {Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) obtenidas por micropropagacion. Las plantulas se multiplicaron masivamente en cultivos in vitro y se aclimataron gradualmente bajo un esquema de estres por temperatura en tres etapas secuenciales. Los efectos de los HMA y el fosforo no fueron significativos sobre la sobrevivencia y la altura de las plantulas, sin embargo, Glomus claroideum estimulo que las plantulas tuvieran mayor numero de hojas y peso seco. Los resultados sugieren que la altura de las plantulas fue mayor cuando fueron cultivadas con G. claroideum y 0,9 mM de fosforo.

Plant Growth and Sugars Content of Agave americana L. Cultivated with Vermicompost and Rock Phosphate and Inoculated with Penicillium sp. and Glomus fasciculatum

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of vermicompost, rock phosphate, Glomus fasciculatum (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi), and Penicillium sp. (phosphate solubilizing fungi) on growth; mycorrhization percent; fructan, sucrose, glucose, and fructose contents in leaves and stem of Agave americana L. Experiments were done according to an orthogonal experimental design L8 with four variables at two levels: vermicompost (0 or 10 g per plant), rock phosphate (0 or 1 g per plant), G. fasciculatum (0 or 1 × 106 spores per plant), and Penicillium sp. (0 or 1 × 109 spores per plant). Vermicompost affected stem dry weight; the fructan, glucose, and fructose in stem; and mycorrhization percent in roots. Rock phosphate and Penicillium sp. increased the mycorrhization percent. Co-inoculation of Penicillium sp. and G. fasciculatum increased A. americana plant growth. The results obtained suggested a synergistic interaction between the arbuscular mycorrhizic fungi and the phosphate solubilizing fungi.

Effects of Vermicompost and Vermiwash on Plant, Phenolic Content, and Anti-oxidant Activity of Mexican Pepperleaf (Piper auritum Kunth) Cultivated in Phosphate Rock Potting Media

ABSTRACT The aim of this investigation was to determine the effect of vermicompost, vermiwash, and phosphate rock on plant, total phenols, flavonoids, and anti-oxidant activity in Piper auritum Kunth leaves. P. auritum plants were obtained from cuttings and were planted according to the Box-Behnken experimental design with three repetitions at the central point. The factors and levels were vermicompost (10, 20, and 30 g plant−1), vermiwash (5, 10, and 15 mL plant−1), and phosphate rock (1, 2, and 3 g plant−1). Plant growth parameters (plant height, stem diameter, leaves number) and chlorophyll content were measured 1 month after treatment applications. Total phenols, total flavonoids, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical scavenging activity was measured after 4 months. Vermicompost, vermiwash, and phosphate rock had no statistically significant effect on plant growth. Plant height, stem diameter, leaves number, chlorophyll, innermost number, fresh weight stem, fresh weight leaves, fresh weight root, dry weight stem, dry weight leaves, and dry weight root were not different among treatments. Total phenolic compounds were statistically affected for both vermiwash and phosphoric rock (p < 0.05) and the anti-oxidant activity decreased by vermicompost addition. The application of 15 mL plant−1 vermiwash, 1 g phosphate rock, and 20 g vermicompost plant−1 increased the total phenol content.

Fatty Acids Profile, Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity in Elicited Callus ofThevetia peruviana (Pers.) K. Schum

The aim of this study was analyze the effect of jasmonic acid (JA) and abscisic acid (ABA) as elicitors on fatty acids profile (FAP), phenolic compounds (PC) and antioxidant capacity (AC) in callus of Thevetia peruviana. Schenk & Hildebrandt (SH) medium, supplemented with 2 mg/L 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic (2, 4-D) and 0.5 mg/L kinetin (KIN) was used for callus induction. The effect of JA (50, 75 and 100 μM) and ABA (10, 55 and 100 μM) on FAP, PC and AC were analyzed using a response surface design. A maximum of 2.8 mg/g of TPC was obtained with 100 plus 10 µM JA and ABA, respectively, whereas AC maximum (2.17 μg/mL) was obtained with 75 plus 100 µM JA and ABA, respectively. The FAP was affected for JA but not for ABA. JA increased cis-9, cis-12-octadecadienoic acid and decreased dodecanoic acid. Eight fatty acids were identified by GC-MS analysis and cis-9-octadecenoic acid (18:1) was the principal fatty acid reaching 76 % in treatment with 50 μM JA plus 55 μM ABA. In conclusion, JA may be used in T. peruviana callus culture for obtain oil with different fatty acids profile.

Vermicompost and Vermiwash Minimized the Influence of Salinity Stress on Growth Parameters in Potato Plants

ABSTRACT Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the fourth major crop worldwide after cereals. Some producers use irrigation water with high salinity, which consequently decreases the agronomic yield and potato quality. The aim of this investigation was to determine the effect of vermicompost and vermiwash on plant growth and tuber yield and characteristic traits in Solanum tuberosum L. plants and tubers subjected to salinity stress. A surface response experimental design with three replicates using a central point and 15 treatments was used with vermicompost at 300, 580, and 860 g plant−1; vermiwash at 5, 10, and 15 ml plant−1; and salinity stress with 15, 20, and 25 mM of NaCl levels. Plant physiological measurements included plant height (cm), stem diameter (mm), and plant fresh and plant dry weight (g). Six months after planting, measurements on tuber fresh weight, pH, electric conductivity, and °Brix were carried out. The addition of vermicompost and vermiwash minimized the influence of salinity stress on growth parameters and tuber characteristics in potato plants. Vermicompost (580 g plant−1) plus vermiwash (15 ml plant−1) induced a greater plant height and stem diameter. Plants amended with vermicompost (860 g plant−1), vermiwash (15 ml plant−1), and salinity stress (15 mM) had higher pH values, whereas electrical conductivity value in potato tubers decreased.

Sugarcane Molasse and Whey as Additives in the Silage of Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus [DC.] Stapf) Leaves

After extraction of essential oil from lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus [DC.] Stapf) leaves by steam distillation (heat treatment), large amounts of organic wastes are obtained. This by-product could easily be used as animal feed. The potential of sugarcane molasse and whey as additives to ensile lemongrass leaves was investigated. The vegetative material was obtained after essential oils were extracted from lemongrass leaves with steam distillation. Lemongrass leaves were chopped, mixed with sugarcane molasse and whey, placed in cylindrical plastic containers, hermetically closed. The experimental design for pH optimization was a response surface 3-level factorial design 3 2 with three replicates. Sugarcane molasse at 5, 10 and 15% (w/w) and whey at 20, 25 and 30% (w/w) were used. The pH of the silage decreased significantly in each treatment, but it was faster when sugarcane molasse was added. The lactic acid concentration was 2.8 g kg -1 DM in silage amended with 15% molasse plus 25% whey and was higher than in silage supplemented with commercial additive after 15 d. In conclusion, it was shown that lemongrass leaves obtained as by product after extracting essential oils can be effectively ensiled with whey and sugarcane molasse as additives inducing a faster production of lactic acid.

Plant growth regulators optimization for maximize shoots number in Agave americana L. by indirect organogenesis

Los protocolos actuales para la micropropagacion de Agave americana L. tienen limitaciones para su aplicacion comercial debido al bajo numero de plantas producidas por cada explante. La organogenesis indirecta podria ser una alternativa, sin embargo, es necesario optimizar los reguladores de crecimiento vegetal para maximizar el numero de plantas. El objetivo del trabajo fue optimizar la concentracion de acido 2,4-diclorofenoxiacetico (2,4-D) y de 6-bencil adenina (BA) sobre la induccion de callos embriogenicos en A. americana usando meristemos apicales como explante para maximizar el numero de brotes por callo, utilizando un diseno experimental de superficie de respuesta. Se utilizo el medio Murashige Skoog (MS) adicionado con 30 g l-1 de sacarosa, y con 0,11;0,18; 0,45 o 2,26 μM de 2,4-D, y 11,0; 22,0; 38,2 o 44,0 μM de BA. Se implementaron 9 tratamientos con 3 repeticiones y el numero de brotes por callo fue evaluado despues de 4, 16, 20 y 36 semanas. Se indujo el enraizamiento in vitro usando medio MS adicionado con acido indolbutirico (AIB). Se obtuvo un maximo de 74 plantulas por callo, usando 2,26 μM de 2,4-D y 38,2 μM de BA. En conclusion, la organogenesis indirecta podria ser una alternativa para la micropropagacion de A. americana L con fines comerciales.