The exploitation of bioextractives from Tectona grandis L.f. still relies largely on destructive methods, limiting the development of sustainable non-timber management strategies. Although the species presents recognized phytochemical potential and applications in plant-based products, gaps remain regarding harvesting systems capable of balancing productivity, plant physiological recovery, and extract quality. This study aimed to establish an integrated framework for sustainable bioextract production in T. grandis by combining cyclic artificial defoliation of seedlings with phytochemical prospecting of coppice shoots from commercial plantations. The experiment was structured into two complementary components. In the first, 120-day-old seedlings were subjected to total artificial defoliation at 30-day intervals under nursery conditions, evaluating morphometric growth, extractive yield, quinone compound presence, and the potential of extracts as pH indicators. In the second, coppice shoots approximately 15 mm in diameter were separated into leaves, branches, and stems, followed by hydroalcoholic extraction and qualitative phytochemical screening to identify metabolite
classes. Quantitative data were analyzed under a completely randomized design. Results demonstrated that cyclic defoliation is a feasible non-destructive harvesting strategy, maintaining quinone detection and pH indicator capacity despite a reduction in extractive yield. In coppice shoots, leaves showed higher extractive content and distinct metabolite distribution compared to other plant parts. The integration of nursery-based leaf harvesting with field utilization of coppice biomass represents a promising pathway for non-timber management of teak, supporting bioeconomy-oriented production systems and value addition within the species’ productive chain.
The objective was to characterize the species’ biotechnological potential and its phenotypes, with an emphasis on the morphophysiology and biochemistry of fruits, seeds, and germination, as well as the antioxidant activity of the leaf essential oil.
Sustainable inputs combining nutrient provision with potential biostimulatory activity may improve cacao plant establishment while reducing dependence on mineral fertilizers. This study evaluated biomass suspensions of the red microalgae Porphyridium cruentum as the sole externally applied nitrogen (N) input for seed-derived plants and as a complementary input for fertilized somatic embryo-derived plantlets of Theobroma cacao L. The biomass contained 31.79 % protein, 33.69 % carbohydrates, and 27.69 % ash, together with a diverse amino acid profile and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Three greenhouse experiments were conducted. Seed-derived plants of genotype IMC67 received inorganic N, no externally applied N, or one of two concentrations of non-dialyzed biomass suspension. Somatic embryo-derived plantlets of genotype CCN51, treated at 20 and 90 days of age, received mineral fertilization alone or combined with dialyzed or non-dialyzed biomass suspensions. Growth, biomass, root architecture, stomatal conductance, and the maximum PSII quantum yield (Fv/Fm) were analyzed using ANOVA. In seed-derived plants, the higher biomass concentration increased height, whereas the lower concentration promoted leaf development and secondary-root formation. Whole-plant biomass and physiological variables were unaffected. No significant effects were detected in 20 day-old plantlets. In contrast, both preparations increased mature leaf number, fresh biomass, and quaternary root formation in 90 day-old plantlets, while the dialyzed preparation also increased height and dry biomass. These findings show that P. creuntum biomass suspension can modify cacao shoot development and root system architecture depending on plant developmental stage, biomass concentration, and preparation method. The responses are consistent with nutritional and potential biostimulatory contributions, although their underlying mechanisms require further validation.
Chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) production is constrained by low-fertility soils, inadequate agronomic management, and biotic and abiotic stress. This study evaluated the ef fect of chemical and organic fertilization on the growth, yield, and profitability of the Cubanela chili pepper variety under sandy loam soil conditions in Los Cajuiles, Santiago Rodríguez, Dominican Republic, during 2022–2023. A randomized complete block design with three treatments and five replications was used: an untreated control, chemical fertilization (15-15-15) and organic fertilization with humic acid. Growth, yield, and economic variables were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s test at the 95% confidence level. Chemical fertilization significantly enhanced vegetative and reproductive development, resulting in plants 84 cm tall, stem diameters of 11.1 mm, a greater number of flowers and fruits per plant, and longer (103 mm) and heavier (31.66 g) fruits. Total yield was highest under chemical fertilization (19 615 kg ha-1), followed by organic fertilization (13 819 kg ha-1) and the control (9 067 kg ha-1). Organic fertilization also improved growth and yield compared with the control, demonstrating its potential as a sustainable management strategy, although its ef fects were less pronounced than those of chemical fertilization. The highest benefit-cost ratio was obtained with chemical fertilization (US$5.01 per dollar invested), followed by organic fertilization (US$4.39 per dollar invested) and the control (US$1.39 per dollar invested), reflecting the greater productive and economic ef ficiency of mineral fertilization under the conditions evaluated. These results indicate that chemical fertilization maximizes the yield and profitability of Cubanela chili pepper grown on low-fertility soils, whereas organic fertilization with humic acid represents a viable alternative for production systems seeking greater sustainability without substantially reducing crop competitiveness.
Pedro Antonio Núñez-Ramos, Raify Enmanuel Vargas, Zunilda Rodríguez et al.· REVISTA TERRA LATINOAMERICAN...· 0 citations
The Amazonian species Deguelia duckeana (Fabaceae) has demonstrated pharmacological potential, especially due to the presence of flavonoids with anticancer activity, previously isolated from dichloromethane (DCM) extracts of the roots. Plant tissue culture represents a promising alternative for the sustainable production of secondary metabolites under controlled conditions, without the need for intensive collection from the natural environment. This research aimed to develop tissue culture protocols for D. duckeana, seeking the production of friable calli and the in vitro regeneration of roots and shoots, as well as to perform phytochemical analyses of methanolic extracts obtained from calli maintained in culture. For the induction of friable calli, five tests were conducted with different culture medium compositions, including variations in growth regulators and their concentrations, substitution of the carbon source (fructose, glucose, and sucrose), reduction of sucrose concentration, pH adjustments, and different light conditions — a photoperiod of 16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness, as well as cultivation in complete absence of light. The fifth test consisted of combining factors that individually demonstrated influence on friability. Calli were initially induced from leaf explants of a pre-established culture (Rescarolli, 2018). For root induction tests, previously established calli were used, evaluating the response to different combinations and concentrations of the auxins IAA (indole-3-acetic acid), IBA (indole-3-butyric acid), 2,4-D, and the cytokinin BAP. For regeneration tests via indirect organogenesis, calli were also used as explants. In these tests, explants were cultured on MS medium containing 100% mineral salts, supplemented with different combinations and concentrations of the growth regulators NAA, BAP, and KIN. Previously established maintenance calli kept in culture were subjected to successive subcultures, collected, weighed, identified, lyophilized, extracted with methanol, and fractionated. Phytochemical analyses by thin-layer chromatography and ¹H NMR allowed the isolation of the triterpenes lupeol, betulinaldehyde, and betulinic acid — bioactive compounds that reinforce the potential of the species as a constant source of substances with pharmacological relevance.Despite the absence of friable calli in the tests and the low efficiency in the regeneration of roots and shoots, the results obtained provide important support for adjustments in future protocols and demonstrate the feasibility of tissue culture as a complementary tool in the prospecting of secondary metabolites in D. duckeana. The cultures were maintained through successive subcultures totaling 12 years of culture follow-up, and consistency in metabolite production was observed. These results demonstrate the robustness of the plant species Deguelia duckeana in continuing the in vitro production of metabolites even under different stimuli.
Introduction. The use of biostimulants has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance common bean productivity. Objective. To evaluate the effect of different chemical fertilization levels combined with foliar application of VIUSID¨®Agro on the morpho-productive variables of bean, as well as analyze their relationships through a multivariate approach. Materials and methods. Between December 2021 and March 2022, in Sancti Spíritus, Cuba, an experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement and five replications and five replications. Three levels of chemical fertilization were combined with two doses of VIUSID®Agro to evaluate the morpho-productive variables. Data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA). Results. The application of V₂, compared with V₁, increased plant height by 14, 11, and 7%, leaf area by 22, 15, and 11%, fresh biomass by 17, 15, and 18%, and dry biomass by 12, 13, and 18% under Fq₃, Fq₂, and Fq₁, respectively. V₁ outperformed V₂ in reproductive performance, increasing the number of pods by 32, 25, and 15%, seed mass by 13, 8, and 10%, and grain yield by 17, 15, and 18% under Fq₃, Fq₂, and Fq₁, respectively. Yield was positively correlated with seed mass and number of pods, while the first two principal components explained more than 70 % of the total variability, indicating an integrated response of the production system. Conclusions. The application of VIUSID¨®Agro decreased fertilization by 25 % and increased bean productivity.
