Abstract Avocado is one of the most demanded fruits worldwide. Comparative studies on the morphology and genetics of avocado have pointed out similarities and differences between different cultivars. Plant volatile compounds may facilitate cultivar differentiation. The volatile composition of leaves, flowers and fruit mesocarp of different cultivars has been reported, but the volatile chemical composition of immature fruits is unknown. This information may be relevant for studies on the chemical ecology of seed boring insects. Therefore, in this work the volatile chemical composition of three avocado cultivars was compared. A total of 31 compounds in developing fruits of Mexican, Fuerte and Hass avocado cultivars were identified by gas chromatography (GC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS). Of these compounds, α-copaene, β-copaene and β-caryophyllene are among the most abundant in the extracts of the three avocado cultivars. Estragole, which has a characteristic aniseed aroma, was the most abundant compound in the Mexican cultivar (62.61%), while in Fuerte it was found in traces and in Hass it was not detected. The volatile profile of the Mexican cultivar was different from that of the Fuerte and Hass cultivars.

Abstract For over two decades, there has been an increasing interest in finding natural antioxidants, because they can protect the human body from free radicals and retard the progress of many chronic diseases. Phenolic compounds were identified and quantified in potato cooking water from freeze–dried slices with peel and from whole potato stored for 20 days. Extracts were obtained with an aqueous solution composed of 50% methanol and 0.5% acetic acid. Fifteen secondary metabolites were monitored using the Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography system coupled to mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS / MS). A calibration curve (from 0.1 ng to 100 μg) was generated and the data was analyzed using the software “MassHunter Workstation” VB 06.00, the results were expressed as mg/100 g of sliced potato or raw potato. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) was performed using XLSTAT 2015 Software. The potato cooking water contains phytonutrients with potential antioxidant activity to prevent non-transmissible degenerative diseases. The metabolite content in the cooking water of the Huagalina native potato is directly related to the freshness of the product before cooking. Potato cooking water could be considered a neutraceutical food. However, further research is required to identify any other substances that can be harmful to health depending on the amount consumed.

The composition and seasonal occurrence of sandflies were investigated in coffee agroecosystems in the Soconusco region of Chiapas, Mexico. Insect sampling was performed on three plantations located at different altitudes: Finca Guadalupe Zajú [1,000 m above sea level (a.s.l.)], Finca Argovia (613 m a.s.l.) and Teotihuacán del Valle (429 m a.s.l.). Sandflies were sampled monthly from August 2007-July 2008 using three sampling methods: Shannon traps, CDC miniature light traps and Disney traps. Sampling was conducted for 3 h during three consecutive nights, beginning at sunset. A total of 4,387 sandflies were collected during the course of the study: 2,718 individuals in Finca Guadalupe Zajú, 605 in Finca Argovia and 1,064 in Teotihuacán del Valle. The Shannon traps captured 94.3% of the total sandflies, while the CDC light traps and Disney traps captured 4.9% and 0.8%, respectively. More females than males were collected at all sites. While the number of sandflies captured was positively correlated with temperature and relative humidity, a negative correlation was observed between sandfly numbers and rainfall. Five species of sandflies were captured: Lutzomyia cruciata , Lutzomyia texana , Lutzomyia ovallesi , Lutzomyia cratifer / undulata and Brumptomyia sp. Lu. cruciata , constituting 98.8% of the total, was the most abundant species. None of the captured sandflies was infected with Leishmaniaspp.