Laboratory of Horticulture

Welcome to the homepage of the Laboratory of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, of the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México. We research on horticultural crops, specially  Fruit and Beverage Crops, our  main goals are:

- Enhace and develop knowledge in Agave (Maguey pulquero) crop production. 
- The understanding of the postharvest physiology of cherimoya and peach.
- Develop of edible films based on and for Mexican native fruits.
- Description and conservation of native fruit germplasm such as Vitis, Crataegus, Ximenia, Persea, Prunus, Cissus, Passiflora and Jaltomata.
- Improvement of uses of Mexican Vitis, Cissus and Passiflora.
-Determine the quality of pulque and wine (from Mexican native grapes)
- Development of techniques involved in increasing flower quality of Lilium).

To get our objectives in our lab we, mainly, have: HPLC, UV/VIS spectrophometer, SPAD meter, photocolorimeter, centrifuge and leaf area meter.


Members




Group Leader: Prof. Omar Franco-Mora, Ph. D.



Doctoral Students



Master Students

Undergraduate students

Misael Hernández P. Characterization of Vitis cinerea berries wine

Mitzy X. Esquivel G. Agave salmiana plants development in Lerma, México.

Teresa J. González E. Weed identification in an Agave field in Lerma, Mexico

Daniel Reyes B. Influence of auxines in Vitis cinerea and V. mustangensis rooting.

Eduardo Martínez C. Physical and biochemical properties of Toluca´s pulque

Gabriela Gómez A. Fertilization in hawthorn trees.

Mariano Díaz T. Fertilization in hawthorn trees.


Research Student

Ing. Akari Oka (Japan) Tropical fruit production



I invite you to submit your Passiflora paper proposal



Fellowship

Our lab, as a member of the Faculty of Agriculture (UAEMex) joins the Graduate program in Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources . Depending on qualifications, national students might be supported by the Mexican Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT).



Selected publications

- Apolonio-Rodríguez I., O Franco-Mora, M. L. Salgado-Syclan and J. G. Aquino-Martínez. 2023. Extracts of leaves of wild grapevine (Vitis spp.) delay postharvest decay in strawberry fruit. Acta Agrícola y Pecuaria 9: e0091005

Franco-Mora O., J. A. López-Sandoval.  A. Castañeda-Vildózola. and J. R. Sánchez-Pale. 2022. Diversity of genus Passiflora L. in Mexico and a particular study on Passiflora biflora Lam. fruit characteristics. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 69:

- Salomon-Castaño, J., A. A. Martínez-Mendoza, O. Franco-Mora, Á. Castañeda-Vildózola and J.R. Sánchez-Pale. 2022. Application of edible coating for keeping postharvest quality of ilama (Annona diversifolia Saff.) fruits. Acta Horticulturae 1340:55-60.

- Salomon-Castaño, J. J.C. Pedroza, L.E. López and O. Franco-Mora. 2022. Potential of Vitaceae plant extracts as an alternative for maintaining postharvest life in cherimoya. Acta Horticulturae 1340:61-64.

- Diego A. J. A. and O. Franco-Mora. 2022. Continuous spraying of putrescine during peach fruit development increased fruit size and postharvest fruit firmness. Acta Horticulturae 1340:125-129.

- Rojas-Puebla,I.  A. T. Gutiérrez-Ibáñez, R. L. Ocaña-De Jesús, A. Laguna-Cerda, O. Franco-Mora, M. L. Salgado-Siclán and L. R. Bernal-Martínez. 2022. Adhesion capacity and biofilm formation by Escherechia coli and Salmonella sp. on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) during the postharvest stage. Acta Horticulturae 1340:179:184.

- Sánchez-Pale, J. R., O. Franco-Mora, E. Castillo-López and I. Bartolo-Mendoza. 2022. Control of Botrytis cinerea Pers. in chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium) with wild vines extracts. Acta Horticulturae 1340:231-234. 

- Huerta-Acosta K., S. Riaz, O. Franco-Mora, J. G. Cruz-Castillo, M. A: Walker. 2022. The genetic diversity of wild grapes in Mexico. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 69:1329-1347.

- Martínez-Mendoza A. A., O. Franco-Mora, Á. Castañeda-Vildózola, J. R. Sánchez-Pale and S. L. González-Romero. 2020. Fruit characteristics of Cissus verticillata (L.) Nicholson and C. E. Jarvis and C. tiliacea during two complete harvest seasons. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 67: doi: 10.1007/s10722-020-00920-9.

Salomon-Castaño, J., O. Franco-Mora, A. A. Morales, A. Castañeda-Vildózola, J. M. Villarreal-Fuentes, J. R. Sánchez-Pale. 2020. Improve of the preharvest application of resveratrol and 6-benzylaminopurine technique to reduce postharvest cherimoya softness. Acta Horticulturae 1278: 77-82

- Martínez-Mendoza A. A., O. Franco-Mora, J. R. Sánchez-Pale, J. R. Rodríguez-Nuñez, A. Castañeda-Vildózola. 2020. Evaluación de recubrimientos comestibles a base de pectina de tejocote (Crataegus mexicana DC., Rosaceae) en la postcosecha de tihuixocote (Ximenia americana L., Rosaceae). Acta Agrícola y Pecuaria 6: E0061004.

Salomon-Castaño, J., J. M. Villarreal-Fuentes, O. Franco-Mora, A. Castañeda-Vildózola, J. R. Sánchez-Pale. 2020. El resveratrol y la 6-bencil aminopurina reducen la pérdida de firmeza y color en poscosecha de guanábana (Annona muricata L.). Acta Agrícola y Pecuaria 6: E0061005. 

- Raddatz-Mota D., O. Franco-Mora, J. A. Mendoza-Espinoza, L. L. Rodríguez-Verástegui, F. D. León-Sánchez and F. Rivera-Cabrera. 2019. Effect of different rootstocks on Persian lime (Citrus latifolia T.) postharvest quality. Scientia Horticulturae 257: 108716.

- Sabas-Chavez, C. C., O. Franco-Mora, A. Castañeda-Vildózola, J. R. Sánchez-Pale, J. G. Cruz-Castillo. 2018. An approach to the model for conservation of Central Mexico native grapevines. Natural Resources Conservation and Research 1(4): 1-10

Apolonio, R. I., O. Franco-Mora, M. L. Salgado S., J. G. Aquino M.  2017. In vitro inhibition of Botrytis cinerea with extracts of wild grapevine (Vitis spp.) leaves. Mexican Journal of Phytopatology. Revista Mexicana de fitopatología 35: 170-185

- Franco-Mora O., A. A. Morales-Pérez, A. D. Mirelles V., A. Castañeda-Vildózola, J. R. Sánchez-Pale. 2016. Searching alternative uses for Cissus tiliacea Kunth in Central Mexico: seed oil and fruit liquor. Genetic Resosurces and Crop Evolution. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 63: 141-149.

- Sabás-Chavez C. C., O. Franco-Mora, M. Rubí-Arriaga, J. R. Sánchez-Pale, A. Castañeda-Vildózola. 2016. Tamaño y dulzor del fruto de ocho accesiones de Vitis spp. en tres años continuos. Nova Scientia. 8: 233-248.

- Morales P. A. A., O. Franco-Mora O., A. Castañeda-Vildózola, E. J. Morales-Rosales. 2016. Effect of resveratrol in cherimoya fruit under simulation of transport. Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Agrícolas. 7: 127-132.

- Franco-Mora O., J. Salomon-Castaño, A. A. Morales P., A. Castañeda-Vildózola, M. Rubí-Arriaga. 2015. Fatty acids and parameters of quality in the oil of wild grapes (Vitis spp.). Scientia Agropecuaria 6: 271-278. (In Spanish with English summary). 


- Franco-Mora O., A. A. Morales-Pérez, A. Castañeda-Vildózola, E. J. Morales-Rosales, J. R. Sánchez-Pale. 2015. Sprays mixing resveratrol and benzilaminopurine previous harvest helps to preserve postharvest quality in cherimoya. Journal of Agriculture and Life Sciences. 2: 16-24.

- Morales P. A. A., O. Franco-Mora O., A. Castañeda-Vildózola, E. J. Morales-Rosales. 2015. Inhibition of peel browing in Fino de Jete cherimoya by 6-benzilaminopurine application. Scientia Agropecuaria 6: 91-97. (In Spanish with English summary). 

- Apolonio I., A. Castañeda, O Franco, E. J. Morales, A. González. 2015. Pollen source influence and effectiveness in the quality of cherimoya fruits (Annona cherimola Mill.). Agronomía Costarricense 39: 61-69. (In Spanish with English summary).


Morales P. A. A., O. Franco-Mora O., A. Castañeda-Vildózola, E. J. Morales-Rosales. 2014. The antisenescence effect of resveratrol reduces postharvest softening rate in cherimoya fruit. Scientia Agropecuaria 5: 35-44. (In Spanish with English Summary).


- Torres-Miranda E., O. Franco-Mora, A. González-Huerta, M. E. Herrera-Mora. 2014. Pre-treatment with methyl-jasmonate in Diamante peaches stored in refrigeration. Ciencias Agrícolas Informa 23(2): 23-30.


- González-Pérez J. S., O. Franco-Mora, A. A. Morales P., J. R. Sánchez-Pale. 2014. Postharvest application of calcium reduces fruit firmness losing rate in mango Haden.  Ciencias Agrícolas Informa 23: 7-14. (In Spanish with English Summary).

- Jiménez-Martínez J. H., M. G. Gutiérrez-Martínez, O. Franco-Mora, A. González-Huerta, A. T. Gutiérrez-Ibañez. 2013. Micropropagation of wild grapevines (Vitis spp.) native to Central Mexico. Phyton. 82: 107-112. (In Spanish with English Summary).

- Franco-Mora O., S. Aguirre-Ortega, A. González-Huerta, A. Castañeda-Vildózola, E. J. Morales-Rosales, D. J. Pérez-López. 2012. Characterization of Vitis cinerea Engelm. ex Millardet fruits from the southern region of the State of Mexico, Mexico. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolución. 59: 1899-1906.

- Franco-Mora O., J. G. Cruz-Castillo (Editores). 2012. Wild grapevines in Mexico. State of the art. UAEM and Altres-Costa Amic. Puebla, Mexico. 134 p. (In Spanish). Texto completo.


- Rodríguez-Landero A. C., O. Franco-Mora, E. J. Morales-Pérez, D. J. Pérez-López, A. Castañeda-Vildózola. 2012. Effect of 1-MCP in postharvest life of Lilium spp. sprayed with calcium and boron. Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Agrícolas 3: 1623-1628.

- Jiménez-Martínez J. H., O. Franco-Mora, M. G. Gutiérrez-Martínez, A. González-Huerta, A. Castañeda-Vildózola. 2011. Micropropagation of Cissus tiliaceae, plant native of the South of the state of Mexico. Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrárias. 43: 71-81.


- Tobar-Reyes J. R., O. Franco-Mora, E. J. Morales-Rosales, A. González-Huerta. 2011. Phenols of pharmacological interest in leaves of wild grapevines (Vitis spp.) of Mexico. Boletin Latinoamericano y del Caribe de Plantas Medicinales y Aromáticas 10: 167-172.

- Franco-Mora O., Aguirre-Ortega S., Morales-Rosales E. J., González-Huerta A., Gutiérrez-Rodríguez F. 2010. Morphological and biochemical characterization of Mexican hawthorn (Crataegus mexicana DC.) fruit native to Lerma and Ocoyoacac, Mexico. Ciencia Ergo Sum. 17: 61-66. (In Spanish with English summary).

- Franco-Mora O., Pérez-Huerta O., Morales-Rosales E. J., González-Huerta A., Huerta-Lara M. 2010. Phenolic compounds and total sugar content in 'Oro Azteca' peach fruit sprayed with putrescine Acta Horticulturae 884: 81-86.

- Mora V. H. F., Franco-Mora O., López-Sandoval J. A., Pérez-López D. J., Balbuena-Melgarejo A. 2009. Characterization of wild plum (Ximenia americana L. var. americana; Olacaceae) fruit growing at Tepexi de Rodríguez, Puebla, Mexico. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 56: 719-727 .

- Tobar-Reyes J. R., O. Franco-Mora, E. J. Morales-Rosales, J. G. Cruz-Castillo. 2009. Resveratrol content in leaves of Mexican wild grapevines (Vitis spp.). Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Universidad de Cuyo. 41: 127-137.

- Franco-Mora, O., K. Tanabe, F. Tamura. 2009. Putrescine content of Japanese pear styles increases in response to pollination. New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Sciences. 37: 281-287.

- Franco M. O., E. Torres M., E. J. Morales R., D. J. Pérez L. 2009. Vase life of Lilium ‘Brindisi’ & ‘Menorca’ fertilizated with calcium nitrate and calcium oxide. Ciencias Agrícolas Informa 18: 4-12.(In Spanish with English summary).

- Franco-Mora O., K. Tanabe. 2008. Polyamine content in anthers and during pollen germination in Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai. Agrociencia 42:529-536

- Franco-Mora O., E. J. Morales-Rosales, A. Gonzalez-Huerta, J. G. Cruz-Castillo. 2008. Vegetative characterization of wild grapevine (Vitis spp.) native to Puebla, Mexico. HortScience 43: 1991-1995.

- Franco-Mora O., J. G. Cruz-Castillo, A. A. Cortés-Sánchez and A. C. Rodríguez-Landero. 2008. Location and uses of wild grapevine in the state of Puebla, México. Ra Ximhai 4:151-165 (In Spanish with English Summary).

- Franco-Mora O., K. Tanabe, F. Tamura, A. Itai. 2008. The influence of putrescine on fruit set and fruit size in 'Housui' Japanese pear. Acta Horticulturae 774:297-300.

- Franco M. O., J. R. Tobar R., R. Quijano R. and A. González H. 2008. Initial characterization of Passiflora ligularis fruit from Hueyapan and Teziutlán, Puebla. Ciencia Ergo Sum 15:54-60. (In Spanish with English summary).

- Franco M. O. y J. G. Cruz C. 2008. Polyamines in the flower and fruit. En. J. G. Cruz C. y P. A. Torres L. (Comp.) Enfoques tecnológicos en la fruticultura. Un tributo a Raúl Mosqueda. UACh. Chapingo, México. pp. 275-295. (In Spanish).

- Franco-Mora, O., A. A. Cortés-Sánchez, A. C. Rodríguez-Landero, J. G. Cruz-Castillo, J. M. Pérez, J. Madero-Camargo. 2007. Location of wild grapevine (Vitis spp.) in the State of Puebla, México. HortScience 42: 1008.

- Franco-Mora, O., K. Tanabe , F. Tamura and A. Itai. 2005. Effects of putrescine application on fruit set in ‘Housui’ Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai). Scientia Horticulturae 104: 265-273.

- Franco-Mora, O., K. Tanabe, A. Itai, F. Tamura and H. Itamura. 2005. Relationship between endogenous free polyamine content and ethylene evolution during fruit growth and ripening of Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai). Journal of the Japanese Society for Horticultural Science 74: 221-227.

- Franco-Mora, O., A. Itai and K. Tanabe. 2005. Effects of pre-pollination application of 1-methylcyclopropene on fruit set and stigma receptivity in ‘Housui’ Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai). Environment Control in Biology 43: 61-65

Further research at google scholar
Further research at RESEARCH GATE

Prof. Omar Franco Mora, Ph. D.

Currently, full professor at the Laboratory of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture; Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEMex), Toluca, México. SNI-I.





Ph. D. (2005) Laboratory of Horticulture; Tottori University, Tottori, Japan.








Visiting Researcher (2002) Tottori University.



M. Sc. (2000) Colegio de Postgraduados; Texcoco, México.
B. Sc. (1997) Faculty of Agriculture; UAEMex, Toluca, México.
Born in Cd. Nezahualcóyotl and fan of the red devils.

Follow me on ResearchGate


Memories

Academic recoignition to our Faculty undergraduate programs, Dean of the Faculty 2018-2022
 



Inauguration ceremony of PQMHP, October 2021




Lab members with Prof. Kazuhiro Matsumoto (2017)



Vice Dean of academic affairs (2014-2018)






Lab members 2016-2019

Lab members 2012-2016




Speech at PGBFP, Bologna 2009
                             


Lab members 2010-2012

Lab members 2007-2010





 

Professor at Puebla University (2006)


Ph. D. dissertation thesis (Tottori University, 2005). 




Faculty soccer team (1995)





News:



-SCIENTIST GOT THE PEACH GENOME
Recursos genéticos: el nopal
Visit the laboratory of PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
Visit the site of the COMITE DE ETICA DE LA INVESTIGACIÓN