Improving Control of Green and Blue Molds of Oranges by Combining Pantoea Agglomerans (CPA-2) and Sodium Bicarbonate

The potential of using Pantoea agglomerans (strain CPA-2) alone, or in combination with sodium bicarbonate or sodium carbonate solutions, for control of Penicillium digitatum (green mold) and Penicillium italicum (blue mold) on oranges was investigated under ambient (20 °C) and cold storage (3 °C) conditions. P. agglomerans controlled both pathogens on oranges at 2 × 10⁸ cfu ml^-1. The biocontrol agent was found to be completely tolerant to 2% sodium bicarbonate at room temperature, although its culturability was reduced by > 1000-fold after 30 min in 2% sodium carbonate. The efficacy of P. agglomerans for control of green mold was improved when combined with sodium bicarbonate, resulting in complete and 97.6% reduction of decay incidence at 3 °C and 20 °C, when compared to untreated controls. Satisfactory results were also obtained with the combined treatment for control of blue mold. P. agglomerans grew well inside wounds on oranges at both 20 °C and 3 °C. In contrast, it showed a reduced growth on the surface of intact fruit. Sodium bicarbonate at 2% concentration did not noticeably affect antagonist population development. Thus, use of bicarbonate treatment at 2% followed by the antagonist P. agglomerans CPA-2 could be an alternative to chemicals for control of postharvest diseases on oranges.     

Physicochemical and sensory characteristics of yoghurts made from goat and cow milk

Substituting goats' milk for cows' milk could improve the quality of dairy products, because it adds new sensorial characteristics. The aim of this study was to develop a type of yoghurt using goats' milk (25, 50, 75 and 100%) in place of cows' milk and to compare their characteristics. Physicochemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics were evaluated using a nine‐point hedonic scale and purchase intention test. The data obtained in the physicochemical analysis were submitted to regression analysis and the sensory results were evaluated through analysis of variance. Among the physicochemical characteristics of the yoghurts, variation (P < 0.05) of ash, acidity and lactose was observed. Tasters in the sensory analysis indicated that yoghurts up to 50% of goats' milk received favorable averages; with lower scores for higher goats' milk concentrations (75% and 100%). No difference was reported in acidity. Replacing cows' milk with goats' milk in yoghurt preparation promotes variations in the physicochemical characteristics for ash, acidity and lactose. However, it does not cause alterations in the sensory attributes (50% goat milk) and therefore could be considered as an alternative for the production of dairy products. © 2016 Japanese Society of Animal Science     

Radiographic assessment of cattle hoofs (ungulae) of the Nellore breed: Reference standards

The purpose of this work was to determine a radiographic standard of normality for lateral and medial ungulae in 3‐year‐old bovine females of the Nellore breed. Twenty‐six cows underwent radiographic exposure of the medial and lateral ungulae of the hindlimbs and forelimbs; abaxioaxial projections were used. The images were analyzed; distances were measured between the dorsal surface of the distal phalanx and the surface of the hoof capsule. The two angles formed, i.e., an angle between the dorsal surface of the distal phalanx and a line parallel to the sole (inner), and an angle between the dorsal surface of the hoof and a line parallel to the sole (outer), were also recorded. The results suggested a standard of normality for the proximal, middle and distal distances of the ungulae of the forelimbs: 0.96 ± 0.12 cm. For the measurement of hindlimbs, except for the distal distances of the side ungulae, the suggested value was 1.02 ± 0.14 cm; for the distal measurement of the lateral ungulae of the hindlimbs, the value was 1.09 ± 0.12 cm. For inner and outer angles, the values were 36.45° ± 4.4° for the medial ungulae of the forelimbs and 42.50° ± 3.8° for other ungulae of the forelimbs and hindlimbs (standard deviations of the values suggested for the angles should be used as variations between different animals, limbs and ungulae; they should not be used between angles of the same ungula).     

Combined treatment with oestradiol benzoate,d‐cloprostenol and oxytocin permits cervical dilation and nonsurgical embryo recovery in ewes

This study examined the feasibility of transcervical embryo recovery after the hormonal treatment to induce cervical dilation, following the 7‐day oestrous synchronization protocol in multiparous Santa Inês ewes. A total of 23 cyclic ewes received two doses of 37.5 μg of d‐cloprostenol by latero‐vulvar route 7 days apart. After the second injection of d‐cloprostenol, the ewes were checked for oestrus (every 12 hr) and then mated by fertile rams throughout the oestrous period. All ewes received 37.5 μg of d‐cloprostenol (latero‐vulvar) and 1 mg of oestradiol benzoate by either intramuscular (EBim group; n = 12) or intravaginal (EBivg group; n = 11) route 16 hr before embryo flushing. Twenty minutes before the flushing, 50 IU of oxytocin were administered intravenously. The oestrous response (i.e., the percentage of ewes that showed signs of oestrous behaviour after the second d‐cloprostenol injection) was 91.3% (21/23). The proportion of successfully penetrated ewes (81.8% compared with 80.0%), the mean duration of embryo flushing (24.7 ± 2.0 min compared 26.2 ± 1.9 min), the flushing fluid recovery rate (94.8 ± 1.3% compared with 91.0 ± 2.9%) and the average number of structures recovered per ewe (0.5 ± 0.4 compared with 0.8 ± 0.4) did not vary (p > 0.05) between the EBim and EBivg groups. Viable embryos were recovered from 41.2% (7/17) of successfully penetrated ewes. It can be concluded that nonsurgical (i.e., transcervical) embryo collection can be performed in oestrous‐synchronized Santa Inês ewes pretreated with d‐cloprostenol, oxytocin and oestradiol benzoate, with the latter hormone administered by either the intramuscular or intravaginal route.     

Cervical transposition test using Hegar dilator at oestrus as a tool to select ewes for transcervical embryo collection

This study evaluated the cervical transposition method as a tool to select ewes for embryo collection by transcervical route. Adult Santa Inês ewes (n = 50) received Day 0 protocol for superovulation treatments. The cervix transposition test was performed both at oestrus and at the embryo collection time. The latter was preceded by hormonal cervical dilation. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were 85.7%, 66.6%, 85.7%, 66.6% and 80.0%, respectively. The kappa index yielded a moderate score (κ = 0.52). In conclusion, the high sensitivity and accuracy indicate that the cervical transposition test is a screening option to select ewes for embryo collection by transcervical route.     

Study of the effect of genotype–environment interaction on age at first calving and production traits in Nellore cattle using multi‐trait reaction norms and Bayesian inference

This study investigated the effects of genotype–environment interaction on yearling weight, age at first calving and post‐weaning weight gain in Nellore cattle using multi‐trait reaction norm models. The environmental gradient was defined as a function of the mean yearling weight of the contemporary groups. A first‐order random regression sire model with four classes of residual variance was used in the analyses and Bayesian methods were applied to estimate the (co)variance components. The heritability estimates ranged from 0.284 to 0.547, 0.222 to 0.316 and 0.256 to 0.522 for yearling weight, age at first calving and post‐weaning weight gain, respectively. The lowest genetic correlations between environment groups for each trait were 0.38, 0.02 and 0.04 for yearling weight, age at first calving and post‐weaning weight gain, respectively. Differences in the correlation estimates were observed between traits in the same environments, with the magnitude of the estimates tending toward zero as the environment improved. The results highlight the importance of including genotype–environment interactions in genetic evaluation programs considering the differences observed between environmental groups not only in terms of heritability, but also of genetic correlations.     

Performance of dual and triple fungicide premixes for managing soybean rust across years and regions in Brazil: A meta-analysis

Soybean rust in Brazil is currently controlled with several commercial fungicide premixes composed of demethylation inhibitors (EPOXiconazole, CYPRoconazole, PROThioconazole, TEBUconazole), quinone-outside inhibitors (AZOXystrobin, TriFLoXystrobin, PYRAclostrobin, PICOxystrobin), and succinate demethylation inhibitors (BENZovindiflupyr, BIXaFen, FLUXapyroxad). Here, we summarize the performance of eight premixes evaluated in 177 cooperative trials conducted in 46 locations across 10 states from 2015 to 2020. All fungicide treatments were sprayed three times starting at R1/R2. Percentage control (, %), from back-transforming meta-analytic estimates of the log of the ratio, ranged from 56.2% (PICO + CYPR) to 76.8% (BIXF + TFLX + PROT). Estimates of mean yield difference (, kg/ha) between fungicide-treated and untreated plots were greatest for BIXF + TFLX + PROT (1,080) followed by PICO + BENZ (1,010), PYRA + EPOX + FLUX (981.5), AZOX + BENZ (910), TFLX + PROT (891), PICO +TEBU (682), TFLX + CYPR (646), and PICO + CYPR (600). Significant declines in both and in as little as 4 years were detected for AZOX + BENZ (35.3%; 550 kg/ha) and PICO + BENZ (15.5%; 359.8 kg/ha). Variance in was reduced by the inclusion of baseline severity as covariate. In trials where baseline disease was ≥70%, yield was 250 kg/ha greater compared to areas with low baseline disease. Disease control and yield response were generally greater in the south-east, where the frequency of profitable scenarios was 30% higher on average than in the north-west. Results of this meta-analysis are critical for supporting decisions during planning of fungicide programmes.     

Metabolic signature of spent culture media shows lipid metabolism as a determinant of pregnancy outcomes

In the present study, we investigated the spent culture media of in vitro produced (IVP) bovine embryos which did (group Pregnant) or did not (group Non-pregnant) establish pregnancy after transfer. For that purpose, IVP embryos on D5 were transferred to individual droplets for the last 48 h of culture. Embryos at the blastocyst stage were then transferred to synchronized recipients, while respective culture media drops were collected and evaluated individually. The list of metabolites present in spent culture media was obtained by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and analysed with Metaboanalyst® to characterize the metabolic profile of each group. The spectrometric analysis showed that pathways related to lipid metabolism, particularly fatty acids degradation via beta-oxidation, were more present in the Pregnant group whereas no significant pathway was identified in the group Non-pregnant. By using this method, we were able to identify a metabolic signature in culture media that allows for a better comprehension of preferential metabolic routes taken by the most viable embryos. These findings offer great insights into the biochemistry of embryo development and reveal a potential target for the development of better-quality IVP systems, as well as tools to identify bovine embryos with greater chances to establish and maintain pregnancy.     

Freshness and quality criteria of iced farmed Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis)

Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) is a high-value commercial species with increasing importance in aquaculture. The aim of this work was to study the quality changes of this species during chilled storage under refrigeration, through sensory and chemical methods. In particular, the optimization of a quality index method (QIM) scheme was proposed as well as the definition of sensory and chemical quality criteria. A shelf life of 15 days was reported, and a QIM scheme based on a total of 22 demerit points (dp) was proposed. Biogenic amines were never detected, and the usual spoilage indicators, such as TVB-N and TMA-N, were not significantly produced during the period of sensory-acceptable quality (15 days). On the basis of the significant correlations (p<0.001) between sensory data and Ki values, a quality index (QI) 19 dp and a Ki>40% indicate unacceptable quality of iced Senegalese sole.