Sunflower response to potassium fertilization and nutrient requirement estimation

Field experiments were conducted in oil and edible sunflower to study the effects of potassium(K) fertilization on achene yield and quality, and to estimate the nutrient internal efficiency(IE) and nutrient requirement in sunflower production. All trials in edible sunflower and 75% trials in oil sunflower showed positive yield responses to K fertilization. Compared with control without K fertilization, the application of K increased achene yield by an average of 406 kg ha~(–1) for oil sunflower and 294 kg ha~(–1) for edible sunflower. K application also increased 1 000-achene weight and kernel rate of both oil and edible sunflower. K fertilization improved the contents of oil, oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid in achenes of oil sunflower, and increased contents of oil, total unsaturated fatty acid and protein in achenes of edible sunflower. The average agronomic efficiency of K fertilizer was 4.0 for oil sunflower and 3.0 kg achene kg~(–1) K_2O for edible sunflower. The average IE of N, P and K under balanced NPK fertilization was 22.9, 82.8, and 9.9 kg kg~(–1) for oil sunflower, and 27.3, 138.9, and 14.3 kg kg~(–1) for edible sunflower. These values were equivalent to 45.5, 14.1, and 108.1 kg, and 39.0, 8.0, and 71.7 kg of N, P and K, respectively, in above-ground dry matter required for production per ton of achenes. The average harvest index of N, P and K was 0.47, 0.56 and 0.05 kg kg~(–1) in oil sunflower, and 0.58, 0.58 and 0.14 kg kg~(–1) in edible sunflower.     

Dose-Response on the Chemopreventive Effects of Sarcophine-Diol on UVB-Induced Skin Tumor Development in SKH-1 Hairless Mice

Sarcophine-diol (SD) is a lactone ring-opened analogue of sarcophine. It has shown chemopreventive effects on chemically-induced skin tumor development in female CD-1 mice, as well as in a UVB-induced skin tumor development model in hairless SKH-1 mice at a dose of 30 μg SD applied topically and 180 mJ/cm² UVB. The objective of this study was to determine the dose-response on the chemopreventive effects of SD on SKH-1 hairless mice when exposed to a UVB radiation dose of 30 mJ/cm². This UVB dose better represents chronic human skin exposure to sunlight leading to skin cancer than previous studies applying much higher UVB doses. Carcinogenesis was initiated and promoted by UVB radiation. Female hairless SKH-1 mice were divided into five groups. The control group was topically treated with 200 μL of acetone (vehicle), and the SD treatment groups were topically treated with SD (30 μg, 45 μg, and 60 μg dissolved in 200 μL of acetone) 1 h before UVB radiation (30 mJ/cm²). The last group of animals received 60 μg SD/200 μL acetone without UVB exposure. These treatments were continued for 27 weeks. Tumor multiplicity and tumor volumes were recorded on a weekly basis for 27 weeks. Weight gain and any signs of toxicity were also closely monitored. Histological characteristics and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were evaluated in the mice skin collected at the end of the experiment. The dose-response study proved a modest increase in chemopreventive effects with the increase in SD dose. SD reduced the number of cells positively stained with PCNA proliferation marker in mice skin. The study also showed that SD application without UVB exposure has no effect on the structure of skin. The results from this study suggest that broader range doses of SD are necessary to improve the chemopreventive effects.     

Influence of lupin and rapeseed meals on the integrity of digestive tract and organs in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) and goldfish (Carassius auratus L.) juveniles

Two rearing trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary lupin (LM) and rapeseed (RM) meals in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) and goldfish (Carassius auratus L.) juveniles. Each plant meal was incorporated at the rate of 200 g kg^?1 in two distinct diets, which were compared with a fishmeal‐based diet as control. After 1 month, the two plant diets did not influence the whole body growth, but the digestive systems were affected. The splenosomatic index was reduced with two plant meals in goldfish and with RM in seabream. The hepatosomatic index was only reduced in LM‐fed seabream. Cellular characteristics were also affected. The largest liver cells were observed in RM‐fed goldfish suggesting changes in metabolic function. The LM and RM diets stimulated in seabream, especially the reaction in haematopoietic tissues with the proliferation of melano‐macrophages centres, and a tendency for elongated villus height in the anterior intestine thus that possibly compensated for a reduction in digestive function. Such adaptive structural modifications and the absence of degenerative signs allowed concluding that the integrity of the digestive system was maintained in fish fed plant meals.