Evaluation of organic amendments from agro‐industry waste for the control of verticillium wilt of olive

Biological control of plant diseases using soil amendments such as animal manure and composted materials can minimize organic waste and has been proposed as an effective strategy in crop protection. In this study, 35 organic amendments (OAs) and 16 compost mixtures were evaluated against Verticillium dahliae by assessing both the antagonistic effect on the mycelial growth of two representative isolates of V. dahliae and the effect on the reduction of microsclerotia viability of the pathogen in naturally infested soil. Eleven OAs and five compost mixtures showed a consistent inhibition effect in in vitro sensitivity tests, with solid olive‐oil waste compost one of the most effective. Therefore, a bioassay with olive plants was conducted to evaluate the suppressive effect against V. dahliae of these selected OAs and compost mixtures. Significant reduction in the severity of the symptoms of V. dahliae indicates the potential use of grape marc compost (100% disease severity reduction) and solid olive‐oil waste, combined with other OAs. Microorganism mixtures and dairy waste OAs had a potential suppressive effect when they were combined with compost, showing a 73% and 63% disease severity reduction, respectively. A mixture of agro‐industrial waste with other biological control agents is a promising strategy against verticillium wilt of olive. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report on the effectiveness of compost extracts (compost teas) on the inhibition of natural microsclerotia of V. dahliae, and also on verticillium wilt suppression in olive with solid olive‐oil waste.     

Distribution patterns and population structure of the blue shark (Prionace glauca) in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans

The blue shark (Prionace glauca) is the most frequently captured shark in pelagic oceanic fisheries, especially pelagic longlines targeting swordfish and/or tunas. As part of cooperative scientific efforts for fisheries and biological data collection, information from fishery observers, scientific projects and surveys, and from recreational fisheries from several nations in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans was compiled. Data sets included information on location, size and sex, in a total of 478,220 blue shark records collected between 1966 and 2014. Sizes ranged from 36 to 394 cm fork length. Considerable variability was observed in the size distribution by region and season in both oceans. Larger blue sharks tend to occur in equatorial and tropical regions, and smaller specimens in higher latitudes in temperate waters. Differences in sex ratios were also detected spatially and seasonally. Nursery areas in the Atlantic seem to occur in the temperate south‐east off South Africa and Namibia, in the south‐west off southern Brazil and Uruguay, and in the north‐east off the Iberian Peninsula and the Azores. Parturition may occur in the tropical north‐east off West Africa. In the Indian Ocean, nursery areas also seem to occur in temperate waters, especially in the south‐west Indian Ocean off South Africa, and in the south‐east off south‐western Australia. The distributional patterns presented in this study provide a better understanding of how blue sharks segregate by size and sex, spatially and temporally, and improve the scientific advice to help adopt more informed and efficient management and conservation measures for this cosmopolitan species.     

Replacement of fish oil with vegetable oil blends in feeds for greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) juveniles: Effect on growth performance,feed efficiency,tissue fatty acid composition and flesh nutritional value

This study was undertaken to assess the effects of fish oil (FO) substitution by a mixture of alternative vegetable oils (VO) on Seriola dumerili culture performance. A 154‐day feeding experiment was conducted using juveniles (39.2 ± 1.6 g average weight). Three isolipidic and isoenergetic meal‐based diets were formulated varying their lipid component. The control diet contained 100% FO (FO100), whereas diets VO50 and VO100 included 1/2 of oil blend and all the oil from blend of palm oil (PO) and linseed oil (LO) as substitute for FO, respectively. Dietary regime did not significantly affect growth performance, biometric indices, feed efficiency, plasma chemistry and liver and muscle lipid contents. Nonetheless, dietary VO inclusion impacted on the fatty acid profile of target tissues, especially in the liver. Fatty acid profiles of the fillets reflected those of the dietary oils except that there was apparent selective utilization of palmitic acid (C16:0) and oleic acid (C18:1n‐9) and apparent selective retention of long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n‐3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n‐3). The nutritional value and the potential ability to prevent the development of coronary heart diseases of the flesh lipid fraction decreased with gradual FO substitution.     

Wheat genetic resources enhancement by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) acts as a catalyst and leader in a global maize and wheat innovation network that serves the poor in the developing world. Drawing on strong science and effective partnerships, CIMMYT researchers create, share, and use knowledge and technology to increase food security, improve the productivity and profitability of farming systems and sustain natural resources. This people-centered mission does not ignore the fact that CIMMYT’s unique niche is as a genetic resources enhancement center for the developing world, as shown by this review article focusing on wheat. CIMMYT’s value proposition resides therefore in its use of crop genetic diversity: conserving it, studying it, adding value to it, and sharing it in enhanced form with clients worldwide. The main undertakings include: long-term safe conservation of world heritage of both crop resources for future generations, in line with formal agreements under the 2004 International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, understanding the rich genetic diversity of two of the most important staples worldwide, exploiting the untapped value of crop genetic resources through discovery of specific, strategically-important traits required for current and future generations of target beneficiaries, and development of strategic germplasm through innovative genetic enhancement. Finally, the Center needs to ensure that its main products reach end-users and improve their livelihoods. In this regard, CIMMYT is the main international, public source of wheat seed-embedded technology to reduce vulnerability and alleviate poverty, helping farmers move from subsistence to income-generating production systems. Beyond a focus on higher grain yields and value-added germplasm, CIMMYT plays an “integrative” role in crop and natural resource management research, promoting the efficient use of water and other inputs, lower production costs, better management of biotic stresses, and enhanced system diversity and resilience.     

Identification and relationships of accessions grown in the grapevine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vitis vinifera</Emphasis> L.) Germplasm Bank of Castilla y Léon (Spain) and the varieties authorized in the VQPRD areas of the region by SSR-marker analysis

A total of sixty-five accessions from the Spanish region of Castilla y León including those authorized in the VQPRD areas were characterized for six SSR loci. All the samples but one unknown were identified by comparison to other databases. Thirty synonymous samples and three cases of homonymy were found out, confirming in most cases ampelographic expectations. Five unique genotypes belonging to local varieties in risk of extinction were detected. Several parameters were calculated to assess the usefulness of the chosen loci in this work. A dendrogram representing the genetic similarities among the accessions was constructed using the neighbor-joining method to investigate possible parentage relationships in the sample, and to explain them from an historical and cultural point of view.     

Metabolisable energy value and digestibility of fat and fatty acids in linseed determined with growing broiler chickens

1. In the first experiment, the AMEN of linseed was evaluated at rates of 40, 80, 160 and 240 g/kg in a basal diet with broiler chickens aged 28 d using the total collection method. 2. Increasing the concentration of linseed decreased the AMEN of diet, from 11.78 to 8.75 MJ/kg DM, and AMEN of linseed, from 16.64 to -2.96 MJ/kg DM. The negative values clearly indicated that linseed interacted with the other dietary ingredients and impaired their energy utilisation. 3. In the second experiment, a semipurified diet with graded addition of linseed (80, 120, 160 and 240 g/kg DM) was evaluated for crude fat and fatty acid apparent digestibilities. The coefficients decreased from 0.602 to 0.359 for crude fat and from 0.661 to 0.352 for individual fatty acids as the level of linseed increased. 4. In both experiments, a quadratic regression model explained the relationship between data better than the linear model. 5. The presence of mucilage and other antinutritional factors in linseed might explain the results obtained in this study.     

Anaplasma marginale inactivated vaccine: dose titration against a homologous challenge

The present study was performed to dose-titrate an Anaplasma marginale experimental immunogen derived from partially purified initial bodies from three geographically different Mexican strains. Three five-bovine groups were inoculated twice on days zero and 21 with A. marginale initial bodies equivalent to 1.5×10¹⁰ (group I), 3×10¹⁰ (group II) or 6×10¹⁰ (group III) infected erythrocytes mixed with STDCM® adjuvant. A similar group served as non-vaccinated controls. All four groups were challenged with 1×10⁸ infected erythrocytes from a donor cow with an increasing rickettsemia of strain MEX-15 on day 87 post-vaccination. The prepatent period was very similar for all four groups. All five non-vaccinated controls presented typical acute anaplasmosis syndrome reaching a mean of 30.9% rickettsemia and a loss of 73.4% in the packed cell volume (PCV). Two of five controls died of acute anaplasmosis. Within the vaccinated groups only one animal (group II) suffered acute disease and died. Although all the other vaccinated animals were free of clinical signs, they developed very low rickettsemias (3.2, 3.8 and 4.3%) and PCV losses of 49.9, 47.8, and 49.3% for groups I, II and III. The starting mean weight was very similar for all four groups. All animals lost weight following challenge but losses for groups I and II were lower and significantly different from group IV losses (P0.1). Although there were no significant differences among vaccinated groups, group III was more severely affected. Taken altogether, these results show a 93.3% protection against both illness and death for all groups; and 100% protection for groups I and III, and 80% for group II.     

The specificity of antibody responses in cattle naturally exposed to Fasciola hepatica

Fasciola hepatica causes significant morbidity and mortality in dairy cattle in the Andean region of Cajamarca, Peru, where prevalence of infection of up to 78% has been reported. ELISA and Western blot analyses were used to characterise antibody responses in dairy cattle to adult F. hepatica to excretory-secretory (E/S), somatic (SO) and surface (SU) antigens. Three groups of dairy cattle - calves, heifers and adult cows - naturally exposed to F. hepatica in this region, were monitored every 2 months over a 2-year period. Calves, heifers and adult cows all had antibodies which recognised a 28kDa protein in the SO preparation, whereas only adult cows had antibodies that recognised a 28kDa protein in E/S products. All three groups of cattle responded to a 60-66kDa group of proteins in E/S and SU preparations and a 17kDa antigen in SO products was recognised by antibodies from cows and heifers but not calves. The total antibody response to E/S antigens measured by ELISA, increased over time in calves and remained constantly high over the 2-year period in all three groups of cattle. Slight fluctuations in the antibody response occurred in the group of heifers and cows coinciding with seasonal changes in the level of challenge.     

Correlations between changes in intestinal microbiota composition and performance parameters in broiler chickens

Growing male Cobb broiler chickens were fed on diets supplemented with additives reported as able to influence intestinal microbiota composition. The diets used were a balanced commercial diet (no additive), inulin (20 g/kg), fructose caramel (FC, 20 g/kg) and the garlic derivative PTS‐O (propyl propane thiosulfonate, 45 and 90 mg/kg diet). The composition of the intestinal microbiota was analysed by qPCR at different points of the intestinal tract, and a number of nutritional parameters were also determined. The relative amounts of bacteroides (bacteroides/total bacteria) in the ileal contents correlated (p < 0.05) positively with faecal NDF, ADF, hemicellulose and cellulose digestibility. The relative amounts of Escherichia–Shigella (Escherichia–Shigella/total bacteria) in the crop contents correlated (p = 0.05) negatively with weight gain of broilers. Faecal N digestibility correlated (p < 0.05) negatively with total bacteria in the ileal contents of chickens. The relative amounts of Escherichia–Shigella (Escherichia–Shigella/total bacteria) in the caecal contents correlated (p = 0.05) negatively with faecal fat digestibility of broilers. Total bacteria in ileal or caecal contents of growing chickens correlated (p < 0.05) negatively with ileal N digestibility. The results here reported suggest that positive or negative correlations can be found between performance parameters and changes in intestinal microbiota composition of growing broiler chickens.     

Gamma delta T‐cell large granular lymphocyte lymphoma in a dog

A 2‐year and 6‐month‐old female neutered Labrador Retriever with Horner syndrome, megaesophagus, and a mediastinal mass was referred to the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals of the Royal Veterinary College. A large granular lymphocyte (LGL) lymphoma was diagnosed on cytology; flow cytometric analysis revealed a γδ T‐cell phenotype (CD3+, CD5+, CD45+, TCRγδ+, CD4?, CD8?, CD34?, CD21?). Chemotherapy was started with a combination of lomustine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisolone, followed by bleyomicin. Euthanasia was elected by the owners, due to progressive deterioration and lack of quality of life, 28 days after diagnosis. This is the first cytologic and immunophenotypic characterization of a canine γδ T‐cell lymphoma with LGL morphology and probably of mediastinal origin. The role of chemotherapy in delaying the disease progression remains unknown.