Phylogenetic and host-parasite relationship analysis of Henneguya multiplasmodialis n. sp. infecting Pseudoplatystoma spp. in Brazilian Pantanal wetland

A new species of the genus Henneguya (Henneguya multiplasmodialis n. sp.) was found infecting the gills of three of 89 specimens (3.3%) of Pseudoplatystoma corruscans and two of 79 specimens (2.6%) of Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum from rivers in the Pantanal wetland, Brazil. Partial sequencing of the 18S rDNA gene of the spores obtained from one plasmodium from the gills of P. corruscans and other one from the gills of P. reticulatum, respectively, resulted in a total of 1560 and 1147 base pairs. As the spores of H. multiplasmodialis n. sp. resemble those of Henneguya corruscans, which is also a parasite of P. corruscans, sequencing of the 18S rDNA gene of the spores of H. corruscans found on P. corruscans caught in the Brazilian Pantanal wetland was also provided to avoid any taxonomic pendency between these two species, resulting in 1913 base pairs. The sequences of H. multiplasmodialis n. sp. parasite of P. corruscans and P. reticulatum and H. corruscans did not match any of the Myxozoa available in the GenBank. The similarity of H. multiplasmodialis n. sp. obtained from P. corruscans to that from P. reticulatum was of 99.7%. Phylogeny revealed a strong tendency among Henneguya species to form clades based on the order and/or family of the host fish. H. multiplasmodialis n. sp. clustered in a clade with Henneguya eirasi and H. corruscans, which are also parasites of siluriforms of the family Pimelodidae and, together with the clade composed of Henneguya spp. parasites of siluriforms of the family Ictaluridae, formed a monophyletic clade of parasites of siluriform hosts. The histological study revealed that the wall of the plasmodia of H. multiplasmodialis n. sp. were covered with a stratified epithelium rich in club cells and supported by a layer of connective tissue. The interior of the plasmodia had a network of septa that divided the plasmodia into numerous compartments. The septa were composed of connective tissue also covered on both sides with a stratified epithelium rich in club cells. Inflammatory infiltrate was found in the tissue surrounding the plasmodia as well as in the septa.     

Carcass characteristics and meat quality of lambs fed with cassava foliage hay and spineless cactus

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the total or partial replacement of Tifton 85 hay (TH) by cassava foliage hay (CH) and/or spineless cactus (SC) on the carcass characteristics and meat quality of confined lambs. Thirty-five Dorper x Santa Inês crossbred lambs were used, with an initial average weight of 16.0 ± 1.9 kg, fed with five treatment diets: 70% TH, 70% CH, 35% TH + 35% CH, 35% TH + 35% SC, and 35% CH + 35% SC. After 90 days of confinement, the animals were slaughtered and the carcass and meat data were compared using the Tukey test at 5%. The partial replacement of TH by SC increased the cold carcass weight by 3.9 kg (p < .05). The proportion of fat (%) increased (p < .05) when TH was replaced by CH + SC. The intensity of red (a*) was lower (p < .05) in the meat of animals fed with CH or CH + SC. It is recommended to partially replace TH with SC, or to replace totally with CH in association with SC.     

Response of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings to soil-applied organo-borates

Sodium tetraphenylboron (NaTPB) is used to precipitate radiocesium from high-level nuclear wastes. Processing of these wastes will intensify in the future thereby increasing the possibility of the accidental release of NaTPB into the environment. Two greenhouse pot experiments using loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings were conducted to evaluate the effects of NaTPB and one of its degradation by-products, diphenylboric acid (DPBA), on pine B nutrition and growth. The needle and root tissue concentrations of B were higher for NaTPB than DPBA treatments. Consequently, NaTPB but not DPBA had detrimental effects on plant growth. Seedlings that had significant yield detriments displayed typical B toxicity symptoms due to high-B stress. The distribution of B among the needles, stems and roots, expressed as percent of total B in the seedlings, remained relatively constant irrespective of the soil B level or B source. The peak of hot-water extractable soil B from the NaTPB treatments lagged about 20 days behind the DPBA treatments, suggesting a faster hydrolysis for the latter compound.     

Structure and genetic diversity of macauba [Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart.] approached by SNP markers to assist breeding strategies

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Macauba palm [Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart.] is a perennial oil, it stands out for having several characteristics of commercial interest, mainly...     

Uptake of multielements by corn from fly ash-compost amended soil

Fly ash was collected from a coal-fired power plant in and near the U.S. Department of Energy Savannah River Site to study the feasibility of the application of fly ash compost mixture to soils for the availability and uptake of various elements by corn (Zea mays L.). The crop was grown in potted Ogeechee sandy loam soil using eight treatments: soil alone, soil amended with 15% compost, and soil amended with 2, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% of fly ash-amended compost. It was observed that 20–25% fly ash and compost soil ratio treatments generally increased plant growth and the yield. The plant uptake of K, Mn, and Cu increased with increasing percentages (2–25%) of fly ash+compost: soil ratios. The total content of K in plants was positively correlated with the dry matter yield of corn. This study indicates that the application of fly ash blended with compost to soil is beneficial to corn production without causing any deleterious effects on plant growth and plant composition.     

Phytoremediation of soil contaminated with low concentrations of radionuclides

Primary sludge, secondary sludge, and wood ash from a pulp and paper mill were combined with sand to create a synthetic topsoil (C:N ratio of 18:1) to restore an abandoned gravel pit. Synthetic topsoil was applied to field microcosms at rates equivalent to 0, 2170, 4341, or 6511 kg N/ha; each was seeded with grass. Fifteen chemical constituents in leachate were measured during two field seasons. Cadmium, Ni and Zn were mobilized rapidly by soil disturbance. Chloride and SO₄-S eluted rapidly from the sludge along with Na. Nitrate leached with Ca late in each field season when sludge N-mineralization and nitrification exceeded plant uptake and microbial immobilization. Ammonium elution was negligible. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was mobilized by decomposition of organic matter in the sludge, as were Mg and K. Copper eluted with DOC, probably as an organic ligand. Lead and ortho-P were below our detection limits. We concluded that a synthetic topsoil with a 30:1 C:N ratio applied at a rate of 2100-4300 kg N/ha should provide adequate plant nutrition while minimizing water quality hazards.     

Comparative availability to wheat of metals from sewage sludge and inorganic salts

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the availability of metals from sewage sludge and inorganic salts, and the effect of pH and soil type on yield and metal (Zn, Cu, Cd and Ni) uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum L. var. ‘holly’). Soils used in this study were Hartsells sandy loam (fine-loamy, siliceous Thermic Typic Hapludult) and Decatur silty clay loam (Clayey, kaolinitic, Thermic Rhodic Paleudult). Two treatments of sewage sludge containing metals were applied at the rate of 20 and 100 mt ha^?1. Inorganic Salts of Zn, Cu, Cd, and Ni were applied (as sulfate salts) at concentrations equivalent to those found in the 20 and 100 mt ha^?1 sludge. One treatment consisted of inorganic metals plus sewage at the 20 Mg ha^?1 rate. Two soil pH levels, one at field pH (below 6.0) and another pH adjusted between 6.5 and 7.0 were used. Wheat plants were harvested four weeks after germination. Two more subsequent harvests were made at four week intervals. For each harvest, dry matter yield increased as the rate of sludge application increased for both soil types. The soil pH also influenced the dry matter yield. High yield was observed when the pH was adjusted between 6.5 to 7.0 for both soils. An increase in yield was also observed at each subsequent harvest for most of the treatments. Inorganic salt treatments produced lower dry matter yields when compared with the sludge. Both sludge application and metal salts increased plant tissue concentration of Zn, Cu, Cd, and Ni at field pH for both soils. However, increasing the pH of the soil for both sludge and inorganic salt treatments generally decreased the tissue concentration of the above metals.     

Important pest species of the Spodoptera complex: Biology,thermal requirements and ecological zoning

Journal of Pest Science - In South America, especially in Brazil, four members of the Spodoptera complex, Spodoptera albula (Walker, 1857), S. cosmioides (Walker, 1858), S. eridania (Stoll, 1782),...     

Chronic lymphocytic inflammation specifies the organ tropism of prions

Prions typically accumulate in nervous and lymphoid tissues. Because proinflammatory cytokines and immune cells are required for lymphoid prion replication, we tested whether inflammatory conditions affect prion pathogenesis. We administered prions to mice with five inflammatory diseases of the kidney, pancreas, or liver. In all cases, chronic lymphocytic inflammation enabled prion accumulation in otherwise prion-free organs. Inflammatory foci consistently correlated with lymphotoxin up-regulation and ectopic induction of FDC-M1+ cells expressing the normal cellular prion protein PrPC. By contrast, inflamed organs of mice lacking lymphotoxin-alpha or its receptor did not accumulate the abnormal isoform PrPSc, nor did they display infectivity upon prion inoculation. By expanding the tissue distribution of prions, chronic inflammatory conditions may act as modifiers of natural and iatrogenic prion transmission.