Effects of dietary yeast cell wall on faecal bacteria and fermentation products in adult cats

This study evaluated the effects of increasing concentrations of spray‐dried yeast cell wall (YCW) in diets for healthy adult cats on apparent nutrient digestibility and on bacterial composition and fermentation products in the stool. Fourteen cats with an average weight of 4.40 ± 1.05 kg and an average age of 6.2 ± 0.54 years were used and assigned to treatments in an unbalanced randomized block design (by experimental period) with two blocks and three or four cats per diet in each block. Treatments included: control (0% YCW), 0.2% YCW, 0.4% YCW and 0.6% YCW, totalling seven animals per experimental diet. We found that YCW did not affect body weight, nutrient and food intake, faecal production, faecal score, faecal pH or urine output (p > .05). Regarding faecal bacteria, we observed a linear reduction in Clostridium perfringens, a quadratic reduction in Escherichia coli, and linear increases in Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. (p < .05) with the inclusion of YCW. Regarding the faecal short‐chain fatty acid profile, butyrate, valerate, total biogenic amines, putrescine, cadaverine and histamine increased linearly (p < .05) with the inclusion of YCW. It was concluded that in healthy adult cats, consumption of YCW modulates the faecal bacterial populations, with an increased presence of beneficial bacteria and a reduction in some potentially pathogenic bacteria. It was concluded that YCW modulated the levels of fermentation products. There was an increase in fermentation products coming from carbohydrate metabolism, an important effect that can potentially benefit the intestinal health of cats. The consumption of YCW also increased the fermentation of nitrogen compounds, which have not yet been defined as deleterious or beneficial. The fermentability of carbohydrates and nitrogen compounds may be associated. Therefore, YCW may cause rapid fermentation of both classes of compounds by enhancing the fermentability of one class.     

General and specific combining ability in Serrasalmidae

This work was carried out to predict the combining abilities, both general and specific, for performance traits and bodily yields of Serrasalmidae. Ninety‐six 30‐day‐old juveniles were purchased from two commercial fish farms, 12 of each of the following eight genetic groups: pacu, pirapitinga, tambaqui, tambacu, tambatinga, patinga, paqui and piraqui. Six fish from each genetic group were grown in 500‐L fibreglass tanks (two tanks per genetic group) until they were 495 days old. At the end of the growth period fish were weighed, subjected to morphometric analysis and processed to obtain their bodily yields. Two nuclear markers and one mitochondrial marker were used to confirm the identity of the animals. Combining abilities were obtained using the method proposed by Griffing in 1956 (Australian Journal of Biological Science, 4, 463–493) adapted to a mixed models analysis, environmental effects were estimated by the empirical best linear unbiased estimator method and genetic effects (general and specific combining abilities) were estimated with the empirical best linear unbiased predictor. Predictions of the combining abilities of advanced hybrids were obtained by the mixed models mixture method with normal distributions. Tambaqui showed higher general and specific combining abilities than the other groups for most of the variables, making it the most important genetic group. General combining ability makes a greater contribution to phenotypic variance than specific combining ability for most variables, indicating a predominance of genes with an additive effect in the control of evaluated traits.     

Comparative analysis of physiological characteristics and yield components in sugarcane cultivars

Sugarcane in an important crop due to the economic value of its products. Physiological characteristics and yield components of sugarcane were studied in three field-grown sugarcane cultivars B 63118, POJ 2878 and Ja 60-5. Three growth stages were identified: formative phase (until 140 DAP), grand growth (140–300 DAP) and maturity (after 300 DAP). Results indicated that cultivars showed contrasting yield mainly after 300 DAP. At ripening, the most productive cultivar (Ja 60-5) achieved higher leaf area, an optimum leaf area index for light interception, a high and stable net assimilation rate and an elevated leaf area and biomass duration. In addition, this cultivar showed the higher density and lower area of leaf sieve elements as compared with other, which could influence the high translocation rate (1.85 cm min⁻¹) at 8 MAP. The higher efficiency of this process in Ja 60-5 might also be supported by a higher (15–25%) apparent free space of stem parenchyma as compared with POJ 2878 and B 63118. Our results suggest that Ja 60-5 reduced carbon partitioned to foliar respiration which led to a higher partitioning of sucrose to stems evidenced by a higher Pol%.     

Intake,digestibility, performance,and carcass traits of beef cattle of different gender

The performance, intake, feed efficiency, and carcass traits of beef cattle from different gender profile were assessed. Fifteen animals (five steers, five spayed heifers, and five intact heifers) with ±250 kg of initial body weight were randomly assigned in individual pens and fed the same diet for 106 days. At the end of the trial, all the animals were slaughtered and the pH, temperature, and weight of the carcass were recorded. The right side of each carcass was then separated into chuck, shoulder, flank sirloin, and round for evaluation of commercial cuts yield. The left carcass sides were ribbed between the 12th and 13th ribs where the rib eye area and fat thickness measurements were taken. The 9th–11th rib section was removed from the left half carcass and then dissected into muscle, fat, and bones in order to estimate carcass composition. Gender had no effect (P > 0.05) on performance, intake, digestibility of dry matter and all the nutrients evaluated, feed efficiency, and carcass characteristics. It can be concluded that steers and heifers (spayed or not) have the same potential to produce beef. From a productive and welfare standpoint, there is no reason to spay heifers.     

Assessment of rocky reef fish assemblages close to seaweed farming

The seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty ex P. C. Silva, a red algal species, is the main global source of Kappa carrageenan. The introduction of such exotic species in regions outside their original locale can change the community structure of the areas into which they are introduced. The possible influence of seaweed farming on the rocky reef fish assemblage was assessed in Paraty, Brazil. The reef fish assemblage in the seaweed farming area was compared before and after the commencement of farming with two undisturbed control areas. Among the ten species ranked as the most frequently occurring in each area, eight were the same. The fish community structure close to the seaweed farming area did not change from that of the control areas, over the months of the study. Neither the fish diversity and richness indices, nor the total average abundance among areas was significantly altered. The average abundance of the different trophic groups varied over time in both the farm and control areas, revealing similar patterns. These results suggest that K. alvarezii can be cultivated up to at least 50 m from a rocky coast without altering the fish community structure of the surrounding waters.     

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae)

We present here a method for the regeneration of the prickly-pear (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.) through somatic embryogenesis (SE). Direct SE was induced by cultivating shoot apices devoid of leaf primordia on semisolid Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 4-amino 3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) at 4 mg l⁻¹. Somatic embryogenesis was influenced by the type, age, physiological and developmental stage of the explants, and also by light conditions, wounding, and the sucrose concentration in the induction medium. A histological analysis confirmed SE by revealing the presence of a closed vascular system in the developing embryos and the absence of a vascular connection between the somatic embryos and the explant.     

Effects of salinity on sexual maturity and reproduction of Poecilia velifera

Poecilia velifera is a popular fish in freshwater aquarism that naturally inhabits aquatic habitats with a wide range of salinities. Nonetheless, the effects of different salinities on the reproductive success and sex ratio of the species remain unknown. Male sex characters, sex ratio and reproductive success of P. velifera were evaluated by maintaining 160 juveniles (0.078 ± 0.011 g) in four different salinities (0; 12; 24; 36 g/L), with four replicates. The only modification observed in males was the formation of a copulatory organ from the anal fin, which was used to distinguish them from females. Timing of the formation of the male copulatory organ, and the weight and total length of males when it occurred, were recorded. Twenty‐eight fish from each treatment were euthanized after 150 day to examine the gonads and confirm sex. Eight females and four males from each treatment were then kept in their respective salinity treatments for 65 days to examine the effects of salinity on reproduction. Males were kept with females in the different treatments for 15 days, at which point they were removed. Salinity was negatively correlated with male weight and length. Salinity also affected the sex ratio, with the percentages of males and females being 32.5 and 67.5%, and 27.5 and 72.5% in the salinities of 24 and 36 g of salt/L, respectively. Fifty percent of the females kept in freshwater reproduced, while there was no reproduction in the other treatments. The maintenance of P. velifera in freshwater promoted greater reproductive success and precocity, as well as larger males.     

Gastroprotective mechanism of Vanillosmopsis arborea bark essential oil

This study was aimed to clarify the mechanism of gastroprotection by Vanillosmopsis arborea Baker essential oil (EOVA) using ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage in mice. Gastric lesions were significantly reduced by EOVA (200 and 400 mg/kg). Chemical analysis showed that the major compound of EOVA was α-bisabolol. Pretreatment of mice with yohimbine, the α2-antagonist, greatly suppressed the gastroprotective effect of OEVA. Furthermore, OEVA gastroprotection was not attenuated in mice pretreated with indomethacin, L-NAME or glibenclamide, the respective inhibitors of cyclooxygenase, nitric oxide synthase and K⁺_ATP channel activation. These data suggest that OEVA affords gastroprotection most possibly by α2-receptor activation.     

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.     

Entomopathogenicity of native bacteria from Anastrepha fraterculus and Ceratitis capitata against the pest Phyllocnistis citrella

In Piura (Peru), the pest Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton damages the photosynthetic rate and new bud production of Citrus aurantiifolia Swingle (sweet lemon), decreasing the yield, productivity and commercial price of its fruit. Biological control was evaluated through the crossed effect of bacteria obtained from pests (Anastrepha fraterculus Wied., Ceratitis capitata Wied. and Rhynchophorus palmarum L.) that are pathogenic against their original host species. Enterobacter cloacae (Jordan) Hormaeche & Edwards and Serratia marcescens Bizio (from A. fraterculus and C. capitata) and Pseudomonas mendocina Palleroni (from R. palmarum) were used against P. citrella. The bacterial strains were inoculated into its food and the accumulated mortality was evaluated. Larvae of P. citrella treated with P. mendocina had the highest mortality (66.7%). These bacterial species were entomopathogenic against the original source pest in laboratory and greenhouse bioassays, and this result widens the pathological activity range of these bacterial species.