Current challenges in sheep artificial insemination: A particular insight

Ovine artificial insemination (OAI) is not commonly performed because of specific problems related to semen application techniques, leading to highly variable results. The ideal methodology (frozen‐thawed semen/vaginal route) is unfeasible under field conditions due to the cervix morphology of the ewe, which prevents the process of intrauterine insemination necessary to obtain acceptable results. Currently, OAI commercial programmes use superficial cervical insemination, CAI (vaginal), with chilled semen (15°C) and intrauterine insemination, LAI (laparoscopic), with frozen‐thawed semen. The ability to improve upon these contrasting techniques may be derived from examining certain poorly studied factors such as insemination time, productive state of females and alternatives of seminal preservation, some of which we reviewed in this work. This interim solution will remain in use until AI by the vaginal route with frozen‐thawed semen is developed, but it poses new challenges in optimizing the freezing of the sperm and adapting the cervical (CAI) and/or transcervical intrauterine AI (TCAI). In this review, we address the current problems and evaluate their methodological (mechanical) and chemical (dilation) alternatives. Currently, TCAI is a methodologically complex technique with poor fertility results, so further studies are needed to improve the logistics of this procedure and the results of its application.     

Role of olive seed in the biogenesis of virgin olive oil aroma

Results obtained in a set of experiments point to an effective participation of olive seeds in the biosynthesis of olive oil aroma through the lipoxygenase pathway during the extraction process to produce virgin olive oil. Data showed that olive seeds should contain enzymatic activities metabolizing 13-hydroperoxides other than hydroperoxide lyase, giving rise to a net decrease in the content of C6 unsaturated aldehydes during the olive oil extraction process. Olive seeds seem also to supply this process with alcohol dehydrogenase activity, being more specific for saturated C6 aldehydes and not acting on C5 alcohols. Moreover, olive seeds would be responsible for the biosynthesis of 30-50% esters during the olive oil extraction process of intact fruits. Thus, olive seeds would afford a load of alcohol acyltransferase activity that might be quite unspecific in terms of substrate, producing any kind of esters.     

Femoral head excision after coxofemoral luxation in an Arab filly: Four years follow‐up

A foal with a cranio‐dorsal coxofemoral luxation was treated with a prosthetic capsulorraphy technique after open reduction. After reluxation a femoral head ostectomy was performed for salvage purposes. The filly was discharged with minimal lameness and was using the limb properly after 51 days of hospitalisation. Four years later the filly is still doing well as a breeding mare, with an acceptable quality of life despite angular deformities in the contralateral limb.     

Potential environmental and economic impacts of turfgrass in Albuquerque,New Mexico (USA)

We estimated the ecological and economic impact of urban turfgrass production in a large city. A satellite image was used to evaluate the turfgrass area of Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A. Turfgrass, the major vegetation component of the city, covers 7,650 ha and represents approximately 30.0% of the metropolitan area. Of the total grass area, 85.0% exists as home lawns, 8.3% occurs in parks, and 6.7% is on golf courses.We estimated that turfgrass uses an average of 475,000 m³ of water every day, yielding more than 4,575,000 kg of grass clippings going to the landfill in approximately 250,000 garbage bags each year. The approximate yearly cost of maintenance comes to more than $30 million which includes the potential purchase of 322,065 kg of nitrogen fertilizer, 286,110 kg of phosphorus fertilizer, 237,915 kg of potassium fertilizer and 37,408 kg of active ingredients of insecticides.Our evaluation of the cumulative effects of domestic and municipal turfgrass production can guide the application of economically sound Integrated Pest Management strategies and enable planning for sustained use of potentially limiting resources, such as water, in semiarid environments.     

Energy Balance of Callinectes rathbunae Contreras 1930 in Floating Cages in a Tropical Coastal Lagoon

The genus Callinecres is ecologically important in the coastal lagoon region of the Gulf of Mexico. This study was conducted to test the feasibility of raising these crabs in a system of floating cages and to measure their scope for growth in a tropical coastal lagoon of the Gulf of Mexico. The equation P = As - (R + E + N) was used to estimate the scope for growth (P) for C. rathbunae under experimental conditions for 21 days. Ingested food was 3% of body weight. Assimilation (As) was 73% of assimilated energy, 21.4% was channeled to respiration (R), 2% to excretion (N) and 0.16% to exuvia (E). The remainder of the energy was channeled to growth at a net efficiency of 76%. Significant differences were not found between the calculated scope for growth and the growth achieved in the culture system ( P > 0.05). These results support the energy balance equation and suggest that the cultivation of C. rathbunae in floating cages is possible.     

Experimental Collection of Pearl Oyster, Pinctada mazatlanica and Pteria sterna, Spat on a Filament Substrate

Juveniles of Pinctada mazatlanica and Pteria sterna were collected with artificial collectors from Falsa Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico during a 12 month experimental period. Filament substrate artificial collectors contained in 2 mm plastic mesh bags (25 ± 25 cm) were deployed from the surface to 17 m of depth, and replaced monthly. Pinctada mazatlanica had the greatest recruitment (12 juveniles/cm²) in late summer and P. sterna (5 juveniles/cm²) in winter. Maximum spat collection from September 1986 to April 1987 occurred at 10 m depth for P. mazatlanica and at 4–7 m depth for P. sterna . However, peak spatfall under 11m depth occurred from late July to August 1987. The mean prodissoconch shell height was 254 μ m (SE = 0.003; N = 50) for P. mazatlanica and 313 μm (SE = 0.004; N = 50) for P. sterna . The growth equations for the first five weeks of both species, based on the prodissoconch shell height and the maximum spat height (measured from the umbo to distal edge) are presented.     

The influence of citrus rootstocks on the relationship between the mite Brevipalpus phoenicis and citrus leprosis disease

BACKGROUND: Leprosis is one of the most serious citrus plant diseases. Leprosis‐affected plants, especially sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck], which is the most widely cultivated citrus fruit worldwide, show reduced photosynthetic capacity and severe defoliation. The aim was to evaluate the relationship between the Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) vector mite and citrus leprosis disease in Pera sweet orange plants grafted on different rootstocks. Data were analysed using numerical classification and conventional statistical analysis (ANOVA). RESULTS: Both viruliferous and non‐viruliferous B. phoenicis populations increased in number on plants maintained at low soil water content. Among the evaluated rootstocks, Sunki mandarin proved least favourable for mite population increase. Furthermore, the viruliferous mite population increased more rapidly than the non‐viruliferous mite population. CONCLUSION: The Cleopatra rootstock showed low variability in leaf nitrogen content, low mite number and low leprosis severity, thereby producing the most favourable results. Under appropriate moisture conditions, the Sunki rootstock produced the best results, showing the least severe leprosis. Rangpur lime rootstock grown in soil with varying water content showed the greatest variation in foliar nitrogen content, mite number and severity of leprosis and is considered to be the most difficult rootstock to manage. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

The breeding possibilities and genetic parameters of maize resistance to foliar diseases

The combining ability and genetic parameters of maize grown in two different environments of diseases pressure were estimated for partial resistance to northern leaf blight (Exserohilum turcium, NLB) and gray leaf spot (Cercospora spp., GLS). Nine inbred lines were crossed in a complete diallel mating scheme including reciprocals. Two experiments were carried out to test the hybrids using randomised complete blocks design with three replications during the growing season 2008/2009. The severities of NLB and GLS were assessed under natural infestation conditions. The first experiment was the lowest NLB and GLS pressure environment, whereas the second was the highest. Data was evaluated using individual and joint Griffing’s diallel analyses. General and specific combining abilities were significant (P < 0.10) for NLB and GLS resistance under both pressures. Although additive and nonadditive gene effects were significant, the additive gene effects were more important for resistance to the diseases. The lines 1 (P₈₃), 6 (P_30F) and 7 (P_st) had the most outstanding general combining ability for NLB resistance, and the line 3 (P₈₀) was outstanding for resistance to GLS. Based on both diseases resistance and grain yield, the synthetic composites 6 × 7 × 3 and (6 × 7) × 3 were recommended for intrapopulational breeding using recurrent selection. Three promising hybrid combinations (the 3 × 6, and 5 × 7 for resistance to NLB, and 3 × 9 for resistance to GLS) were recommended for interpopulational breeding. Resistance levels to NLB and GLS resistance were better discriminated under HP than LP conditions; however, promising lines were detected under both pressures.     

Verticillium diseases of vegetable crops in Brazil: Host range,microsclerotia production,molecular haplotype network,and pathogen species determination

Recent outbreaks of Verticillium wilt diseases in various vegetable crops have been reported in Brazil. This fact was our initial stimulus to carry out a nationwide survey aiming to determine their causal agent(s). Thus far, Verticillium dahliae has been reported as the predominant species based solely on morphological traits. As other Verticillium species can be associated with wilt diseases, we characterized a collection of 80 isolates, collected across 10 agricultural Brazilian regions, by combining morphological, biological, and molecular traits. A multilocus approach was employed for identification of Verticillium species with information from three genomic regions (ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and actin genes). Only 21 out of the 80 isolates were unable to produce microsclerotia in culture. The analyses of all genomic regions indicated V. dahliae as the sole species associated with vascular wilt of distinct hosts, including major solanaceous vegetables and other hosts such as strawberry, okra, and cacao. Pathogenicity tests confirmed the infection by the V. dahliae isolates and the development of typical disease symptoms on their original hosts. This is the first nationwide characterization of Verticillium isolates associated with major vegetable crops in Neotropical areas. This provides valuable information to design sound management strategies for these diseases, mainly for establishing efficient rotation systems and for the development of resistant cultivars.