Path analysis for selection of drought tolerant sugarcane genotypes through physiological components

Water deficit is among the main environmental factors limiting agricultural productivity of sugarcane in Northeast Brazil by affecting virtually every aspect of plant growth, with consequent reduction of the agro-industrial productivity of this crop. This study aimed to use path analysis to evaluate the physiological components of sugarcane under two water conditions, with photosynthesis as the basic variable, in order to obtain subsidies that can help the genetic breeding of this crop by selection of superior clones with drought tolerance. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse with a completely randomized experimental design, 4 × 2 factorial arrangements (four sugarcane genotypes × two soil moisture regimes: control, with 80-100% available water and stressed, with 0-20% water available) and with four replications. Each plot consisted of one pot with 12 kg of substrate containing one plant. Treatments were maintained at a humidity close to field capacity with daily replacement of the evapotranspired water with a water supply for 66 days of cultivation for treatments under stress. Evaluations were conducted on the fourth day after severe water stress at 70 days of cultivation. Data from nine physiological variables were considered, with six of these being used in the model after exclusion of those that were contributing to multicollinearity. Variables used in path analysis were enough to explain the variation found in photosynthesis under both water conditions. Stomatal conductance, transpiration and the SPAD index should be considered as a priority in breeding programs for sugarcane aiming to get more productive and tolerant genotypes to water stress, and selection indexes should be used with due consideration of these variables to promote gains in photosynthesis.     

The use of Kohonen neural networks for runoff–erosion modeling

Purpose

We investigated the application of Kohonen Neural Networks (KNNs) in order to estimate sediment yield based on runoff and climatological data in a semiarid region of Brazil. Accurate estimations of sediment yield are essential to improve the management of soil erosion in semiarid areas, where large quantities of sediments tend to be produced only periodically.

Materials and methods

The case study is an erosion plot within the São João do Cariri Experimental Basin, which is located in the semiarid portion of Paraíba State, Brazil. KNNs are unsupervised neural networks capable of reducing a multidimensional data set to a bidimensional matrix of features, which can be used for analysis and prediction purposes. A total of 60 rainfall events, which occurred between 1999 and 2002, were used to calibrate and test the model. The application of a multivariate linear regression (MLR) model was also carried out.

Results and discussion

Statistical indexes were used as criteria for evaluating the performance of the KNN and MLR models for the test data set. The correlation and relative bias of the KNN model estimations with those from observed data were 0.90 and ?4.39 %, respectively. A correlation of 0.70 and a relative bias of 15.63 % were found from the comparison of sediment yields obtained by the MLR model with those of the observed data. Analysis of the outcomes indicates that the KNN model, which is capable of detecting and extracting nonlinear trends, produced more reliable results than the regression model.

Conclusions

The KNN model results appear to be superior to those generated by the MLR model and suggest that the developed methodology may be applied to similar case studies.     

Antiviral evaluation of plants from Brazilian Atlantic Tropical Forest

The antiviral activity of six medicinal plants from Brazilian Atlantic Tropical Forest was investigated against two viruses: herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and poliovirus type 2 (PV-2). Cuphea carthagenensis and Tillandsia usneoides extracts showed the best antiherpes activity. T. usneoides dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts, and Lippia alba n-butanol extract showed inhibition of HSV-1, strain 29R/acyclovir resistant. In addition, only L. alba ethyl acetate extract showed antipoliovirus activity. These results corroborate that medicinal plants can be a rich source of potential antiviral compounds.     

Anthelmintic activity of Azadirachta indica A. Juss against sheep gastrointestinal nematodes

Gastrointestinal nematode control has been performed through use of anthelmintics. However, the development of resistant populations has required research into new alternatives. There are popular reports about anti-parasitic activity of Azadirachta indica in animals and plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of A. indica after feeding sheep with the dried leaves. In this experiment, 40 sheep were allotted into four treatment groups. Group I received a treatment of A. indica dry leaves mixed in a concentrate at a rate of 0.1 g/kg dose for 3 months. Group II was treated with double the dose of Group I. Group III was treated with closantel (Diantel) at the manufacturer-recommended dose once at the beginning of the study and Group IV was not treated. To compare treatment effects, the following parameters were evaluated: egg count per gram of feces (EPG), worm burden, weight gain and haematocrit. EPG and worm burden results were statistically evaluated using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Haematocrit and live weight gain were submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the means evaluated by Tukey's test with 95% probability. None of the evaluated parameters of the treatment groups were statistically different when compared to the control group, demonstrating that, with the protocol used, A. indica has no anthelmintic effect.     

Saccharomyces boulardii reduces infection intensity of mice with toxocariasis

Several studies have shown the benefit of the use of probiotics in the prevention and treatment of diseases; however, few of them have investigated the effect of probiotics on parasitosis. In this study, the effect of Saccharomyces boulardii on the intensity of infection of mice with toxocariasis was evaluated. The animals were fed with a diet supplemented with S. boulardii for 15 days before inoculation with Toxocara canis eggs and for 2 or 60 days post-inoculation. S. boulardii promoted a reduction of approximately 36% in the average number of recovered T. canis larvae, suggesting that it can be used as an alternative to help control toxocariasis.     

Seawater transmission and infection dynamics of pilchard orthomyxovirus (POMV) in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

The Tasmanian salmon industry had remained relatively free of major viral diseases until the emergence of pilchard orthomyxovirus (POMV). Originally isolated from wild pilchards, POMV is of concern to the industry as it can cause high mortality in farmed salmon (Salmo salar). Field observations suggest the virus can spread from pen to pen and between farms, but evidence of passive transmission in sea water was unclear. Our aim was to establish whether direct contact between infected and naïve fish was required for transmission, and to examine viral infection dynamics. Atlantic salmon post‐smolts were challenged with POMV by either direct exposure via cohabitation or indirect exposure via virus‐contaminated sea water. POMV was transmissible in sea water and direct contact between fish was not required for infection. Head kidney and heart presented the highest viral loads in early stages of infection. POMV survivors presented low viral loads in most tissues, but these remained relatively high in gills. A consistent feature was the infiltration of viral‐infected melanomacrophages in different tissues, suggesting an important role of these in the immune response to POMV. Understanding POMV transmission and host–pathogen interactions is key for the development of improved surveillance tools, transmission models and ultimately for disease prevention.     

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Prototheca zopfii in a dog with enteric signs

This is a case report of enteric protothecosis caused by Prototheca zopfii in an eight-year-old male mixed breed dog with a history of chronic bloody diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight loss. Algae were isolated from rectal scrapings in defibrinated sheep blood agar and dextrose Sabouraud agar. Cytological evaluation showed the presence of globular and cylindrical organisms with a defined capsule and variable number of endospores, characteristic of the genus Prototheca, in the rectum of the animal. Scanning electron microscopy of P. zopfii strains at different development stages confirmed the diagnosis of algal infection. Molecular identification using a conserved 18S rDNA gene sequence determined that the strain belonged to genotype 2. This report describes success on treatment of canine protothecosis, diagnosed based on clinical, cytological, microbiological, scanning electron microscopy and genotypical findings.