Quantitative HPLC analysis of acids in Brazilian cachaças and various spirits using fluorescence detection of their 9-anthrylmethyl esters

An analytical procedure for the separation and quantification of 17 short-chain, medium-chain, and long-chain acids in cacha?as and various spirits has been developed involving C18 solid phase extraction, derivatization with 9-anthryldiazomethane, and reverse phase HPLC using fluorescence detection. The limit of detection was between 5 and 15 fmol, whereas the recovery of nonanoic acid as internal standard was >95%. Relative standard deviation values for reproducibility were between 0.09 and 20.4%, and repeatability was between 0.05 and 11.3%.     

Effects of putrescine injection in broiler breeder eggs

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of increasing doses of putrescine injected in ovo on hatchability, intestinal morphology and pre-starter performance of broilers. For this purpose, 720 eggs from broiler breeders were separated into a negative control (no injection) and injection treatments with increasing doses of putrescine (0.05; 0.1; 0.15 and 0.2%), totalling five treatments of 144 eggs each. Eggs were distributed in a completely randomized design inside the setter and the injection of solutions occurred at 17 days of incubation. After hatch, 330 birds were housed in mixed lots following the original treatments, totalling 5 treatments of 6 replicates with 11 birds each. Six birds per treatment were weighed and euthanized by cervical dislocation to collect the liver, intestine and breast 24 hr after injection, at hatch and 24 hr after hatch. At 2 days of age, intestines were collected from 4 animals per treatment to analyse histomorphology. The effects of putrescine levels were evaluated by polynomial regression models, ANOVA and Tukey test at 5% probability. The hatchability decreased linearly in response to increased doses of putrescine. The percentage of residual yolk was lower in animals that received putrescine compared to the control. After injection, the percentage of breast increased linearly, and the percentage of intestine had a quadratic response to increased doses of putrescine. However, 24 hr after hatch, the percentage of intestine linearly decreased, and the percentage of liver linearly increased in response to increased doses of putrescine. Villus height increased quadratically, crypt depth decreased linearly, and goblet cells increased linearly in response to the putrescine dose. FI and BWG were not affected in the pre-starter phase; however, FCR increased in response to increased levels of putrescine. Due to putrescine effects on embryos, it is recommended that the doses injected in ovo not exceed 0.1%.     

Timed artificial insemination in crossbred mares: Reproductive efficiency and costs

Timed artificial insemination (TAI) has boosted the use of conventional artificial insemination (CAI) by employing hormonal protocols to synchronize oestrus and ovulation. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of a hormonal protocol for TAI in mares, based on a combination of progesterone releasing intravaginal device (PRID), prostaglandin (PGF_2α) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG); and compare financial costs between CAI and TAI. Twenty-one mares were divided into two groups: CAI group (CAIG; n = 6 mares; 17 oestrous cycles) and TAI group (TAIG; n = 15 mares; 15 oestrous cycles). The CAIG was subjected to CAI, involving follicular dynamics and uterine oedema monitoring with ultrasound examinations (US), and administration of hCG (1,600 IU) when the dominant follicle (DF) diameter's ≥35 mm + uterine oedema + cervix opening. The AI was performed with fresh semen (500 × 10⁶ cells), and embryo was recovered on day 8 (D8) after ovulation. In TAI, mares received 1.9 g PRID on D0. On D10, PRID was removed and 6.71 mg dinoprost tromethamine was administered. Ovulation was induced on D14 (1,600 IU of hCG) regardless of the DF diameter's, and AI was performed with fresh semen (500 × 10⁶ cells). On D30 after AI, pregnancy was confirmed by US. The pregnancy rate was 80.0% in TAIG and 82.3% in CAIG (p > .05). The TAI protocol resulted in 65% reduction in professional transport costs, and 40% reduction in material costs. The TAI was as efficient as CAI, provided reduction in costs and handlings, and is recommended in mares.     

Sampling of subterranean termites <Emphasis Type="Italic">Syntermes</Emphasis> spp. (Isoptera: Termitidae) in a eucalyptus plantation using point process and geostatistics

The Syntermes genus, the most significant termite pest in eucalyptus cultivation, damages roots and debarks plant rings. This can kill the seedlings of this plant, and thus require replanting. Integrated management, based on sampling plans can reduce damage to eucalyptus seedlings and allows the rational use of chemical control. The objectives were to model the spatial distribution of the Syntermes spp. foraging holes using the Matérn-cluster point process in the Cerrado region (Brazilian savannah), simulate a sampling plan for termite hole density, produce maps of foraging hole densities using geostatistics and validate the simulated sampling plan in the field. The distribution of the Syntermes spp. foraging holes was spatially non-homogeneous and it adjusted to the Matérn-cluster point process model in the Minas Gerais Cerrado areas. The best Syntermes sampling plan simulation in the area of Cerrado is to launch a circular 5 m radius parcel every 100 m (sampling error <5 %) in a systematic manner. The approach of point processes, combined with geostatistics, is adequate to produce maps for the termite Syntermes spp. infestation in the eucalyptus plantation.     

The role of rhizobacteria in rice plants: Growth and mitigation of toxicity

Allelopathic compounds reduce the growth and productivity of upland rice plants, especially in consecutive plantations. The rhizobacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens BRM-32111 and Burkholderia pyrrocinia BRM-32113 have been recorded as growth promoters in rice. This study was developed to understand the effect of the application of rhizobacteria on upland rice plants in consecutive plantations. Experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design with four replications of four treatments: rice seed inoculated with P. fluorescens BRM-32111, rice seed inoculated with B. pyrrocinia BRM-32113 (both sown on soil with rice residue), non-inoculated plants sown on soil with rice residue (control with residue (WR)), and non-inoculated plants on soil with no residue (NR). Roots and seedling growth were adversely affected by allelopathic compounds in control WR plants. Plants inoculated with rhizobacteria P. fluorescens BRM-32111 or B. pyrrocinia BRM-32113 induced an increase of 88% in biomass, 3% in the leaf area, 40% in length, 67% in root biomass, 21% in chlorophyll a, 53% in chlorophyll (a+b), 50% in rate of carbon assimilation (A), 227% in A/rubisco carboxylation efficiency (C_i) and 63% in water use efficiency (WUE) compared to control WR plants. These results indicate that rhizobacteria P. fluorescens BRM-32111 and B. pyrrocinia BRM-32113 increase the tolerance of rice plants to stress from allelochemicals. There are possible practical agricultural applications of these results for mitigating the effects of environmental allelochemistry on upland rice.