Genetic Diversity in Argentine Andean Potatoes by Means of Functional Markers

Andean Potato is a major crop for farmers in the Andes and represents an important gene pool for potato improvement. We present the population structure and genetic diversity of 88 Andigena accessions collected in Northwestern Argentina based on functional markers (25 SSR) distributed along 12 chromosomes. Polymorphic information content ranged from 0.40 to 0.87. A Bayesian approach, a Principal Coordinate Analysis and a Cluster Analysis revealed the presence of: I) a major group containing most of the Andean accessions and II) a smaller group including the out-group cv. Spunta and the sequenced genotype DM. Several group specific alleles were detected. AMOVA showed that 81% of the variability was within each group. Eleven of the SSRs analyzed are linked or within genes reported to regulate traits of nutritional and industrial interest. Additionally, the allelic variant of a photoperiod dependent tuberization regulator gene, StCDF1.2, was exclusively detected in accessions clustered in group II.     

Fish trait diversity in littorals of two floodplain lakes of the highly biodiverse Caura River,Venezuela

We studied the trait diversity and structure in the fish communities of two floodplain lakes of the Caura River: Aricagua and Paramuto, during one hydrological cycle. We calculated taxonomic and a functional alpha and beta diversities and made comparisons among hydrological seasons and among habitats within each lake based on rarefactions. The trait structure was explored with an RLQ (analysis of a table R of environmental conditions, a table L of abundances of species and a table Q of species traits) analysis, and pairwise relationships between environmental variables and traits were explored with fourth‐corner analyses. Despite its smaller extension, Paramuto showed higher alpha taxonomic and trait diversities. The substrates of open sand and those covered by leaf litter were the most diverse habitats in terms of both species and traits. The trait structure of the fish communities was influenced by the hydrological seasons, the lakes as well as water pH and temperature, and in a lesser degree dissolved oxygen, habitat type and total dissolved solids in the water. These factors constitute the habitat templet for the fish community's composition and trait structure.     

Control of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haemonchus contortus</Emphasis> in sheep using basidiocarps of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agaricus blazei</Emphasis> Murril

Objective

This study evaluated the effects in vitro and in vivo of Agaricus blazei against Haemonchus contortus in sheep.

Methods

The in vitro efficacy of aqueous extract on egg hatching inhibition (EHI) was investigated and after 72 h incubation with varying concentrations the effects on, blastomeres, embryonated eggs, and first stage larvae (L1) were evaluated. Larval development inhibition (LDI) for dry powder and the aqueous extract were evaluated in fecal cultures of sheep infected with H. contortus. In vivo efficacy was determined by reduction in fecal egg count (FEC). Lambs were treated with powder A. blazei (11.4 g/kg pc) or trichlorfon, or were untreated and the possible toxicity of this fungus was monitored by plasmatic enzyme analysis.

Results

Concentrations equal to and higher than 3.62 mg/mL and of aqueous extract were 100% effective in the EHI test. In the LDI test, LC90 was estimated for 5.66 and 106.0 mg/g fecal culture for aqueous extract and powder, respectively. The mean FEC in lambs 14 days post-treatment with A. blazei powder was significantly lower than observed for the negative control, and the serum levels of aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase were normal.

Conclusion

The fungi supplementation promotes, respectively, high and moderate anthelmintic efficacy with in vitro and in vivo tests, respectively, suggesting it as an alternative or complementary treatment for haemonchosis in sheep.

     

Effect of reproductive methods and GnRH administration on long-term protocol in Santa Ines ewes

This study aimed to determine whether reproductive performance of ewes submitted to laparoscopic timed artificial insemination (TAI) would be similar to ante meridiem (AM)/post meridiem (PM) rule and assisted natural mating (NM), and whether GnRH may enhance the pregnancy rate in TAI. In experiment I, 191 non-lactating ewes were synchronized, then TAI was performed either 48 h after progesterone (P4) removal (TAI-48 h) or 12 h after estrus detection (AM/PM); moreover, some ewes were submitted to NM (NM) as control treatment. In experiment II, 247 non-lactating ewes were allocated in five treatments, a control (no-GnRH on protocol) and four treatments arranged in a factorial design 2 × 2. The factors were time and dose of GnRH: ewes that received either 10 μg (TAI-10 μg-36 h) or 25 μg of GnRH (TAI-25 μg-36 h) 36 h after P4 removal and ewes that received either 10 μg (TAI-10 μg-48 h) or 25 μg of GnRH (TAI-25 μg-48 h) at time of insemination, 48 h after P4 removal. In experiment I, pregnancy rate in TAI-48 h was lower (P = 0.03) than AM/PM and NM. Moreover, the probability of pregnancy in TAI-48 h was higher (P = 0.06) in ewes detected in estrus early. In experiment II, the use of GnRH in TAI protocols increased (P < 0.01) pregnancy rate at synchronization, and TAI-25 μ-48 h and TAI-10 μg-36 h treatments increased (P = 0.02) pregnancy rate compered to TAI-10 μg-48 h. We conclude that TAI decreased pregnancy rate compered to NM and AM/PM, which may be improved by GnRH use in TAI to synchronize ovulation.

     

Artificial neural networks to estimate the productivity of soybeans and corn by chlorophyll readings

Crop productivity prediction techniques assist with adjusting for potential agronomic problems during the growing season. Several authors have reported that there is a correlation between leaf chlorophyll (Chl) content and yield. This study developed independent artificial neural network (ANN) models for soybean and corn in order to predict the crops' productive potentials using their respective yields and leaf Chl content data, measured at three stages of plant development. The ANN was deemed ready for testing through verification of the mean squared error and the number of epochs while training the neural network. While the model obtained when Chl was measured in the V6 stage of development explained more than 50% of the productivity data in corn, the models obtained for soybean did not explain more than 10% of the observed data. Attempts to improve the model through changes of the architecture of the neural network did not show any improvement in model.     

Biodegradation and Detoxification Efficiency of Azo-Dye Reactive Orange 16 by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pichia kudriavzevii</Emphasis> CR-Y103

In consideration of the hazards associated with the presence of the textile azo-dye and their biotransformation products in the environment, the goal of this work was to study bioremediation process by the yeast strain Pichia kudriavzevii CR-Y103 related to the ability to degrade and detoxify the sulfonated Reactive Orange 16 azo-dye. In experimental conditions, the optimal inoculum/dye concentration ratio required for complete decolorization (100%) of culture medium and biomass within 24 h has been 1 g L^?1 yeast cell (dry weight)/50 mg L^?1 Reactive Orange 16. In the presence of 400 mg L^?1 of Reactive Orange 16 (RO16), 95% of the dye was removed after 72 h of incubation. Also, the yeast strain could decolorize other eight textile dyes (56.48–99.98% decolorization within 24 h). NADH-DCIP reductase and azo reductase activities were significantly increased (ca. 5.4 times and ca. 37 times, respectively) during the decolorization process. UV-VIS spectra, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirmed the presence of new biotransformation products in extracted metabolites, highlighting the partial biodegradation of the dye by the new yeast isolate. The phytotoxicity evaluation strongly supported the decreased toxicity of biodegraded products as minor inhibition on germination (%), root and shoots elongation of T. pratense L. and T. aestivum L. seedlings. Increasing of mitotic index value and decreasing the frequency of chromosomal aberrations in tested plant meristem cells treated with biodegraded products, compared with RO16 treatment (500 ppm), confirmed their slightly toxic nature. A cell viability assay also confirmed the reduced toxicity of biodegraded products on healthy monkey kidney cells (Vero cells).     

Poplar growth and wood production on a grassland irrigated for decades with potato starch wastewater

Irrigation of grasslands with potato starch wastewater causes changes in soil quality parameters, often resulting in decreased crop yields and sometimes causing animal diseases. Reduced agricultural income leads to designation of such grasslands for afforestation aimed at production of bioenergy crops and improvement of soil quality. In this study, Populus alba L. and seven different poplar clones were planted in 2009 on the grassland irrigated in 1973–2008 with potato starch wastewater and in non-irrigated, experimental forest. The survival, growth and wood production potential of planted poplars after 2–3 growing seasons were analyzed. Morphophysiological parameters of leaves, nutrients in leaves and fine roots, sugars in fine roots, leaf rust resistance, frost hardiness and their effects on growth were also determined. Stem diameter and stem volume index of poplars growing on the grassland were higher than in the experimental forest. Only Populus deltoides Bartr. × P. maximowiczii Henry clone ‘Eridano’ (in short ERI) had a survival rate of 100 % and the highest values of stem diameter (77 mm) and stem volume index (0.034 m³) in comparison with other poplars in both sites after 3 growing seasons. Clone ERI was also characterized by a high leaf rust resistance and frost hardiness. The results suggest that clone ERI is suitable as a bioenergy crop on grasslands irrigated with potato starch wastewater. Afforestation of the grassland improved the fertility of the soil by increasing concentrations of soil organic matter and availability of mineral nutrients (N, P, K, S and Fe).