In Vivo Embryo Recovery Rate by Laparoscopic Technique from Rabbit Does Selected for Growth Rate

Rabbit does from R line selected for growth rate present a low reproductive performance and this study aimed to evaluate both the recovery efficacy and viability of recovered embryos after vitrification and the reproductive performance of donor does subjected to in vivo recovery. Does were divided into three groups: 28 does without in vivo recovery (control), 25 does in which in vivo recovery was started in the nulliparous state (group 1) and 30 does with at least one litter before in vivo recovery (group 2). Does were superovulated with a single subcutaneous injection of 50 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) per female, and were then artificially inseminated 60 h later and immediately administered an intravenous dose of 75 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) per female. Does from group 1 and 2 were recovered in vivo 76-80 h post-insemination by repeated laparoscopies at one to four times and permitted one or two parturitions between recoveries [in vivo (IV) recovery]. At the end of the experiment, about 16 does of all groups were recovered post-mortem (PM recovery). All normal embryos were vitrified, devitrified and then cultivated in vitro to evaluate the viability after thawing. A significant increase in the ovulation rate was found in does recovered PM than in those recovered IV in the nulliparous state. However, no significant differences were observed in the recovery rate, the donor rate, the number of normal embryos recovered with at least one normal embryo per doe and the viability after thawing between the PM and IV groups. A significant decrease in the fertility rate, total born, live born and weaned kids was found for does from group 1 in comparison with does from group 2. Results support the use of repeated laparoscopy to increase the number of recovered embryos per donor doe especially in such R line does, if they are permitted to produce at least one litter before the beginning of in vivo recovery.     

ASSESSING CIRCLE OF WILLIS BLOOD CIRCULATION IN DOGS WITH TRANSCRANIAL COLOR-CODED DUPLEX SONOGRAPHY

Insonation of Circle of Willis by transcranial Doppler duplex color sonography is described in 30 healthy dogs with 15 weighing <33 lb and 15 weighing >33 lb. Imaging was via a temporal window to explore the rostral, middle, and caudal cerebral arteries on both the left and right-hand sides; and through an suboccipital window to study the basilar artery. Normal mean values of the peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity, mean velocity, resistance index (RI), and pulsatility index (PI) were characterized and compared with those obtained in previous studies. There was significant differences in the PSV, RI, and PI in the rostral cerebral artery between dogs weighing <33 vs. >33 lb. Mean PSV was higher in weighing over 33 lb, whereas the mean resistive index and mean PI were lower in these dogs.     

Geographic variation for isozymes in cherimoya (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Annona cherimola</Emphasis> Mill.)

Cherimoya (Anonna cherimola Mill.) is a fruit tree which originated in Peru and Ecuador and is now cultivated in several subtropical areas of the world. The characterization of cherimoya cultivars at allozyme level has been previously reported, but the geographic distribution and organization of this variation have not been fully characterized. In this study, we assessed the relationships among 206 cherimoya and four atemoya (A. cherimola ×A. squamosa) cultivars based on allozyme polymorphism. We have confirmed the genetic differences between atemoya and cherimoya cultivars, and showed that cherimoya accessions from Madeira, Bolivia and Spain form homogeneous groups of cultivars. Accessions from Chile and California form heterogeneous groups, probably due to their mixed origins. Cultivars from Peru and Ecuador showed a wide range of allelic variation, as is expected for accessions from the center of origin of this species.     

Combining Maltogenic Amylase with CMC or Wheat Gluten to Prevent Amylopectin Recrystallization and Delay Corn Tortilla Staling

Antistaling properties of a bacterial maltogenic amylase, sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and vital wheat gluten on quality of corn tortillas were evaluated during 14 days of storage. Amylopectin recrystallization was the driving force behind the staling of corn tortillas. Increasing levels of recrystallized amylopectin measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) correlated significantly with increased tortilla stiffness (r = 0.43) and reduction in tortilla pliability (r = ‐0.42) during storage. Maltogenic amylase (275–1,650 activity units) made tortillas less stiff but did not preserve pliability and extensibility as effectively as CMC (0.25–0.5%). The combination of 825 MANU of maltogenic amylase (to interfere with intragranular amylopectin recrystallization) and 0.25% CMC (to create a more flexible intergranular matrix than retrograded amylose and amylopectin) produced less stiff, equally flexible, and less chewy tortillas than did 0.5% CMC. Vital wheat gluten was not as effective as CMC in preserving tortilla flexibility or as good as the maltogenic amylase in reducing stiffness. Further research is required to optimize the addition of maltogenic amylases in continuous processing lines that use fresh masa instead of nixtamalized corn flour (NCF) and to determine how these amylases interfere with amylopectin recrystallization.     

Arsenic uptake,distribution, and accumulation in bean plants: Effect of Arsenite and salinity on plant growth and yield

The response of bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to different levels of arsenic (As) and salinity was investigated, including the processes of uptake, distribution, and accumulation of As and the effect of arsenite and salinity on plant growth and fruit production. The experiment was performed in soilless culture at two levels of As: 2 and 5 mg As L^‐1 [added as sodium arsenite (NaAsO₂)], and three saline levels [only sodium chloride (NaCl) was added]: 1,000,2,000, and 4,000 μS#lbcM^‐1. Arsenic uptake and concentration in root increased upon increased NaAsO₂ concentration in the nutrient solution. However, the increase in the As root content was not proportional to the As level in the nutrient solution. High levels of salinity in solution decreased As uptake and the concentration of As in root, stem, and leaf. Upon uptake, As was readily translocated to the aerial organs and approximately half of the absorbed As was transported to the upper parts of the bean plants. The As concentration in fruit always remained below the recommended limit for As content in fruit and edible vegetal products. While salinity did not significantly affect plant growth, arsenite was found to be phytotoxic to the bean plants.     

DETERMINATION OF FOLIAR SAMPLING CONDITIONS AND STANDARD LEAF NUTRIENT LEVELS TO ASSESS MINERAL STATUS OF LOQUAT TREE

Loquat [Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.] is a minor fruit-tree species which is grown commercially in the Mediterranean region. Given the current increase in loquat cultivation, there is a need to define basic crop-management procedures in order to obtain high yields and optimal fruit quality. The aim of this work was to develop a routine for loquat farmers to follow, in order to know the nutritional status of trees in order to establish a rational fertilization regime, and to correct nutrient deficiencies as soon as possible. This paper reports three experiments aimed at establishing: 1) leaf type, 2) time of leaf sampling and 3) the standard leaf nutrient levels as a function of maximum yield. Results indicate that the summer flush leaves could be the most representative of nutritional status. Thus, the most appropriate time to sample leaves for analysis is in summer (beginning of August to the end of September), taking mature 3–4 month old leaves.     

Changes in photosynthesis and antioxidant metabolism of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plants in response to manganese stress

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to assess the physiological and biochemical responses of cotton plants to manganese (Mn²⁺) nutrition. Four cotton genotypes (G1 – TMG 47; G2 – FM 975 WS; G3 – TMG 11 WS and G4 – IMA 8405 GLT) were grown in nutrient solution under two Mn²⁺ concentrations (2 and 200 µmol L^?1) for 10 days. No visible symptoms of Mn²⁺ toxicity were observed in the genotypes tested. All genotypes showed a marked increase in leaf chlorophylls, pheophytins, carotenoids, sucrose and total sugars concentration in response to high Mn²⁺ in a nutrient solution. However, the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, internal carbon dioxide concentration and transpiration decreased in genotypes G1 and G2 growing under 200 µmol L^?1. Antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities increased in genotypes G1, G3 and G4. Cotton genotypes showed an increased leaf antioxidant and sugar metabolism as a possible strategy to mitigate oxidative stress. The decrease in the net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance; the increased antioxidant enzymes activities (SOD, APX and GR); and the increase in leaf sucrose and total sugar concentration were the main physiological and biochemical responses in cotton plants to Mn²⁺ stress.     

Purification and partial characterization of lipoxygenase from desert truffle (Terfezia claveryi Chatin) ascocarps

A lipoxygenase from Terfezia claveryi Chatin ascocarp, a mycorrhizal hypogeous fungus, is described for the first time. The higher proportion of PUFA in T. claveryi ascocarps makes lipid rancidity the main factor limiting its storage life. Thus, the studies on LOX from T. claveryi are important because this enzyme, among other roles, may be involved in an alteration of lipids leading to consumer rejection. The enzyme has been purified to apparent homogeneity by phase partitioning in the presence of Triton X-114, followed by two steps of cation-exchange chromatography. The purified T. claveryi LOX preparation consisted of a single major band with an apparent molecular mass of 66 kDa after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzymic activity exhibited a strong specificity toward linoleic and linolenic acids as substrates, while only 32% activity was observed using gamma-linolenic acid. The pH optimum of this enzyme was pH 7.0. When the enzyme reacted with linoleic acid, it produced a single peak, which comigrated with standard 13-hydroperoxy-octadecadienoic acid; 13-hydroperoxy-octadecatrienoic acid was produced during the reaction with linolenic acid.     

Microbial Degradation of Organophosphate Pesticides: A Review

Pesticides have become an inevitable part of the modern environment as they are widely used in agriculture,household,and public health sectors and,hence,are extensively distributed throughout most ecosystems.Currently,organophosphate pesticides are the most commercially favored group of pesticides,with large application areas all over the world.Depending on their fate,these organophosphorus compounds may become bioavailable for microbial degradation.Environmental microbes,such as Aspergillus,Pseudomonas,Chlorella,and Arthrobacter,are capable of coupling a variety of physical and biochemical mechanisms for the degradation of organophosphate pesticides,including adsorption,hydrolysis of P–O alkyl and aryl bonds,photodegradation,and enzymatic mineralization.Enzymes,such as esterase,diisopropyl fluorophosphatase,phosphotriesterase,somanase,parathion hydrolase,and paraoxonase,have been isolated from microbes to study and understand the catabolic pathways involved in the biotransformation of these xenobiotic compounds.This review highlights various aspects of biodegradation of organophosphate pesticides along with biological and molecular characterization of some organophosphate pesticide-degrading bacteria.     

Development of a method for the genetic identification of mussel species belonging to Mytilus, Perna, Aulacomya, and other genera

Legislation regarding the labeling of processed products is an important issue in the protection of consumer rights. This labeling is especially important in products that cannot be identified on the basis of their morphological characters, because these are removed from the animal in the transformation process. The goal of this study was the identification of mussel species using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and Forensically Informative Nucleotide Sequencing (FINS) methodologies. The molecular marker selected was 18S rDNA (nuclear small-subunit rDNA gene), which allows identification at the genus level and at the species level in some cases. The genera included in this study were Mytilus, Perna, Aulacomya, Semimytilus, Brachidontes, Choromytilus, and Perumytilus. Different markers were used for genetic identification at the species level. To identify the species included in the genus Perna and Choromytilus, a fragment of ITS 1 (Internal Transcribed Spacer 1) was amplified by multiplex PCR and digested with restrictases. The species of Mytilus were identified by length polymorphism and RFLP of the polyphenolic adhesive protein gene. This methodology was validated with products manufactured in the authors' pilot plant and applied to commercial samples. Therefore, this sequential method can be completely or partially used to determine the mussel genus or species present in any food product.