Evaluation of the effectiveness of Duddingtonia flagrans and Monacrosporium thaumasium in the biological control of gastrointestinal nematodes in female bovines bred in the semiarid region

Brazil has a herd of 212 million cattle and 171 million hectares of pastures that produce approximately 96 % of Brazilian beef. The Brazilian production system enables animal infection by endoparasites, which are considered one of the main obstacles for the development of this industry and are responsible for considerable economic losses. The control of parasitic diseases is performed via the administration of antiparasitic drugs, but they leave residues of the products in the treated animal, affect non-target organisms and select resistant strains of the parasites. The species D. flagrans and M. thaumasium are promising and sustainable alternatives for controlling gastrointestinal helminths of ruminants and other herbivores. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of isolates of these species, formulated in a sodium alginate matrix and administered twice a week, to reduce the number of environmental infective larvae of gastrointestinal nematodes that affect prepubescent zebu females. The treated animals presented fewer eggs and a lower number of infective larvae per gram of faeces (p?<?0.05). The pastures occupied by treated animals showed a statistically significant reduction (p?<?0.05) of the number of L₃ and, furthermore, the genera Cooperia sp., Haemonchus sp., and Oesophagostomum sp. were the most prevalent. The average weight of the animals did not differ statistically (p?>?0.05) among the treated and control groups. The use of sodium alginate pellets as vehicle for delivery of the fungus mycelia D. flagrans (isolate AC001) and M. thaumasium (isolate NF34A) proved effective in controlling trichostrongylids in prepubescent cows bred in the semi-arid region, with an effective reduction in the number of infective larvae in the pastures.     

Effects of the needle bladder rust (Chrysomyxa rhododendri) on Norway spruce: implications for subalpine forests

Norway spruce trees in the subalpine forests of the European Alps are frequently attacked by the needle rust Chrysomyxa rhododendri. The obligate parasite undergoes a complex life cycle with a host shift between rhododendrons (Rhododendron sp.) and Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karsten] and causes a yellowing and defoliation of the current-year needles in summer. Infected trees show several anatomical, morphological and physiological modifications, including a decrease in pigment content and net photosynthesis of infected needles, lower biomass production and reduced radial and height growth. The consequences are diminished timber yield and cripple growth. Because of repeated heavy infections in recent years, forest managers report increasing difficulties in both natural regeneration and afforestation at high elevation sites, where rhododendrons occur. This review gives a summary of the present knowledge about the effects of C. rhododendri infections on Norway spruce, including so far unpublished findings and with particular attention to the phenomena of resistant trees. Implications for subalpine forests and counter strategies are discussed.     

Radial stem growth in response to microclimate and soil moisture in a drought-prone mixed coniferous forest at an inner Alpine site

Dendroclimatological studies in a dry inner Alpine environment (750 m a.s.l.) revealed different growth response of co-occurring coniferous species to climate, which is assumed to be caused by a temporal shift in wood formation among species. The main focus of this study therefore was to monitor intra-annual dynamics of radial increment growth of mature deciduous and evergreen coniferous species (Pinus sylvestris, Larix decidua and Picea abies) during two consecutive years with contrasting climatic conditions. Radial stem growth was continuously followed by band dendrometers and modelled using Gompertz functions to determine time of maximum growth. Histological analyses of tree ring formation allowed determination of temporal dynamics of cambial activity and xylem cell development. Daily fluctuations in stem radius and radial stem increments were extracted from dendrometer traces, and correlations with environmental variables were performed. While a shift in temporal dynamics of radial growth onset and cessation was detected among co-occurring species, intra-annual radial growth peaked synchronously in late May 2011 and early June 2012. Moist atmospheric conditions, i.e. high relative air humidity, low vapour pressure deficit and low air temperature during the main growing period, favoured radial stem increment of all species. Soil water content and soil temperature were not significantly related to radial growth. Although a temporal shift in onset and cessation of wood formation was detected among species, synchronous culmination of radial growth indicates homogenous exogenous and/or endogenous control. The close coupling of radial growth to atmospheric conditions points to the importance of stem water status for intra-annual growth of drought-prone conifers.     

Application of an electrophoretically detectable genetic marker to ploidy testing in brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) triploidised by heat shock

A phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) variant, of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.), expressed in adipose fin tissue, was incorporated into experimental batches through selective crossing of brood-stock having the PGI-3 (110) marker gene. PGI-3 (110) homozygous females were crossed with PGI-3 (100) homozygous males to yield all PGI-3 (110/100) progeny. These were subject to heat shock for 10 min at 28°C, commencing 10 min after insemination. Electrophoretic examination of fry indicated that diploids and triploids were separable on the basis of PGI-3 banding patterns, having staining ratios of 1:2:1 and 4:4:1, respectively. This confirmed the retention of an extra maternal PGI-3 (110) gene in triploid individuals. Potential applications of this marker in triploid studies in brown trout are discussed.     

Minimizing instrumentation requirement for estimating crop water stress index and transpiration of maize

Research was conducted in northern Colorado in 2011 to estimate the crop water stress index (CWSI) and actual transpiration (T _a) of maize under a range of irrigation regimes. The main goal was to obtain these parameters with minimum instrumentation and measurements. The results confirmed that empirical baselines required for CWSI calculation are transferable within regions with similar climatic conditions, eliminating the need to develop them for each irrigation scheme. This means that maize CWSI can be determined using only two instruments: an infrared thermometer and an air temperature/relative humidity sensor. Reference evapotranspiration data obtained from a modified atmometer were similar to those estimated at a standard weather station, suggesting that maize T _a can be calculated based on CWSI and by adding one additional instrument: a modified atmometer. Estimated CWSI during four hourly periods centered on solar noon was largest during the 2 h after solar noon. Hence, this time window is recommended for once-a-day data acquisition if the goal is to capture maximum stress level. Maize T _a based on CWSI during the first hourly period (10:00–11:00) was closest to T _a estimates from a widely used crop coefficient model. Thus, this time window is recommended if the goal is to monitor maize water use. Average CWSI over the 2 h after solar noon and during the study period (early August to late September, 2011) was 0.19, 0.57, and 0.20 for plots under full, low-frequency deficit, and high-frequency deficit irrigation regimes, respectively. During the same period (50 days), total maize T _a based on the 10:00–11:00 CWSI was 218, 141, and 208 mm for the same treatments, respectively. These values were within 3 % of the results of the crop coefficient approach.     

Performance of soil-applied FeEDDHA isomers in delivering Fe to soybean plants in relation to the moment of application

FeEDDHA (iron(3+) ethylenediamine-N,N'-bis(hydroxyphenylacetic acid) products are commonly applied to mend and prevent Fe deficiency chlorosis in soil-grown crops. Plants mainly take up Fe in the progressed vegetative and in the reproductive stages. This study examined which of the principal constituents of FeEDDHA products (the isomers racemic o,o-FeEDDHA, meso o,o-FeEDDHA, and o,p-FeEDDHA), most effectively meets the Fe requirements of soybean plants (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) grown on calcareous soil in the aforementioned growth stages. FeEDDHA isomers were applied once, separately or in mixtures, at t = 0, in the progressed vegetative stage or in the reproductive stage. o,p-FeEDDHA did not significantly contribute to Fe uptake in either growth stage. Both racemic and meso o,o-FeEDDHA were effective in supplying plants with Fe, approximately to the same extent. The moment of application had a significant effect on yield and FeEDDHA pore water concentrations at harvest, but not on Fe uptake. To optimize yield while minimizing FeEDDHA dosage, FeEDDHA is best applied to soybean plants prior to the onset of chorosis.     

Cellulose acetate electrophoresis of canine plasma after fibrinogen precipitation by ethanol

Background: In routine canine medicine, anticoagulated blood is often the only sample sent to laboratories for diagnostic purposes. This hampers the interpretation of protein electrophoretic tracings because plasma contains fibrinogen, which migrates in the β–γ region. In human medicine, fibrinogen can be precipitated from plasma using ethanol. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess ethanol precipitation as a method for removing fibrinogen from canine plasma so as to facilitate the interpretation of electorphoresis results. Methods: Blood samples collected from 40 dogs were divided into plain tubes and tubes containing EDTA (n=20) or lithium–heparin (n=20). An aliquot of plasma from each sample was incubated with ethanol at a final concentration of 100 mL/L. Cellulose acetate electrophoresis was then performed on serum, plasma, and plasma treated with ethanol. To verify the efficiency of ethanol treatment, fibrinogen was added to 5 canine serum samples at final concentrations of 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 g/L, and electrophoresis was performed before and after ethanol treatment. Results: Visual analysis of electrophoretograms from ethanol‐treated samples confirmed the disappearance of the fibrinogen peak from the β₂‐globulin region. Treatment with ethanol caused a significant decrease in the percentage of β₂‐globulins and a significant increase in the percentage of α₂‐globulins. Absolute values of most electrophoretic fractions were significantly decreased in ethanol‐treated plasma compared with serum. Conclusions: Ethanol treatment successfully removed fibrinogen from canine plasma and normalized electrophoretic profiles, but probably also precipitated proteins other than fibrinogen. Ethanol treatment is recommended to facilitate visual identification of abnormal monoclonal peaks, but not for determining absolute protein concentrations in electrophoretic fractions.     

Stability Analysis of Yield in Maize,Wheat and Sorghum and its Implications in Breeding Programs*

Six stability statistics: (b_i, s²_di, , , and ) were estimated for maize, wheat and sorghum in different environments by using three statistical models. The significant linear portion of genotype × environment interaction for maize indicates different hybrids responded differently to environments, whereas the non-significant genotype × environment interaction (linear) were found for wheat and sorghum suggest that all genotypes responded similarly as the environments change. However, the highly significant pooled deviations (deviation from regression) for all three crops make yield predictions from the model less reliable. When regression coefficients (b_i) were non-significant, s²_di, became an important statistic in estimating stability. It appears that the regression coefficient, b_i, was best used to estimate genotypic adaptability, whereas s²_di, for stability. Maize and sorghum had negative correlations between the mean yield and stability statistics, s²_di, , and , suggesting that high yield and stability are not mutually exclusive in the range of environments used in this study; however, such correlations did not occur in wheat. Thus, maize and sorghum hybrids with high yield potential and high stability could be identified and selected. Correlations between mean yield and b_i, or , were positive and significant for maize and sorghum but were non-significant for wheat, indicating that such relationships may be species specific. Under a given set of testing environments, the stability ranking associated with each maize hybrid is correlated to and depends on other hybrids included in the analysis.