Zinc and amino acids on wheat-soybean intercropping under no-till management

Abstract

Foliar fertilization with micronutrients and amino acids (AAs) has been used to increase the grain yield and quality of different crops. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Zn and AAs foliar application on physiological parameters, nutritional status, yield components and grain yield of wheat-soybean intercropping under a no-till management. We used a randomized block experimental design consisting of eight treatments and four replicates. The treatments were five Zn rates (0, 1, 2, 4 and 8?kg ha^?1) and 2?L ha^?1 of AAs and three additional treatments: a control (without the Zn or AA application), 2?kg ha^?1 Zn and 2?kg ha^?1 Zn + 1?L AA. The treatments were applied by spraying during the final elongation stage and at the beginning of pre-earing for the wheat and in growth stage V6 for the soybean for two crop years in a Typic Oxisol (860?g kg^?1 clay). Zinc foliar fertilization increased the wheat grain Zn concentrations. The Zn rates and AA foliar fertilization in soil with did not affect the physiological parameters, nutrient status or yield components. The AA application at the different concentrations tested changed the soybean grain yield and the leaf N concentration. The results suggest that Zn and amino acids application increases the grains Zn concentration in the wheat, being an important strategy to agronomic biofortification.     

Predominance of Burkholderia cenocepacia lineages causing onion sour skin in the semi-arid region of north-east Brazil

Burkholderia cepacia was originally described as the causal agent of onion sour skin. However, this bacterium is now recognized as a complex of 22 closely related species, commonly referred to as the B. cepacia complex (BCC). Only a few taxonomic studies have been undertaken with the aim of understanding the diversity of species associated with onion sour skin. In this study, we used a polyphasic analysis including rep-PCR assay, biochemical and pathological profiles, and multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) to characterize the BCC species associated with onion sour skin in the semi-arid region of north-east Brazil. Phylogenetic analysis of the recA of strains representing the genetic variability, as determined by rep-PCR, grouped the strains into four clades. Clades I and II represent B. cenocepacia lineages IIB and IIIA, respectively, while the strains in Clades III and IV clustered more closely to Clades I and II than to strains of any other BCC species. MLSA confirmed the existence of the four clades with a 1.00 posterior probability. A distance matrix indicated a low level of divergence among the strains of the four clades found in the MLSA, proving that B. cenocepacia lineages IIIA, IIIB, and a new lineage of B. cenocepacia are associated with onion sour skin in the semi-arid region of north-east Brazil. Also, surprisingly, no strain was identified as B. cepacia, indicating that this species probably does not play a role in this disease in this region.     

Resistance of kiwifruit cultivars to ceratocystis wilt: An approach considering the genetic diversity and variation in aggressiveness of the pathogen

Kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) is native to southern China, but was first cultivated in New Zealand and then spread worldwide. Emerging diseases such as ceratocystis wilt have attracted the attention of kiwifruit growers due to the great losses observed in southern Brazil. Effective control can be achieved by screening for resistance, but the genetic variability of the pathogen must be considered. Thus, this study aimed to assess the genetic diversity and variation in aggressiveness of Ceratocystis isolates from kiwifruit in southern Brazil and then evaluate the resistance of kiwifruit cultivars with the most aggressive isolates. A collection of 46 isolates were obtained from southern Brazil and 14 simple-sequence repeat (SSR) markers was successfully used for genotyping. Out of 14 markers, 13 were polymorphic and identified 26 genotypes. Fourteen distinct genotypes were tested on a susceptible cultivar to select the most aggressive ones. Finally, inoculation with an equal mixture of five of the most aggressive isolates was used to evaluate the resistance of seven kiwifruit cultivars: Red Arguta, Green Arguta, Allison, Chieftain, Hayward, Monty, and Tomury. Cultivars varied in levels of susceptibility, with disease severity ranging from 40% to 100%. Considering the length of stem lesions, Chieftain showed the lowest level of severity at 40%, while no wilt symptoms were observed at 45 days after inoculation. In addition to the seven cultivars, a half-sibling progeny with 618 plants of the rootstock cv. Bruno was also assessed, but only seven individuals were resistant. These seven plants can be cloned and used as resistant rootstocks in commercial orchards.     

On the Health Benefits vs. Risks of Seaweeds and Their Constituents: The Curious Case of the Polymer Paradigm

To exploit the nutraceutical and biomedical potential of selected seaweed-derived polymers in an economically viable way, it is necessary to analyze and understand their quality and yield fluctuations throughout the seasons. In this study, the seasonal polysaccharide yield and respective quality were evaluated in three selected seaweeds, namely the agarophyte Gracilaria gracilis, the carrageenophyte Calliblepharis jubata (both red seaweeds) and the alginophyte Sargassum muticum (brown seaweed). It was found that the agar synthesis of G. gracilis did not significantly differ with the seasons (27.04% seaweed dry weight (DW)). In contrast, the carrageenan content in C. jubata varied seasonally, being synthesized in higher concentrations during the summer (18.73% DW). Meanwhile, the alginate synthesis of S. muticum exhibited a higher concentration (36.88% DW) during the winter. Therefore, there is a need to assess the threshold at which seaweed-derived polymers may have positive effects or negative impacts on human nutrition. Furthermore, this study highlights the three polymers, along with their known thresholds, at which they can have positive and/or negative health impacts. Such knowledge is key to recognizing the paradigm governing their successful deployment and related beneficial applications in humans.     

Stryphnodendron adstringens extract associated with the hooves trimming surgical procedure for the treatment of bovine digital dermatitis

Hoof care, lesion curettage, and application of 5 % Stryphnodendron adstringens bark extract (S. adstringens (Mart.) Coville) or 3 % copper sulfate on surgical wounds of cattle were carried out in this research. A total of 180 cattle with digital dermatitis were used. They were distributed into six groups of 30 animals each (GI, GII, GIII, GIV, GV, and GVI). In GI and GII, only the sick digit was trimmed; in GIII and GIV, both sick and healthy digits of the lesioned limb were trimmed; and in GV and GVI, all digits were trimmed. During the postoperative period, 5 % S. adstringens extract was applied in GI, GIII, and GV, and 3 % copper sulfate solution was applied in GII, GIV, and GVI. After 60 days of evaluation, the data were analyzed using the Chi-squared test (p?≤?0.05). Both therapeutic protocols utilizing surgical curettage of the lesions were efficient for treating digital dermatitis. However, when the procedure is followed by the trimming of sick and healthy digits, the healing is optimized and a greater number of animals are rehabilitated.     

Mango tree pruning hay in substitution of elephant grass in cattle diet

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of substitution (0, 33.3, 66.7, and 100 %) of elephant grass by hay of mango tree pruning (HMTP) on intake and digestibility in cattle and on the in vitro gas production. Moreover, the effect of tannin in HMTP on the gas production and in vitro degradability of the dry matter was evaluated, using polyethylene glycol (PEG). The intake and digestibility were evaluated in a double 4?×?4 square Latin design, using eight Holstein intact bulls. To evaluate the gas production and degradability, in vitro semi-automated gas production technique was used. The substitution of elephant grass by HMTP decreased the intake (P?<?0.05) and the digestibility (P?<?0.05) of the nutrients and also the gas production (P?<?0.05). Furthermore, the utilization of PEG as a tannin-complexing agent increased the gas production and degradability of the HMTP (P?<?0.05). It was concluded that the high cell wall lignification and the presence of tannin limit the use of HMTP as the only source of roughage in cattle diets.     

Antiviral Sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerols (SQDGs) from the Brazilian Brown Seaweed Sargassum vulgare

Total lipids from the Brazilian brown seaweed Sargassum vulgare were extracted with chloroform/methanol 2:1 and 1:2 (v/v) at room temperature. After performing Folch partition of the crude lipid extract, the lipids recovered from the Folch lower layer were fractionated on a silica gel column eluted with chloroform, acetone and methanol. The fraction eluted with methanol, presented a strong orcinol-positive band characteristic of the presence of sulfatides when examined by TLC. This fraction was then purified by two successive silica gel column chromatography giving rise to fractions F4I86 and F4II90 that exhibited strong activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2. The chemical structures present in both fractions were elucidated by ESI-MS and ¹H/¹³C NMR analysis HSQC fingerprints based on their tandem–MS behavior as sulfoquinovosildiacylglycerols (SQDGs). The main SQDG present in both fractions and responsible for the anti-herpes activity observed was identified as 1,2-di-O-palmitoyl-3-O-(6-sulfo-α-d-quinovopyranosyl)-glycerol.     

Ovarian responses of dairy buffalo cows to timed artificial insemination protocol,using new or used progesterone devices,during the breeding season (autumn–winter)

This study evaluated the effect of new or used P4 devices on the ovarian responses of dairy buffalo that were administered an estradiol (E2) plus progesterone (P4)‐based timed artificial insemination (TAI) protocol during the breeding season. On the first day of the TAI protocol, 142 cows were randomly assigned to receive one of the following: a new device (New; 1.0 g of P4; n = 48); a device that had previously been used for 9 days (Used1x, n = 47); or a device that had previously been used for 18 days (Used2x, n = 47). Ultrasound was used to evaluate the following: the presence of a corpus luteum (CL); the diameter of the dominant follicle (ØDF) during protocol; ovulatory response; and pregnancies per AI (P/AI). Despite similar responses among the treatments, there was a significant positive association of the ØDF during TAI protocol with ovulatory responses and number of pregnancies. In conclusion, satisfactory ovarian responses and a satisfactory pregnancy rate were achieved when grazing dairy buffalo were subjected to the TAI protocol in breeding season, independent of whether a new or used P4 device was used. Furthermore, the presence of the larger follicle was associated with a higher ovulation rate and higher P/AI following TAI.