VCG and AFLP analyses identify the same groups in the causal agents of mango malformation in Brazil

The causal agents of mango malformation disease in Brazil are a new Fusarium lineage in the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex and Fusarium sterilihyphosum; however information on the genetic and geographical diversity of these pathogens in Brazil is missing. Vegetative compatibility group (VCG) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analyses were used to measure the genetic diversity within these populations. Both techniques identified the same genetic groups. Six VCG and AFLP groups were identified amongst isolates of the new lineage from Brazil. FB-VCG 1/AFLP I was the most widespread group, found in seven of the 13 sites sampled. The second most frequent group was recovered from three sites. The remaining four groups were recovered from single-sites. We think that this lineage represents a genetically and geographically diverse indigenous population that reproduces clonally. In F. sterilihyphosum, group FS-VCG 1/AFLP VII was found at three sites in the southeast region of Brazil. FS-VCG 2/AFLP VIII contained isolates from South Africa but not from Brazil. Fusarium mangiferae isolates from India and South Africa formed one group, while isolates from Egypt and the USA formed a second group. F. sterilihyphosum at present is represented by a small population that might have been introduced only once into a restricted area. The clonal nature of the observed populations suggests that these fungi either occur naturally on indigenous hosts and have jumped to the introduced mango host (introduced in Brazil) or that they originated with mango and went through a severe population bottleneck when they were introduced to Brazil from India or Southeast Asia.     

A novel lineage in the Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex is one of the causal agents of fusarium rot on melon fruits in Northeast Brazil

Fusarium rot on melon fruits is a postharvest disease and its importance in Brazil is increasing since its first report in 1999. Initially this disease was attributed to the fungus Fusarium semitectum based on pathogen morphology. However, there is controversy regarding the aetiology of this disease because, in the current species concept based on phylogenetic analysis, F. semitectum is regarded as a synonym to different Fusarium species. With the objective of elucidating the disease aetiology in Northeast Brazil, Fusarium isolates were obtained from melon fruits showing rot symptoms in the main producing areas of the country. From the phylogenetic analyses of TEF1 and RPB2 gene sequences, the isolates were identified as belonging to two phylogenetic species of the Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC), one in the Incarnatum clade (Fusarium sulawense) and the other in the Equiseti clade, which corresponds to a new lineage. The newly identified lineage is close to Fusarium lacertarum. Isolates from the two species showed morphological characteristics typical of the Incarnatum and Equiseti clades, agreeing with the molecular identification, and were pathogenic when inoculated on melon fruits. This is the first report of F. sulawense on melon fruits. The data generated in this study are potentially useful for a better management of the fusarium rot on melon.     

Evaluation of Nile tilapia in monoculture and polyculture with giant freshwater prawn in biofloc technology system and in recirculation aquaculture system

Biofloc technology system (BFT), recirculation aquaculture system (RAS) and polyculture promote efficient use of water, area and nutrient recycling, which are essential practices for sustainable aquaculture development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth, feed efficiency, biofloc composition and water quality of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) in monoculture and polyculture with giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man, 1906) in BFT and RAS, over a period of 30 days. Fish (n = 128; 7.29 ± 0.67 g) were distributed randomly in 16 experimental tanks (8 fish/tank). Prawn (n = 96; 0.50 ± 0.09 g) were allocated in 8 experimental tanks (12 prawn/tank) in a polyculture. The experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments with four replicates each, in a factorial design 2 × 2 (BFT and RAS vs. monoculture and polyculture). The experimental diet (28% of digestible protein; 3100 kcal kg−1 of digestible energy) was used both to fish and prawn in BFT and RAS. There was significant effect (p < 0.01) of the system and the culture for weight gain, apparent feed conversion and protein efficiency ratio. The average weight gain and apparent feed conversion of tilapia in monoculture (30.04 g and 1.39) and in polyculture (36.44 g and 1.27) were superior (p < 0.01) in BFT than in monoculture (23.64 g and 1.74) and in polyculture (24.14 g and 1.61) in RAS. Weight gain and survival of giant freshwater prawn was superior (p < 0.01) in BFT (0.43 g and 87%) compared to RAS (0.26 g and 79%). The data showed that BFT provides better growth performance responses in monoculture for Nile tilapia and in polyculture with giant freshwater prawn compared to RAS.     

Resistance to classical scrapie in experimentally challenged goats carrying mutation K222 of the prion protein gene

ABSTRACT: Susceptibility of sheep to scrapie, a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of small ruminants, is strongly influenced by polymorphisms of the prion protein gene (PRNP). Breeding programs have been implemented to increase scrapie resistance in sheep populations; though desirable, a similar approach has not yet been applied in goats. European studies have now suggested that several polymorphisms can modulate scrapie susceptibility in goats: in particular, PRNP variant K222 has been associated with resistance in case-control studies in Italy, France and Greece. In this study we investigated the resistance conferred by this variant using a natural Italian goat scrapie isolate to intracerebrally challenge five goats carrying genotype Q/Q 222 (wild type) and five goats carrying genotype Q/K 222. By the end of the study, all five Q/Q 222 goats had died of scrapie after a mean incubation period of 19 months; one of the five Q/K 222 goats died after 24 months, while the other four were alive and apparently healthy up to the end of the study at 4.5 years post-challenge. All five of these animals were found to be scrapie negative. Statistical analysis showed that the probability of survival of the Q/K 222 goats versus the Q/Q 222 goats was significantly higher (p = 0.002). Our study shows that PRNP gene mutation K222 is strongly associated with resistance to classical scrapie also in experimental conditions, making it a potentially positive target for selection in the frame of breeding programs for resistance to classical scrapie in goats.     

Accuracy of early fetal sex determination by ultrasonic assessment in goats

The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy of early fetal sex determination by ultrasonic assessment of the relative location of the genital tubercle (GT) in goats at different stages of pregnancy as well as by the identification of fetal external genitalia. Pregnant animals were divided into three experimental groups (EI: n=21, EII: n=28, EIII: n=33). In EI, fetuses (n=27) were transrectally monitored daily from days 40 to 60 of pregnancy with a linear transducer (6.0 and 8.0MHz). In EII, fetuses (n=40) were examined once between days 45 and 70 of pregnancy by transrectal ultrasonography. In EIII fetuses (n=52) between days 100 and 120 of pregnancy, were submitted to a single transabdominal ultrasonography using a convex transducer (5.0 and 7.5MHz). Regardless of fetal sex diagnosis, 15/15 (EI), 13/16 (EII) and 9/14 (EIII) of single pregnancies and 10/12 (EI), 20/24 (EII) and 21/38 (EIII) of twin pregnancies were correctly identified. The accuracy of sex identification among EI (92.6%), EII (82.5%) and EIII (57.7%) was not statistically different (P>0.05). Identification of the GT in male fetuses was possible from day 45 onward. Changes in the GT position were not observed between days 53 and 60 of pregnancy. Accuracy of fetal sexing under field conditions is high in goats when ultrasound imaging is properly timed during pregnancy and when it is performed with proper equipment by experienced operators.     

Production,Characterization and Biocompatibility of Marine Collagen Matrices from an Alternative and Sustainable Source: The Sea Urchin Paracentrotus lividus

Collagen has become a key-molecule in cell culture studies and in the tissue engineering field. Industrially, the principal sources of collagen are calf skin and bones which, however, could be associated to risks of serious disease transmission. In fact, collagen derived from alternative and riskless sources is required, and marine organisms are among the safest and recently exploited ones. Sea urchins possess a circular area of soft tissue surrounding the mouth, the peristomial membrane (PM), mainly composed by mammalian-like collagen. The PM of the edible sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus therefore represents a potential unexploited collagen source, easily obtainable as a food industry waste product. Our results demonstrate that it is possible to extract native collagen fibrils from the PM and produce suitable substrates for in vitro system. The obtained matrices appear as a homogeneous fibrillar network (mean fibril diameter 30–400 nm and mesh < 2 μm) and display remarkable mechanical properties in term of stiffness (146 ± 48 MPa) and viscosity (60.98 ± 52.07 GPa·s). In vitro tests with horse pbMSC show a good biocompatibility in terms of overall cell growth. The obtained results indicate that the sea urchin P. lividus can be a valuable low-cost collagen source for mechanically resistant biomedical devices.     

A micro-method for the determination of Yellow Pigment Content in durum wheat

Colour is an important component of durum wheat quality affecting consumer’s choice. Pasta colour is the result of the carotenoid pigments accumulated in the seed endosperm and of the enzymatic activities responsible for their degradation. Thus, increasing yellow colour is a valuable goal for improving the commercial and nutritional values of durum wheat products. This work reports the set up of a micro-method for the determination of Yellow Pigment Content (YPC) in durum wheat. The novel method, although similar in principle to the Official Method AACC 14-50, allows the use of micro-amount of samples (10–100 mg), a condition that for durum wheat corresponds to a single kernel, and micro-amount of extraction solvent (water-saturated 1-butanol, 250–500 μL). These improvements together with a short extraction time lead to significant benefits from the practical and the economic point of view. The improved method has been validated using nine durum wheat cultivars extracted in 15 min with the ultrasonic bath. The YPC was calculated by reading the absorbance at 435 nm after the manual injection of an aliquot of extract directly into a UV–Vis HPLC detector. The results obtained were comparable and not significantly different from the Official AACC Method 14-50.     

Anti-<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptospira</Emphasis> sp. agglutinins in ewes in the Federal District,Brazil

To define the prevalence of anti-Leptospira sp. agglutinins in ewes in the Federal District, Brazil, serum samples from 157 ewes were tested for antibodies against serovars of Leptospira sp. by the microscopic agglutination test. Antibodies were detected in three flocks in a prevalence of 3% (95% CI = 0.4%–5.7%). Considering that sheep and cattle were raised together, the lack of sanitary control could represent a risk to cattle production, which is the most important activity in the Centre-West region of Brazil.     

Application of Tamarind Waste Extracts to Improve the Antioxidant Properties of Tamarind Nectars

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Tamarind fruits are consumed worldwide and their seeds have an underexploited potential. We assessed the effect of the addition of a freeze-dried aqueous of...     

Meloidogyne ethiopica parasitizing melon fields in Rio Grande do Sul State,Brazil

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Samples of melon plants with aerial symptoms that represented yellowing of leaves and stunting, and below-ground galls on the roots from two growing areas...