Differential cytotoxicity of the isolated protein fraction of Escumite bean (Phaseolus acutifolius)

The Escumite bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) is an edible legume which in raw form is highly toxic to rats. Proteins were separated by DEAE cellulose and affinity chromatography. Hemagglutinating activity, trypsin inhibitory effect, cytotoxicity on human peripheral lymphocytes and on intestinal epithelial cells of rats, and mitogenic activity were assayed with each protein fraction. Hemagglutinins and trypsin inhibitory fractions showed differential toxicity with lymphocytes as compared to intestinal epithelial cells. A protein fraction without the previous activities was cytotoxic mainly to intestinal epithelial cells.     

Failure to respond to endogenous or exogenous melatonin may cause nonphotoresponsiveness in Harlan Sprague Dawley rats

Background  

Responsiveness to changing photoperiods from summer to winter seasons is an important but variable physiological trait in most temperate-zone mammals. Variation may be due to disorders of melatonin secretion or excretion, or to differences in physiological responses to similar patterns of melatonin secretion and excretion. One potential cause of nonphotoresponsiveness is a failure to secrete or metabolize melatonin in a pattern that reflects photoperiod length.     

The nutritional quality and toxin content of wild and cultivated lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus)

Proximal analysis, amino acid profile, trypsin inhibitor content, hemagglutinin content and HCN generated from cyanogenic glucosides were determined in four wild and three cultivated varieties ofPhaseolus lunatus. All the wild beans showed a higher protein content than the cultivated beans, but no big differences were found in the other nutrients. The essential amino acid percentage was higher in the cultivated beans than in the wild seeds, which was reflected in the PER determination. The most remarkable difference found between wild and cultivated beans was the high concentration of HCN in all wild varieties. The high concentration of protein found in the wild seed could be a false result from the nitrogen provided by the cyanogenic glucosides.     

Have the Flowers,Fruitlets, Ripe Fruit and Leaves of Apples Cultivars Similar Compositions of Phenolic and Antioxidant Capacity?

Total and specific phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity were quantified over two seasons in flowers, leaves, fruitlets, and ripe fruit at harvest of the apple cultivars ‘Brookfield’, ‘Granny Smith’ and ‘Fuji’, as well the crabapple cultivars ‘Hillary’ and ‘Manchurian’. The results showed that leaves had the highest phenol concentrations and antioxidant capacity. Phenolic and antioxidant content was progressively lower from flowers, fruitlets, and ripe harvested fruit. There were high concentrations of phloridzin in flowers and leaves, while concentrations were lower in fruitlets, peel, and entire fruit at harvest. The phenolic compound with the highest concentration in peel was quercetin glycoside, while in the entire fruit it was flavanols. The studied crabapple cultivars did not present differences between them in phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity.

     

Efficacy of Rinskor™ (florpyrauxifen-benzyl ester) on Herbicide Resistant Barnyardgrass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Echinochloa crus-galli</Emphasis>) in Rice Fields of Mekong Delta,Vietnam

Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) seed samples were collected in rice fields in different locations at Mekong delta in Vietnam for herbicide resistance tests. The ALS-resistant and synthetic auxin-resistant E. crus-galli were confirmed at several locations in the Mekong Delta. The average LD₉₀ value of bispyribac, penoxsulam and quinclorac for assessed weed populations was 33.1, 15.1 and 550.2 g a.i.ha^?1 respectively. There were cross resistant barnyardgrass populations to bispyribac and penoxsulam, the LD₉₀ value of the two ALS inhibitors for E. crus-galli was positively correlated at R²=0.39, the cross resistant population was 33.3% of total sample. The correlation analysis was not useful to evaluate the multiple resistance between quinclorac and the two ALS inhibitors, the R² value was lower than 0.05, however, the percentage of multiple resistance weed was 36.2% of population. There was no cross resistance or multiple resistance among the 3 tested herbicides and the new synthetic auxin herbicide Rinskor?. All tested weed samples, including quinclorac-resistant populations, were effectively controlled by Rinskor?. There was no difference between control from Rinskor? in the different herbicide resistant populations. Average LD₉₀ value of Rinskor? in all tested barnyardgrass was 17.1 g a.i ha^?1.     

Dietary supplementation with autochthonous Bacillus cereus improves growth performance and survival in tambaqui Colossoma macropomum

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with the autochthonous probiotic bacteria Bacillus cereus on growth performance, haematological parameters and survival of tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum). Tambaqui fingerlings (0.94 ± 0.02 g) were fed for 120 days the following diets: basal (without probiotic) and three supplemented diets (4.2 × 10⁴, 3.9 × 10⁶ and 3.3 × 10⁸ CFU/g). Growth performance and haematological parameters were evaluated every 30 days. Thereafter, fish were challenged against Aeromonas hydrophila and survival was evaluated. Probiotic B. cereus improved weight and length gains (p < 0.05), and increased neutrophils and thrombocyte counts (p < 0.05) in tambaqui supplemented with 3.9 × 10⁶ CFU/g diet. Challenged fish fed unsupplemented diet presented the lowest survival rate (33.4%) while fish fed diets supplemented at 4.2 × 10⁴, 3.9 × 10⁶ and 3.3 × 10⁸ CFU/g B. cereus had 88.8%, 80.5% and 80.5% relative per cent survival respectively. These results demonstrated that B. cereus supplemented as probiotics to C. macropomum for 120 days improved physiological and haematological responses, leading to enhanced survival in this fish species.     

Exploring ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) treated cotton (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium hirsutum</Emphasis> L.) to improve drought tolerance

The Texas High Plains often has extended periods between rainfall events, which can lead to a reduction in the yield and fiber quality of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). It is known that cultivated cotton suffers from low levels of genetic diversity due to the over-use in breeding of similar gene pools, which may hinder breeding for drought tolerance. In this study, for the first time the novel variability or genetic diversity of morphological and agronomic traits possibly created by the chemical mutagen ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) was evaluated to improve drought tolerance in cotton by traits’ response to different irrigation regimes. EMS is a chemical mutagen that has been shown to cause point mutations in the DNA of many model plants and crop species. Three EMS treated lines were advanced from the M₁ to M₄ generation as bulk-harvested populations. A diverse selection scheme was applied to capture most of the genetic trait-variability or diversity and superior lines in these populations. In 2014–2016 the diversity of these populations was evaluated based on four agronomic and thirteen morphological traits to determine differences in response to multiple irrigation rates. Analyses of these traits showed statistically significant (p?≤?0.05) differences between and within populations when compared to the original non-treated EMS source, with most of the variability being observed in the high irrigation rate. However, none of the EMS treated populations had significantly (p?≤?0.05) better lint yield than the commercial cultivar (control) in 2016. EMS yield performance was possibly constrained by the applied diverse selection scheme of this study. Traits such as total number of bolls, bolls retained at node 7 and below, and those retained between nodes 8 and 12, and bolls retained at node of first fruiting branch may be predictors to improve cotton production (yield) in water limiting environments.     

Are standing dead trees (snags) suitable as climate proxies? A case study from the central Scandinavian Mountains

Standing dead trees (snags) play important roles in forest ecology by storing carbon as well as providing habitats for many species. Moreover, snags preserved for hundreds of years can provide useful data to extend tree-ring chronologies used for climatological and ecological studies beyond the lifespans of living trees. Here we examined the growth patterns of Scots pine snags from the central Scandinavian Mountains, in relation to still living trees. Using changes point analyses, we showed that a majority (74%) of the snags displayed significant negative growth changes prior (on average 17 years) to death. Change points around the same years were also seen in living trees, but they recovered their growth. The average growth reduction of snags showing negative growth changes before death was 46%. In most cases the final growth change points coincided with very cold summers, or to a lesser degree to period of cool summers. It was suggested that pines ending up as snags were less resilient than the trees which continued living, and thus not able to recover after cold summer events. Since the snag growth reductions prior to death were partly unrelated to climate, care should be taken when using such data in dendroclimatological studies.     

Unusual behavior of oviposition and development of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sitophilus zeamais</Emphasis> (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in peach and apple fruits

The maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, 1855 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a worldwide pest on stored products, as maize, wheat and rice grains. However, in South Brazil, these weevils have been found attacking fruits in field conditions. It was reported that adults attack fruits to feeding, but there was no information of oviposition and larval development on these hosts. Furthermore, due to monitoring apple orchards, was observed that some fruits showed distinct kind of punctures, suggesting a oviposition by these weevils. The present study reports first record an unusual behavior of S. zeamais by oviposition and larval development in peach and apple fruits. The study was conducted in laboratory conditions (temperature: 25?±?1 °C, RH: 70?±?10% and photophase of 14 h). Peach and apple fruits were offered to S. zeamais females. The oviposition and duration of immature stages in peach were measured in fruits and in corn grains, used as control observation. The oviposition and larval development occurred in peach and apple fruits, with a development until to adult. The average of egg-to-adult was 47.4 d in peach and and 45.1 d apple fruits, respectively, while in corn grains, its natural host, the duration was 38.2 d. These results show that the damage caused by S. zeamais in peach and apple fruits may be due to oviposition and the development of immature stages. So, the novelty is in demonstrating that the maize weevil does not just feed as an adult opportunistically on the fruits, but can complete a full life cycle using fresh fruits.