Comparison of hydroponic culture and culture in a peat/sand mixture and the influence of nutrient solution and plant density on seed potato yields

Summary Two culture systems for propagating first generation potatoes were compared; the traditional system used a peat/sand mixture with mineral fertilizer, and hydroponic culture used perlite and nutrient solution. Total production and the number of tubers obtained using the hydroponic system were significantly higher than using the traditional culture system. Tuber yields from in vitro plants and minitubers depended upon time of year. During the autumn/winter cycle yield from minitubers was double that from in vitro plants, whereas the reverse was true during the spring/summer cycle. Four hydroponic test cultures were carried out to study the influence of seed density. The number of tubers obtained increased significantly with seed density but there was no decrease in the number of large-diameter tubers.     

天津稻区水稻条纹叶枯病发生动态与综合防治

2001~2006年对天津地区水稻条纹叶枯病的上升原因及灰飞虱发生动态进行了调查研究,并对水稻条纹叶枯病的综合防治进行了探讨。研究表明,冬季出现暖冬,春季和秋季雨水偏少,灰飞虱越冬基数增加,春季繁殖系数增大,虫口密度逐年上升是水稻条纹叶枯病上升的主要原因。通过选用抗病品种,调整播种期和插秧期,结合药剂防治,可控制病害的发生程度     

Antimicrobial activity of Viola tricolor herb

The antimicrobial activity of infusion, decoction, ethanol extract and fractions obtained by successive extraction of Viola tricolor herb with dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol was evaluated. The infusion, decoction and ethanol extract were found to be most effective against the tested microorganisms.     

Dietary fiber content and associated antioxidant compounds in Roselle flower (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) beverage

The beverage of Hibiscus sabdariffa flowers is widely consumed in Mexico. Polyphenols contained in plant foods are frequently associated with dietary fiber. The aim of this work is to quantify the dietary fiber, associated polyphenols, and antioxidant capacity of the Roselle flower and the beverage traditionally prepared from it and its contribution to the Mexican diet. Roselle flower contained dietary fiber as the largest component (33.9%) and was rich in phenolic compounds (6.13%). Soluble dietary fiber was 0.66 g/L in beverage, and 66% of total extractable polyphenols contained in Roselle flower passed to the beverage and showed an antioxidant capacity of 335 micromoL trolox equivalents/100 mL beverage measured by ABTS. These data suggest that Roselle flower beverage intake in the Mexican diet may contribute around 166 and 165 mg/per serving to the intake of dietary fiber and polyphenols, respectively. The health benefits from consumption of Hibiscus beverage could be of considerable benefit to the whole population.     

Detection and identification of banned processed animal protein in feedingstuffs by microscopic and PCR methods

The aim of the study was to present the results of comparative evaluation of the usefulness of PCR and microscopic methods for the detection of Processed Animal Protein (PAP) in feedingstuffs. In the validation study, the limit of the detection for PCR was determined on 0.05% for beef, 0.1% for pork and 0.2% for poultry meat and bone meal (MBM). Among 62 doubtful samples of feedingstuffs examined by microscopic method 41 (66.13%) were found as positive. Based on the results obtained with the use of the microscopic and PCR methods it is possible to state that the molecular biology methods can, at present, be used as a supplementary method in PAP detection.     

Huizache (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia farnesiana</Emphasis>) whole pods (flesh and seeds) as an alternative feed for sheep in Mexico

Two experiments were undertaken to evaluate the use of pods from Huizache (Acacia farnesiana), common in the arid and semiarid regions of Mexico, on the perfromance and apparent digestibility in Pelibuey Mexican hair growing ewe lambs. Twenty-four Pelibuey ewe lambs were used in the animal performance experiment, with a mean live weight of 14.91 ± 1.48 kg, randomnly allocated to three groups which received ad libitum for 77 days (11 weeks) experimental whole rations T0 with 0%, T12 with 12% or T24 with 24% inclusión of dried and ground Huizache pods. Dry matter intakes (g/kg ^0.75 daily) were 83, 95, 90 for T0, T12, and T24 respectively (P > 0.05). Mean daily live-weight gain was 90, 75, and 63 g/day for T0, T12, and T24 (P < 0.001). Nine Pelibuey ewe lambs were used to determine apparent digestibility in vivo of the experimental diets using a 3 × 3 latin square design repeated three times. There were differences in the digestibility of dry matter (P < 0.001), organic matter (P < 0.001), nitrogen (P < 0.031), neutral detergent fibre (P < 0.002), and acid detergent fibre (P < 0.001) being lower in T24. Huizache pods may be an alternative feed when included up to 12% of dry matter in the diets for sheep growing moderately.     

Adipogenic gene expression and fatty acid composition in subcutaneous adipose tissue depots of Angus steers between 9 and 16 months of age

We have demonstrated that among carcass adipose tissue depots, brisket subcutaneous adipose tissue contains the greatest concentration of MUFA and lowest concentration of SFA. Therefore, we hypothesized that brisket subcutaneous adipose tissue depots would exhibit greater adipogenic gene expression over time than other major subcutaneous adipose tissue depots. Four Angus steers, each at 9, 12, 14, and 16 mo of age, were harvested and fresh subcutaneous adipose tissue samples were collected from over the brisket, chuck, rib, loin, sirloin, round, flank, and plate. Relative gene expression for C/EBPβ, PPARγ, carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 beta (CPT-1β), stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase (SCD), AMP-activated protein kinase alpha (AMPKα), and G-coupled protein receptor 43 (GPR43) was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. Expression of C/EBPβ, PPARγ, and CPT-1β was greatest at 12 to 14 mo of age (all P < 0.0001) and declined to very low abundance by 16 mo of age in all depots. Expression of PPARγ and CPT-1β was greater (P < 0.03) in flank, rib, and sirloin subcutaneous adipose tissues than in brisket and round adipose tissues. The expression of the SCD gene did not differ among the 4 age groups (P = 0.95). The palmitoleic:stearic acid ratio (an estimate of SCD activity) was greater (P < 0.001) in the subcutaneous adipose tissues from brisket, plate, and round than in the loin, rib, and sirloin. Conversely, subcutaneous adipose tissue from the loin, rib, and sirloin had greater (P < 0.001) SCD gene expression than the brisket, plate, and round. In general, subcutaneous adipose tissues with the highest concentration of MUFA and least SFA consistently exhibited the least SCD gene expression and adipogenic gene expression. We conclude that MUFA in the brisket and other depots with large SCD indices were deposited before 9 mo of age, during a time when the subcutaneous adipocytes were highly differentiated.     

Molecular epidemiological analysis of bat rabies viruses in Brazil

A molecular epidemiological analysis was performed in 19 rabies viruses (RVs) isolated from haematophagous, frugivorous and insectivorous bats, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The authors carried out RT-PCR for amplification of the RV nucleoprotein (N) gene, and determined 1,335 nucleotide sequences of N gene by direct sequencing method. Phylogenetic analysis, which was based on the N gene of Brazilian RV isolates identified presently and previously, revealed that RVs isolated from bats were genetically divided into four lineages had a tendency to depend on the host bat species. The first lineage consisted mainly of haematophagous bat (Desmodus rotundus) isolates, including frugivorous bat (Artibeus spp.) isolates. Other three lineages consisted of insectivorous bat isolates; mainly Eptesicus spp., Molossus spp. and Nyctinomops spp. isolates, respectively. These results indicate a possibility of that there are bat species-specific RV variants in Brazil.