Punctodera achalensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Punctoderidae), a new cyst nematode from Argentina

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Trichoderma aggressivum, a mycopathogen causing green mould disease, is a major problem in Agaricus bisporus cultivation due to crop loss, and resistance to...     

Changes in nutrient balance,methane emissions,physiologic biomarkers,and production performance in goats fed different forage-to-concentrate ratios during lactation

The objective was to determine the effect forage-to-concentrate (F:C) ratio and stage of lactation on methane emissions, digestibility, nutrient balance, lactation performance, and metabolic responses in lactating goats. Twenty Murciano-Granadina dairy goats were used in an experiment divided into 3 periods: early (30 d), mid (100 d), and late (170 d) lactation. All goats were fed a diet with 35:65 F:C (FCL) during early-lactation. Then, 1 group (n = 10 goats) remained on FCL through mid- and late-lactation while the other group (n = 10 goats) was fed a diet with 50:50 F:C at mid-lactation (FCM) and 65:35 (FCH) at late lactation. A greater proportion of concentrate in the diet was associated with greater overall intake and digestibility (P < 0.05). Energy balance was negative in early-lactation (−77 kJ/kg of BW^0.75, on average) and positive for FCL at mid- and late-lactation (13 and 35 kJ/kg of BW^0.75, respectively). Goats fed FCM and FCH maintained negative energy balance throughout lactation. Plasma concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids at mid-lactation were greater for FCM than FCL (680 mEq/L), and at late-lactation concentrations were greater for FCH and FCL (856 mEq/L). A similar response was detected for plasma β-hydroxybutyrate. Methane emission was greater (P < 0.05) for FCM than FCH (1.7 g CH₄/d). This study demonstrated that differences in F:C across stages of lactation lead to distinct metabolic responses at the level of the rumen and tissues.     

Postharvest treatment of isothiocyanates to control Alternaria rot in netted melon

The fungicidal activity of allyl-isothiocyanate (allyl-ITC), benzyl-isothiocyanate (benzyl-ITC) and a mixture of isothiocyanates (allyl-ITC, benzyl-ITC, phenyl-isothiocyanate and 2-phenylethyl-isothiocyanate; MCIT), was tested in netted melon infected with Alternaria alternata as, was the effect of these compounds on the postharvest quality. Fruits were inoculated with A. alternata and exposed to allyl-ITC, benzyl-ITC, or MCIT, at 0.25 and 0.5 mg ml⁻¹ concentrations. A commercial fungicide, Captan (CF), was used as a positive control. The fruit was stored at 20°C and 92% relative humidity for up to 8 days. Allyl-ITC and MCIT at both tested concentrations, significantly reduced Alternaria rot, by 82.73% to 88.67%. None of the ITC treatments had a significant effect on weight loss, total soluble solids, titratable acidity or pH. Fruits treated with 0.5 mg ml⁻¹ of AITC were more firm than others. Treatment with allyl-ITC, benzyl-ITC, or MCIT appears to be a promising alternative to synthetic fungicides for controlling postharvest diseases in netted melon.     

A new vision-based approach to differential spraying in precision agriculture

One of the objectives of precision agriculture is to minimize the volume of herbicides by using site-specific weed management systems. To reach this goal, two major factors need to be considered: (1) the similarity of spectral signatures, shapes, and textures between weeds and crops and (2) irregular distribution of weeds within the crop. This paper outlines an automatic computer vision method for detecting Avena sterilis, a noxious weed growing in cereal crops, and differential spraying to control the weed. The proposed method determines the quantity and distribution of weeds in the crop fields and applies a decision-making strategy for selective spraying, which forms the main focus of the paper. The method consists of two stages: image segmentation and decision-making. The image segmentation process extracts cells from the image as the low-level units. The quantity and distribution of weeds in the cell are mapped as area and structural based attributes, respectively. From these attributes, a multicriteria decision-making approach under a fuzzy context allows us to decide whether any given cell needs to be sprayed. The method was compared with other existing strategies.     

Interactive responses of Quercus suber L. seedlings to light and mild water stress: effects on morphology and gas exchange traits

? The combined effect of water stress and light on seedlings of forest species is a key factor to determine the best silvicultural and afforestation practices in the Mediterranean area.

? The aims of this work was (1) to determine the optimal light level for the early development of cork oak seedlings under mild water stress and (2) to test if the combined effect of water stress and light followed the trade-off, the facilitation or the orthogonal hypothesis.

? Shade reduced instantaneous photosynthetic rates and water use efficiency in cork oak. However, seedlings grown under moderate shade (15% of full sunlight) were capable to accumulate similar amount of biomass than those grown under more illuminated environments by increasing their specific leaf area. Absolute differences in net photosynthesis between light treatments were higher in well watered than in water stressed seedlings. However, the impact of both factors on overall growth was orthogonal.

? We concluded that cork oak development is impaired under deep shade (5% of full sunlight) but it can be optimal under moderate shade (15% of full sunlight) even under moderate water stress. Implications of these patterns on regeneration, cultivation and afforestation of cork oak are discussed.

     

Natural infection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nicandra physaloides</Emphasis> by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tomato severe rugose virus</Emphasis> in Brazil

Nicandra physaloides, a common weed in South America, was found to be infected by an isolate of Tomato severe rugose virus (ToSRV), a bipartite begomovirus. The plants developed severe yellow rugose mosaic and were collected in São Paulo State, Brazil. This isolate of ToSRV was transmitted by Bemisia tabaci B biotype from infected plants of N. physaloides to healthy plants of N. physaloides and tomato in a glasshouse. This is the first report of natural infection of N. physaloides by ToSRV in Brazil.     

Determination of free and bound phenolic compounds in buckwheat spaghetti by RP-HPLC-ESI-TOF-MS: effect of thermal processing from farm to fork

Nowadays there is considerable interest in the consumption of alternative crops as potential recipes for gluten-free products production. Therefore, the use of buckwheat for the production of gluten-free pasta has been investigated in the present study. RP-HPLC-ESI-TOF-MS has been applied for the separation and characterization of free and bound phenolic compounds in buckwheat flour and buckwheat spaghetti. Thus, 32 free and 24 bound phenolic compounds in buckwheat flour and spaghetti have been characterized and quantified. To the authors' knowledge, protochatechuic-4-O-glucoside acid and procyanidin A have been detected in buckwheat for the first time. The results have demonstrated a decrease of total free phenolic compounds from farm to fork (from flour to cooked spaghetti) of about 74.5%, with a range between 55.3 and 100%, for individual compounds. The decrease in bound phenols was 80.9%, with a range between 46.2 and 100%. The spaghetti-making process and the cooking caused losses of 46.1 and 49.4% of total phenolic compounds, respectively. Of the total phenolic compounds present in dried spaghetti, 11.6% were dissolved in water after cooking.     

Study of some Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains for winemaking after preadaptation at low temperatures

Low-temperature fermentations (13 degrees C) are considered to improve wine aromatic profiles. However, because the risk of stuck and sluggish fermentations is high, these fermentations are not common. The aim of this paper was to analyze the effect of different preadaptation protocols in two commercial wine strains on the fermentation and some wine parameters. Preadaptation is understood to be the process between the rehydration of active dry yeast and the inoculation. In this study, it consisted of preparing a fermentation starter (addition of yeast grown at 25 degrees C) or inocula preadapted at low temperatures (as before, but grown at a fermentation temperature of 13 or 17 degrees C). These results were compared with those of rehydrated active dry yeast, and a commercial "cryotolerant" yeast was used as a reference. General fermentation kinetic parameters, yeast imposition, nitrogen consumption, and main wine products were analyzed. The results showed that the preadaptation of a yeast could improve the fermentation performance, although this improvement was strain-dependent. Low-temperature fermentations also had some general effects: reduction of acetic acid and fusel alcohol production and increased concentrations of glycerol. When the yeast performed better in fermentation because of preadaptation, nitrogen consumption was faster and the wine's "negative" attributes (acetic acid, fusel alcohols) were significantly reduced. Thus, in some strains, preadaptation could be an effective mechanism for improving low-temperature fermentation, which also significantly reduces detrimental wine attributes.