Phosphate Fertilizers for Sugarcane Used at Pre-Planting (Phosphorus Fertilizer Application)

Phosphate applications are still rare in sugarcane cultivation and can be done with phosphorus fertilizers of residual over. This study aims to evaluate the agronomic efficiency of phosphate fertilization before sugarcane planting and its effect on sugarcane yield. The study was carried out over three crop cycles at the Jalles Machado sugar-mill in Goianésia, GO, Brazil. The treatments consisted of five different phosphorus sources (soluble and insoluble) applied at a rate of 300 kg ha^?1 phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅). The phosphorus fertilizers used were: triple superphosphate, mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP), Arad rock phosphate, Itafós rock phosphate, and magnesium term phosphate. The effects of these fertilizers were evaluated by plant height (ground to Top Visible Dewlap; TVD), leaf phosphorus content, agronomic efficiency, and sugarcane yield from cane-plants, first ratoon, and second ratoon. Magnesium term phosphate and triple superphosphate resulted in greater plant-cane height. Leaf phosphorus concentrations were highest with applications of MAP, magnesium term phosphate, and triple superphosphate. Phosphate applications did not affect sugarcane plant yield, but did increase ratoon yield. In general, the residual effect of insoluble phosphate increased over the years. The agronomic efficiency (AE) of phosphate was (in descending order): triple superphosphate (100%), term phosphate (89%), MAP (80%), Itafós rock phosphate (67%), and Arad rock phosphate (60%).     

Enzymatic solubilization of arabinoxylans from native, extruded, and high-shear-treated rye bran by different endo-xylanases and other hydrolyzing enzymes

The overall objective of this research was to find a new way to valorize rye bran, by producing a gellifier from the enzymatic solubilization of arabinoxylans (AX). The effects of three pure endo-xylanases from Aspergillus niger (Xyl-1), Talaromyces emersonii (Xyl-2), and Bacillus subtilis (Xyl-3) and of Grindamyl S100 (GS100), a commercial enzyme preparation containing a Xyl-1 type endo-xylanase, were tested on rye bran to study the solubilization of water-unextractable arabinoxylans (WUAX). Eight different extrusion-treated rye brans were also used as substrates to find the best physical treatment to facilitate enzymatic arabinoxylan (AX) solubilization. Arabinoxylans were better solubilized from the bran extruded at high temperature using Xyl-3. This enzyme was then tested in combination with pure (1,4)-beta-d-arabinoxylan arabinofuranohydrolase (AXH) and endo-beta-d-glucanase or ferulic acid esterase (FAE), from A. niger. Only beta-glucanase in combination with Xyl-3 improved the AX extraction, but it did not have a marked effect on the viscosity of the extracts. Xyl-3 was then tested on a high-shear-treated rye bran, and results were compared to those obtained with the high-temperature-extruded rye bran. The high-shear treatment did not improve the bran AX enzymatic solubilization. The combination of FAE with Xyl-1 or Xyl-3 did not improve the AX extraction from untreated and high-shear-treated rye bran. Finally, to study the gelation capacity of the enzymatically solubilized AX, the effect of the hydrogen peroxide/horseradish peroxidase (H(2)O(2)/POD) was tested on the Xyl-3 high-temperature-extruded bran extracts. Solubilized AX did not gel in the presence of the oxidizing system.     

Alternative Potash Fertilizer Source for Millet Crop

Millet is a grass that responds to potassium fertilization and Alfa 01 and Alfa 02 are potential sources of this nutrient. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of as potassium sources by measuring accumulation of this nutrient in millet. The crop was grown in Ustoxic Quartzipsamment (RQo) soil. The experiment was set up in randomized blocks with three repetitions. The treatments consisting of three sources (KCl, Alfa 02, Alfa 01), two rates (200 and 400 kg ha^?1 K₂O) and with no K fertilization (control). Potassium chloride was used as the standard to which the other sources of potassium were compared. Two consecutive crops of millet were grown in the same pots. The first crop received potassium source application but not the second. At the end of experiment, shoot dry matter production, shoot potassium concentration, shoot accumulated potassium, soil potassium and relative agronomic efficiency were determined. The relative agronomic efficiency, calculated from crops, was 100% for KCl, was 84% for Alfa 02 and was 11% for Alfa 01. In the shoot dry matter production and accumulated potassium only Alfa 01 was not statistically different of control. Millet absorbed potassium from the Alfa 02 source in both the first and second crops.     

Plasmid and restriction endonuclease patterns in Pasteurella multocida isolated from a swine pyramid.

Restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) and plasmid profile were used to study the epidemiology of Pasteurella multocida in a swine pyramid structure. The studied pyramid was comprised of a group of 12 swine farrow-to-finish farms related by unidirectional animal movement. P. multocida isolates were obtained from the lungs of 275 slaughtered pigs. Serotyping was performed by hyaluronidase sensitivity test and toxicity was investigated by the ELISA test. HpaII was used to cleave the P. multocida extracted DNA. REA patterns relationships were studied using the Sokal-Michener coefficients, and the dendrogram was built using the UPGMA system. The 218 P. multocida isolates obtained were distributed in 17 REA patterns. In 9 of the 12 farms studied only 2-3 REA patterns were detected, with one clearly predominant pattern. The 81 strains with plasmids were assigned to six plasmid profiles. REA and plasmid profiles proved to be good epidemiological tools for identifying different strains of P. multocida with the same phenotype.     

Therapy of ocular and visceral leishmaniasis in a cat

An 8-year-old, spayed female Domestic Short-haired cat was referred for further evaluation of chronic lymphocytic-plasmacytic stomatitis and bilateral ocular disease. The cat had been treated with systemic glucocorticoids for several months. Initial ophthalmic examination revealed bilateral deep stromal corneal ulcers, exudative panuveitis and secondary glaucoma. Mature mild neutrophilia and monocytosis were detected on complete blood cell count. Abnormalities in the serum profile were hyperglycemia, mild azotemia, hyperglobulinemia and moderate polyclonal gammapathy. Urinalysis revealed glucosuria without ketonuria. Diabetes mellitus was diagnosed and treatment with long-acting insulin was started. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was highly positive for leishmaniasis, and treatment with allopurinol was started. Although specific topical treatment was applied, melting ulcers progressed to corneal perforation and both eyes were enucleated. Ocular histology showed large numbers of intracellular organisms compatible with amastigotes of the genus Leishmania located in the uveal tract, cornea, sclera and retina. Results of inmunohistochemistry staining on ocular samples were positive for Leishmania. Bone marrow cytology demonstrated numerous macrophages with intracytoplasmatic Leishmania. Polymerase chain reaction results on bone marrow for Leishmania were positive. Three weeks later, hypoglycemic episodes permitted withdrawal of the insulin therapy. To the authors' knowledge this is the first case of ocular and visceral leishmaniasis diagnosed in vivo and under systemic treatment in a cat.     

Spatial patterns of fire occurrence in Catalonia,NE, Spain

In this paper, we analyse spatial patterns of fire occurrence in Catalonia (NE Spain) during 1975–98. Fire scar maps, discriminated by means of 30–60 m resolution remote sensing imagery, have been used as a source of fire occurrence. We employ several visual or analytical approaches to interpret fire occurrence in this region, such as those of Minnich and Chou (1997), Ricotta et al. (2001) or Krummel et al. (1987). Crucial spatial patterns such as fire size distribution, fire frequency distribution, spots and residual vegetation islands are documented. In addition, several geographical layers were overlaid with burned area maps in order to determine interactions between fire occurrence and environmental parameters such as altitude, slope, solar radiation, and burned land cover. Assuming that fire occurrence is well determined by such a posteriori empirical factors we detect areas most prone to fire in this region and aim to enhance the local forest management and conservation plans.     

The effect of activation protocols on the development of cloned goat embryos

This study was conducted to compare the developmental competence of somatic nuclear transfer (NT) embryos, after either ionomycin or ethanol activation, in locally bred goats. Donor cells were prepared from the ear skin fibroblasts of a female goat. Cells, at passage 3-8, starved by culturing in 0.5% FCS for 4-8 d, were used for NT. Immature oocytes were obtained from FSH-stimulated goats and matured for 22 hr before enucleation and NT. After fusion, the reconstructed embryos were activated with either ionomycin or ethanol followed by culturing in 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) and cytochalasin B (CB), for 3 hr. In experiment I, the fused NT embryos (n=63, ionomycin and n=68, ethanol treatments, respectively) were cultured in B2 with a Vero co-culture system and their developmental competence was evaluated through to Day 9. In experiment II, the NT embryos at the 2-4 cell stage on Day 2 derived from each treatment (ionomycin n=46, and ethanol n=37), were transferred into 10 synchronous recipients. There were no significant differences between the NT embryos derived from the ionomycin and ethanol groups, in fusion (86.3% versus 82.9%), cleavage (90.5% versus 82.4%) and for morula/blastocyst development rates (9.5% versus 5.9%). Sixty percent (3/5) of the recipients from ionomycin became pregnant by midterm (2.5 mts) while only 20% (1/5) from ethanol treatment was pregnant by Day 45. The results demonstrate that activation with either ionomycin or ethanol in combination with 6-DMAP-CB treatment does not affect the development of cloned goat embryos.     

Early Cretaceous spider web with its prey

The orb web is a spectacular evolutionary innovation that enables spiders to catch flying prey. This elegant, geometric structure is woven with silk fibers that are renowned for their superior mechanical properties. We used silk gland expression libraries to address a long-standing controversy concerning the evolution of the orb-web architecture. Contrary to the view that the orb-web design evolved multiple times, we found that the distribution and phylogeny of silk proteins support a single, ancient origin of the orb web at least 136 million years ago. Furthermore, we substantially expanded the repository of silk sequences that can be used for the synthesis of high-performance biomaterials.     

Quantitative impact assessment of spray coverage and pest behavior on contact pesticide performance

BACKGROUND: Standard procedures for evaluation of pesticide performance do not take into account pest behavioral response or incomplete spray coverage. In this study, a series of laboratory experiments was conducted with two non‐systemic miticides (propargite and hexythiazox) applied to cotyledon cotton plants, which were subsequently infested with spider mites. The results of these laboratory experiments are discussed through a comprehensive pest population dynamics model. RESULTS: When cotton leaves were submerged in miticide solutions, both miticides provided effective control of spider mites. In a two‐choice test it was demonstrated that propargite was repellent to spider mites, but not hexythiazox. Finally, the spray coverage on cotton plants was varied, and, for both miticides, significantly positive relationships between spray coverage and spider mite mortality were shown. However, propargite required higher spray coverage (20%) than hexythiazox (10%) to control spider mites. A theoretical model showed that, without repellency, the pesticide performance is positively correlated with target pest mobility. If the pesticide is repellent, the probability of exposure decreases, especially for a less mobile pest. CONCLUSION: With an experimental and theoretical modeling approach, it was demonstrated how the combination of behavioral avoidance and low spray coverage can markedly reduce pesticide performance. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry