Histological effects on the kidney,spleen, and liver of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus fed different concentrations of probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The aims of this study were to evaluate the inclusion of different concentrations of Lactobacillus plantarum in Nile tilapia diet and to verify histological...     

Spray Drying of Chitosan Acid Salts: Process Development,Scaling Up and Physicochemical Material Characterization

We investigated a spray drying process for preparing water-soluble salts of high molecular weight chitosan (CH) intended for pharmaceutical excipient applications. CH was derived from chitin of marine lobster origin (Panulirus argus). The effects of organic acid (acetic or lactic acid) and the ratio (difference) of inlet/outlet air temperature (140/90 °C or 160/100 °C) on spray drying were studied. The yield of spray-dried CH salt powders ranged from 50% to 99% in laboratory and industrial-scale processes. The spray-dried dry powder of CH salts consisted of spherical agglomerated particles with an average diameter of 36.2 ± 7.0 µm (CH acetate) and 108.6 ± 11.5 µm (CH lactate). After dispersing the spray-dried CH salt powder samples in purified water, the mean particle sizes obtained for the CH acetate salts were 31.4 nm (batch A001), 33.0 nm (A002) and 44.2 nm (A003), and for the CH lactate salts 100.8 nm (batch L001), 103.2 nm (L002) and 121.8 nm (L003). The optimum process conditions for spray drying were found: an inlet air temperature of 160 ± 5 °C, an outlet temperature of 100 ± 5 °C and an atomizer disk rotational speed of 18,200 min⁻¹. The X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results confirmed the amorphous state of the CH salts. The ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra of CH acetate and lactate salts verified that the spray drying process does not affect the polymer backbone. In conclusion, both laboratory and industrial-scale spray drying methods for preparing water-soluble acid salts of CH are reproducible, and the physicochemical properties of the corresponding CH acid salts are uniform.     

Silicon and salicylic acid promote different responses in legume plants

Abstract

The foliar application of silicon (Si) and salicylic acid (SA) can be beneficial to plants. However, there are doubts about the interaction of Si and SA in the physiology and yield of legume crop. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of foliar application of Si and SA on the photosynthetic variables and yield of soybean and bean grains. The experiments were composed by four treatments: potassium silicate and stabilized sodium at a concentration of 3.6?g?L^?1 Si in the absence and presence of SA (210?mg?L^?1), only SA, and without Si or SA. The interaction of Si with foliar SA enhanced photosynthesis only in soybean; it did not affect the physiological variables of bean and did not alter the yield of the two crops. The results indicated that foliar Si application at high concentrations, independently of SA application, increased the physiological variables of the soybean without affecting the yield; however, the combined application of Si and SA had an adverse effect on the physiology and yield of bean.     

Effect of various potassium‐calcium ratios on cation nutrition of grape grown hydroponically

The effect of potassium (K)‐calcium (Ca) ratios on the cation nutrition of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Négrette was investigated on grafted vines grown hydroponically to gain a deeper insight into the origin of the lack of acidity of some wines. Four nutrient solutions were investigated for long duration experiments: a balanced K‐Ca nutrient solution (K=3.9 meq L^‐1 ; Ca=4.8 meq L^‐1) used as a reference, a low K (K=0.3 meq L^‐1; Ca=8.4 meq L^‐1) and a high K (K=7.1 meq L^‐1; Ca=1.6 meq L^‐1) nutrient solutions. Besides, the reference nutrient solution was enriched with Ca (K=3.9 meq L^‐1; Ca=13.8 meq L^‐1) so as to simulate the possible effects of liming. The experiments showed that, in spite of low K requirements, the high K storage capacity of cultivar Négrette might account for the low acidity of the wines. However, a strong Ca‐K antagonism was characterized: the Ca enrichment of the reference nutrient solution resulted in a 30% decrease in the K concentration of leaf blades and petioles. Liming can thus limit K uptake by the plant and contribute to increased acidity of the wines issued from cultivars grown in acid soils.     

Nitrogen use efficiency and nutrient partitioning in maize as affected by blends of controlled-release and conventional urea

ABSTRACT

Blends of controlled-release urea (CRU) and conventional urea can be an alternative to conventional fertilization to improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and reduce costs when applied as a single application to agricultural crops. Different indexes of NUE, grain yield, nutrient uptake and partitioning in maize (Zea mays L.) were investigated in field experiments. The treatments consisted of a single rate of 180 kg N ha^?1 with different proportions of polymer-sulfur coated urea (PSCU) and conventional urea (U) applied incorporated at sowing (0.05 m below and 0.1 m to the side of the seed row) at two tropical sites (Site 1, Typic Haplustox; Site 2, Rhodic Haplustox) in Brazil. A control treatment (without urea-N) and a treatment with conventional urea management (UCM: 20% of urea-N applied as basal fertilizer and 80% of N applied as top dressing) were also included. This study demonstrates that blends of PSCU and U are efficient in supplying N throughout the maize cycle at a Typic Haplustox site when applied in a single application incorporated at sowing, resulting in high yields and adequate macronutrient uptake. PSCU improved NUE index compared to U and UCM. There was not response for N fertilization in the Rhodic Haplustox site.     

The measure mix matters: multiple-component plant protection is indispensable for coping with the enormous genome plasticity and mutation rates in pathogenic microorganisms

Efficient plant protection is of fundamental importance in order to warrant food security. Here, we present arguments that a coordinate approach in plant protection is urgently required, taking advantage of a broad mix of measures, including modern synthetic chemistries, capable of protecting plants from adverse organisms.

     

Effects of heat on the removal of polyphenols and in vitro protein digestibility of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)

Simple wet heat treatments like simple boiling (atmospheric pressure, 100 °C) and pressurized boiling (higher than 100 °C) reduced the polyphenol content of mature dark red seeds of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) cultivar UPL Cp 3 by 61 to 80% and improved in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD) by 6 to 26%. Pressurized steaming (higher than 100 °C) removed 48 to 83% of the polyphenols but increased IVPD by only 1.1 to 4.2%. Dry heat as exemplified by roasting and microwave treatment inactivated 58 to 71% of the tannins but increased IVPD by only 1%. All the heat treatments were effective in removing/inactivating polyphenols though different responses were observed with the resulting in vitro protein digestibilities.     

Effects of soaking in aqueous acidic and alkali solutions on removal of polyphenols and in vitro digestibility of cowpea

Mature dark red seeds of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) UPL Cp 3, were subjected to several soaking treatments to remove their polyphenols. Soaking in water at room temperature for 8 and 24 h resulted in 17% and 21% loss of assayable polyphenols, respectively. Dilute solutions of alkali (Na₂CO₃, NaHCO₃, NH₄OH and KOH) and acid (CH₃ COOH, HCl and H₂ SO₄) were more effective in removing polyphenols up to 88% than higher concentrations of alkali and acid solutions.Vinegar (0.005–0.65 M CH₃ COOH) decreased polyphenols from 55 to 62% with a 6 to 14% improvement in in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD). Commercial lime (65% CaO) removed polyphenols from seeds soaked for 8 to 24 h by 70% with 2 to 10% increase in in vitro protein digestibility. Ash removed 40 to 60% of the polyphenols after 8 and 24 h of soaking with an increase in IVPD of 7 to 13%. Total polyphenols were significantly correlated (+0.92**) with protein precipitable polyphenols (condensed tannins).     

毛竹节间材与节部材的构造与强度差异研究

竹节是竹子为适应其生存环境长期择优演化而形成的特殊构造,它对提高细长竹子的刚度与稳定性至关重要。但在竹的利用中,竹节对竹材的力学强度是否会有影响,说法不一。现以毛竹为研究对象,在比较了竹节间材和竹节之间的构造差异的基础上,以竹青、竹黄、竹节未处理和已刨平处理的两种试件形式,分析研究了毛竹的含节材与不含节的节间材在强度上的差异。结果表明,无论是自然状态下的竹材试件,还是刨去刨平青、黄、节的竹材试件,竹节对弯曲强度、顺纹剪切强度、抗压强度等力学性能均未见有降低的作用,相反还有着不同程度的增强作用。但竹节对竹材顺纹抗拉强度有着不可忽视的降低影响。     

Amino-Acid Composition and Protein and Carbohydrate Accumulation in the Grain of Triticale Grown under Terminal Water Stress Simulated by a Senescing Agent

Two field experiments involving two triticale genotypes and the application of a senescing agent (KI) to simulate the effect of a terminal drought stress were conducted at two sites during 1996. Although protein did not differ between genotypes, significant differences were found in methionine and lysine. The percentage of amino acids in the grain increased linearly with grain-protein content, this relationship being non-linear in the same degree for all amino acids. An inverse relationship (r²=0·803) was found between the rates of carbohydrate and protein accumulation in absence of the senescing agent, indicating competition in the transport of proteins and carbohydrates to the grain. Terminal drought stress induced by KI application increased the amino-acid concentration in the grain, mainly due to a higher protein content. Nevertheless, the amino-acid composition of the protein did not change after this application. The senescing agent significantly reduced dry weight as well as carbohydrate- and protein-accumulation rates in the grain, thus forcing the grain to be filled with carbohydrates assimilated before anthesis. Therefore, the grain-carbohydrate accumulation rate appeared highly dependent (r²=0·884) of the quantity of nonstructrural carbohydrates available at anthesis. The KI treatments could be of value not only for simulating terminal drought, but also for studying protein and carbohydrate accumulation in small-grain cereals.