Influence of light intensity on biofilm formation and the performance of pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus paulensis juveniles reared in cages

A reduction in light intensity may increase shrimp activity, although it may also negatively affect the development of photoautotrophic organisms present in biofilm, an important natural food source for shrimp. This experiment evaluated the influence of light intensity on biofilm development and on the growth of cultured Farfantepenaeus paulensis juveniles. Six cages were deployed in a shrimp culture pond and stocked with 60 juveniles (0.72 ± 0.03 g). Three cages were randomly chosen and covered with five layers of polyamide net to reduce light incidence (shaded treatment), while the other three cages were not covered (control treatment). Biofilm chlorophyll a and microorganism abundance, as well as shrimp growth, were monitored during the experiment. Chlorophyll a concentration and the abundance of bacteria and flagellates were significantly lower in the shaded treatment (P<0.05). After 75 rearing days, shrimp stocked in control treatment achieved significantly higher (5.98 g) (P<0.05) mean weight than shrimp reared in shaded treatment cages (5.13 g). Similarly, the biomass produced was also significantly higher (P<0.05) in the control treatment (322.92 g) than in the shaded treatment (287.31 g). The results of this study demonstrate that light intensity has a huge influence on shrimp performance mainly due to the increase in natural food availability.     

Phenotypical parameters as a tool to evaluate the immunostimulatory effects of laminarin in Oncorhynchus mykiss

Laminarin is a β‐glucan from the brown algae Laminaria digitata (J.V. Lamour), which can activate innate immune responses. With the aim of developing a strategy to evaluate specific phenotypical parameters of the effects of laminarin in trout innate immunity, we (i) fed fish with laminarin‐supplemented diet (0.2 g kg^?1 day^?1) for 21 days and (ii) treated fish with a single dose of intraperitoneal injected laminarin (0.08 g kg^?1 fish). The evaluation of cellular and humoral immune parameters was established at phenotypic level by the phagocytic activity of headkidney macrophages and detection of inflammatory cytokines in head kidney and gill tissue by indirect ELISA. Results showed that both delivery methods of laminarin produce an increase in the phagocytic activity in head kidney macrophages and a significant increase in the production of TNFα and IL‐8 in gill tissue at day 21. Additionally, some of these parameters were significantly correlated (P < 0.025), which places them as new potential combined markers to detect activation of trout defense mechanisms by laminarin. These results highlight the importance of developing new protocols to quantitate immune parameters, in order to evaluate immunostimulants in fish farming.     

Effect of tillage and crop on arbuscular mycorrhiza colonization of winter wheat and triticale under Mediterranean conditions

Large‐scale inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is generally impractical in most regions and we have little understanding of the factors that determine inoculation success. Nevertheless, the ability to take full advantage of indigenous AMF for sustainable production needs to be developed within cropping systems. We used part of a long‐term field experiment to understand the influence of tillage and the preceding crop on AMF colonization over the growing season. Arbuscular mycorrhiza colonization rate was more affected by treatment (tillage or the combination of crop and preceding crop) than by the total number of AMF spores in the soil. Conventional tillage (CT) had a statistically significant negative effect (P ≤ 0.05) on spore numbers isolated from the soil, but only in the first year of study. However, the AMF colonization rate was significantly reduced by CT, and the roots of wheat, Triticum aestivum, L, cv. Coa after sunflower, Helianthus annuus L., were less well colonized than were those of triticale, X Triticosecale Wittmack, cv. Alter after wheat, but the affect of tillage was more pronounced than was the effect of crop combination. Under no‐till there was a significant increase in AMF colonization rate throughout the sampling period in both wheat and triticale, indicating that the extraradical mycelium previously produced acted as a source of inoculum. In general, triticale showed greater AMF colonization than wheat, despite the preceding crop being less mycotrophic. Under these experimental conditions, typical of Mediterranean agricultural systems, AMF colonization responded more strongly to tillage practices than to the combination of crop and preceding crop.     

Chemical composition of the Lippia origanoides essential oils and their antigenotoxicity against bleomycin-induced DNA damage

The present work evaluated the chemical composition of the essential oils (EO) obtained from Lippia origanoides and their DNA protective effect against bleomycin-induced genotoxicity. L. origanoides EO chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The major compounds of the L. origanoides EOs were thymol (34–58%) and carvacrol (26%). The antigenotoxic effects of the EOs, major compounds and standard compound (epigallocatechin gallate) were assayed in co-incubation procedures using the SOS chromotest in Escherichia coli. Both EOs and their major compounds protected bacterial cells against bleomycin-induced genotoxicity indicating that these two compounds were principally responsible for the antigenotoxicity detected in the oils. Thymol and carvacrol antigenotoxicity was lower than those observed with epigallocatechin gallate. The results were discussed in relation to the chemopreventive potential of L. origanoides EOs and their major components, carvacrol and thymol.     

Characterization of symptoms of senescence and chilling injury on inflorescences of Heliconia bihai (L.) cv. Lobster Claw and cv. Halloween

Inadequate temperatures during the shipping and commercialization of cut tropical flowers may accelerate the senescence process and cause chilling injury, leading to symptoms that have not yet been described for Heliconia bihai. The aim of the present study was to evaluate physiological responses in cut inflorescences of H. bihai cv. Lobster Claw (LC) and cv. Halloween (HW) as well as symptoms of senescence and chilling injury. For such, changes in fresh weight, bract color (L*, a* and b*), percentage of absolute integrity (PAI) of cell membranes and leakage of potassium ions (LPI) were determined. The flowering stems were evaluated at five different intervals after harvest (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 d). A refrigerated treatment (RT) with a temperature of 6.5 °C and 85% relative humidity was compared to a control treatment (CT) at room temperature of 24 °C and 66% relative humidity. Both cultivars stored at 6.5 °C exhibited dryness of bract tissue (symptom of senescence) and dark stains that became brownish and evolved to necrosis (symptom of chilling injury). The visual quality of inflorescences decreased with time in both cultivars maintained without refrigeration. The severity of chilling injury increased with the length of storage time in both cultivars. There was a significant reduction in the fresh weight of inflorescences in both treatments (RT and CT) and both cultivars (LC and HW). Bract color changed in both cultivars at 6.5 °C. There was no change in PAI throughout the evaluation period in the inflorescences stored at room temperature, whereas those stored at 6.5 °C for 6 and 8 d had lower PAI values. The inflorescences in the control treatment underwent no change in LPI values, whereas those stored under refrigeration had increased LPI values after the sixth day of storage. The physiological responses of cut Heliconia flowers were influenced by storage period and temperature, as demonstrated by visual symptoms of chilling injury and senescence.     

Piquerol a and diacetyl piquerol act as energy transfer inhibitors of photosynthesis

ATP synthesis and phosphorylating (coupled) electron flow of freshly lysed pea chloroplasts were inhibited by piquerol A and diacetyl piquerol, the latter being more active. H + -uptake, basal and uncoupled electron transport were not affected by either compound, indicating that they act as inhibitors of photophosphorylation at the H + -ATPase complex.     

XY male pseudohermaphroditism in a captive Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx).

A 2-yr-old Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) was presented for evaluation of abnormal genitalia and infantile behavior. The oryx had a penis and a scrotum, but testes were not palpable within the scrotum or inguinal canal. The total serum testosterone for the individual was lower than in age-matched males of the same species. Surgical exploration showed markedly hypoplastic intra-abdominal gonads, which demonstrated both testicular and uterine tissue on histologic examination. After karyotype analysis, the individual was classified as an XY male pseudohermaphrodite. This condition resembles two human intersex syndromes: embryonic testicular regression syndrome and partial gonadal dysgenesis syndrome, which occur in familial lines.     

Determination and persistence of imazalil in post-harvest-treated apples during cold storage

A method to determine imazalil (allyl 1 -(2, 4-dichlorophenyl)-2-imidazol- 1-ylethyl ether) on apples using high performance liquid chromatography is described. After harvest, fruits were immersed in an aqueous suspension (1 g litre-1) and cold stored (0-2°C) at 85-90% r.h. Samples were taken monthly and imazalil was determined in the peel, outer pulp, inner pulp and on whole fruit. Residues were 3.8-4.9 mg imazalil kg-1 and decreased during storage. Most imazalil was found on the peel and amounts in the pulp decreased toward the core.     

Influence of age and purpose for testing on the cut-off selection of serological methods in bovine neosporosis

The aim of this study was to investigate the need for different cut-off points, according to animal age and the purpose of testing, for two of the most widely used serological techniques in bovine neosporosis, IFAT and a crude antigen ELISA (Civtest, HIPRA). Therefore, the population reference sera used were defined using a combination of multiple criteria such as epidemiological/clinical and histopathological parameters and an immunoblot test. Firstly, foetuses and breeding cattle (heifers and cows) were considered as separate subpopulations for serological evaluation. Secondly, cut-off points for each serological technique (IFAT and ELISA) according to age group (foetuses and breeding cattle) and the different practical applications (detection of infection and abortion) were calculated following the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. Cut-off points were defined, for IFAT and ELISA for aborted breeding cattle and for IFAT alone in the case of the foetuses, assuming an equivalent cost of false positive and negative results. In infected breeding cattle, for IFAT and ELISA and in foetuses for ELISA, two possible cut-off values were obtained, one for a maximum sensitivity and one for a maximum specificity and the intervals of unclear results were defined. In this case, a cut-off value for equal sensitivity and specificity was also estimated. When cut-off points for infected breeding cattle, 1:100-1:250 for IFAT and 0.306-0.451 for ELISA were applied to a target population, optimal and similar negative and positive predictive values together with similar apparent and true prevalence results were observed suggesting the possibility of using both tests interchangeably.