Fertility of Holstein cows and heifers submitted to timed artificial insemination and receiving one or two doses (12 h apart) of semen

The objective of this retrospective study was to assess the effect of receiving a single (n = 50,285) or double (n = 4392) artificial insemination (AI), 12 h apart, within a timed artificial insemination protocol on pregnancy per AI (P/AI) in nulliparous heifers (inseminated with either sex-sorted or conventional semen) and pluriparous Holstein cows in a commercial dairy herd. Also, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between temperature-humidity index (THI) and time of the first AI and fertility. Fertility of cows receiving two AI with normothermia (THI <68) was higher (p < .05) than cows receiving a single AI (42.9% vs. 36.4%). P/AI of cows receiving two AI with severe heat stress (THI >85) was higher (p < .05) than cows receiving a single AI (21.0% vs. 12.6%). Regardless of heat stress conditions, applying the first AI in the morning increased (p < .05) P/AI in cows with double AI than in cows whose first AI occurred in the afternoon (38.4 vs. 33.3%). With moderate heat stress, and sexed-sorted semen, P/AI to timed AI was higher (65.0 vs. 51.9%; p < .05) in heifers receiving double AI than those serviced once. It was concluded that double AI, 12 h apart, enhanced fertility at timed AI than herd mates with a single AI, particularly with heat stress at breeding.     

A historical perspective on measurement of soil and plant water status and plant water status

Summary Surrounded by many sophisticated instruments, data acquisition systems and connecting computers, contemporary soil and plant scientists may not fully appreciate what really was known in earlier times and how the science has developed. A short review and a few examples of the growth of measurements and ideas are presented here.     

The Exploitation of Nematode-Responsive Plant Genes in Novel Nematode Control Methods

The molecular interactions between plants and sedentary nematodes are undergoing intense study, not only for reasons of fundamental research but also for the potential benefits to agriculture. The present technology allows the transformation of an increasing number of crop plants, providing new ways to introduce resistance against plant-parasitic nematodes. The ability of sedentary nematodes to induce specialized feeding sites in plant roots is one of the most fascinating aspects of this host–parasite interaction. Molecular approaches have been initiated to identify and characterize plant genes altered in expression after infection by sedentary nematodes. The results obtained indicate that many genes indeed become up-regulated upon nematode infection. Surprisingly, several so-called constitutive promoters that are normally used to achieve high expression in plant cells are completely ‘silenced’ in the feeding sites within days after nematode infection. Generally, there are two options available for the genetic engineering of nematode resistance: the synthesis of anti-nematode proteins or the localized production of a cytotoxic protein that interferes with the development of feeding cells. Nematode-induced promoters are very useful for the production by plants of sufficiently high levels of anti-nematode proteins at feeding sites. Alternatively, interfering with feeding-cell development is somewhat similar to the hypersensitive response evoked by nematodes in a naturally resistant plant. Here, destruction of specific plant cells can be achieved by the localized expression of a cytotoxin such as barnase, a potent ribonuclease. This approach, however, calls for a highly specific ‘non-leaky’ promoter, which is active only in the feeding cells. Another possibility is to use a two-component system, where the leakiness of the promoter in other tissues is counterbalanced by the constitutive expression of a neutralizing gene.     

Enzyme Bioprospection of Marine-Derived Actinobacteria from the Chilean Coast and New Insight in the Mechanism of Keratin Degradation in Streptomyces sp. G11C

Marine actinobacteria are viewed as a promising source of enzymes with potential technological applications. They contribute to the turnover of complex biopolymers, such as pectin, lignocellulose, chitin, and keratin, being able to secrete a wide variety of extracellular enzymes. Among these, keratinases are a valuable alternative for recycling keratin-rich waste, which is generated in large quantities by the poultry industry. In this work, we explored the biocatalytic potential of 75 marine-derived actinobacterial strains, focusing mainly on the search for keratinases. A major part of the strains secreted industrially important enzymes, such as proteases, lipases, cellulases, amylases, and keratinases. Among these, we identified two streptomycete strains that presented great potential for recycling keratin wastes—Streptomyces sp. CHA1 and Streptomyces sp. G11C. Substrate concentration, incubation temperature, and, to a lesser extent, inoculum size were found to be important parameters that influenced the production of keratinolytic enzymes in both strains. In addition, proteomic analysis of culture broths from Streptomyces sp. G11C on turkey feathers showed a high abundance and diversity of peptidases, belonging mainly to the serine and metallo-superfamilies. Two proteases from families S08 and M06 were highly expressed. These results contributed to elucidate the mechanism of keratin degradation mediated by streptomycetes.     

Intensive rearing of juvenile crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus,Astacidae) during the first 6 months: effects of size grading

Recent advances in crayfish feeding have enabled the development of size grading studies from the start of first‐feeding. A 180‐day experiment aimed at intensive rearing of Pacifastacus leniusculus was carried out under controlled conditions, evaluating the effects of size grading at two different periods from the onset of exogenous feeding. Stage 2 juveniles were stocked in fibreglass tanks at a density of 100 m², and fed a dry diet for salmonids combined with restricted amounts of Artemia cysts. Five groups were tested: no grading, grading at 60 days (large and small size) and grading at 100 days (large and small size). After 6 months, no significant differences were found in the survival among groups (mean: 73.06%). The highest final growth (pooled results from upper and lower classes: 17.39 mm carapace length, 1.43 g weight) was achieved by the crayfish sorted at 60 days, showing significant differences from the ungraded group. Smaller crayfish graded at 60 days grew significantly faster than smaller crayfish graded at 100 days. The food conversion ratio was lower in the graded groups (mean: 2.64), showing significant differences from the ungraded group (3.23). This study shows that size grading allows a better performance and an improved feeding efficiency.     

Development and evaluation of a fish‐based index to assess biological integrity of Mediterranean streams

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Decapsulated Artemia Cysts: A Suitable Dietary Supplement for Juvenile Tench (Tinca tinca L.)

There are no specifically formulated dry foods for tench (Tinca tinca L.), which forces farmers to use diets formulated for other fish species. This has major drawbacks, such as high mortality, slow growth, and body deformities. A 120 day experiment was performed with five-month-old juvenile tench (initial mean weight: 0.388 g; total length: 31.78 mm) to evaluate decapsulated Artemia cysts as a supplement to a dry diet for other fish species. Three treatments, differing in the daily supplement, were tested: 1,800 freshly hatched nauplii, 1,800 cysts, and 300 cysts per g of tench biomass. Final survival ranged between 95.3% and 97.9%. Juvenile tench that received the supplement of 1,800 decapsulated Artemia cysts had a specific growth rate (1.28), weight (1.83 g), and total length (52.30 mm) significantly higher than those with the same amount of nauplii. The lowest supplement (300 cysts/g of fish biomass) allowed significantly lower growth and higher condition coefficient (1.40) than the rest. Animals with body deformities (1.06%) were only recorded in the groups that received the lowest cyst supplement. Results showed Artemia cysts are a suitable dietary supplement for juvenile tench, being an advantageous alternative to live nauplii.     

Soybean molasses as an organic carbon source in the farming of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) in a biofloc system

Soybean molasses was evaluated as a partial replacement for sugarcane molasses as a carbon source for biofloc development in the superintensive culture of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). A 50‐day study was conducted with juvenile (3.2 g) shrimp stocked in 16 800 L tanks at a stocking density of 250 shrimp m^?3. Control of total ammonia concentration was performed by the addition of combined mixtures of soybean and sugarcane molasses to the culture water. Three different molasses treatments were evaluated using different soybean‐to‐sugarcane molasses ratios: 15–85%, 38–62% and 60–40% respectively. The control group was treated only with sugarcane molasses. Water quality, chlorophyll a concentration, heterotrophic bacterial load, Vibrio spp. concentration and zootechnical indexes were all evaluated. Total ammonia concentration was controlled by heterotrophic and chemotrophic pathways. Biofloc formation, as quantified by measuring the total suspended solids, was not altered. The Vibrio spp. concentration showed a significant reduction in treatments with soybean‐to‐sugarcane molasses ratios of 38–62% and 60–40%. All combined mixtures of soybean and sugarcane molasses could maintain water quality and productivity in the superintensive culture of L. vannamei using the biofloc system. Thus, the potential use of a residue from agroindustry as a carbon source in a biofloc culture is demonstrated.     

Phosphate desorption from the surface of soil mineral particles by a phosphate-solubilizing fungus

High phosphate (Pi) sorption in soils is a serious limiting factor for plant productivity and Pi fertilization efficiency, particularly in highly weathered and volcanic ash soils. In these soils, the sorbed Pi is so strongly held on the surfaces of reactive minerals that it is not available for plant root uptake. The use of phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms (PSM) capable of Pi desorption seems to be a complementary alternative in the management of these soils. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the soil fungus Mortierella sp., a known PSM, to desorb Pi from four soil minerals differing in their Pi sorption capacity. The fungus was effective in desorbing Pi from all tested minerals except from allophane, and its desorption depended on the production of oxalic acid. The effectiveness of the fungus to desorb Pi was ranked as montmorillonite > kaolinite > goethite > allophane. The quantity of desorbed Pi increased by increasing the amount of sorbed Pi. The Pi sorption capacity expressed as P_0.2 value (amount of P required to increase a solution P concentration up to 0.2 mg L^?1) was a good indicator of the effectiveness of Mortierella sp. to desorb Pi from soil minerals.