Effects of cinnamaldehyde, garlic and juniper berry essential oils on rumen fermentation, blood metabolites, growth performance, and carcass characteristics of growing lambs

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of cinnamaldehyde (CDH), garlic (GAR) and juniper berry (JUN) essential oils (200 mg/kg of DM) on performance and carcass characteristics of lambs fed a barley-based concentrate diet ad libitum. For this purpose, 40 ewes' lambs (23.5 ± 1.11 kg initial live weight, LW) were used in a random block design over a 13-week period. Feeding CDH, GAR or JUN did not affect dry matter intake (DMI) but the average daily gain (ADG) of lambs supplemented with CDH and JUN was higher (P = 0.002) as compared to lambs fed GAR or the control diet. Feed conversion (DMI/ADG) was numerically improved when lambs were fed CDH (4.8) and JUN (4.7) compared to those fed GAR (5.2) or the control diet (5.3). There were no effects of feed additives on ruminal pH and concentrations of ammonia and total VFA. Serum concentrations of glycerol and total glycerides were lower and higher (P ≤ 0.03) in lambs fed CDH or JUN respectively, as compared to lambs fed GAR or the control diet. Hot dressed carcass weight was similar among treatments (23.7 ± 0.75 kg; P = 0.18) whereas saleable meat tended (P = 0.13) to increase (+ 9%) in lambs fed CDH and JUN compared to those fed GAR or the control diet. Feeding CDH, GAR or JUN had little effect on the overall fatty acid composition of back fat and liver and only minor effects on meat flavour characteristics.     

Sulfated Glucan from the Green Seaweed Caulerpa sertularioides Inhibits Adipogenesis through Suppression of Adipogenic and Lipogenic Key Factors

Sulfated polysaccharides (SPS) from seaweeds have great biochemical and biotechnological potential. This study aimed to investigate the effect of SPS isolated from the seaweed Caulerpa sertularioides on adipogenic differentiation as a possible alternative treatment for obesity. The SPS-rich extract from the seaweed C. sertularioides was fractioned into three SPS-rich fractions (F0.5; F0.9; and F1.8) chemically characterized. Among these four samples, only F0.9 showed a significant inhibitory effect on adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Ten SPS-rich fractions were isolated from F0.9 through ion-exchange chromatography. However, only the fraction (CS0.2) containing a sulfated glucan was able to inhibit adipogenesis. CS0.2 reduces lipid accumulation and inhibits the expression of key adipogenic (PPARγ, C/EBPβ, and C/EBPα) and lipogenic markers (SREBP-1c, Fabp4, and CD36). The data points to the potential of sulfated glucan from C. sertularioides for the development of functional approaches in obesity management.     

1-Methyl cyclopropene extends postharvest life of spinach leaves

Senescence of detached spinach leaves either untreated or treated with 0.1 or 1.0 μL L^?1 1-MCP has been investigated. 1-MCP treated leaves had higher chlorophyll content and photosystem II potential quantum yield (Fv/Fm) and lower solute leakage than untreated leaves after storage in darkness at 23 °C for 6 d, indicating a delay of senescence. Ethylene production was increased in spinach supplemented with 1-MCP after 3 d storage and then declined to the rates of untreated leaves. 1-MCP treated spinach had higher ascorbic acid and glutathione concentrations, and a low oxidised/reduced ratio for both antioxidants. Accumulations of ammonium and protein degradation were reduced by 1-MCP. The results presented here indicate that inhibition of ethylene sensitivity can be successfully used to extend the postharvest life of spinach leaves.     

Screening on the occurrence of ochratoxin A in green coffee beans of different origins and types

Since to our knowledge no data are available in the literature regarding the influence of green coffee type and origin on ochratoxin A (OTA) content, determinations were carried out in order to assess the level of OTA contamination in green coffee samples of different provenience. A total of 162 samples of green coffee beans from various countries (84 from Africa, 60 from America, and 18 from Asia) were analyzed for OTA. Both the amount and the variability of OTA levels were tested as a function of green coffee provenience. The results showed that 106 of the overall samples were positive for OTA, with concentration ranging from 0 to 48 microg/kg (ppb). In particular, it was possible to verify that African samples were more contaminated with respect to samples of other origin in terms of frequency and level of OTA; the highest concentrations observed were 18 and 48 microg/kg in two samples from The Congo.     

Understanding fishing‐induced extinctions in the Amazon

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Performance of dual and triple fungicide premixes for managing soybean rust across years and regions in Brazil: A meta-analysis

Soybean rust in Brazil is currently controlled with several commercial fungicide premixes composed of demethylation inhibitors (EPOXiconazole, CYPRoconazole, PROThioconazole, TEBUconazole), quinone-outside inhibitors (AZOXystrobin, TriFLoXystrobin, PYRAclostrobin, PICOxystrobin), and succinate demethylation inhibitors (BENZovindiflupyr, BIXaFen, FLUXapyroxad). Here, we summarize the performance of eight premixes evaluated in 177 cooperative trials conducted in 46 locations across 10 states from 2015 to 2020. All fungicide treatments were sprayed three times starting at R1/R2. Percentage control (, %), from back-transforming meta-analytic estimates of the log of the ratio, ranged from 56.2% (PICO + CYPR) to 76.8% (BIXF + TFLX + PROT). Estimates of mean yield difference (, kg/ha) between fungicide-treated and untreated plots were greatest for BIXF + TFLX + PROT (1,080) followed by PICO + BENZ (1,010), PYRA + EPOX + FLUX (981.5), AZOX + BENZ (910), TFLX + PROT (891), PICO +TEBU (682), TFLX + CYPR (646), and PICO + CYPR (600). Significant declines in both and in as little as 4 years were detected for AZOX + BENZ (35.3%; 550 kg/ha) and PICO + BENZ (15.5%; 359.8 kg/ha). Variance in was reduced by the inclusion of baseline severity as covariate. In trials where baseline disease was ≥70%, yield was 250 kg/ha greater compared to areas with low baseline disease. Disease control and yield response were generally greater in the south-east, where the frequency of profitable scenarios was 30% higher on average than in the north-west. Results of this meta-analysis are critical for supporting decisions during planning of fungicide programmes.     

Photosynthetic capacity of leaves of Eucalyptus globulus (Labill.) growing in the field with different nutrient and water supplies

A technique was tested for obtaining water relations parameters from individual fascicles of loblolly pine needles by the pressure-volume curve method. Comparisons were made between parameters derived from (1) individual fascicles that were rehydrated in a pressure chamber after being removed from the shoot and (2) fascicles that were rehydrated on the shoot. Estimates of tissue osmotic potential for needles rehydrated by the two methods were significantly different for needles from terminal shoots, but not significantly different for needles from lateral shoots. Similarly, a significant difference in the estimated tissue elasticity at zero water potential was noted for needles on terminal shoots, but not for those on lateral shoots. It is suggested that differences due to rehydration method are related to the duration of the rehydration period and not the choice of technique. The use of fascicles of needles, rehydrated after detachment, allows repeated estimation of the tissue water relations of a single conifer shoot.     

Effects of partial defoliation on carbon and nitrogen partitioning and photosynthetic carbon uptake by two-year-old cork oak (Quercus suber) saplings

At the end of the growing season in late July, 20-month-old cork oak (Quercus suber L.) saplings were partially defoliated (63% of leaf area) to evaluate their ability to recover leaf area after defoliation. At 18 and 127 days after defoliation, changes in starch and nitrogen pools were determined in leaves and perennial organs, and variations in photosynthetic carbon uptake were investigated. To determine the role of stored nitrogen in regrowth after defoliation, plant nitrogen was labeled in the previous winter by enriching the nutrient solution with 15N. Plants recovered the lost leaf area in 127 days. Although there was remobilization of starch and nitrogen from leaves and perennial organs, the availability of resources for growth in the following spring was not decreased by defoliation. On the contrary, starch concentration in coarse roots was higher in defoliated saplings than in control saplings, presumably as a result of the higher net CO2 exchange rate in newly developed leaves compared with pre-existing leaves.     

Methods of Concentrating Stallion Semen

Removal of excess seminal plasma is sometimes necessary to increase the quality and the longevity of cooled equine semen; moreover, this procedure is an indispensable step aiming to concentrate the sperm cells before freezing equine semen. Typically, the removal of seminal plasma is achieved by centrifugation; however, studies have shown that the force and duration of centrifugation can damage sperm cells and reduce the sperm recovery rate. Recently, new methodologies, such as cushion and filtration, have been described that aim to decrease the mechanical damage of centrifugation to sperm cells. This study aims to compare different methods for concentrating stallion semen.