Eucalyptus benthamii Maiden et Cambage growth and wood density in integrated crop-livestock systems

Integrating trees in agricultural landscapes is a promising option to sustainably provide goods for society while increasing biodiversity, securing animal welfare, and generating profits for stakeholders. The choice of the species and knowing how timber quality is affected when trees are integrated to crop and/or livestock enterprises can provide additional insights into the usefulness of timber after harvest, and wood density is one of the most important properties in this regard. The present study aimed to evaluate how Eucalyptus benthamii growth and wood density are affected in integrated crop-livestock systems when compared to monoculture forestry 74 months after planting in subtropical environments. The integrated systems were in an alley cropping design where crop and/or grazed pasture were temporally rotated in between tree lines (14?×?2 m trees spacing), and those systems were compared to monoculture forestry (3?×?2 m spacing). Tree trunks (n?=?60) were sampled in five diameter classes of each treatment by cutting disks in six positions of the trunk (0.1 m, 1.30 m, 25%, 50%, 75% and 90% of the total height) (n?=?360). Trees growing in integrated systems increased trunk diameter at breast height by 24.7%, increased wood fiber production per tree by 17.9%, and produced wood 9.0% less dense than in the monoculture forestry system. Monoculture forestry increased tree height, and there was no difference of trunk volume among the production systems. The results suggest that integrated systems can produce timber with lower wood density, but faster individual tree growth than in forestry monocultures. Such a system can promote sustainable intensification of agricultural production, and enhance provision of complementary ecosystem services.

     

Leukocyte and thrombocyte reference values for channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus Raf), with an assessment of morphologic, cytochemical, and ultrastructural features

BACKGROUND: Hematology tests are useful to evaluate physiologic disturbances in fish and can provide important information for the diagnosis and prognosis of disease. OBJECTIVES: The primary purpose of this study was to define reference intervals for thrombocytes and leukocytes in healthy channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). In addition, the morphologic, cytochemical, and ultrastructural features of blood cells were assessed. METHODS: Blood samples (0.5 mL) were collected into EDTA from 40 clinically healthy catfish on a commercial fish farm in Jaboticabal, Brazil. Thrombocyte, total WBC, and differential WBC counts were determined and reference intervals were calculated as the 25-95th percentiles of data. Thrombocyte and leukocyte morphology was assessed in blood smears stained with May Grünwald-Giemsa-Wright and ultrastructurally by transmission electron microscopy. Cytochemical staining patterns were described using periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), peroxidase, nonspecific esterase, alkaline phosphatase, and toluidine blue. RESULTS: Reference intervals were as follows: thrombocytes 58,802-99,569/microL; total WBCs 27,460-41,523/microL; lymphocytes 5380-11,581/microL; monocytes 2949-7459/microL; neutrophils 12,529-22,748/microL, and basophils 736-2003/microL. Neutrophils were positive for peroxidase and PAS; monocytes were positive for nonspecific esterase; and basophils were positive with toluidine blue. CONCLUSION: The morphologic and staining features of neutrophils and monocytes of channel catfish are similar to those of mammals, and the presence of basophils in this species was verified. These reference intervals and morphologic findings provide a foundation for future investigations on the functions and alterations of blood cells in channel catfish.     

Teratogenic effects of the interaction acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and ethanol: morphologic and morphometric evaluation of the lingual epithelium in rat fetuses

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the teratogenic effects of the interaction between acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and ethanol on the epithelium of the lingual mucosa in rat fetuses. On the 10th pregnancy day, a single intraperitoneal ethanol dose (2.96 g/kg body weight) (Group I), ASA (200 mg/kg body weight) (Group II) and ASA plus ethanol, in the same doses (Group III), or saline (Group IV - control), were administrated. The epithelial alterations were assessed by means of histological and morphometric methods, on posterior dorsal, anterior dorsal and ventral regions of the tongue. ASA reduced, in rat fetuses, the ethanol deleterious effects on nuclear size in the epithelial prickle cell of the lingual mucosa. On the other hand, ASA did not influence the effects of ethanol in both epithelial layers of the lingual mucosa, when the nuclear shape, cell volume or epithelial layers thickness were evaluated.     

Autologous processed plasma: cytokine profile and effects upon injection into healthy equine joints

This experimental controlled study was performed to evaluate the composition of autologous processed plasma (APP), and the effects of APP intra-articular injection into healthy equine metacarpophalangeal joints. The effects on joints were analysed with a short-phase protocol and a prolonged-phase protocol using saline-injected joints as controls. For the short protocol, horses received one intra-articular APP injection. Synovial fluid samples were collected prior to the injection and 3, 6, 24, 48, and 16 h after treatment. For the prolonged protocol, the joints received three weekly injections of APP, and samples were collected at 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days before APP administration. IL1-ra level was found to be increased in APP compared to plasma. Upon intra-articular administration of APP, transient (up to 24 h) increases in white blood cell (WBC) counts along with elevated protein and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) concentrations were observed in the treated joints. Over the 28-day observation period, APP did not elicit changes relative to baseline levels, but WBC counts, PGE₂ and chondroitin sulphate concentrations were lower than those found in the control. In conclusion, APP intra-articular injection induced a mild and transitory inflammatory response but no inflammation reaction was observed over a longer period of treatment and observation.     

Soil tillage systems and forms of lime application on soil attribute enhancements in ratoon sugarcane

Combining deep tillage (DT) with lime application at greater depths may improve sugarcane yield. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of conventional tillage (CT) and DT systems and liming on sugarcane productivity and soil physical attributes. The experiment was conducted in a clayey-textured Rhodic Hapludox soil cultivated with sugarcane for two growing seasons (first and third ratoons) using a randomized block design with four treatments and four repetitions. The treatments consisted of DT without liming (DT0), DT with liming (DT2), CT without liming (CT0) and CT with liming (CT2). In addition to sugarcane stalk and sugar yields, macroporosity (MA), microporosity (MI), total soil porosity (TP), weighted average diameter (WAD), aggregate stability index (ASI), soil penetration resistance (SPR), pH, potential acidity (H + Al), total soil organic carbon (SOC), particulate organic carbon (POC), mineral-associated organic carbon (MOC), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) were analysed. DT2 promoted the best soil conservation effect on sugarcane. In general, DT, regardless of lime application, reduced SOC and POC in soil surface layer. Nevertheless, in the long term, localized lime addition resulted in significant reductions in compaction, reaching values below 2 MPa. The soil fertility improvement provided by DT2 promoted increased sucrose concentrations and stalks yield. Considering that there was an improvement in the physical quality and fertility of soil for better plant development, the deep tillage with localized lime addition can be considered an effective alternative for sugarcane cultivation.     

Evaluation of Rubber Tree Crown Clones for Yield and Magnesium Use Efficiency in a Xanthic Ferralsol

The cultivation of rubber trees in the humid tropical Amazon region is only possible with the use of crown grafts with species of Hevea sp. that are resistant to South American leaf blight – (SALB) [Microcyclus ulei (P. Henn.) v. Arx.]. However, it has been observed that plants with grafted crowns are not efficient in remobilizing magnesium from the crown to the latex. The experimental design was a randomized block, with three replicates. Five crown clones were studied (CPAA C 01, CPAA C 06, CPAA C 18, CPAA C 45, and CBA 2) with two magnesium (Mg) levels [source: magnesium sulfate(MgSO₄): low-Mg (150 g plant^?1 of MgSO₄ × 7H₂O] and high-Mg (450 g plant^?1 of MgSO₄ × 7H₂O). The panel clone used for tapping was CNS AM 7905 (Hevea brasiliensis). The results showed that the Mg levels influenced the crown clones differently in relation to yield, efficiency index and leaf and soil Mg concentration. Clone CPAA C 01 with a high-Mg produced over 2.0 t ha^?1 of dry rubber. Clones CPAA C 01 and CPAA C 45 were the most efficient, while clone CPAA C 06 showed moderate efficiency and clones CPAA C 18 and CBA 2 were inefficient in using Mg. The Mg concentration in the latex was not influenced by the two Mg levels, with the only differences being between the crown clones.     

Mobility of copper and zinc fractions in fungicide-amended vineyard sandy soils

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mobility of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in the profile and distribution of sandy soil fractions from vineyards. Soil samples were collected from two vineyards of different ages (14 and 30 years) and a natural field area in the south of Brazil. The chemical characteristics, Cu levels and Zn levels, were analyzed in the soils by extraction with ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) using the 3050B method of USEPA and by chemical fractionation. Cu and Zn were accumulated in the vineyard soils, especially in the uppermost soil layers and in the soil from the oldest vineyard. Approximately, 75% of the total Cu was extracted by EDTA, but only 30% of the total Zn was extracted by EDTA. Most of the Cu, especially in the oldest vineyard, was distributed in the mineral-associated fraction, which is characterized by low geochemical mobility, but another important part of the Cu was distributed in the soil organic matter. Most of the Zn in the soil was distributed in the residual and mineral-associated fractions, which are characterized by low mobility and have potential for causing toxicity to plants.     

Intrapreputial infection of young bulls with bovine herpesvirus type 1.2 (BHV-1.2): acute balanoposthitis, latent infection and detection of viral DNA in regional neural and non-neural tissues 50 days after experimental reactivation

Venereal infection of bulls with bovine herpesvirus type 1.2 (BHV-1.2) may result in acute balanoposthitis followed by the establishment of latent infection, presumably in dorsal root nerve ganglia. We herein report the characterization of the acute and latent infection of young bulls with a Brazilian BHV-1.2 isolate and the investigation of neural and non-neural sites in which viral DNA persists during latent infection, i.e. 110 days after inoculation and 50 days after experimental reactivation. Intrapreputial inoculation of BHV-1.2 isolate SV-56/90 (10(6.5)pfu per animal) resulted in severe balanoposthitis, characterized by redness of the penis and preputial mucosa, coalescent vesicles and fibrinous exsudate in all four infected bulls. Virus shedding was detected in preputial secretions and semen up to days 14 and 13 pi, respectively. Dexamethasone administration at day 60 pi led to reactivation of the infection in all animals, resulting in virus shedding in preputial secretions and/or in semen. At day 50 post-reactivation (pr), the animals were euthanized and regional tissues were collected for PCR and virus isolation. Viral DNA was consistently detected in the dorsal root ganglia of nerves genito-femoral (4/4) and obturator (4/4); frequently in the pudendal (3/4), sciatic (3/4) and rectal caudal nerve ganglia (2/3). In addition, viral DNA was detected in the pelvic sympathetic plexus of one bull and in regional lymph nodes (deep inguinal (2/4); sacral (1/4); medial iliac (1/4)) of two bulls. No infectious virus could be recovered from homogenates of DNA positive tissues, indicating the absence of actively replicating virus. These results demonstrate that BHV-1.2 DNA may persist in several sacral nerve ganglia and in regional lymph nodes as well during latent infection, i.e. 50 days after experimental reactivation. These findings may help in understanding the pathogenesis of acute and latent genital infection by BHV-1.2.