Molecular determination of the predator community of a cassava whitefly in Colombia: pest-specific primer development and field validation

In South America, the whitefly Aleurotrachelus socialis is one of the principal pests of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), reaching high population levels throughout the Andean region. Management of this species is primarily based upon the use of insecticides, while biological control has received limited attention. Till present, knowledge of A. socialis natural enemies is restricted to occasional records of predators and parasitoids. In this study, we developed PCR primer sets specific for the cassava whitefly, A. socialis, to identify their predator community in Colombian cassava. Eleven percent of 586 predator specimens (representing 131 taxa from 29 families) tested positive for cassava whitefly DNA. Of the 21 predator taxa that consumed cassava whiteflies, an unidentified netwing beetle (Lycidae), an unidentified spider species (Araneae), Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), a Cereaochrysa sp. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), and a Leucochrysa sp. (Chrysopidae) were the taxa that consumed cassava whiteflies most frequently under field conditions. Two abundant predators in the system, Delphastus sp. (Coccinellidae) and the long-legged fly, Condylostylus sp. (Diptera: Dolichopodidae), were both positive for whitefly DNA, but did not have the strongest trophic linkage to the pest relative to other predators. This study shows that a diverse predator community affects cassava whitefly in southern Colombia, and provides the groundwork for the design of cassava production systems with minimal pesticide inputs.     

Microsatellite variability in natural populations of the blackspot seabream Pagellus bogaraveo (Brünnick, 1768): a database to access parentage assignment in aquaculture

Eight microsatellite loci previously reported were assessed for their utility in parentage assignment in 96 individuals belonging to natural populations of the blackspot seabream Pagellus bogaraveo (Brünnick, 1768) from the Mediterranean and Northeast Atlantic regions. At the mtDNA level, no differentiation was found between these two regions but based on microsatellite data an overall discrete genetic differentiation is perceivable between the two regions separated by the Strait of Gibraltar. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 8 to 30. A database constructed with allele frequency data from six populations was used in a simulation parentage assignment test using the software cervus . The test showed that the number of markers used is enough to perform parentage assignments with real data. The polymorphic information content for each locus was very high (mean value of 0.849), with a total exclusionary power of 0.9995. In summary, seven of the eight microsatellites analysed proved to be sufficient and powerful tools for parentage assignment in hatcheries and the allele frequency data given here can be used to perform pedigree analysis against which real data may be tested.     

Milk Yield of Holstein Cows Induced into Lactation Twice Consecutively and Lactation Curve Models Fitted to Artiifcial Lactations

Nineteen multiparous barren Holstein cows were subjected to an induction of lactation protocol for 21 d administering estradiol cypionate （2 mg kg-1 of body weight （BW） d-1, on day 1 to 14）, progesterone （0.10 mg kg-1 of BW, on day 1 to 7）, lfumethasone （0.03 mg kg-1 of BW, on day 18 to 20） and recombinant bovine somatotropin （rbST;500 mg per cow, on day 1, 6, 16 and 21）. At the end of lactation and with a minimum of a 2-mon dry period, the same cows were again hormonally induced into lactation. Cows in both lactations were not artiifcially inseminated, they were milked 3 times daily and received rbST throughout lactation. Mean accumulated milk yield at 305 d in milk （DIM） did not differ between the ifrst and second induced lactations （（9 710 ＆#177;1 728） vs. （9 309＆#177;2 150） kg;mean＆#177;SD）. Total milk yield （（12 707＆#177;3 406） vs. （12 306＆#177;4 218） kg;mean＆#177;SD） and lactation length （（405＆#177;100） vs. （410＆#177;91） d;mean＆#177;SD） were not different between the ifrst and second induced lactations. In a second study, 15 empirical models including exponential, power law, yield-density, sigmoidal and miscellaneous models were compared for their suitability by modeling 12-mon （n=334）, 18-mon （n=164） and 29-mon （n=22） lactation cycles of Holsteins cows induced into lactation and treated with rbST throughout the lactation. Hoerl （Y=ab1/xxc）, Wood （Y=axb exp（cx）） and Dhanoa （Y=ax（bc）exp（cx）） models were equally suitable to describe 12-mon lactations. An exponential model with ifve parameters （Y=exp（a＋bx＋cd2＋e/x）） showed the best ift for milk yield for 18-mon lactations. The rational model （Y=a＋bx/1＋cx＋dx2） was found to produce the closest ift for 29-mon lactations. It was concluded that, with the protocol used in the present study, multiparous cows respond favorably to a second cycle of induced lactation, with milk yield similar to that experienced during the ifrst cycle. Thus, dairy producers might be able to lengthen the productive life of infertile high producing cows with a renewal of artiifcial lactation, which would imply an overall reduction in voluntary culling of cows. Also, various equations used to describe the lactation curves demonstrated the potential for iftting monthly milk records of Holstein cows with prolonged lactations and induced hormonally into lactation.     

The effect of deficit irrigation on crop yield and vegetative development of Olea europaea L. (cvs. Frantoio and Leccino)

Water is the most important environmental constrain determining plant growth and fruit yield of olive tree plantations. Although olive trees are resilient to water-limited conditions of Mediterranean-type agroecosystems, crop yields may respond positively to any additional water up to a limit. A field experiment on olive trees was carried out with the aim to present guidelines for efficient management of irrigation scheduling, based on the relationship between plant water status and optimum fruit yield. These relationships were monitored during 2 years by analysing the influence of deficit irrigation strategies on vegetative development and yield parameters on mature modern-trained olive trees of cvs. Frantoio and Leccino. Treatments were: a non-irrigated control (rainfed) and three treatments that received seasonal water amount equivalent to 33, 66 and 100% of ET_C in the period August–September, from the beginning of pit hardening to early fruit veraison. Atmospheric evaporative demand and soil moisture conditions were regularly monitored. Seasonal dynamics of plant water relations varied among treatments, and responded to variations in tree water status, soil moisture conditions and atmospheric evaporative demand. All measurements of tree water status were highly correlated with one another. Differences in yield between treatments indicated that water availability might have affected fruit weight before flowering or during the early stages of fruit growth rather than later in summer season. Results concerning crop yield revealed that irrigation of olive trees from the beginning of pit hardening could be recommended, at least in the experimental conditions of this study and in view of differences between genotypes.     

Influence of micelles on the basic degradation of carbofuran

The effect of micellar aggregates upon the stability of carbofuran in basic media has been studied. The effect of the presence of micelles upon the basic hydrolysis of carbofuran is a function of the nature of the surfactant monomer. Important catalysis of basic hydrolysis of carbofuran in the presence of colloid aggregates with positive surface charge has been reported. On the other hand, the presence of anionic and nonionic surfactants implies a large inhibition of the basic hydrolysis of carbofuran. Both catalysis and inhibition are due to the association of carbofuran with the micellar core. The kinetic constants for the basic hydrolysis of carbofuran in these microheterogeneous media have been obtained on the basis of a micellar pseudophase model. No significant changes in the intrinsic reactivity of HO- against carbofuran have been observed.     

Comparative study of ovatifolin antioxidant and growth inhibition activities

A comparative study on the effect of arturin (1), ovatifolin (3), deacetylovatifolin (5), and their 1-acetoxyarturin (2), 8-acetoxyovatifolin (4), 1,10-epoxyovatifolin (6), and 11,13-dihydroovatifolin (7) derivatives, isolated from Podanthus ovatifolius and Podanthus mitiqui, on the seedling growth, germination, and respiration of several monocot and dicot weedy target species was carried out. In addition to the inhibitory activity on the bleaching of crocin induced by alkoxyl radicals, these compounds also displayed scavenging properties toward DPPH in TLC autographic and spectrophotometric assays. The results indicate that ovatifolin (3), deacetylovatifolin (5), epoxyovatifolin (6), dihydroovatifolin (7), and the CH(2)Cl(2) extract interfere with pre-emergence of seedlings at the level of respiration. These compounds appear to have selective effects on the radicle and shoot growth of Physalis ixocarpa and Trifolium pratense. Their allelopathic effects are comparable to those of parthenolide, a know natural growth inhibitor.     

Antioxidant effect of ferulic acid in isolated membranes and intact cells: synergistic interactions with alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, and ascorbic acid

Although an antioxidant mechanism has been involved in the beneficial effects of ferulic acid in human diseases, there are few reports on the antioxidant properties of this compound in isolated membranes and intact cells. Here, we evaluated the ability of ferulic acid in inhibiting lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomal membranes and reactive oxygen species production in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts, induced by both tert-BOOH and AAPH. We also compared its antioxidant efficiency with that of other antioxidants, such as alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, and ascorbic acid, added alone or in combination. Ferulic acid acted as a potent antioxidant in our models, being more effective in protecting from tert-BOOH than from AAPH. Moreover, the compound was the most effective among the antioxidants tested. Synergistic interactions were observed when the compound was used in combination with the other antioxidants, suggesting that they can cooperate in preserving physiological integrity of cells exposed to free radicals.     

Nutritional evaluation of pea (Pisum sativum L.) protein diets after mild hydrothermal treatment and with and without added phytase

The effect of mild hydrothermal treatment and the addition of phytase under optimal conditions (pH 5.5, 37 degrees C) on the nutritive utilization of the protein of pea (Pisum sativum L.) flour was studied in growing rats by examining the chemical and biological balance. Mild hydrothermal treatment produced reductions of 83, 78, and 72%, respectively, in the levels of alpha-galactosides, phytic acid, and trypsin inhibitors and also produced a significant increase in the digestive utilization of protein. The additional fall in the levels of phytic acid caused by the addition of phytase did not lead to a subsequent improvement in the digestive utilization of protein. The mild hydrothermal treatment of pea flour produced a significant increase in the metabolic utilization of protein and carbohydrates, which was reflected in the protein efficiency ratio and food transformation growth indices. These effects were not observed in the phytase-supplemented pea diet.