Influence of harvest date and crop yield on the fatty acid composition of virgin olive oils from cv. Picual

In this study was analyzed the effect of crop year and harvesting time on the fatty acid composition of cv. Picual virgin olive oil. The study was carried out during the fruit ripening period for three crop seasons. The mean fatty acid composition of Picual oils was determined. The oils contained palmitic acid (11.9%), oleic acid (79.3%), and linoleic acid (2.95%). The content of palmitic acid and saturated fatty acids decreased during fruit ripening while oleic and linoleic acids increased. The amount of stearic and linolenic acids decreased. The amount of saturated acids, palmitic and stearic, and the polyunsaturated acids linoleic and linolenic was dependent on the time of harvest, whereas the amount of oleic acid varied with the crop year. The differences observed between crop years for both palmitic and linoleic acid may be explained by the differences in the temperature during oil biosynthesis and by the amount of summer rainfall for oleic acid content. A significant relationship was observed between the MUFA/PUFA ratio and the oxidative stability measured by the Rancimat method.     

Occurrence of naturally acetylated lignin units

This work examines the occurrence of native acetylated lignin in a large set of vascular plants, including both angiosperms and gymnosperms, by a modification of the so-called Derivatization Followed by Reductive Cleavage (DFRC) method. Acetylated lignin units were found in the milled wood lignins of all angiosperms selected for this study, including mono- and eudicotyledons, but were absent in the gymnosperms analyzed. In some plants (e.g., abaca, sisal, kenaf, or hornbeam), lignin acetylation occurred at a very high extent, exceeding 45% of the uncondensed (alkyl-aryl ether linked) syringyl lignin units. Acetylation was observed exclusively at the gamma-carbon of the lignin side chain and predominantly on syringyl units, although a predominance of acetylated guaiacyl over syringyl units was observed in some plants. In all cases, acetylation appears to occur at the monomer stage, and sinapyl and coniferyl acetates seem to behave as real lignin monomers participating in lignification.     

A new standard area diagram set for assessment of severity of soybean rust improves accuracy of estimates and optimizes resource use

Soybean rust (SBR), caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, is the most important yield-damaging fungal disease of soybean due to severe reduction in healthy leaf area and acceleration of leaf fall. In experimental research, SBR severity is estimated visually aided/trained by a standard area diagram (SAD) developed and validated during the mid-2000s (Old SAD). In this study, we propose a new SAD set for SBR with six true-colour diagrams following linear increments (c. 15% increments) amended with four additional diagrams at low (<10%) severities, totalling 10 diagrams (0.2%, 1%, 3%, 5%, 10%, 25%, 40%, 55%, 70%, and 84%). For evaluation, 37 raters were split into two groups. Each assessed severity in a 50-image sample (0.25%–84%), first unaided and then using either the Old SAD or the New SAD. Accuracy, precision, and reliability of estimates improved significantly relative to unaided estimates only when aided by the New SAD (accuracy >0.95). Low precision (<0.78) and a trend of underestimation with an increase in severity were the main issues with the Old SAD, which did not differ from unaided estimates. Simulation to evaluate the impact of the errors by different methods on hypothesis tests, showed that the new SAD was more powerful for detecting the smallest difference in mean control (e.g., 70% vs. 65% disease reduction) than the Old SAD; the latter required a 2-fold increase in sample size to achieve the same power. There is a need to improve some SADs, taking advantage of new knowledge and technology to increase accuracy of the estimates, and to optimize both resource use efficiency and management decisions.     

The On-Farm Trials of the Rotational Prawn-Rice Farming in a Semi-Deep Water Area

ABSTRACT

The on-farm trials of rotational rice-prawn farming in a semi-deep water area in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam was carried out in six rice fields (0.7–1.0 ha) to evaluate the production and economic efficiency of using low and high cost feed on prawn culture in paddies at different densities. Two stocking densities of 4 and 5 PL/m² were investigated. Two treatments of feed types (pellets only or a combination of pellets, trash fish, and snail meat) were applied at stocking 4 PL/m². At the treatment of 5 PL/m², prawns were fed a combination of pellets, trash fish, and snail meat. Prawns were stocked in the mid-April and harvested in mid‐November before the next dry season rice crop. Rice farming was started 3 to 5 days after prawn harvesting. By cull harvesting during the culture period, final mean weights of prawn ranged from 47.2 to 57.2 g/prawn and the male:female ratio at harvesting was 2.5:1.0. The prawn yield of treatment 5 PL/m² was highest (630 ± 22 kg/ha). Net profits in treatments using the combination of pellets, trash fish, and snail meat were 861 ± 193 US$/ha to 1,019 ± 25 US$/ha for the prawn crop and 1,393 ± 71 US$/ha to 1,576 ± 180 US$/ha for the whole system (prawn crop + dry rice crop) and significantly higher than in treatment using pellet only (P < 0.05). Prawns fed on pellets or a combination of pellets and snail meat both offer similar results in terms of production and economics. The dry rice crop offered high cost benefit ratio (2.29–2.33) with low operating cost (414–434 USD/ha) and it made a better use in sustainable rice fields through the rotational rice-prawn system.     

Bioprospection of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria as Biocontrol Agents Against Vibrio campbellii and Their Use in White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei Culture

Vibrio spp. are the most common and harmful shrimp pathogenic bacteria; however, microalgae and cyanobacteria have the ability to produce antimicrobial substances against these species. In this study, the organic and aqueous extracts of 28 species of marine microalgae and cyanobacteria were screened against Vibrio campbellii M1. Two of these phytoplankton species with antibacterial activity in aqueous extracts (Dunaliella tertiolecta and Skeletonema costatum) and nontoxic to brine shrimp Artemia franciscana nauplii were used to evaluate their anti‐Vibrio effect when used as green‐water cultures in Vibrio‐challenged white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei cultures. No differences in mortality of juvenile L. vannamei were observed between treatments tested, suggesting that the pathogenicity of V. campbellii could be related to the growth stage of shrimp. The proximal composition of D. tertiolecta and S. costatum was in the recommended range for penaeid shrimp nutrition, allowing shrimp supplemented with these microalgae to have significantly greater total length and weight than control shrimp. Shrimp supplemented with S. costatum presented the highest values of organic mass (11.48 mg/organism) and growth rate (0.31 mg/d) in comparison to D. tertiolecta. These results indicate that microalgae are not only capable of producing antibacterial compounds against Vibrio but can also help shrimp nutrition.     

Extra-articular absorbable suture stabilization of coxofemoral luxation in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of an extra-articular surgical technique using absorbable suture material for the stabilization of traumatic coxofemoral luxation in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, clinical study. ANIMALS: Fourteen client-owned dogs with recent and long-standing traumatic coxofemoral luxation (13 craniodorsal and 1 ventral). METHODS: Coxofemoral luxations were surgically reduced and maintained in place with an extra-articular iliofemoral multifilamentous absorbable suture (3 to 6 strands of 2 USP Polyglactin 910). No external support was employed, and all the dogs were encouraged to use the affected limb postoperatively. The average time of clinical and radiographic follow-up was 11.6 +/- 6.3 months (from 2 to 22 months). RESULTS: During the follow-up period, no reluxations occurred and no complications associated with the surgical technique were identified. The dogs started bearing weight from 1 to 10 days after the surgery (mean, 4.3 +/- 2.9 days) and the period of lameness ranged from 7 to 30 days (20 +/- 8.6 days). At the final clinical examination, the dogs did not demonstrate any lameness or pain during passive flexo-extension movements, and there was no significant limitation of the range of motion. CONCLUSION: Extra-articular stabilization with multifilamentous absorbable sutures is a simple, effective method of treatment for acute and chronic coxofemoral luxation. The absorbable material used is strong enough to maintain articular stability during the period of scar tissue formation even in large-breed dogs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Absorbable sutures avoid the possible complications related to the use of nonabsorbable material and seem to be sufficient to maintain articular stability during the capsular healing process.     

A new product with formic acid for Varroa jacobsoni Oud. control in Argentina. I. Efficacy

An organic product based on formic acid in a gel matrix was evaluated for use in Varroa control under autumnal climatic conditions in Argentina. Twenty colonies each received two gel packets with formic acid in two applications and numbers of falling mites were registered. After this treatment colonies received two other acaricides in order to compare efficacy. Average final efficacy in colonies treated with the organic product was 92% with a low variability. The gel matrix kept an adequate formic acid concentration inside the colonies with only two applications. This product is, therefore, a good alternative for Varroa control because it is organic, easy to use and presents a low variability in final efficacy between colonies. No queen, brood, or adult honeybee mortality was registered.     

Efficacy of formic acid in gel for Varroa control in Apis mellifera L.: importance of the dispenser position inside the hive

The efficacy of formic acid in a gel matrix was evaluated in two groups of honeybee colonies. In Group 1, a dispenser with 120 g of formic acid (70%) in gel was placed on the brood combs and another dispenser with the same dose was located on the hive bottom (total dose, 240 g). Group 2 received two doses of 240 g of formic acid (70%) in gel and each application was applied in two dispensers containing 120 g of the formic acid solution each and they were located over the brood chamber (total dose, 480 g). In Group 2, the period between both applications was 15 days, and the efficacies after the first and both applications were calculated. Significant differences were registered for final efficacy between both groups. When final efficacy of Group 1 was compared with efficacy after first application of Group 2, significant differences were found (P=0.0005). Same doses in different positions within the hive have different final efficacy. The higher efficacy was registered when the dispensers were placed over brood combs and on the hive bottom. It is suggested that efficacy is related to dispenser position within the hive.