A comparison of pod production and insect ratings of 12 elite Prosopis alba clones in a 5-year semi-arid Argentine field trial

Semi-arid adapted nitrogen fixing trees of the genus Prosopis have been extensively used in Argentina for soil improvement, luxury quality lumber production and sweet (35% sucrose) pods for humans and livestock. Due to the great demand of Prosopis alba for lumber, erect, tall, high pod producing trees of this species have been greatly overharvested, leading to erosion of the gene pool. A previous progeny trial with 57 half sib families identified 12 trees with promise for rapid growth, high production of pods and sweet pods. This trial, on a site with a salinity of 8.6 dS m⁻¹ EC and a pH of 7.7, examined clones of these 12 trees in a randomized complete block trial with 8 single tree replications for height, basal diameter, canopy height and diameter, production of pods, sensory characteristics of the pods, disease resistance and insect resistance. In the 5th year of production and 7th year from planting, three clones produced more than 50 kg pods per tree versus 32 kg for check. At this 10 m × 10 m spacing, this yield of 5000 kg/ha compares favorably to many other semi-arid crops, especially given the unfavorable salinity and pH. In contrast to genetic improvement in pod production, the clones had lower diameter, height and canopy growth than the check. The lower biomass production may be due to fibrous root system produced from cuttings, since some of the clones blew over in high winds but none of the checks produced from seed blew over. Companion seed orchards of salt tolerant clones may provide rootstock for these high pod production clones. Significant differences in insect and disease resistance of the clones were observed and full sib crosses were made to study the genetics of the resistance. All clones had good sensory properties for use in human food. This is the first replicated trial with multipurpose clones useful for lumber and human food. The annual diameter growth rates ranged from 2.8 to 4.1 cm year⁻¹ which was estimated to produce an internal return of approximately 20% from lumber alone.     

Proteolytic digestive enzymes and peritrophic membranes during the development of Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Piralidae): targets for the action of soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) and chitin-binding vicilin (EvV)

The digestive system of P. interpunctella was characterized during its larval development to determine possible targets for the action of proteinaceous enzyme inhibitors and chitin-binding proteins. High proteolytic activities using azocasein at pH 9.5 as substrate were found. These specific enzymatic activities (AU/mg protein) showed an increase in the homogenate of third instar larvae, and when analyzed by individual larvae (AU/gut), the increase was in sixth instar larvae. Zymograms showed two bands corresponding to those enzymatic activities, which were inhibited by TLCK and SBTI, indicating that the larvae mainly used serine proteinases at pH 9.5 in their digestive process. The presence of a peritrophic membrane in the larvae was confirmed by chemical testing and light microscopy. In a bioassay, P. interpunctella was not susceptible to the soybean trypsin inhibitor, which did not affect larval mass and mortality, likely due to the weak association with its target digestive enzyme. EvV (Erythrina velutina vicilin), when added to the diet, affected mortality (LD50 0.23%) and larval mass (ED50 0.27%). This effect was associated with EvV-binding to the peritrophic membrane, as seen by immunolocalization. EvV was susceptible to gut enzymes and after the digestion process, released an immunoreactive fragment that was bound to the peritrophic matrix, which probably was responsible for the action of EvV.     

Index of geoaccumulation and spatial distribution of potentially toxic elements in the Serra Pelada gold mine

Journal of Soils and Sediments - The concentration and spatial distribution of many potentially toxic elements (PTEs) have not been studied in the mining areas of tropical soils in the Amazon. The...     

Fish farming of native species in Colombia: current situation and perspectives

In Colombia and the rest of the world, the decrease in capture fisheries production has turned the aquaculture into an alternative source of protein for the populations food security as well as an important productive activity, generating employment and income for the rural communities. The Colombian pisciculture is based on red Tilapia Oreochromis sp. (Linnaeus), Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) and cachama blanca Piaractus brachypomus (Cuvier), which currently represent around 96% of the total national production. The remaining 4% comes from other farmed species such as bocachico Prochilodus magdalenae (Steindachner), carp Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus) and yamúBrycon amazonicus (Spix & Agassiz). From the three main fish species, cachama blanca is the only native species, which has shown excellent performance in pond farming due to its rusticity, omnivorous habits, docility, meat quality, food conversion and disease resistance. The limited offer of Colombian fish farmed species determines its currently low competitiveness and restricted impact on the international markets; thus making necessary to explore the potential of new fish species in order to introduce them to the pisciculture system and to expand the range of fish farming species. A good alternative is the introduction of native catfish, which have great potential for fish farming activity.     

Cuticular calcium penetration is directly related to the area covered by calcium within droplet spread area

Calcium penetration from salt solutions of calcium chloride and calcium acetate was measured through isolated tomato fruit (Solanum lycopersicum L., cultivar ‘Panovy’) cuticles after 4, 24, and 48 h. Droplet spread area (volume = 1 μL) and the area ultimately covered with calcium were determined with a scanning electron microscope which has an integrated energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis system. An ethoxylated rapeseed oil surfactant (RSO 5) was used for inducing different degrees of droplet spread and together with different calcium concentrations of the solutions to vary the concentration gradient in the penetration experiments. As a rule, penetration of calcium from CaCl₂ was higher than that of Ca(CH₃COO)₂. The addition of RSO 5 to salt solutions resulted in enhanced calcium penetration in comparison to unformulated solutions. However, extending penetration time from 4 to 48 h predominantly did not enhance the penetrated calcium amount significantly. Droplet spread area was enhanced up to 4-fold after adding RSO 5, whereas the area ultimately covered with calcium did not exceed twice as much. This resulted in lower percentage area covered by calcium in droplet footprints from formulated solutions in comparison to solutions without addition of RSO 5. Correlation analyses showed that penetration was not related to droplet spread area but significantly correlated with the area covered by calcium. These observations were true for unformulated calcium salts as well as for calcium solutions with addition of RSO 5. Therefore, the area ultimately covered with calcium or even other xenobiotics within a droplet footprint should be considered in developing mathematical models to simulate active ingredient (a.i.) penetration.     

Effect of incubation temperature on the embryonic development and yolk‐sac larvae of the Pacific red snapper Lutjanus peru (Nichols & Murphy, 1922)

The effect of incubation temperature on embryonic development and yolk‐sac larva of the Pacific red snapper Lutjanus peru were evaluated by testing the effect of 26, 28 and 30°C, as this is the natural thermal interval reported during the spawning season of Pacific red snapper in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Sixteen developmental stages were observed. The incubation temperature affected the rate of development and time to hatching, being shorter at 30 than at 26°C, but no significant effect (P < 0.05) on larval length at hatching was registered. The depletion rate of yolk sac and oil globule was affected by incubation temperature particularly during the first 12 h post hatching (hph). At the end of the experiment (48 hph), significantly (P < 0.05) larger larvae were recorded at 26°C (TL = 3.22 ± 0.01 mm) than at 28° (TL = 3.01 ± 0.02 mm) and 30°C (TL = 2.97 ± 0.05 mm). Incubation of newly fertilized eggs at 26°C produces larger larvae, which may help to improve feeding efficiency and survival during first feeding.     

Evaluation of an epidemic of sporotrichosis in cats: 347 cases (1998-2001)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate characteristics of a large epidemic of sporotrichosis in cats. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 347 cats with naturally acquired infection with Sporothrix schenckii. PROCEDURE: Medical records were reviewed for data regarding clinical, mycologic, histopathologic, and routine hematologic and serum biochemical findings; assays for FIV-specific antibodies and FeLV antigen; antifungal treatment; and follow-up. RESULTS: Lesions varied from small papules to extensive zones of necrosis.Ten cats had no skin lesions, 114 had skin lesions at a single site, 86 had skin lesions in 2 sites, and 137 had skin lesions in 3 or more sites. Respiratory tract signs were observed in 154 cats and were the most frequent extracutaneous sign. Anemia, leukocytosis with neutrophilia, hypoalbuminemia, and hyperglobulinemia were the main blood abnormalities. Antibodies against FIV were detected in 28 cats, FeLV antigen was detected in 2 cats, and both were detected in 1 cat among 142 cats tested. During the study, 118 cats were lost to follow-up and 124 died. Of 266 cats that were treated, 68 were cured. Complete healing of the lesions was observed regardless of the presence of extracutaneous signs, general condition, treatment schedule, or coinfection with FIV. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Feline sporotrichosis was evident in subclinical to severe forms; however, cats can respond well to regular and prolonged antifungal treatment.     

Solventless Microextraction Techniques for Determination of Trihalomethanes by Gas Chromatography in Drinking Water

Three different solventless sample preparation techniques based on microextraction, membrane extraction, and headspace extraction have been developed and optimized for determination of trihalomethanes in drinking water by gas chromatography electron capture detector and mass spectrometry detection. The techniques employed were headspace (HS) solid-phase microextraction, hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HFLPME) and HS extraction. All techniques used were optimized with different experimental designs in order to select the most relevant variables which significantly affect the different processes. The different analytical figures of merit such as limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification, reproducibility, accuracy, and linear dynamic range were obtained. The new HFLPME method applied used a hollow fiber membrane of polypropylene and the optimized variables were extraction time, extraction temperature, and salting-out effect. The software MODDE 6.0 was used and its design was one central composite on face with a total of 17 runs. The best conditions for the HFLPME were 20 min, 40°C, and 10% NaCl, respectively. The LODs ranged from 0.018 μg·L⁻¹ (for CHClBr₂) to 0.049 μg·L⁻¹ (for CHBr₃), being this technique the most sensitive one among those studied. Finally, after having optimized the sample preparation techniques and chromatographic conditions, several water samples were taken in two different water treatment plants in Spain (Zaragoza) and Colombia (Viterbo, Caldas). The results obtained are shown and discussed.     

Ecogeographical land characterization maps as a tool for assessing plant adaptation and their implications in agrobiodiversity studies

Information on plant adaptation can be very useful in agrobiodiversity studies. Ecogeographical land characterization (ELC) maps constitute a new tool in this direction with great potential. To assess the usefulness of this approach, an ELC map of Spain was created through multivariate methods. Its performance to characterize plant habitat preferences was compared with existing ecological regions and land cover maps. Collecting sites and seed weight from eight plant species were used to test the ELC map. Categories from each map were assigned to accessions using collecting sites. Chi-square tests were applied to test if category frequency distributions for each species followed a distribution proportional to the relative frequency of categories in each map. The tests found significant differences in the eight species studied. Thus, Bonferroni confidence intervals (BCI) classified categories from maps in preferred, neutral or avoided habitats. Seed weight was used as a proxy for plant adaptation. Comparison between observed and expected ranking of BCI and quartile classes in terms of seed weight means, and GLM and post-hoc tests carried out to test the effect of these classes upon seed weight showed consistently better results for the ELC map. Species results and applications of ecogeographic maps in plant genetic resources conservation are discussed.