Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi: a comparative framework on population genetic structure in a restored area after 12 years

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - The success of restoration projects depends on the genetic diversity of the implanted species. It is a limiting factor, often because the seed sources are...     

Toxoplasma gondii diagnosis in ovine aborted fetuses and stillborns in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil

The aim of this research was to study the contribution of Toxoplasma gondii to reproductive failure using nested PCR and histopathological examination of fetuses, stillborns and placentas. We examined 245 organs of fetuses and 28 placentas from 35 abortions and stillborns from naturally occurring miscarriages in sheep in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil. At necropsy, fragments of brain, cerebellum, medulla, lung, heart, spleen, liver and placenta were taken for nested PCR and histopathological tests. Pathological examination revealed macroscopic lesions, suggesting T. gondii infection in 5/35 (14.3%) of the placentas. The histopathological examination revealed no lesions characteristic of toxoplasmosis in the organs investigated. In the five placentas, lesions consistent with toxoplasmosis were observed as an inflammatory non-suppurative infiltrate, along with multiple necrosis and mineralization. Nested PCR showed three aborted fetuses and two stillborns (14.3%) to test positive for T. gondii, with DNA amplification in all organs and the placenta, especially the heart and the placenta, which are the tissues of choice. This study substantiates the theory that T. gondii is involved in miscarriages and stillbirths and in the placentas of naturally infected sheep in Brazil. Such findings have not previously been described in the national literature.     

Muscular dystrophy in dogs: does the crossing of breeds influence disease phenotype?

Golden Retriever (GR) muscular dystrophy is an inherited degenerative muscle disease that provides an excellent model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy in humans. This study defined the histopathologic lesions, including the distribution of type I and II muscle fibers (FTI and FTII), in 12 dystrophic and 3 nondystrophic dogs between 7 and 15 months of age. The authors were interested in studying the influence on disease phenotype from crossing the base GR breed with Yellow Labrador Retrievers. The dystrophic dogs were divided according to breed: GRs and Golden Labrador Retrievers (GLRs). On hematoxylin and eosin staining, histopathologic lesions were more severe in GRs than GLRs. Six of eight GR muscles (75%) had a severe lesion grade (grade 3). In contrast, seven GLR muscles (87.5%) had mild lesions (grade 2), and only one had severe lesions (grade 3). Changes in fiber-type distribution were more pronounced in GRs versus GLRs. FTI:FTII ratio inversion was observed in three dystrophic GRs but only one GLR. The mean diameter of FTI and FTII was smaller in GRs and GLRs than in nondystrophic dogs (P < .01). The FTI of five GR muscles (62.5%) were larger than those of GLRs, whereas only one GLR muscle was larger (P < .05). The differential was less pronounced for FTII, with four GR muscles being larger and three GLR being larger. Observations indicate that crossing the base GR breed with Labrador Retrievers lessened the severity of the GR muscular dystrophy phenotype.     

Silicon induces resistance to Diatraea saccharalis in sugarcane and it is compatible with the biological control agent Cotesia flavipes

Journal of Pest Science - The sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is a major pest of sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) (Glumiflorae: Poaceae) in Brazil and has been...     

A direct repeat is a hotspot for large-scale deletion of human mitochondrial DNA

Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS) and progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO) are related neuromuscular disorders characterized by ocular myopathy and ophthalmoplegia. Almost all patients with KSS and about half with PEO harbor large deletions in their mitochondrial genomes. The deletions differ in both size and location, except for one, 5 kilobases long, that is found in more than one-third of all patients examined. This common deletion was found to be flanked by a perfect 13-base pair direct repeat in the normal mitochondrial genome. This result suggests that homologous recombination deleting large regions of intervening mitochondrial DNA, which previously had been observed only in lower eukaryotes and plants, operates in mammalian mitochondrial genomes as well, and is at least one cause of the deletions found in these two related mitochondrial myopathies.     

NUTRITIONAL LIMITATIONS IN MULTI-STRATA AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM WITH NATIVE AMAZONIAN PLANTS

A multi-strata agroforestry system is mentioned as the most promising option for the sustainable agricultural in infertile upland soils of Central Amazonia. However, studies showed that the sustainability of this land use does not exist. The aim of this work was to evaluate the soil fertility and nutritional state of native Amazon plant species cultivated in a Xanthic Ferralsol (dystrophic Yellow Latosol) in an agroforestry system. The experimental area consisted of four plots of 0.25 hectares each. Native plants of the Amazonian region were used, five of them timber species – Hevea brasiliensis (rubber), Ceiba pentandra (kapok), Jacaranda copaia (jacaranda), Buchenavia huber (cuiarana) and Trattinicka burserifolia (breu); two palm species – Bactris gasipaes (peach palm) and Euterpe oleracea (assai); and five fruit-bearing species – Rollinia mucosa (biriba), Theobroma cacao (cacao), Theobroma grandiflorum (cupuassu), Couma sorbilis (sorva) and Myrciaria dubia (camu-camu). The results showed that plants from the same ecosystem with tolerance to acid soils and poor nutrient contents differ in their nutrient uptake efficiency and nutritional requirements, indicating limits on the species combinations that can be used in agroforestry systems of an upland soil of Central Amazonian.     

Soybean yield response to Bradyrhizobium strains in fields with inoculation history in Southern Brazil

Abstract

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] responses to seed inoculation with rhizobium are inconsistent in sites with inoculation history. Field trials were conducted in South-central region of Paraná State (Southern Brazil) aiming to evaluate yield response to inoculation in areas with history of inoculation at a regional-scale (21 trials, 1999/2000 to 2014/2015), and identify nodulation, plant dry weight and nitrogen (N) components underpinning yield formation (10 trials, 2015/2016 and 2016/2017). Seed yield varied from 1853 to 5352?kg ha^?1 (first dataset), characterizing a wide range of environmental conditions across seasons. Response to inoculation was inconsistent at regional-scale, with a similar seed yield of inoculated (3286?kg ha^?1) and non-inoculated (3298?kg ha^?1) soybean. Lack of differences were also observed in all the variables analyzed of second dataset. Research efforts should be applied aiming to identify rhizobia persistence in the soil and its efficacy at N fixation after continuous cropping without inoculation.     

Soybean response to copper applied to two soils with different levels of organic matter and clay

Abstract

Increasing the amount of soil organic matter (OM) alters the availability of copper (Cu) for plants under tropical and subtropical conditions. With the aim of evaluating the effects of the OM/Cu interaction on the soybean crop, a trial was conducted with a fully randomized 2?×?5 factorial design and four replicates. The treatments consisted of five Cu rates (0, 1, 2, 4 and 8?mg kg^?1) and two soil types: Typic Oxisol and Typic Ultisol. The soybean responded to fertilization with Cu, producing the highest estimated grain yield at a rate of 4.1?mg kg^?1. Similarly were also observed for shoot dry weight, number of pods and root length. The soil chemical properties and nutrient levels in the leaves and grain were influenced only by the soil type, whereas physiological components were affected in terms of photosynthetic rate and intercellular CO₂ concentration.     

Survival, growth and biochemical parameters of silver catfish, Rhamdia quelen (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824), juveniles exposed to different dissolved oxygen levels

Silver catfish, Rhamdia quelen (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824), is an endemic species from Latin America that is raised in cultivation ponds, and consequently may be exposed to low oxygen levels. Therefore, the objective of this study was to verify the lethal concentration (CL_{50?96 h}) of dissolved oxygen levels for silver catfish juveniles. In addition, the effects of different dissolved oxygen levels (1.96±0.08, 3.10±0.10, 4.14±0.09, 5.20±0.07 and 6.16±0.03 mg L^?1) on growth and metabolic parameters (glycogen, glucose, protein, lactate levels and catalase activity) were also investigated. CL_{50?96 h} was 0.52 mg L^?1 (CI 0.42–0.61 mg L^?1) or 6.7% oxygen saturation. After exposure of silver catfish to hypoxia for 30 days, there were no changes in biochemical parameters indicating the use of an anaerobic pathway by the fish. However, the dissolved oxygen levels influenced silver catfish juvenile behaviour, survival and growth, and under the experimental conditions 5.2 mg L^?1 (or 65.6% oxygen saturation) is the minimum oxygen level recommended for the growth of this species.