Using Limestone to Improve Soil Fertility and Growth of Mango (Mangifera Indica L.)

Soil acidity is one of the most important factors limiting crop production. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of limestone application on the soil chemical properties, nutrition and yield of mango plants in an orchard under implementation. The design was randomized blocks, with five limestone doses (0; 2; 4; 6 and 8 t ha^?1) and four replications. Soil chemical analyses were performed (at 12, 24, 36 and 48 months after the experiment implementation) in the layers 0–20; 20–40 and 40–60 cm deep. Nutrition status and yield were assessed during the first and second crop seasons. The highest fruit yield was associated with the application of 3.9 and 3.8 t ha^?1 of limestone in the 2008/09 and 2009/10 seasons, respectively, that is, the dose recommended by the literature for raising base saturation to 80%, as a function of the fertility conditions of the soil initially obtained.     

对你的家一见倾心

玄关是一个家距离外界最近的地方,也是打开房门后视线的第一个落点。如果玄关设计得体,既能为返家时刻增添愉悦心情,也能让客人对你的家一见倾心。     

A survey of mutations in the Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae) esterase E3 gene associated with organophosphate resistance and the molecular identification of mutant alleles

Cochliomyia hominivorax (Calliphoridae) is one of the most important myiasis-causing flies and is responsible for severe economic losses to the livestock industry throughout the Neotropical region. In Brazil, C. hominivorax has been controlled mainly with organophosphate (OP) insecticides, although the inappropriate use of these chemicals can result in the selection of resistant flies. Changes in carboxylesterase activity have been associated with OP insecticides in some arthopodan species. In this work, we isolated and characterized part of the E3 gene in C. hominivorax (ChE7), which contained the same substitutions responsible for the acquisition of OP hydrolase activity in Lucilia cuprina (Calliphoridae). Digestion of the polymerase chain reaction products with a restriction enzyme that specifically recognized the mutation site unambiguously differentiated wild and mutated esterase alleles. The PCR-RFLP assay therefore provided a fast, reliable DNA-based method for identifying C. hominivorax individuals with a mutation in the esterase gene. Further bioassays to determine the association of this mutation with OP resistance in C. hominivorax should allow the development of more effective strategies for managing this species.     

Platelet‐Activating Factor and Evidence of Oxidative Stress in the Bronchoalveolar Fluid of Thoroughbred Colts during Race Training

Background: Inflammatory airway disease (IAD) is prevalent in young racehorses during training, being the 2nd most commonly diagnosed ailment interrupting training of 2‐year‐old Thoroughbred racehorses. Hypothesis: That stabling and exercise cause oxidative stress, release of platelet‐activating factor (PAF) and inflammation in airways of Thoroughbred colts. Animals: Colts in breeding farms (NC, n = 45), stabled for 30 days (EC, n = 40), and race trained (EX, n = 34). Methods: Cytological profile and parameters of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) related to oxidative stress, bioactivity of the proinflammatory mediator PAF, catalase activity, and alveolar macrophage function. Results: Percentages of neutrophils and eosinophils in the BALF of the EX group were higher (5.4 ± 6.4% versus 0.9 ± 1.2%) than the upper limits for normal horses (3–5%). BALF from the EX group (45.6 ± 2.8 cells/μL of BALF) also displayed significantly (P= .017) higher total nucleated cell count. PAF bioactivity and the total protein concentration in the BALF were higher in the EX group (0.0683 ± 0.076 versus 0.0056 ± 0.007 340 : 380 nm ratio P= .0039, 0.36 ± 0.30 versus 0.14 ± 0.15 mg of proteins/mL of BALF P < .001). Concentration of BALF hydroperoxides was higher in the EC group (104.7 ± 80.0 versus 35.2 ± 28.0 nmol/mg of proteins, P= .013) and catalase activity was higher in the EX group (0.24 ± 0.16 versus 0.06 ± 0.02 μmol H₂O₂/min/mg of proteins, P= .0021). Alveolar macrophage phagocytosis (P= .048) as well as production of superoxide anion (P= .0014) and hydrogen peroxide (P= .0011) were significantly lower in EX group. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Further studies should be performed to elucidate the role of PAF in the pathophysiology of IAD. Its presence in bronchoalveolar fluid of young athletic horses makes it a potential therapeutic target to be investigated.