Crop rotation impacts on potato protein

The impacts of nitrogen (N) fertilization on potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) protein yield and nutritional quality are well documented but of little benefit to growers with limited access to fertilizer or capital (e.g. in lesser developed countries). This study was conducted 1) to evaluate the extent which crude protein yield in potatoes can be influenced by crop rotation with no N fertilizer and 2) to determine if crop rotation and minimal application of N fertilizer can meet the total protein yield of potatoes achieved with recommended quantities of N fertilizer. A field study was conducted in which potatoes followed previous crops of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. Nitro), hairy vetch ( Vicia villosa Roth), white lupin ( Lupinus albus L. Ultra), oats ( Avena sativa Astro), and potatoes. Tuber protein yield following alfalfa with no N fertilizer was about 50 kg/ha greater than when following potatoes or oats in one study year. In another year, tuber protein yield was greatest following vetch, achieving 149 kg protein/ha with no N fertilizer. These results were directly linked to the N contributions of rotation crop residues and were reflected in the plant-available N levels measured in soil. Applying one-half the recommended rate of N fertilizer resulted in protein yields comparable to a well-fertilized potato-potato rotation in a relatively dry year, but not in a year with more favorable precipitation. Particular crops grown in rotation with potatoes can make significant contributions to the total protein harvested in tubers.     

Will future climate change threaten a range restricted endemic species, the quokka (Setonix brachyurus), in south west Australia?

Range-restricted species, such as regional endemics, possess traits that may make them particularly vulnerable to environmental change. The quokka, Setonix brachyurus, is a small macropod, endemic to south-western Australia and two adjacent islands. Climatic factors appear to play a role in defining the distribution of this species. Mainland populations are historically restricted to areas with an annual average rainfall in excess of 700 mm and their current distribution is almost completely confined within the 1000 mm rainfall isohyet. As such, the predicted increasing aridity of south-western Australia due to climate change is likely to threaten the continued persistence of the quokka on the mainland. To examine this possibility, we modelled the distribution of the quokka with Maxent using records of occurrence and a combination of historical climate (1961-1990) and habitat variables. Future projections of this distribution were then examined assuming two simple dispersal scenarios (zero and full migration) and three climate-change scenarios of increasing severity for 2030, 2050 and 2070. The predictive performance of the distribution model generated under historical climate conditions was high (AUC > 0.8), with annual precipitation contributing the most information to the model. Except for the low-severity climate-change scenario under the full dispersal assumption, the future projected distribution of quokka was shown to contract over time. The extent of range contraction tended to increase with the severity of the climate-change scenario, with the species predicted to lose almost all range by the year 2070 under the most extreme climate-change scenario. The results indicate the importance of identifying potential refuges for the quokka (i.e. areas where the species is predicted to persist) and defining management strategies to protect these areas from threatening processes.     

Adenosquamous Carcinoma of the Trachea in a Domestic Ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

A 4-year-old, castrated, male domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was evaluated for a possible upper respiratory tract infection and wheezing for approximately 3 weeks. Supportive care for a suspected upper respiratory tract infection was initiated; however, the patient became progressively more dyspneic over the next 48 hours. A possible tracheal mass was identified upon thoracic radiographic imaging of the ferret. Tracheoscopy and a computed tomography scan of the neck and thorax confirmed the presence of a tracheal mass approximately 3 cm from the larynx obstructing 80% of the tracheal lumen. Rather than pursuing surgical resection, the owners elected humane euthanasia. An adenosquamous carcinoma of the trachea was diagnosed after histologic analysis. This tumor type has been diagnosed in the lungs of ferrets that were experimentally exposed to carcinogens found in cigarette smoke; however, there are no previous reports of this or any other tumor type associated with the ferret trachea. A tracheal mass causing a partial upper airway obstruction should be considered within the differential disease diagnosis list when a ferret is presented with dyspnea.     

Evaluation of the nutritional value of prototype lupin protein concentrates when fed to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

This study examines the palatability and discrete nutritional evaluation of some prototype lupin protein concentrates (PC) when fed to rainbow trout. Products were developed from both Lupinus angustifolius and Lupinus luteus kernel meals with an increase in protein of 415 g/kg DM to 690 g/kg DM for L. angustifolius and 545 g/kg DM to 750 g/kg DM for L. luteus, respectively. This study completes a three-phase approach to evaluating the nutritional value of these products. The digestibility of energy, nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter were determined in earlier studies using the diet substitution approach. The apparent digestibility of the energy from the L. angustifolius PC and the L. luteus PC along with the apparent protein digestibility were used to formulate two series of experimental diets to examine both the palatability and discrete nutritional value of the products. Serial inclusion of either PC at 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% into a typical salmonid diet specification allowed an examination of the palatability of each product. Additional negative controls, based on the 0% diets with inclusion of sulfamerazine sodium, were included in the experiment to demonstrate the capacity of the experiment to detect significant palatability issues. No significant effects of inclusion of either PC on any fish performance criteria, such as feed intake or growth, were identified. In contrast, significant reductions in feed intake and consequently growth were observed from fish fed either of the negative controls. This experiment demonstrated that each PC was highly palatable at inclusion levels up to and including 40% of the diet. Using a protein-limited-restrictively-fed experimental approach the discrete nutritional utilisation of each PC was defined. Growth of fish fed the PC treatments was not significantly different to that of the 0% reference diet. Two control diets with substitutions of cellulose to an equivalent inclusion level to that of the PC have provided an indication of the net benefit of the test ingredients. This experiment demonstrated that each PC provided equivalent nutritional value to the fish at either of the two inclusion levels (20% and 40%) evaluated. These PCs differed in their viscosity and gelling properties which may allow feed manufacturers the opportunity to manipulate the physical attributes of their feeds. Together, these studies clearly show that the prototype PCs have substantial potential as a prospective feed ingredient for the aquaculture sector.     

Comparative Study on the Performance of Three Detection Methods for the Quantification of Pacific Ciguatoxins in French Polynesian Strains of Gambierdiscus polynesiensis

Gambierdiscus and Fukuyoa dinoflagellates produce a suite of secondary metabolites, including ciguatoxins (CTXs), which bioaccumulate and are further biotransformed in fish and marine invertebrates, causing ciguatera poisoning when consumed by humans. This study is the first to compare the performance of the fluorescent receptor binding assay (fRBA), neuroblastoma cell-based assay (CBA-N2a), and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the quantitative estimation of CTX contents in 30 samples, obtained from four French Polynesian strains of Gambierdiscus polynesiensis. fRBA was applied to Gambierdiscus matrix for the first time, and several parameters of the fRBA protocol were refined. Following liquid/liquid partitioning to separate CTXs from other algal compounds, the variability of CTX contents was estimated using these three methods in three independent experiments. All three assays were significantly correlated with each other, with the highest correlation coefficient (r² = 0.841) found between fRBA and LC-MS/MS. The CBA-N2a was more sensitive than LC-MS/MS and fRBA, with all assays showing good repeatability. The combined use of fRBA and/or CBA-N2a for screening purposes and LC-MS/MS for confirmation purposes allows for efficient CTX evaluation in Gambierdiscus. These findings, which support future collaborative studies for the inter-laboratory validation of CTX detection methods, will help improve ciguatera risk assessment and management.     

Composition of Oat Bran and Flour Prepared by Three Different Mechanisms of Dry Milling

Three mechanisms of oat milling were tested for laboratory-scale oat bran production. Oat bran consistent with AACC definition and commercially obtained product was generated with either roller-milling or impact-milling of groats, followed by sieving to retain larger particles. These bran preparations were enriched ≈1.7-fold in β-glucan and ash, 1.4-fold in protein, and 1.1-fold in lipid. Bran finishing made further enrichments in protein, β-glucan, and ash. Tempering oat (to 12% moisture for 20 min) improved bran yield from roller-milling nearly two-fold but had little effect on bran composition. Bran yield from the impact-type mill was significantly affected by grinding screen size. Oat bran obtained from a pearling mill was only slightly enriched in β-glucan and protein, but it was more heavily enriched in ash and oil than brans from roller or impact mills. The pearling mill isolated the outer layers of the groat directly, but because of its low β-glucan composition it did not meet the AACC definition of oat bran, indicating a relatively uniform distribution of β-glucan in the groat.