Pre-parturition staphylococcal mastitis in primiparous replacement goats: persistence over lactation and sources of infection

This investigation reported for the first time the occurrence of intramammary infections caused by Staphylococcus in primiparous replacement goats before parturition and the persistence of clinical Staphylococcus aureus infection during the lactation period. Subclinical infections, mainly caused by coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS), did not persist during lactation. Genotyping analysis indicated that environment seems to play a moderate role as source of intramammary infections to goats before parturition, but causative agents of mastitis in lactating animals are not genotypically related to environmental staphylococci. The occurrence and persistence of intramammary infections in replacement goats demonstrate the need to consider those animals as potential sources of infections in dairy goat herds.     

β-Glucosidase involvement in the formation and transformation of oleuropein during the growth and development of olive fruits (Olea europaea L. cv. Arbequina) grown under different farming practices

The present study investigates oleuropein metabolism, as well as the involvement of β-glucosidase during the growth, development, and ripening of olive fruit. The results show that in olive fruit the in vivo formation and transformation of oleuropein takes place in three different stages. The first one is characterized by a net accumulation of oleuropein and occurs in the immature fruit. In the second stage, associated with the green and light-green fruits, oleuropein content is maintained practically constant, and finally, a third stage that begins in the green-yellow fruit is characterized by a progressive decline of the oleuropein concentration. Our findings confirm that in the absence of β-glucosidase the Damtoft-proposed pathway is active and that net synthesis of oleuropein is unquestionable. β-Glucosidase activity plays a key role in the oleuropein metabolism catalyzing its in vivo hydrolysis.     

Do water dynamics and land use in riparian areas change the spatial pattern of physical–mechanical properties of a Cambisol?

Precision Agriculture - Changes in land use in riverside ecosystems added to the flood and ebb regimes of rivers modify the spatial variability of the physical–mechanical attributes of soil,...     

Effect of water deficit on morphoagronomic traits of black common bean genotypes (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with contrasting drought tolerance

Brazil is the world's largest producer of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Drought stress harms the morphological and agronomic traits of beans. This study evaluates the reaction to water deficit in five genotypes of black beans. The experiment was conducted in the IDR-IAPAR-EMATER in Londrina-PR, Brazil. A split-plot design was used, with three replications. The genotypes were included in the subplots and the treatments with or without water deficit in the plots. Water deficit was induced on the pre-flowering stage and maintained for 20 days in the plots submitted to drought stress. For the growth analysis, plants were collected at 35, 54 and 70 days after emergence. At the stage of physiological ripeness, several morphological and yield traits were evaluated. The genotypes IPR Uirapuru and BRS Esplendor can be considered tolerant and used as a tolerant source to water deficit in common bean germplasm banks. The line LP 08-90 has morphological and agronomic adaptations efficient to overcome water deficit's effects, presenting a higher grain yield in both crop conditions, which indicates the success of black beans breeding to deal with water deficit.