Wheat growth and yield responses to biochar addition under Mediterranean climate conditions

The effects of the addition of a slow pyrolysis biochar (produced from olive-tree prunings) to a vertisol were studied in a field experiment during one wheat (Triticum durum L.) growing season. The biochar addition did not significantly affect soil parameters such as pH, dissolved organic C and N, ammonium, nitrate or microbial biomass N. By contrast, biochar addition decreased soil compaction and increased the soil water-retention capacity and nutrient content (total N and the available contents of P, K, Mg, Cu and Zn). These favourable changes led to an increase in fine root proliferation (increasing specific root length and reducing root tissue density) and promoted crop development. As a result, the plants in biochar-treated plots showed higher relative growth and net assimilation rates, aboveground biomass and yield than those in control plots. Neither grain quality nor nutrient content were significantly affected by biochar addition. Our results suggest that the use of biochar as a soil amendment in agricultural soils can improve soil physical properties and increase fertility, favouring crop development under semiarid Mediterranean conditions.     

Prevalence of cutaneous pathological conditions and factors associated with the presence of skin wounds in working equids in tropical regions of Veracruz,Mexico

A wide spectrum of welfare issues is encountered on working equids. The objectives of this study were: (i) to determine the prevalence of cutaneous lesions in working equids in tropical regions of the North-Central of Veracruz State, Mexico, (ii) to identify the most prevalent cutaneous pathological conditions in this population of working equids, and (iii) to identify risk factors associated to the presence of work-related skin wounds. A number of 467 working equids presented for treatment at Donkey Sanctuary Mobile Clinic Program - National Autonomous University of Mexico from seven different villages in the North-Central region of Veracruz State were evaluated. Animals with signs of cutaneous pathology underwent a physical examination and samples were obtained of exudates, hair, and tissue for cytology examination, fungal cultures, and dermo-histopathology examination. The overall prevalence of cutaneous pathological conditions in working equids was 20.6 %. The prevalence per species was 22.6 % for horses, 18.2 % for donkeys, and 14.3 % for mules. The most common cause of skin lesions was trauma (abrasions, lacerations, and abscesses) followed in frequency by parasitic dermatitis and sarcoids. No strong associations among species were observed (P?>?0.20). Multivariate analysis showed that there was greater association between BCS and age with the presence of skin wounds (P?<?0.05). Equids who's BCS was rated as “moderate” as well as adult animals showed significantly more skin wounds compared with the young and the elderly (P?<?0.05). These findings can help to develop a better management practices to improve the welfare of equids in tropical regions of Veracruz, Mexico.     

Detection of porcine circovirus type 1 in commercial pig vaccines using polymerase chain reaction

The absence of extraneous viruses is a requirement in the quality control of vaccines for veterinary use in the European Pharmacopoeia. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the detection of porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV1) and type 2 (PCV2) was evaluated in 18 commercial porcine vaccines. Since vaccine components may contain PCR enhancers or inhibitors, 13 of the studied vaccines (used as diluents) were subsequently spiked with different dilutions of PCV2 and tested by PCR. Although PCV2 DNA was not detected in any of the vaccines tested, PCV1 was detected in 2/18 vaccines (11%). Eleven out of 13 PCV2 spiked vaccines showed a positive PCR result. The lack of amplification observed in two spiked vaccines suggested that use of the PCR assay to detect PCV2 could depend on vaccine composition. The results of this exploratory study have demonstrated that PCR is a rapid and fairly sensitive method for the detection of porcine circoviruses as extraneous agents in vaccine products and can be used in the quality control of pig vaccines. The study has also indicated the need for optimising the sensitivity of PCR methods for PCV genome detection in vaccine products.     

Herbicidal potential of ophiobolins produced by Drechslera gigantea

Drechslera gigantea, a potential mycoherbicide of grass weeds, was isolated in Florida from naturally infected large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis); it produces phytotoxic metabolites in liquid culture. The main metabolite was identified by spectroscopic methods and optical properties as ophiobolin A (1), a well-known phytotoxic sesterterpene produced by several phytopathogenic fungi of important crops and already extensively studied for its interesting biological activities. The other three minor metabolites proved to be related to ophiobolin A and were identified using the same techniques as 6-epi-ophiobolin A and 3-anhydro-6-epi-ophiobolin A (2 and 3) and ophiobolin I (4). Assayed on punctured detached leaves of several grass and dicotyledon weeds, ophiobolin A proved to be on average more phytotoxic as compared to the other related compounds. Some structural features appear to be important for the phytoxicity, such as the hydroxy group at C-3, the stereochemistry at C-6, and the aldehyde group at C-7. Furthermore, grass weeds usually proved to be more sensitive to the phytotoxins than dicotyledons, on which ophiobolin A caused the appearance of large necrosis even at the lowest concentration assayed. This is the first report about the production of ophiobolins from D. gigantea and of the proposed use as potential natural herbicides against grass weeds.     

A gustotopic map of taste qualities in the mammalian brain

The taste system is one of our fundamental senses, responsible for detecting and responding to sweet, bitter, umami, salty, and sour stimuli. In the tongue, the five basic tastes are mediated by separate classes of taste receptor cells each finely tuned to a single taste quality. We explored the logic of taste coding in the brain by examining how sweet, bitter, umami, and salty qualities are represented in the primary taste cortex of mice. We used in vivo two-photon calcium imaging to demonstrate topographic segregation in the functional architecture of the gustatory cortex. Each taste quality is represented in its own separate cortical field, revealing the existence of a gustotopic map in the brain. These results expose the basic logic for the central representation of taste.     

Atypical non-progressive pneumonia in goats

An outbreak of severe respiratory disease in a goat herd was associated with Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, Mycoplasma arginini, Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida with mortality rates exceeding 20% in kids. Post mortem features in affected kids included severe pleuropneumonia, lung consolidation, large quantities of pleural fluid and pericarditis. This is the first report of atypical proliferative pneumonia in goats in Portugal.     

Comparison between tail and jugular venipuncture techniques for blood sample collection in common chameleons (Chamaeleo chamaeleon)

The most common technique used for collecting blood samples from chameleons, ventral tail caudal venipuncture (Reptile care. An Atlas of Diseases and Treatments, Vol. II, T.F.H. Publication, New Jersey, 1991) sometimes presents undesired effects. Here we compared tail versus jugular vein venipuncture techniques in the common chameleon. In the first experiment, we collected 0.25% of the chameleon's body mass in blood from either tail or jugular sites in size-matched pairs of animals to check for secondary effects. In a second experiment, we measured white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), total plasma protein and uric acid in blood samples collected from both sites in the same individual. We found few secondary effects following the use of either venipuncture site although skin darkening was observed in few specimens when using the ventral tail vein. Blood profiles were similar between samples. The repeatability of measurements was similar in RBC and WBC counts and remarkably low (<0.90). Despite the few differences recorded, we recommend jugular venipunction in chameleons as skin darkening is unlikely, blood volumes are easily obtained and collection time is shorter.     

Potential Use of a Poultry Manure Digestate as a Biofertiliser: Evaluation of Soil Properties and Lactuca sativa Growth

Anaerobic digestion is a process that is widely used for the treatment of organic wastes. The digestate can be used as a soil amendment or crop fertiliser. The aims of our work were to evaluate 1) the physicochemical composition and pathogen content in a digestate from poultry manure, according to international regulations, and 2) the effect of its soil application on the major chemical and biological soil properties and on the growth of Lactuca sativa. The experiment consisted of two groups of pots(with and without crop). Treatments applied to each group were as follows: low and high doses of digestate and inorganic fertiliser, and no application(control)(low dose: 70 kg nitrogen(N) ha~(-1) and 21 kg phosphorus(P) ha~(-1); high dose: 210 kg N ha~(-1) and 63 kg P ha~(-1)). Soil samples were taken 7 and 34 d(harvest) after treatment applications. Heavy metal and pathogen contents in the digestate were below the upper limit values. Despite the high pH and electrical conductivity values of the digestate, both soil parameters presented acceptable values for crop growth. Although there were no initial increases in total inorganic N and available P in soil with digestate application, an increase in the fresh weight of crop was observed with the high dose application. This is probably associated with the slow nutrient release from the digestate during the development of the crop. Changes in the microbial community were temporary and occurred at the initial sampling stage of the experiment.     

Morphological responses of three persistent native anuran species after forest conversion into monoculture pine plantations: tolerance or prosperity?

Species loss by habitat replacement operating as an ecological filter is a well‐known consequence of modern human activities. In contrast, the ecological and evolutionary response of species overcoming those filters in converted habitats has not been thoroughly explored. Species that persist are subject to novel and potentially stressful conditions that may induce certain morphological changes. We evaluated changes in the functional morphology of three anuran species persisting after the conversion of areas of the Atlantic Forest into pine plantations. We specifically evaluated differences in body size and body condition indices, head width, and hind legs’ length between adult individuals from both habitats and sexes. Habitat conversion and sexual dimorphism affected the morphology of the three anurans, with varying effects upon species and traits. Regarding the effect of habitat conversion, Elachistocleis bicolor increased body condition in plantations with no changes in the other traits, Physalaemus cuvieri showed only a marginal increment in residual body mass in plantations, and Odontophrynus americanus exhibited a substantial increment in body size while maintaining its body condition in plantations. Remarkably, none of the results suggested these persistent anurans were stressed by forest conversion. This study shows that habitat conversion may induce intraspecific morphological changes in ecologically relevant traits of persistent species, and that disturbed areas do not necessarily imply stressful, low quality habitats affecting all persistent native species negatively.