Risk factors associated with sero-positivity to Toxoplasma gondii in captive neotropical felids from Brazil

From September 1995 to February 2001, blood samples were collected from 865 neotropical felids belonging to 8 different species. These animals were housed in 86 institutions located in 78 cities of 20 Brazilian states. Our goal was to identify the risk factors associated with sero-positivity to Toxoplasma gondii in captive neotropical felids from Brazil. All serum samples were tested by the modified agglutination test (MAT), using formalin-fixed whole tachyzoites and mercaptoethanol. For each animal an individual questionnaire was filled with questions about tattoo number, felid species, age, sex, origin, number of animals in the group, introduction of new animals in the group, time in the institution, eating meat previously frozen for a period <7 days in the last 6 months, eating meat of run-over or euthanized animals in the last 6 months, predation of rodents or birds in the last 6 months and presence of domestic cats near the enclosures in the last 6 months. The total sero-prevalence was 55% (95% CI: 52%, 57%). We estimated a prevalence of 46% (95% CI: 40%, 54%) for jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi); 58% (95% CI: 53%, 63%) for ocelot (Leopardus pardalis); 50% (95% CI: 45%, 56%) for oncilla (L. tigrinus); 54% (95% CI: 46%, 62%) for margay (L. wiedii); 12% (95% CI: 4%, 31%) for Pampas-cat (L. colocolo); 83% (95% CI: 65%, 93%) for Geoffroy's-cat (L. geoffroyi); 64% (95% CI: 50%, 68%) for jaguar (Panthera onca) and 48% (95% CI: 42%, 54%) for puma (Puma concolor). Multiple logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between the variables in the questionnaire and sero-positivity to T. gondii. We concluded that the independent risk factors for toxoplasmosis were: age >3 years (OR = 4.75 [2.75; 8.2]), eating meat previously frozen for a period <7 days (OR = 2.23 [1.24; 4.01]), and consumption of animals that were run-over or euthanized (OR = 1.64; [1.14; 2.37]).     

两个地理种群蠋蝽的生物学特性差异比较

蠋蝽Arma chinensis Fallou是一种优良的捕食性天敌昆虫, 在多种农林害虫的生物防治中发挥着重要作用?为明确不同地理来源的蠋蝽种群的生物学特征, 指导蠋蝽的扩繁及在不同地区的释放应用, 本研究测定并比较了河北廊坊和贵州六盘水两个地区蠋蝽种群的表观形态?发育历期?成虫寿命和繁殖能力等生物学指标?结果表明, 贵州六盘水蠋蝽种群的体型显著大于河北廊坊种群; 河北廊坊蠋蝽种群的若虫期虽长于贵州六盘水种群, 但二者无显著差异; 河北廊坊种群配对饲养的雄虫和单雌饲养的雌虫其寿命显著长于贵州六盘水种群, 配对饲养的雌虫寿命两种群间无显著差异; 两个种群蠋蝽雌虫均在羽化后5~8 d进入产卵高峰期, 贵州六盘水种群的产卵前期较短, 且配对饲养条件下其单雌产卵量显著高于河北廊坊种群?     

氮肥深施对旱作覆膜农田土壤养分含量及春玉米产量的影响

以春玉米为供试作物,于2021—2022年在甘肃省定西市进行不同深度施肥田间试验,以双垄沟覆膜种植为基础,设置3个氮肥施用深度：5 cm(D5)、15 cm(D15)和25 cm(D25),以不施氮(N0)处理为对照,共4个处理,分析不同氮肥施用深度对农田土壤养分含量、干物质积累、水分利用及玉米产量的影响,为优化施肥模式和进一步提升其节水增产效能提供理论依据。结果表明,随施肥深度的增加,农田0～40 cm土层土壤养分含量逐渐增大,D25处理较D15和D5处理的土壤有机碳、全氮、速效磷和速效钾含量分别平均提高8.67%、2.23%、22.11%和15.18%;氮肥深施可提高生育后期养分供给能力,玉米干物质积累量显著提高,D25处理播后105 d～收获期干物质积累量分别较D15和D5提高6.53%和25.30%;2个试验年份农田耗水量和水分利用效率均随着施肥深度的增加逐渐增大,D25处理分别较D15和D5平均提高10.09%和10.08%;D25处理玉米生物产量和经济产量较D5处理分别平均提高27.20%和34.93%。在西北旱作区,氮肥25 cm深施模式能为玉米提供更好的养分供给,是提高...     

Assessment of microbial biocontrol agent (BCA) viability to mechanical and thermal stress by simulating spray application conditions

Background

In order to improve the biological control agent (BCA) efficacy, stress factors threatening the viability of microorganisms during spray application need to be determined. The effect of spray mixture temperature and exposure time on Trichoderma harzianum T 22 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens QST713 viability were tested. Concurrently the combined effect of mechanical and thermal stress effect on BCA viability were tested at two initial spray mixture temperatures (14 and 25 °C) by simulating a spray application using airblast sprayers featured by different tank capacity and a spray liquid circuit (without and with hydraulic agitation system). To assess the BCA microorganism viability, spray mixture samples were collected at time intervals along trials and plated to count the colony forming units (CFU).

Results

The critical temperature threshold that inhibited BCA viability was 35 °C with 30 min of exposure. The sprayer type, the initial temperature of the spray mixture and the temperature increment during the trials significantly decreased the number of CFU recovered. When simulating a spray application, the spray mixture temperature increase rate was determined mainly by the residual amount of spray mixture in the tank. Even if the tank capacity does not substantially affect the final temperature reached by the spray mixture, the higher residual spray mixture in bigger tanks can expose the BCAs for a longer time to critical temperatures.

Conclusions

Experimental trials allowed us to identify the effect of factors affecting the viability of tested BCAs, providing information about the actual chance to guarantee the biological efficacy of BCA treatments. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Challenges and opportunities of unmanned aerial vehicles as a new tool for crop pest control

The application of pesticides is not simply delivering chemicals to the target area. It also involves considering the negative aspects and developing strategies to deal with them during the application process, to ensure the maximization of pesticides use efficiency and the maintenance of the ecosystem. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sprayers demonstrate unique advantages compared to traditional ground sprayers, particularly in terms of maneuverability and labor intensity reduction, showed great potential for chemical application in pest control. It is undeniable that there exist challenges in the practice of UAV spraying, such as higher potential risks of pesticide drift or pathogen transmission, uncertainty canopy deposition for different crops, and unexpected leaf breakage induced by downwash flow. Maximizing the utilization of downwash flow while avoiding lateral air movement outside the intended target crop area is a major issue for chemical application with UAV sprayers, particularly in light of the increasingly apparent consensus on the need for enhanced environmental protection during the chemical application process. It must be considered that the operation strategy in different scenarios and for different crop targets is not the same, unique requirements should be given on nozzle atomization, flight parameters, adjuvants and aircraft types in specific working situations. In future, the implementation of spray drift prediction, technical procedures development, and other solutions aimed at reducing pesticide drift and improving deposition quality, is expected to promote the adoption of UAV sprayers by more farmers. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.     

FLUENT软件及其在植保机械方面的应用

FLUENT软件是流体力学中通用性较强的商业软件之一，由于FLUENT软件的应用，节省了大量的人力和物力。对实际应用有重大的指导作用。为此，通过简述FLUENT在植保机械方面的应用实例，提出了FLUENT在植保机械方面的发展前景。     

三氯蔗糖在食品加工中的应用及测定方法的研究概况

介绍了三氯蔗糖的特性。阐述了三氯蔗糖在食品加工中的应用及测定方法的研究概况。     

施肥对不同品种麦田CO2通量的影响

为探讨施肥对小麦田间CO2释放量的影响,本研究设计以4个不同施肥水平为主处理,以3个不同年代的主栽品种碧玛1号、烟农15号、山农11号为研究对象,采用封闭式静态暗箱技术,应用LI-6400型便携式光合仪(美国)在作物生长期测定土壤CO2释放量和光合速率。同时测定了环境影响因素土壤温度和水分等。研究结果表明,施肥有利于增加土壤CO2释放量,且中氮处理水平释放量最多;土壤温度和水分对土壤CO2释放量有一定的影响,土温越高,水分越大,CO2释放越多;麦田CO2交换量与小麦根系活性呈正相关。     

红酵母的性质及其应用研究

红酵母是酵母菌的一个属,腐生,分布广泛,在医学、食品、化工和农业等方面都有一定的应用,但目前并没有引起人们足够的重视。综述了红酵母的种属特性、理化特性、培养及其应用。     

HACCP体系在种植业应用的理论初探

重点介绍了HACCP体系的含义、起源、发展和原理,探讨了该体系在农产品生产等农业种植业领域中应用的可行性,对我国无公害农产品的生产、绿色食品的认证和发展农村经济、保障人们的身体健康具有重要的现实的意义。