Soil quality assessments in integrated crop–livestock–forest systems: A review

Integrated crop–livestock–forest is a promising strategy to improve soil quality. It comprises four different integrated farming systems: crop–livestock, crop–forest, forest–livestock and crop–livestock–forest. This work systematically reviewed studies about integrated crop–livestock–forest systems and soil quality. A total of 92 papers were retrieved from the Web of Science—Clarivate Analytics platform, and the following information was analysed: publication year, institution, region of the studied site, type of integrated system, soil type, tillage system, maximum soil depth and the soil quality indicators assessed. Most studies were published in the second half of the 2010s. Brazil is a prominent focus of research about soil quality and integrated crop–livestock–forest systems, with significant contribution from its central and southern regions. The Embrapa was the main publishing institution, present in over one‐third of the studies. Crop–livestock was the most common integrated system, Ferralsols was the most common soil group, and most of the studied soils were clayey. No tillage was the main tillage system. Most studies focused on the topsoil, assessing physical and/or chemical soil quality indicators. More emphasis on biological indicators of soil quality is required, as well as assessments integrating biological, physical and chemical indicators of soil quality. Future works should compare different integrated systems, including assessments deeper in the soil profile, especially in systems with the forest component, and also in sandy and silty soils. Soil quality indicators that have been rarely used should be further tested. Novel indicators should be added to better understand the promotion of soil quality by integrated crop–livestock–forest systems.     

Foot-and-mouth disease virus typing by complement fixation and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using monovalent and polyvalent antisera.

An indirect "sandwich" enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using polyvalent and monovalent antisera was compared with the 50% complement fixation (CF50) test for the detection of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) O, A, and C virus types. ELISA was more sensitive than CF50 tests when polyvalent antisera were used for detecting the 3 types of virus in epithelial samples, whereas ELISA using monovalent antisera was the least sensitive technique. The ELISA performed with polyvalent antisera was 9 times more sensitive for detecting FMD virus than that with monovalent antisera. However, viral isolation in cell culture was the most sensitive detection system. The combined use of ELISA with polyvalent antisera and cell culture inoculations was the most effective procedure for identifying FMD virus in epithelial samples from the field.     

Detection of the Defoliating Pathotype of Verticillium dahliae in Infected Olive Plants by Nested PCR

Spread of Verticillium wilt into newly established olive orchards in Andalucía, southern Spain, has caused concern in the olive industry in the region. This spread may result from use of Verticillium dahliae-infected planting material, which can extend distribution of the highly virulent, defoliating (D) pathotype of V. dahliae to new areas. In this study, a molecular diagnostic method for the early in planta detection of D V. dahliae was developed, aimed especially at nursery-produced olive plants. For this purpose, new primers for nested PCR were designed by sequencing a 992-bp RAPD marker of the D pathotype. The use of the specific primers and different nested-PCR protocols allowed the detection of V. dahliae pathotype D DNA in infected root and stem tissues of young olive plants. Detection of the pathogen was effective from the very earliest moments following inoculation of olive plants with a V. dahliae pathotype D conidia suspension as well as in inoculated, though symptomless, plants.     

Effect of cyclodextrin diallyl maleate on methane production, ruminal fermentation and microbes in vitro and in vivo

Effects of β‐cyclodextrin diallyl maleate (CD‐M) on methane production, ruminal fermentation and digestibility were studied both in vitro and in vivo. In in vitro study, diluted ruminal fluid (30 mL) was incubated anaerobically at 38°C for 6 and 24 h with or without CD‐M using hay plus concentrate (1.5:1) as a substrate. The CD‐M was added at different concentrations (0, 1.25, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 g/L). The pH of the medium and numbers of protozoa were not affected by the addition of CD‐M. Total volatile fatty acids were increased and ammonia‐N was decreased, molar proportion of acetate was decreased and propionate was increased (P < 0.05) by CD‐M. Methane was inhibited (P < 0.05) by 14–76%. The effect of CD‐M on methane production and ruminal fermentation was further investigated in vivo using four Holstein steers in a cross‐over design. The steers were fed Sudangrass hay and concentrate mixture (1.5:1) with or without CD‐M (2% of feed dry matter) as a supplement. Ruminal proportion of acetate tended to decrease and that of propionate was increased (P < 0.05) 2 h after CD‐M dosing. Total viable counts, cellulolytic, sulfate reducing, acetogenic bacteria and protozoa were unaffected while methanogenic bacteria were decreased (P < 0.05) by CD‐M. The plasma concentration of glucose was increased, whereas that of urea‐N was decreased (P < 0.05). Methane was inhibited (P < 0.05) from 36.4 to 30.1 L/kg dry matter intake by the addition of CD‐M. Apparent digestibilities of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber were not affected while that of crude protein was increased (P < 0.05) in the medicated steers. These data suggested that dietary supplementation of CD‐M decreased methane production and improved nutrient use.     

Effects of cyclodextrin-iodopropane complex on methane production, ruminal fermentation and microbes, digestibility and blood metabolites in steers

The effects when adding cyclodextrin‐iodopropane complex (CD‐IP) to a diet, on ruminal fermentation and microbes, digestibility, blood metabolites and methane production, were evaluated using four Holstein steers in a cross‐over design. The steers were fed Sudangrass hay plus concentrate mixture at a ratio 1.5:1, and CD‐IP (1% of dry matter) was given twice daily by mixing with concentrate mixture. Rumen and blood samples were collected at 0, 2, and 5 h after morning dosing. Ruminal pH and numbers of protozoa were unaffected by CD‐IP treatment. Ruminal molar proportion of acetate was decreased (P < 0.05), and propionate was increased (P < 0.01) at 2 h after CD‐IP dosing. Proportion of butyrate was increased (P < 0.05) and ammonia‐N was decreased (P < 0.05) at 2 and 5 h after CD‐IP dosing. Adding CD‐IP had no effect on the feed intake and digestion of nutrients. Plasma glucose was increased and urea‐N was decreased (P < 0.05) at 2 and 5 h after CD‐IP dosing. Methane production was decreased (P < 0.05) by approximately 18% in the treatment steers. Numbers of methanogenic bacteria were decreased (P < 0.05), while total viable counts, cellulolytic, sulfate reducing and acetogenic bacteria were unaffected. The present results are the first to show that CD‐IP can partially inhibit in vivo ruminal methanogenesis without adverse effects on digestion of nutrients.     

Adherence of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 to swine buccal epithelial cells involves fibronectin

The swine pathogen Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 was investigated for its ability to adhere to swine, rat, and human buccal epithelial cells (BEC). The highest number of bacteria adhered was to swine BEC. This binding ability was affected by heating, extreme pH, treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate, ethylenediamine tetraacetate, or periodate, and proteolysis, suggesting that cell-surface glycoproteins participate in adherence and that adherence is based mostly on ionic interactions. Mannose and swine fibronectin may play a direct role in this interaction. Convalescent-phase serum from naturally infected pigs inhibited the adhesion. There was a correlation between bacterial pathogenicity as well as host specificity and the capacity for adherence to swine BEC. Adhesion to swine BEC provides a convenient method to study in vitro the adherence of A. pleuropneumoniae and other pathogens of the pig respiratory tract.     

Morphofunctional description of mucous cells in the gills of the Arapaimidae Arapaima gigas (Cuvier) during its development

The gill structure of the Amazonian fish Arapaima gigas (Cuvier 1829) shows ontogenetic changes during development, particularly due the transition from the aquatic to the obligatory air breathing mode of respiration. However, three main cell types can be found in the gills: mitochondrial rich cells, pavement cells and mucous cells (MCs). The MCs are involved in the secretory pathway. The functions of the secreted molecules include mechanical protection of epithelia, protection against parasites and bacterial infection, and role on ion regulation. In this study, we analysed mucous cell location and mucous cell type, based on pH, during the development of A. gigas. Using samples obtained from the environment, gills were collected and fixed in buffered solution. Histological techniques for the identification of MCs were performed Alcian Blue (AB) and periodic acid‐Schiff (PAS). The results showed the presence of PAS+ and AB+ cells in the whole filament in all examined fish. In animals less than 50 g, few MCs were present, and no differences were observed in AB+ and PAS+ cells. In animals weighing close to 500 g, more PAS+ cells than AB+ cells were observed, and in animals that weighed more than 1,000 g, more AB+ cells than PAS+ cells were observed. These observations may be a result of the ontogenetic changes in the gill epithelia, which can change the osmorespiratory compromise in ion regulation functions as well the glycosaminoglycans secreted by PAS cells, which in large animals can play a role in the protection against parasites and bacterial infection.