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Does a high or moderate nutritional supplementation affect the puberty and productive performance of Nellore heifers?
Get PDFThe effects of higher supplementation levels for young Nellore heifers fed tropical forages including their influence on puberty, need to be understood. This study investigated the influence of high and moderate supplementation levels on puberty onset and the productive performance of Nellore heifers. Thirty-six Nellore heifers (225 + 3.52 kg) were used in a completely randomized design, with three treatments: (I) no concentrate (control); (II) concentrate supplement at 4 g/kg body weight (BW); (III) concentrate supplement at 8 g/kg BW. Increased supplement level led to a linear increase in average daily gain (P < 0.05). The high supplementation level (8 g/kg BW) had the highest proportion of corpus luteum presence (82% of heifers), compared to the 4 g/kg BW treatment group (67%) and the control group (33%; P < 0.05). Our findings indicate that providing a high level of energy supplementation to Nellore heifers for approximately 100 d improves performance and increases the proportion of heifers that reach pubert
Bio prospecting of Riboflavin producing bacteria from different riboflavin enriched food sources
Get PDFRiboflavin is an essential, water-soluble vitamin (B2) and a component of basic cellular metabolism. The aim of the present study is to isolate and characterize riboflavin producing bacteria from different food sources. Ten different riboflavin enriched food sources were collected from Vellore district. Totally 72 bacterial strains were isolated and cultured on nutrient agar plates. Out of these, 43 strains were identified as riboflavin producers. Isolated bacterial strains HDS27, HDS07, HDS14, HDS18, HDS38 and HDS54 isolated from milk, mushroom, spinach, lamb kidney, beef liver and mackerel fish were found to be potent riboflavin producers. Based on morphological, biochemical and molecular characterization, the potent strains were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum (HDS27), Bacillus cereus (HDS07), Delftia tsuruhatensis (HDS14), Citrobacter freundii (HDS18), Enterobacter cloacae (HDS38) and Bacillus cereus (HDS54). The selected potent isolates HDS27 from milk and HDS07 from mushroom showed a maximum riboflavin production of 3.69 mg/L and 2.9mg/L respectively. The present study explores the riboflavin producing novel bacteria from different food sources. This is the first report that the Enterobacter cloacae isolated from beef liver, Delftia tsuruhatensis from spinach and Citrobacter freundii from lamb kidney has the ability to produce riboflavin. These potent strains could be a better starter for substituting the conventional bacteria for large scale production of riboflavin in industry
How does the initial sward height and the grazing period influence the spatial variability of vegetation in deferred signal grass pastures?
Get PDFThe objective of this study was to evaluate the spatial variability of structural characteristics of deferred pastures of Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk (signal grass) subjected to associations of sward heights (10, 20, 30, and 40 cm) at the beginning of deferment and grazing periods (1, 28, 56, 85, and 113 days). The experiment was arranged in a split-plot and completely randomized-block design with two replicates. Pastures remained deferred from March to June 2010. From June to the beginning of October 2010, deferred pastures were utilized by steers under continuous grazing and at a fixed initial stocking rate of 3.5 AU ha-1. At the beginning of the deferment, the coefficient of variation (CV) for pasture height was reduced linearly with the pasture height. During the grazing period, in the winter, the CV for pasture height was not influenced by initial pasture height; however, it responded quadratically to the grazing period, with a maximum value of 36.4% at 71 days of the period of utilization. The CV for tiller height was reduced linearly with pasture height at the beginning of deferment but increased linearly along with the grazing period. The initial pasture height did not change the CV of the falling index. However, the latter was quadratically influenced by the grazing period, with a maximum value of 59.5% at 67 days of the utilization period. Signal grass pastures deferred at a lower height have a higher spatial variability of the vegetation. In the grazing period, there are changes in the spatial variability of the vegetation of the deferred signal grass.O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a variabilidade espacial de pastos diferidos de Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk, submetidos à associações de alturas de pasto (10, 20, 30 e 40 cm) no início do diferimento e períodos de pastejo (1, 28, 56, 85 e 113 dias). O experimento foi realizado em esquema de parcelas subdivididas e em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com duas repetições. Os pastos foram diferidos de março a junho de 2010. De junho a outubro de 2010, os pastos diferidos foram utilizados por novilhos, sob lotação contínua e taxa de lotação inicial fixa de 3,5 UA ha-1. No início do diferimento, o coeficiente de variação (CV) da altura do pasto reduziu linearmente, juntamente com a altura do pasto. Durante o período de pastejo, o CV para altura do pasto respondeu quadraticamente ao período de pastejo, com valor máximo de 36,4%, aos 71 dias desse período. O CV para altura de planta esticada reduziu linearmente com altura de pasto, mas aumentou linearmente ao longo do período de pastejo. O CV do índice decrescente foi quadraticamente influenciado pelo período de pastejo, com valor máximo de 59,5%, aos 67 dias deste período. Os pastos de capim-braquiária diferidos mais baixos têm maior variabilidade espacial da vegetação. No período de pastejo, há mudanças na variabilidade espacial da vegetação do capim-braquiária diferido
How does the condition of the pasture in late winter influence the plant and animal responses in the subsequent seasons?
Get PDFThis study aimed to test the hypotheses: (i) the deferred pasture with lower height in late winter has greater herbage accumulation rate (HAR) and better structure, which facilitates the animal selective grazing during the subsequent spring and summer; (ii) the mowed of high pasture in late winter improves the sward structure but decreases its HAR from the spring. Four pasture condition in late winter of Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu were evaluated: low (24.1 cm and 2,420 kg.ha-1 of DM); low/mowed (25.2 cm and 2,198 kg.ha-1 of DM, mowed at 8.0 cm); high (49.0 cm and 3,837 kg.ha-1 of DM); and high/mowed (50.0 cm and 4,211 kg.ha-1 DM, mowed at 8.0 cm). The highest live leaf blade percentage (LLBP) and the lowest dead stem percentage (DSP) occurred in the mowed pastures. The live stem (LSP) and dead leaf blade percentages of the grazing simulation sample were higher in the high pasture. This same pattern of response occurred for apparent selectivity indices (ASI) of the live leaf blade and live stem. The ASI of the dead leaf blade was greater in the high pasture, intermediate in the mowed pastures, and lower in the low pasture. The ASI of the dead stem was lower in the low pasture. The HAR was higher in low pasture. Our results support the first hypothesis. The mowing of high pasture in late winter improves the sward structure and the animal selective grazing but does not decrease the HAR during spring and summer.Nosso objetivo foi testar as seguintes hipóteses: (i) as pastagens diferidas com menor altura no final do inverno apresentam maior acúmulo de forragem e melhor estrutura, o que facilita o pastejo seletivo dos animais durante a primavera e o verão subsequentes, em comparação com as pastagens mais altas; (ii) o corte de pastagens altas no final do inverno melhora a estrutura do pasto, mas diminui sua taxa de acumulo (ACU) a partir da primavera. Quatro CPDFI de Brachiaria brizantha syn. Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu (capim-marandu) foi avaliado: baixo (24,1 cm e 2.420 kg ha-1 de MS); baixo/aparado (25,2 cm e 2,198 kg ha-1 de MS, mas aparado até 8,0 cm); alto (49,0 cm e 3.837 kg ha-1 de MS); e alta/cortada (50,0 cm e 4.211 kg ha-1 MS, mas cortada até 8,0 cm). A maior porcentagem de lâmina viva (PLV) e a menor porcentagem de caule morto (PCM) ocorreram nas pastagens cortadas. As porcentagens de caule vivo (PCV) e lâmina morta da amostra de simulação de pastejo foram maiores no pasto alto, em comparação com as demais. Esse mesmo padrão de resposta ocorreu para os índices de seletividade aparentes (ASI) da lâmina foliar viva e do caule vivo. A ASI da lâmina foliar morta foi maior no pasto alto, intermediária no pasto cortada e menor no pasto baixo. O ASI do caule morto foi menor no pasto baixo, quando comparado aos demais. O ACU foi maior em pastagens baixas do que em outros pastos. Nossos resultados suportam a primeira hipótese. A segunda hipótese foi parcialmente apoiada, pois o corte de pastos altos no final do inverno melhora a sua estrutura e a seletividade dos animais em pastejo, mas não diminui o ACU durante a primavera e o verão
Ecophysiology and water use efficiency of soybean cultivars under field conditions
Get PDFA wide range of soybean cultivars is available on the market and understanding the physiological response and yield of these materials is fundamental to develop new management systems. Thus, the objective of the present study was to assess ecophysiological parameters and yield of soybean cultivars under field conditions. The experiment was carried out on a farm located in the municipality of Açailândia, Maranhão, Brazil. Three commercial cultivars were used (SC1, SC2 and SC3), and gas exchanges, SPAD index, Fv/Fm, photosynthesis index (PI), instantaneous water use efficiency (WUE) and intrinsic instantaneous of the use of water (iWUE) were assessed during the vegetative (V5) and reproductive (R5) stages. In addition, the biomass and production components were obtained. A randomized complete block design was used, with three cultivars and six replications. SC2 obtained the best mean for the photochemical variables. SC2 was more efficient at both development stages in WUE, but the maximum iWUE values were obtained in SC3. The SC2 cultivar obtained the best responses in the main variables analyzed, resulting in a higher yield.Uma diversidade de cultivares de soja estão disponíveis no mercado, entender a resposta fisiológica e a produtividade desses materiais é fundamental para o desenvolvimento de novos sistemas de manejo. Com isso, objetivou-se avaliar os parâmetros ecofisiológicos e a produtividade de cultivares de soja em condições de campo. O experimento foi conduzido em uma fazenda localizada no município de Açailândia, MA. Foram utilizadas três cultivares comerciais (SC1, SC2 e SC3), avaliadas (trocas gasosas, índice SPAD, Fv/Fm, índice fotossintético (PI), eficiência instantânea do uso da água (EUA) e eficiência intrínseca do uso da água (EIUA) durante os estádios vegetativo e reprodutivo. Além disso, foi obtido a biomassa e componentes de produção. O delineamento foi em blocos ao acaso, com três cultivares e seis repetições. A SC2 obteve as maiores médias para as variáveis fotoquímicas. Em ambos os estádios de desenvolvimento a SC2 foi mais eficiente no uso da água, contudo, os valores máximos de EIUA foram verificados na SC3. A cultivar SC2 obteve as melhores respostas nas principais variáveis analisadas, resultando em uma maior produtividade
Effects of Jinkui Shenqi and Wuzi Yanzong pill on sperm motility and sperm DNA fragmentation rate in asthenospermia
Get PDFThis study was designed to compare the effects of Jinkui Shenqi and Wuzi Yanzong pill on sperm motility and sperm DNA fragmentation rate in patients with asthenospermia. 130 cases were randomly divided into an observation and control group (n=65). The control group was treated with the Wuzi Yanzong pill while the observation group with the Jinkui Shenqi pill. The sperm motility parameters rate (PR), semen concentration, sperm motility, DFI and α-glucosidase, fructose, seminal plasma zinc (Zn), acid phosphatase (ACP) in seminal plasma biochemistry and other indexes of were observed. The biochemical indexes of seminal plasma of α-glucosidase, fructose, Zn, ACP in two groups were significantly (p<0.05) improved after treatment. Compared with the control group, the indexes of the observation group improved more obviously after treatment. Pearson correlation analysis of DFI and PR indexes in 130 patients before treatment showed that sperm DFI and PR percentage were negatively correlated in asthenospermia patients (r =-0.572, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in DFI, semen concentration, PR, and sperm motility between the two groups before treatment. The DFI, semen concentration, PR and sperm viability of the two groups showed a tendency to improve after treatment, and the effect of the observation group was less significant than that of the control group (p<0.05). Two groups of patients have completed treatment successfully, no adverse events occurred during treatment. Jinkui Shenqi pill can effectively treat asthenospermia, which can effectively improve the effect of sperm motility in patients. It has less adverse reactions, safe and reliable, and is worthy of promotion
UFSM XIKA FW: sugarcane cultivar for southern Brazil
Get PDFIn Brazil, in view of the different soil and climatic conditions of the sugarcane-producing regions, a strategy of creating small breeding programs for the crop is being used. Since 2008, the sugarcane breeding program of the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), has been developing new, better adapted and higher-yielding sugarcane cultivars for the climate conditions of the southern region of Brazil. Cultivar UFSM XIKA FW was developed at the Laboratories of Agroclimatology and Genetic Breeding and Plant Production of the UFSM, Campus Frederico Westphalen. It is the first mutation-induced sugarcane cultivar that was protected by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply, Brazil. The genotype used for mutation induction was cultivar IAC 87-3396, due to its good performance characteristics in the southern region. The mutation mechanism was induced in 2011, by immersing individual buds in a solution of the chemical mutagenic agent methyl methane sulfonate. The best genotypes were selected and tested in plant cane in 2013 and 2018 and in ratoon cane trials in 2014 and 2015. The new cultivar has a higher sugar production potential, and the mean yield of four years was 8.2 t ha-1 higher than that of the control, indicating a high yield potential.In Brazil, due to the different soil and climatic conditions of the sugarcane producing regions, a strategy of creating small breeding programs for the crop is being used. Since 2008, the sugarcane breeding program of the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Campus Frederico Westphalen, works with the objective of developing new sugarcane cultivars, more adapted and productive to the meteorological conditions of the southern region of Brazil. UFSM XIKA FW is a cultivar developed at the Laboratories of Agroclimatology and Genetic Breeding and Plant Production of the Federal University of Santa Maria, Frederico Westphalen Campus. Was the first cultivar of sugarcane protected in the Ministry of Livestock Agriculture and Supply obtained from induction of mutation. The genotype used for mutation induction was the cultivar IAC 87-3396, due to its good performance characteristics in the southern region. Mutation was induced in 2011, by immersing individual buds in solution of the chemical mutagenic agent Methyl Methane Sulfonate (MMS). The best genotypes were selected and tested in trials in plant cane 2013 and 2018 and in ratoon cane in 2014 and 2015. The new cultivar has higher potential of sugar production and the yield was higher in the mean of the 4 years, exceeding the control in 8,2 t ha-1, demonstrating a high yield potential. For its performing, it is being evaluated in tests of Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU)
In vitro cytotoxic and genotoxic analysis of Garcinia humilis crude extract
Get PDFGarcinia humilis, known commonly as achachairú or bacupari, has great medicinal value. Their fruits have pharmacological, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of G. humilis crude extract in breast tumor cells. Cytotoxicity was determined using the Resazurin reduction assay and genotoxicity by the single cell gel electrophoresis assay (Comet assay) on human MCF-7 cells. Crude extract of G. humilis was cytotoxic only when used at high concentrations (IC50 = 5.084 mg mL-1). The Comet assay showed that the crude extract did not induce genotoxicity at 1 and 5 mg mL-1 but did show signs of DNA fragmentation and DNA fragmentation at 10 mg mL-1. The cytotoxic activity against breast adenocarcinoma cells at high concentrations suggests that this medicinal plant could be used with caution and must be further studied to understand better its therapeutic and toxicological potential in the human body.Garcinia humilis, comumente conhecida como achachairú ou bacupari tem grande valor medicinal. Seus frutos possuem propriedades farmacológicas, antibacterianas, antioxidantes e anticâncer. Portanto, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a citotoxicidade e genotoxicidade do extrato de G. humilis em células tumorais. A citotoxicidade foi determinada usando o ensaio de redução de Resazurina e genotoxicidade pelo ensaio de eletroforese em gel de célula única (ensaio Cometa) em células humanas MCF-7. O extrato de G. humilis bruto foi citotóxico quando usado em altas concentrações (IC50 = 5,084 mg mL-1). O ensaio Cometa mostrou que o extrato bruto não induziu genotoxicidade a 1 e 5 mg mL-1, porém mostrou sinais de fragmentação do DNA e formação de cometa a 10 mg mL-1. A atividade citotóxica contra células de adenocarcinoma de mama em altas concentrações sugere que esta planta medicinal pode ser usada com cautela e deve ser melhor estudada para compreender seu potencial terapêutico e toxicológico no corpo humano
The effects on the root and plant development of soybean of organic fertilizer applications
Get PDFOrganic fertilizers increase soil aeration, water and nutrient holding capacity, improve seed germination and encourage the production of thicker roots, increase the yield and quality of the crop. This study was aimed to determine the effects of organic fertilizer (vermicompost, sheep manure, cattle manure, poultry manure and inorganic fertilizer as control) applications on the root and plant development of soybean during two growth stages, namely third trifoliate stage (V3) and beginning of flowering of the plants (R1) in the pot condition. The experiment was established with a two-factorial randomized plot design with four replications. The fertilizer applications had a significant effect (p<0.01) on the V3 and R1 growth stages of soybean. The highest plant height (36.78 cm) and root length (41.18 cm) were achieved with vermicompost, and the lowest plant height (21.73 cm) was recorded with inorganic fertilizer. The number of nodules was highest for vermicompost and cattle manure applications (17.16 plant-1 and 16.76 plant-1, respectively), and lowest for poultry manure (0.22 plant-1). In the R1 growth stage, poultry manure produced the highest biological fresh and dry weights, root dry weight at 25.08 g plant-1 and 5.67 g plant-1, 3.99 g plant-1 respectively. As a result, it was demonstrated that vermicompost and poultry manure applications promote strong root and plant development due to high organic matter and phosphorus and can be used successfully without inorganic fertilize application in soybean farming
Pasture management and greenhouse gases emissions
Get PDFPastures are important environments worldwide because they offer many ecosystem services and sustain meat and milk production. However, pastures ecosystems are responsible for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. The major GHGs include CO2, CH4, and N2O. The present review summarizes GHG emission from pasture ecosystems and discusses strategies to mitigate this problem. In pastures, emissions originate from animal excretion, fertilization, and organic matter decomposition. Emissions of specific gases can be measured based on certain factors that were recently updated by the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2019. Urine is the main source of N2O emission. Forage structure is an important factor driving GHG transport. Forage fiber content and animal intake are the key drivers of enteric CH4 emission, and the introduction of forage legumes in pasture systems is one of the most promising strategy to mitigate GHG emission