Scientific Journals of INIA (Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria)
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Short Communication. Factors influencing in vitro seeds germination and correlation of antioxidant activity with tissue development in Cedrus deodara
Get PDFAim of study: The main objective of this study is to introduce a reliable system for in vitro seed germination. Because Cedrus deodara stands are gradually decreasing in different regions of the world due to overexploitation, natural disasters and lower seed viability.Area of study: Swat is situated at the northwestern corner of Pakistan; with total area of 5337 square km. Total cultivated land is 95281 hectares in 2007, while the area under forest cover is 135427 hectares.Material and Methods: We used MS-medium with or without PGRs for overall in vitro seed germination. To enhance germination frequency, we applied different photoperiods (16hrs-Dark/8hrs-Light and 16hrs-Light/8hrs-Dark) and sterilization reagents (mercuric chloride and ethanol). Synthetic free radical of DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) was applied for the determination of antioxidant activityMain results: Maximum shoots length (3.6 cm) and root length (2.6 cm) were recorded on MS-medium augmented with BA (1.0 mg L-1) and (GA3) 0.5 mg L-1) under light incubation (16hrs-Light/8hrs-Dark) after 2-3 weeks of inoculation. Without PGRs, maximum root length (4.0 cm, with shoots of 3.2 cm) was observed in dark incubation (16hrs-Dark/8hrs-Light), whereas light incubation produced maximum shoot length (3.5 cm) and minimum root length (1.5 cm). Lower concentration of HgCl2 (0.1%) showed a lower inhibitory effect on shoot and root length (2.4 cm and 2.5 cm) as compared to higher concentrations. The antioxidant potential was also investigated in different Cedrus organs and tissues.Research highlights: These results suggested that this simple protocol is useful for Cedrus deodara conservation and plantlets production for commercial purposes.Key Words: Cedrus deodara; Seed germination; Callus; 6-Benzyladenine; Antioxidant
Comunicación corta. Comportamiento animal de dos genotipos de vacas (Holstein-Friesian vs. Jersey x Holstein-Friesian) en dos sistemas de producción de leche (Pastoreo vs. Establo)
No full textThe aim of this work was to study the behavioural activities of two cow genotypes, Holstein-Friesian (HF) vs. Jersey × Holstein-Friesian (Jx), when managed within two production systems, a low inputs grazing (G) system vs. a high inputs confinement (C) system. Eighty spring calving cows (HF, n=40 and Jx, n=40), from AFBI Hillsborough (Northern Ireland) experimental dairy cattle, were randomly assigned to one of two production systems (G, n=40 and C, n=40) in a block design with a 2×2 factorial arrangement of four treatments (HF-G, HF-C, Jx-G and Jx-C). Cow behavioural activities (feeding, lying, standing and ruminating) were registered on three periods at 20-min intervals, between 16.00-22.00 h and 07.00-14.00 h. Average milk yields (kg cow-1 day-1) were higher (p<0.001) in the C system (27.0) than in the G system (20.1), with differences (p<0.001) between the two cow genotypes (HF, 25.1 vs. Jx, 22.0 kg cow-1 day-1). Milk production system showed an effect on cow behavioural activities. Animals on the G system spent more time (p<0.001) grazing (522 min) than those on the C system spent feeding (173 min). Cows on the C system spent more time (p<0.001) lying (C, 411 vs. G, 212 min), standing (C, 236 vs. G, 85 min) and ruminating (C, 244 vs. G, 141 min) than those on the G system. There were differences between periods for time spent lying (p<0.001), feeding (p<0.05) and ruminating (p<0.001), while time spent standing did not differ between periods. Cow genotype had no effect on any of the behavioural activities.El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar las actividades de comportamiento de dos razas de vacas, Holstein-Friesian (HF) vs. Jersey x Holstein-Friesian (Jx), cuando son manejadas en dos sistemas de producción de leche, con bajos insumos en pastoreo (G) vs. altos insumos en establo (C). Ochenta vacas de partos de primavera (HF, n=40 y Jx, n=40), procedentes de la cabaña experimental de AFBI Hillsborough (Irlanda del Norte), fueron asignadas al azar a uno de dos sistemas de producción de leche (G, n=40 y C, n=40) utilizando un diseño factorial 2x2 en bloques con cuatro tratamientos (HF-G, HF-C, Jx-G y Jx-C). Se registraron las actividades de comportamiento de las vacas (comer, tumbarse, estar de pie y rumiar) en tres períodos de tiempo a intervalos de 20 min., entre 16.00-22.00 h y 07.00-14.00 h. Las producciones medias de leche (kg vaca-1 día-1) fueron superiores (p<0,001) en los rebaños estabulados (27,0) que en pastoreo (20,1), con diferencias (p<0,001) entre las dos razas (HF, 25,1 vs. Jx, 22,0 kg vaca-1 día-1). El sistema de producción de leche ejerció un efecto sobre el comportamiento de las vacas. Los animales en pastoreo pasaron más tiempo (p<0,001) pastando (522 min.) que los animales estabulados dedicaron a comer (173 min.). Las vacas en establo estuvieron más tiempo (p<0,001) tumbadas (C, 411 vs. G, 212 min.), de pie (C, 236 vs. G, 85 min.) y rumiando (C, 244 vs. G, 141 min.) que las vacas en pastoreo. Se observaron diferencias entre períodos en el tiempo que los animales pasaron tumbados (p<0,001), comiendo (p<0,05) y rumiando (p<0,001), mientras que en el tiempo que estuvieron de pie no hubo diferencias. La raza no mostró efecto alguno sobre ninguna de las actividades de comportamiento
Soil management in rainfed olive orchards may result in conflicting effects on olive production and soil fertility
Get PDFThe adoption of a sustainable soil management system is essential for the steep slopes and low fertility soils still supporting rainfed olive orchards in the Mediterranean basin. The effect of the soil management on olive yield, tree nutritional status and soil fertility was studied in a rainfed olive orchard located in NE Portugal that had been managed since its earliest days as a sheep-walk. In 2001, three different soil management systems were established: Sheep-walk, in which the vegetation was managed with a flock of sheep; Tillage, where the vegetation was controlled by conventional tillage; and Glyphosate, where a glyphosate-based herbicide was applied. The soil management systems had a pronounced effect on olive yield. The accumulated olive yields between 2002 and 2011 were 187.2, 142.9 and 89.5 kg tree-1, respectively in the Glyphosate, Tillage and Sheep-walk treatments. However, the effect of soil management on tree nutritional status was not so clear. On the other hand, the pools of organic carbon and N in the soil, and also the soil available N and phosphorus (P), were found to be less in the Glyphosate and Tillage treatments in comparison with the Sheep-walk. In these soils, N appeared as a much more limiting factor for crop growth than P. In rainfed orchards, the tolerance to herbaceous vegetation appears to be a determining factor in sustainability, which regulates annual crop yields and soil fertility. The higher the tolerance to herbaceous species, the lower the olive yields, but the better are the soil fertility parameters
Effect of dietary protein level on retention of nutrients, growth performance, litter composition and NH3 emission using a multi-phase feeding programme in broilers
Get PDFThree experiments were conducted to study the effect of dietary protein level on the retention of nutrients, growth performance, litter composition and NH3 emission in broiler chickens kept under laboratory conditions (housed in cages, Exp.1) or in commercial conditions (in pens, Exp.2; or whole houses of a farm, Exp.3). All the trials were performed according to a factorial experimental design, involving a 4-stage feeding programme and two levels of dietary crude protein (CP) for each period: control vs. low crude protein (CP reduced by 1.5%). In Exp.1, the coefficients of total tract apparent retention of dry matter and CP were higher in the birds fed the low CP diet (p<0.05). On average, reducing the CP of the diet led to a 4.8% reduction in the nitrogen excreted per CP intake. In Exp.2, the feed conversion ratio was higher in birds fed the low CP diet from 22 to 35d (p<0.05), from 35 to 42d (p<0.01), and over the whole experimental period (p<0.01). In Exp.3, low CP diets decreased the nitrogen content of the litter in the finisher period (p<0.05). The average NH3 concentration and emission from 33 to 42d were lower in the low CP house (p<0.01), with a 16% decrease in the cumulative NH3 emission. Therefore, the reduction in dietary CP content by 1.5% reduced the potential environmental impact, although it had a negative effect on the feed efficiency of broilers
A hybrid genetic algorithm for route optimization in the bale collecting problem
Get PDFThe bale collecting problem (BCP) appears after harvest operations in grain and other crops. Its solution defines the sequence of collecting bales which lie scattered over the field. Current technology on navigation-aid systems or auto-steering for agricultural vehicles and machines, is able to provide accurate data to make a reliable bale collecting planning. This paper presents a hybrid genetic algorithm (HGA) approach to address the BCP pursuing resource optimization such as minimizing non-productive time, fuel consumption, or distance travelled. The algorithmic route generation provides the basis for a navigation tool dedicated to loaders and bale wagons. The approach is experimentally tested on a set of instances similar to those found in real situations. In particular, comparative results show an average improving of a 16% from those obtained by previous heuristics
Sort communication. Genotype × environment interaction analysis in two chickpea RIL populations
Get PDFIn order to introduce new chickpea germplasm in Argentina, two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations F6:7 of twenty lines, each one derived from crosses between kabuli and desi types, were evaluated for yield components in different sites and years. Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analysis was applied to study the performance of different genotypes in different environments. Genotype (G), environment (E) and GE interaction effects were highly significant in both populations for seeds/plant, yield/plant and seed size (100-seed weight). Large differences were observed between the two populations for seeds/plant and seed size. We recommend that some genotypes from these two populations with good performance in a range of environments could be used to introduce new germplasm to the Argentine chickpea breeding programme. The significant GE interactions seem to be related to differences between two geographical areas (Salta and Córdoba/San Luis), at different latitudes and altitudes. These results suggest that these regions should be considered as different macro-environments from the point of view of the chickpea breeding programme
Effect of different fertilization strategies on nitrogen balance in an outdoor potted crop of Osteospermum ecklonis (DC.) Norl. ‘Purple Red’ under Mediterranean climate conditions
Get PDFFertilization management and meteorological conditions can affect leachate composition and the balance of nitrogen (N) added during the cultivation of ornamentals. The main objectives of this study were to estimate the N balance components and to establish relationships between the N concentration in leachates and meteorological variables when different fertilization strategies are used in an outdoor potted crop of Osteospermum ecklonis (DC.) Norl. ‘Purple Red’. Two fertilizations strategies, i.e. continuous fertigation (NS) and incorporated controlled-release fertilizer (CRF), were applied to the crop. The treatments were two NS doses (NO3-N concentration in each NS, NS-A: 154 mg L-1 and NS-B: 112 mg L-1) and two CRF doses (CRF-C: 5.0 g L-1 of substrate and CRF-D: 2.5 g L-1 of substrate). The N loss by leaching was higher in the NS-A treatment than in the other ones (1.1 g pot-1, 11% of total available N). The amount of N accumulated by the plants was higher in the NS treatments than in the CRF treatments (average 2.5 g pot-1, 29.5% of total available N). However the efficiency of use of N was the greatest in the CRF-D treatment (23.9 g dry matter produced g-1 N supplied). About 50% of the total available N was measured in the substrate in all treatments (average 3.8 g pot-1). The concentration of N in the leachates for the two CRF treatments did not correlate with the substrate temperature or precipitation. The N released from the CRF matched the nutritional requirements of the plants better than the N applied by continuous fertigation
Beef identification in industrial slaughterhouses using machine vision techniques
Get PDFAccurate individual animal identification provides the producers with useful information to take management decisions about an individual animal or about the complete herd. This identification task is also important to ensure the integrity of the food chain. Consequently, many consumers are turning their attention to issues of quality in animal food production methods. This work describes an implemented solution for individual beef identification, taking in the time from cattle shipment arrival at the slaughterhouse until the animals are slaughtered and cut up. Our beef identification approach is image-based and the pursued goals are the correct automatic extraction and matching between some numeric information extracted from the beef ear-tag and the corresponding one from the Bovine Identification Document (BID). The achieved correct identification results by our method are near 90%, by considering the practical working conditions of slaughterhouses (i.e. problems with dirt and bad illumination conditions). Moreover, the presence of multiple machinery in industrial slaughterhouses make it difficult the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) beef tags due to the high risks of interferences between RFID and the other technologies in the workplace. The solution presented is hardware/software since it includes a specialized hardware system that was also developed. Our approach considers the current EU legislation for beef traceability and it reduces the economic cost of individual beef identification with respect to RFID transponders. The system implemented has been in use satisfactorily for more than three years in one of the largest industrial slaughterhouses in Spain
Short communication. Irrigation temperature effects on seedling growth and transplant quality of tomato, pepper and eggplant
Get PDFDuring production of plug transplants, high plant density and small cell size increases seedling height. The resulting tall, weak-stemmed, plants are difficult to transplant and can be easily damaged. One technique that can prevent excessive seedling elongation is irrigation with cold water. Seedlings of tomato, pepper and eggplant were planted in cell plug trays in greenhouses and irrigated daily, in the morning, with water at different temperatures. The temperaturas tested were 3°C, 9°C and tap water (15.5-16.5°C). Irrigation with cold water reduced seedling stem height by 48-58% in tomato, 24-42% in pepper and 17-36% in eggplant. Cold water irrigation significantly affected stem diameter, number of leaves, shoot and root dry weights and leaf chlorophyll content. These results show that irrigation with cold water can effectively control plant height in plug-grown seedlings
Design, construction and testing of an apricot tractor-trailed harvester
Get PDFThe purpose of this research is to facilitate the mechanical harvesting of apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.) for industry. A tractor-trailed harvester was built to catch the fruits detached from apricot (cv. Búlida) trees by vibratory systems. This machine is a low profile catcher that can move under the trees in high-density canopies where umbrella-type harvesters cannot. The trailer is able to work under trees with as little free-trunk height as 0.35 m. The tests were donein 5- to 9-year-old apricot trees, planted in two frame, 2.5 m and 4.5 m in-the-row distances, with 6.5 m between rows in both cases. To detach the fruit, two hand-held pneumatic shakers were used. Harvest rate was 61 and 44 trees h-1 for each type of orchard, respectively. The main conclusion is that the trailer, together with branch-shakers, can work innarrow orchards of low canopy trees where other machines can not go in