Scientific Journals of INIA (Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria)
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Differential cytokine response of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells in crossbred cattle, Tharparkar cattle and Murrah buffalo - An in vitro study
Get PDFMastitis is a complex disease responsible for huge economic losses to the dairy sector. The causal organisms include a wide variety of micro-organisms including several species of bacteria. Escherichia coli has been identified as one of the most common gram-negative bacteria causing clinical mastitis in cattle. The immune system, of different species and/or breeds, tries to combat these pathogens in an inconsistent manner with differential mode and intensity of immune response, eventually producing contradicting outcomes of this disease. Several reports suggest the existence of variability among different animal breeds/species, resulting in a dissimilar outcome of this disease among them. In order to evaluate the variation among different breeds/species, the present study was undertaken to examine the stimulant effect of E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The PBMCs were harvested from blood samples of crossbred cattle, Tharparkar cattle and Murrah buffaloes. After 6 h of in vitro stimulation, qRT-PCR was employed to measure the relative mRNA expression levels of CCL5, IL-1β, IL-12β, IFN-γ and IL-10 genes in stimulated and unstimulated PBMCs. The selected genes revealed significant differences in the pattern of innate immune response among crossbred cattle, Tharparkar cattle and Murrah buffaloes. The results clearly indicate the presence of variation in the outcome of immune response even when the immunocytes were stimulated with the same dose of the antigen
Phenological asynchrony between the fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus and early maturing peach cultivars could contribute to pesticide use reduction
Get PDFPhenological asynchrony between fruit crops and pests consists of a discrepancy between the period of fruit susceptibility and that of high pest abundance in the orchards. Therefore, it may be used for reducing pesticide applications. We assayed the potential phenological asynchrony between peach cultivars with different growing cycles and the Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae). To this end, we assessed fruit infestation by A. fraterculus at harvest for one growing season (2012-2013) in early, average and late maturing peach cultivars. Moreover, the fruit infestation was checked for non-cultivated native and non-cultivated wild exotic plant hosts around the peach orchards of the experimental area during 2013 and 2014. In addition, we monitored A. fraterculus abundance weekly during three consecutive growing seasons, S1 (2011-2012), S2 (2012-2013) and S3 (2013-2014), to assess phenological asynchrony between peach cultivars and A. fraterculus. In particular, we checked the influence of meteorological variables on A. fraterculus abundance, and tested if A. fraterculus abundance at the time when fruits are susceptible differed among cultivars. Eventually we discuss the possibility of sustainable management of peach in southern Brazil. This study constitutes a first assessment of the periods of crop vulnerability and pest presence in peach orchards in South of Brazil and provides necessary information for taking advantage of the phenological asynchrony phenomenon for this pest-crop association
Genetic diversity of Raspberry leaf blotch emaravirus in red raspberries from Serbia
Get PDFRaspberry leaf blotch emaravirus (RLBV) is a recently characterised virus infecting raspberries reported in several European countries. RLBV causes yellow blotching, the distortion of leaf margins, and the twisting of raspberry leaves. For a long time, similar symptoms were attributed to the feeding damage caused by raspberry leaf and bud mite (Phyllocoptes gracilis). From 2014−2017, a large-scale survey was conducted in Serbia to investigate the degree of association of the observed symptoms with the RLBV infection. A total of 98 symptomatic and asymptomatic samples were collected from 30 locations. All collected samples were tested on the RLBV presence by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using three sets of RNA-specific primers targeting RNA-1, RNA-3, and RNA-5 of the RLBV genome. RT-PCR analysis revealed high incidence of RLBV in tested samples (68.7%). RLBV was confirmed in raspberries ‘Fertödi Zamatos’, ‘Glen Ample’, ‘Meeker’, ‘Polana’, ‘Tulameen’ and ‘Willamette’. Twenty-one isolates were selected for sequencing the portion of the nucleocapsid (NC) gene. The nucleotide sequences of the isolates showed 93.2−100% identity. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed significant genetic variability of the Serbian RLBV isolates based on the nucleocapsid-encoding sequences and revealed the existence of two main clusters. Phylogenetic analysis of the 45 RLBV sequences from Finland, Slovakia, Scotland, and this study also confirmed the existence of two main clusters of isolates
Valine in diets for juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): growth performance, chemical composition, blood parameters and skeletal muscle development
Get PDFValine belongs to the group of branched-chain amino acids, has an important structural role and is primarily deposited as body protein. The present study evaluated the effects of valine in diets of juvenile Nile tilapia. A total of 216 juveniles with weight of 21.40 ± 0.42 g and length of 10.07 ± 1.00 cm were distributed into 18 aquarium in a completely randomized design with six treatments and three replicates. Six diets containing 24.30% digestible protein, 3,100 kcal/kg digestible energy, and increasing valine levels (0.54; 0.63; 0.72; 0.81; 0.90; 0.99%) were prepared. The following factors were evaluated: performance, chemical composition, blood hematological and biochemical, and skeletal muscle development. Differences were observed in productive performance between treatments for weight gain, daily weight gain and apparent feed conversion, where inclusion levels from 0.81% to 0.99% provide better performances. According to the equation of quadratic regression, the inclusion of 0.86% of valine provided greater weight gain. Regarding the hematological and biochemical parameters, there were differences among the treatments for hemoglobin, triglycerides, and cholesterol. Not difference was observed for the chemical composition and muscle fiber growth. It is recommended the inclusion of 0.86% of valine in the diet of juveniles of Nile tilapia because it provides greater weight gain
Effect of compost and natural rocks as partial substitutes for NPK mineral fertilizers on yield and fruit quality of ‘Flame’ seedless grapevine grown in two different locations of Egypt
Get PDFAim of study: To evaluate the use of compost and natural rocks as partial replacement of mineral fertilizers in ‘Flame’ seedless grape vineyards.Area of study: The present work was conducted during three successive seasons (2016, 2017 and 2018), being the first season a preliminary trial on 4-yr old grapes cultivated in two different soil types (sandy and clay) at two different locations, Egypt (Abo Galeb, Giza governorate; EL-Mahala, Gharbia governorate).Material and methods: Treatments were applied as natural raw materials at 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% out of recommended mineral NPK rate. The mineral fertilizers used were ammonium sulfate (21.6% N), calcium super phosphate (15.5% P2O5) and potassium sulfate (48% K2O). The natural rocks used were phosphate rock (22.0% P2O5) and Feldspar (10.12% K2O). Yield and fruit characteristics and leaf mineral content were determined.Main results: Using compost in combination with natural rocks enriched with NPK mobilization bacteria and mineral NPK enhanced leaf nutrients content and gave the highest yield and cluster weight. This mix also improved berries physical and chemical characteristics. There was an increase in soluble solids content (SSC), SSC/acid ratio, and anthocyanin content, associated with a reduction in nitrate content of the berry juice. The most pronounced effect was related to using 60% mineral fertilization + 40% organic and natural rocks in both vineyard locations.Research highlights: We can reduce the recommended doses of mineral NPK by about 40%, reducing then the soil pollution
Development of a riding-type fully automatic transplanter for vegetable plug seedlings
Get PDF Aim of study: The aim of this study was to develop a riding-type fully automatic vegetable seedling transplanter enabling continuous transplanting work on 2 rows simultaneously with plug seedlings fed automatically.Material and methods: In design, the transplanter consists of a 4-wheel drive system, a seedling pick-up mechanism, a seedling feeding mechanism, a rotation discharging mechanism, a 2-row planting mechanisms, and a multi-source control unit. The 4-wheel drive system is a riding type well adapting to slops. The seedling pick-up mechanism could extract several seedlings at a time from the tray cells conveyed by the feeding mechanism, and then transfer them to the rotation discharging mechanism where they would be released into the 2-row planting mechanisms. The multi-source control unit was constructed to carry out the flexible automation of seedling transplanting. Being the first prototype, the performance tests under actual production conditions were conducted on a vegetable base.Main results: The testing results showed that the developed fully automatic transplanter could well grasp seedlings from the trays, transfer them, discharge them, and plant them into the ground. The success ratio in picking up seedlings and the qualified percent in planting seedlings were all up to 90%, and the coefficient of variation of plant spacing was less than 5% at the working speed of 60 plants row-1 min-1.Research highlights: The overall planting effects could well meet the requirements of agronomy cultivation, and the quality of automatic transplanting was satisfactor
Torymus sinensis Kamijo, a biocontrol agent against the invasive chestnut gall wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu in Spain: its natural dispersal from France and the first data on establishment after experimental releases
Get PDFAim of study: The globally invasive gall wasp, Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu, 1951 (Cynipidae: Cynipini), reached Spain seven years ago and is already regarded as an important pest of chestnuts (Castanea spp.) in this country as well as worldwide. In this paper, we present comprehensive data on the establishment in Spain of Torymus sinensis Kamijo, 1982 (Chalcidoidea: Torymidae), an effective non-native natural enemy of this pest, as a result of both natural dispersal and settlement after controlled releases since 2015.Area of study: Sites of the Spanish autonomous communities of Galicia, Asturias, Basque Country, Catalonia, Andalusia and Madrid where D. kuriphilus is present.Material and methods: To study the natural dispersal of T. sinensis from France, we selected two sampling sites in Catalonia, six in the Basque Country and two in Navarra known for their heavy Asian chestnut gall wasp (ACGW) infestation; to study T. sinensis establishment after authorized controlled releases by the concerned authorities, the field samplings were done mainly in Galicia (35 sites) and Andalusia (8 sites). Additionally an experimental release study was made in Madrid.Main Results: Our results showed that T. sinensis has spread throughout Spain by natural dispersal across the French border and now occurs in Catalonia (two sites), the Basque Country (three sites) and Navarra (one site) but not in the neighbouring region of Cantabria. The percentage of parasitism by T. sinensis on D. kuriphilus is higher in the Basque Country sites, which are close to the French border, thus indicating that its establishment in these localities is not recent. After controlled releases, T. sinensis has been successfully established in five release sites in Andalusia (Valle del Genal and Sierra Blanca, Málaga Province) and one release site in Madrid. However, in the region of Galicia (NW Spain), where the number of authorized releases has been higher, the establishment of T. sinensis still appears to be very low.Research highlights: Established populations of T. sinensis may exert a positive buffer against D. kuriphilus-driven chestnut infestation in Spain, similar to what is observed in other invaded European countries.Additional Keywords: Controlled releases, Torymidae, invasive species, Cynipidae, natural spread, biological control.Abbreviations used: Asian chestnut gall wasp (ACGW); Torymus sinensis parasitism rate (TsPR); mean of ACGW larval chambers per gall (MACGW)
The public funding of innovation in agri-food businesses
Get PDFPublic administrations have in recent years developed programs of public funding for innovation to boost the competitiveness of business. The study of how companies have used these funding sources generates knowledge to improve the design of support for private innovation and to provide advice for innovative companies. This paper investigates these issues in the agri-food sector which is of particular interest as it is comprised mainly of small and medium enterprises with a wide regional presence and interaction with their local environment. A survey on technological innovation was used to estimate panel logit models with random effects, taking as dependent variables three types of funding: regional, state and European Union. The results generally show a positive relationship between innovation efforts and access to public funding, but also significant differences between types of funding and between sectors. Food companies that obtain public funding tend to have a more innovative profile than Agriculture ones. Both types of firm present higher probabilities than others companies when it comes to gaining access to regional funding, though the opposite often occurs in the case of state funding. Firm size is not significant for regional funding and no overlap was detected between regional and state funding. The financial crisis has adversely affected regional and national aid, which experienced a significant decrease in the period from 2008 to 2013
A comparison of empirical BLUP with different considerations of residual error variance for genotype evaluation of multi-location trials
Get PDFAbstractThe empirical best linear unbiased prediction (eBLUP) is usually based on the assumption that the residual error variance (REV) is homogenous. This may be unrealistic, and therefore limits the accuracy of genotype evaluations for multi-location trials, where the REV often varies across locations. The objective of this contribution was to investigate the direct implications of the eBLUP with different considerations about REV based on the mixed model for evaluation of genotype simple effects (i.e. genotype effects at individual locations). A series of 14 multi-location trials from a rape-breeding program in the north of China were simultaneously analyzed from 2012 to 2014 using a randomized complete block design at each location. The results showed that the model with heterogeneous REV was more appropriate than the one with homogeneous REV in all of the trials according to model fitting statistics. Whether the REV differences across locations were accounted for in the analysis procedure influenced the variance estimate of related random effects and testing of the variance of genotype-location (G-L) interactions. Ignoring REV differences by use of the eBLUP could result not only in an inflation or deflation of statistical Type I error rates for pair-wise testing but also in an inaccurate ranking of genotype simple effects for these trials. Therefore, it is suggested that in application of the eBLUP for evaluation of genotype simple effects in multi-location trials, the heterogeneity of REV should be accounted for based on mixed model approaches with appropriate variance-covariance structure
Optimal amounts of water and nitrogen applied to sugar beet when crop price depends on its sugar content
Get PDFAim of study: To derive mathematical formulas to determine the optimum amounts of applied water and N at variable crop prices and rainfall conditions for sugar beet.Area of study: Karaj Research Center, Alborz Province, IranMaterial and methods: At first, mathematical formulas were derived to determine optimum applied water and nitrogen for sugar beet under rainfall occurrence, land limited (in cases that arable land area is limited and the farmer can not put more land area under irrigation) and water limited conditions when crop price depends on sugar content. Second, this theory was applied to analyze the relevant experimental data. The experiment was a split-plot design with irrigation treatments as the main plots (40%, 80%, 120% and 160% of evaporation from the surface of class A evaporation pan) and N fertilizer rates (0, 90, 180 and 270 kg N/ha) as subplots.Main results: Under land and water limiting conditions, deficit irrigation of 27% and 48% led to 6.4% and 25.4% decrease in yield and 21.4% and 96.2% increase in total net income, respectively, compared with full irrigation. Under water limiting conditions, cultivated land area increased by 93.7, 108 and 128% for 0, 60 and 120 mm rainfall, respectively. Under land limiting conditions, amounts of optimum irrigation water were 12381.2, 11781.2 and 11181.2 m3/ha, for 0, 60 and 120 mm rainfalls, respectively. The corresponding values for N were 262.5 kg/ha in all three rainfall quantities. Besides, under water limiting conditions, optimum amounts of irrigation water were 8708.1, 7828.8 and 6882.1 m3/ha for 0, 60 and 120 mm rainfalls, respectively. The corresponding values for N were 301.1, 299.5 and 295.5 kg/ha, respectively. Optimum amounts of irrigation water and N decreased by increase in rainfall amount.Research highlights: Under limited irrigation water conditions, if the rainfall, residual N, water cost and base crop price increases, the value of optimum applied water should be decreased