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RESUMEN Las producciones agropecuarias en la Región Pampeana (RP) han generado la reducción de bases y acidificación de suelos por extracción sin reposición de nutrientes y elevado uso de fertilizantes. Esta problemática en zonas templadas no ha sido estudiada minuciosamente como en zonas tropicales, afectando principalmente a cultivos de leguminosas. El uso de correctores y fertilizantes cálcicos ha demostrado resultados variables en la RP, evidenciando la complejidad de la práctica. El uso de fertilizantes podría ser una práctica coyuntural al uso de correctores. El objetivo fue evaluar fertilizantes y enmiendas cálcicas en suelos de la provincia de Buenos Aires sobre 1) producción de materia seca (MS) de biomasa aérea, concentración de calcio (Ca) (CCaB) y magnesio (Mg) (CMgB) y exportación de Ca (ECaB) y Mg (EMgB) de soja forrajera, 2) propiedades fisicoquímicas y químicas del suelo y 3) balance de calcio (BCaS). Se realizó un ensayo en invernáculo sobre soja en suelos de Bellocq e Inchausti con 50 kg ha-1 y 100 kg ha-1 de Ca como fertilizante, 1500 kg ha-1 de caliza (C1500) y un tratamiento testigo sin productos (T). El uso de 100 kg ha-1 de Ca con fertilizante incrementó la MS de soja asociado al incremento a valores de 4 meq l-1 de Ca en la fracción soluble-disponible del suelo (CaExt). La CCaB y CMgB en soja mostraron diferencias solamente entre suelos. La ECaS dependió exclusivamente de la producción de MS. El BCaS fue negativo solamente en el tratamiento donde no se aplicó producto. Estos resultados son importantes para entender la dinámica de nutrientes básicos en suelos de la RP, cuyos niveles en suelo están disminuyendo debido a los balances negativos, que incluso han generado acidificación de suelos. Además, podrían ser utilizados en planteos de manejo sitio-específico del suelo, garantizados por las amplias tecnologías disponibles relacionadas con la agricultura de precisión. Asimismo, mostraron que el CaExt podría ser un indicador de suficiencia cálcica.

A seleção das espécies de cobertura para compor o sistema de plantio direto geralmente não considera os possíveis efeitos alelopáticos entre as espécies. Neste trabalho, foi identificado e quantificado os aleloquímicos liberados pela ervilha-forrageira (Pisum sativum L. ssp. arvense (L.) Poir.) como planta de cobertura, em diferentes densidades de semeadura (0; 27,5; 55; 82,5 kg ha-1) e tempos de decomposição (7, 21 e 35 dias) antes de semeadura do milho (Zea mays). Os aleloquímicos do solo foram identificados e quantificados por cromatografia liquida de alta eficiência (HPLC). No milho se avaliou a emergência, índice de velocidade de emergência (IVE), clorofila a e b, área foliar e massa seca de parte aérea. Houve incremento de catequina com o cultivo do milho. A epicatequina foi identificada após o cultivo do milho semeado 21 e 35 dias após o corte da ervilha-forrageira. O resveratrol foi associado a decomposição da espécie de cobertura e identificado após o cultivo do milho semeado sete dias após o corte da mesma. A emergência, IVE e área foliar foram superiores no milho semeado 21 e 35 dias após o corte da ervilha-forrageira, período em que foi encontrado a epicatequina. O uso da ervilha-forrageira aumentou os teores de clorofila a e b do milho. A produção de massa seca foi superior no milho semeado sete e 35 dias após o corte da ervilha-forrageira. A sucessão de milho após a ervilha-forrageira em sistema de plantio direto aumenta os níveis de catequina, epicatequina e resveratrol no solo. A utilização de ervilha forrageira aumenta os teores de clorofila no milho em relação ao controle (sem a presença do cultivo de cobertura) e aumenta a área foliar do milho quando semeado sete dias após o corte de P. sativum (82,5 kg ha-1).

Early maturing common-bean cultivars lack information referring to Euschistus heros (Fabricius, 1798) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) feeding damage assessment. This information is pertinent towards establishing economic threshold for an integrated pest management program. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship, between the density of stink bugs and the degree of injuries towards the pod and grain production, quantity and quality, of the IPR Curió cultivar. The experiments were conducted during two seasons at the IDR-Paraná in Londrina, Paraná, in field conditions. The experimental design was randomized blocks with five repetitions. The treatments were: 0 (control); 1; 2; 3; 4; 5 E. heros m-1. The evaluated variables were number of grained and flat pods; healthy, damaged and aborted grain mass; grain yield. The economic injury level (EIL), economic threshold (ET) and spraying efficiency influence on the ET were calculated. The total number of grained pods was not affected. More than three brown stink bugs, during the summer season, significantly increases flat pod output. The rainy season resulted in greater aborted grains. Increasing E. heros densities, during the summer season, significantly reduces the healthy grain output. The damaged grain mass doubles at higher than one E. heros population densities. The total grain mass produced was not affected. During the summer season, each E. heros reduces 11% of healthy grain output, and during the rainy season 6%. During the summer season was 1.50 of E. heros m-1 and for the rainy season 1.00 E. heros m-1. The spraying efficiency should directly affect the EIL, modifying the value, thus better resembling the field conditions.

ABSTRACT The 24-epibrassinolide (24-EpiBL), in association with the physiological conditioning of seeds, is recognized for providing several advantages in seeds, among which the most important one is the tolerance to abiotic stresses. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the vigor of pepper seeds primed with 24-EpiBL and then subjected to salt stress. Three lots of pepper seeds of the cultivar Airetama Biquinho Amarela were used. The research was divided into three steps: the first for initial characterization of seed lots upon germination and vigor tests; the second for defining the water absorption process and drying of primed seeds; and the third for the priming of seeds with water (hydropriming) and 24-EpiBL (10-8 M), as well as priming with 24-EpiBL (10-8 M) of seeds subjected to the salt stress with the following osmotic potentials: 0.0, -0.2, and -0.4 MPa. A mitigation of deleterious effects of salt stress was found in seeds hydro-primed and primed with 24-EpiBL. The use of pepper seeds hydro-primed and primed with 24-EpiBL (10-8 M) is a viable alternative for decreasing injuries, morphological and biochemical changes, and growth and development limitations caused by salt stress.

Abstract The objective of this work was to verify if D-limonene in vitro presents inhibitory action on the mycelial growth of Colletotrichum spp. and antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecium and Escherichia coli, as well as to evaluate the effect of its concentrations on papaya disinfestation in the post-harvest process. For the in vitro tests, fungi were isolated from papaya fruit infected with anthracnose. For this, fruit fragments were disinfected and transferred to Petri dishes. Another test was carried out in vitro, to evaluate bactericidal activity, by for adding D-limonene to the suspension of the tested bacteria. Fruit physicochemical quality and disease incidence were evaluated. The application of D-limonene inhibited the mycelial growth of Colletotrichum spp. in vitro, with an increasing effect at increasing concentrations and a decreasing effect with time of product application. D-limonene was effective in inhibiting E. faecium and E. coli. There was no significant interaction between D-limonene rates and storage time for fruit quality or for disease incidence in ex vitro studies. D-limonene can be applied to papaya at postharvest, as it does not affect fruit quality and controls the growth of phytopathogens in vitro.

The Brazilian Cerrado is a vital agricultural region, yet its expansion often overlooks the high climate risks posed by the prolonged dry season, particularly from June to September when water demand surges, causing low-flow conditions. Recent studies highlight significant water deficits between May and October, making irrigation water use (IWU) crucial for policymakers and managers. This study estimates IWU for dry beans grown under center pivots during the dry season in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, a leading agricultural producer with 309,372 km² of agricultural land. Mato Grosso relies heavily on irrigation from April to October for bean cultivation. We used NDVI time series from Sentinel-2A data from 2019 to 2023 to classify dry beans areas based on t-SNE and k-means cluster classification. The individual NDVI time series for the dry season for each pivot was divided based on the peak NDVI values to analyze phenological parameters- such as duration, start and end of the season- to assess water needs from April to September. ERA-5 Land climate data provided daily reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and precipitation (P), which were used to compute the crop’s water requirement. Irrigation depth (D) was estimated using a water balance equation incorporating crop coefficients (Kc) and daily irrigation needs adjusted for efficiency. The analysis shows that dry-season irrigation in the Cerrado primarily replenishes soil moisture, often leading to inefficient water use. From 2019–2023, IWU increased significantly, with the model showing a strong correlation (R² = 0.92) to reported accumulated irrigation depth for center pivot during the dry season. However, the model underestimated needs from May to July and overestimated in August, with a bias of −21.88 mm. The North subregion, benefiting from favorable conditions, accounted for 43 % of the state's IWU. The study provides valuable insights into IWU trends, supporting strategic decisions and resource allocation, while offering a cost-effective method for real-time IWU estimation.

Yield prediction has long been a valuable tool for farmers seeking to enhance crop production. Among the many ways to predict yield, the integration of machine learning (ML) techniques is becoming more common for refining prediction methodologies. This study highlights the current landscape of remote sensing and ML techniques employed in predicting tree crop yield while also identifying critical gaps and areas for further exploration. Studies with limited datasets for training often use simpler models such as linear regression, while studies with larger datasets use more complex models, including techniques such as deep learning, ensemble methods, and hyperparameter tuning; in these cases, the performance evaluation tends to be more sophisticated. Yield prediction using ML has demonstrated accuracy levels ranging from 50 % to 99 %. Studies using smaller datasets consistently demonstrate higher accuracy rates. While ML techniques can enhance yield prediction, their effectiveness depends on strategic data collection and a multi-factor and multi-method approach. Integration of various data sources, including weather, soil, and plant data, could enhance model resilience and applicability. Enhancing research in this field could be achieved through overcoming challenges in accurate data collection and fostering the development of open datasets. This comprehensive analysis lays the groundwork for future research endeavors aimed at refining and advancing the application of remote sensing and ML techniques in accurately predicting tree crop yield.

Since the 1990s the worldwide rate of obesity has escalated significantly. This overflow affects all demographic groups, with a notable impact on older adults and women. Obesity is associated with a variety of serious chronic health conditions. Additionally, it is linked to endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism. This review analyzes the connection between obesity and micronutrient levels, particularly focusing on vitamin D, and evaluates potential nutritional and supplementation approaches for this population.Micronutrient imbalances in obesity arise from poor dietary intake, increased nutritional needs, altered pharmacokinetics, and absorption difficulties. These imbalances can lead to critical health and metabolic issues. For example, vitamin D deficiency, which is common in individuals with obesity, is associated with decreased calcium absorption and an incremented risk of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and various inflammatory conditions such as cancer.Effectively addressing micronutrient deficiencies requires dietary modifications and, when necessary, supplementation. While enhancing nutrition is critical, supplementation often becomes essential to meet the nutritional needs of individuals with obesity, particularly those on restrictive diets or undergoing bariatric surgery. Supplementing micronutrients and vitamin D in patients with obesity can improve health related outcomes. Moreover, dietary patterns like the Mediterranean diet can increase vitamin D levels. This review underlines the crucial role of tailored supplementation strategies and the demand for continued research to ascertain optimal dosing and its implications for health outcomes.

ABSTRACT Chlorophyll fluorescence analysis is a method that has been widely disseminated among researchers for ensuring fast, accurate and non-destructive results. Thus, this study aimed to assess the chlorophyll a fluorescence of pepper seedlings grown from seeds that were unprimed, hydroprimed and primed with 24-EpiBL at 10-8 M after induction of salt stress at three concentrations (0.0, -0.2 and -0.4 MPa). To carry out the experiment, the Seed Reporter Camera Spectral & Color Imaging System (PhenoVation Life Sciences, Wageningen, Netherlands) was used. Three lots of seeds of the pepper cultivar ‘Biquinho’ were used. Chlorophyll fluorescence in the seedlings was evaluated on the seventh day after the seeds were subjected to different levels of salt stress. The chlorophyll fluorescence images obtained were analyzed by the CFTI - Analysis software (version 4.5). Through the data obtained it was possible to verify that, in general, there was an increase in chlorophyll a fluorescence in seedlings grown from seeds primed with 24-EpiBL. In short, the chlorophyll fluorescence technique proved to be viable and efficient, in addition to being a practical tool that can be used to support the analysis of the quality of pepper seedlings, whether or not subjected to saline stress conditions.

Abstract The sustainability of organic production and the agroecological transition of farmers in the Chapada dos Veadeiros region was evaluated using the Environmental Impact Assessment System of Agricultural Technological Innovations (AMBITEC-AGRO). The evaluation process consisted of three stages: 1st survey and data collection, 2nd application of questionnaires and 3rd individual interviews. Data were entered into electronic spreadsheets, generating quantitative results of the impacts of activities carried out on rural properties. The indicators of the data obtained are organized in weighting matrices and automatically transformed into impact indices expressed graphically. These indexes resulted in the Percentage of Impact of Technologies - PIT, which characterizes the percentage gain of technology for each of the criteria of the environmental, economic and social dimensions of the productive units. For the environmental dimension, the PIT showed a reduction of -3.73%, where the general index of impact of the activity was 0.95 and after the transition to organic and/or agroecological production it went to 1.29, with a difference of 0.34. In the economic dimension, the PIT was 7.70%, the employment variable with 0.73 and income with 3.89 were the ones that most contributed to this percentage. In the social dimension, the PIT was 7.19%, the most prominent criteria being the consumer with an average of 3.74 and health with an average of 2.99. In this sense, the transition to organic and/or agroecological management, mainly due to the reduction of environmental impacts, provided greater sustainability for agricultural activities in the region.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential antibacterial and anti-adherent activities of the monoterpene (R)-(+)-limonene, as well as its synergistic potential with synthetic antimicrobials against strains of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterobacter cloacae. The antibacterial properties of (R)-(+)-limonene were assessed using the broth microdilution technique to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Additionally, the infusion disc method was employed to explore the association of the compound with antimicrobials, and the test tube method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of adherence (MICA). It was observed that the MIC for (R)-(+)-limonene was 1000 μg mL-1 for five of the six E. faecalis strains tested, while for E. cloacae, the MIC exceeded 1000 μg mL-1 for all strains tested. Identical values were recorded for the MBC in E. faecalis. In terms of its combination with synthetic antimicrobials, (R)-(+)-limonene demonstrated a synergistic effect with gentamicin and ciprofloxacin for most strains. Regarding the MICA, both (R)-(+)-limonene and 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate failed to inhibit biofilm formation at the tested concentrations. Given the need for new therapeutic alternatives for treating bacterial infections, this study revealed that the tested monoterpene exhibited moderate bactericidal effects against E. faecalis strains and no antibacterial effect against E. cloacae strains. However, when combined with various classes of antimicrobials, (R)-(+)-limonene showed synergistic effects with gentamicin and ciprofloxacin for most strains. This suggests that (R)-(+)-limonene holds promise for enhancing the treatment of bacterial infections and could support conventional therapies. Nonetheless, further in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies are necessary to confirm and elucidate its efficacy and mechanisms.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of an essential oil blend (EO), based on cinnamaldehyde and diallyl disulfide, associated or not with antibiotics on intake and nutrient digestibility, ingestive behavior, rumen fermentation, ruminal microbial synthesis, and blood metabolites of feedlot cattle fed a no-forage diet. The study was carried out as a Latin Square with five treatments consisting of a blend of essential oil (EO), monensin (MON) and virginiamycin (VM), both separately and combined as follows: CON (monensin at 30 mg kg–1 DM), VM (virginiamycin at 25 mg kg–1 DM and monensin at 30 mg kg–1 DM), MEO25 (monensin at 30 mg kg–1 DM and EO at 25 mg kg–1 DM), MEO35 (monensin at 30 mg kg–1 DM and EO at 35 mg kg–1 DM) and EO35 (blend of EO at 35 mg kg–1 DM). There were no effects from additives and their combinations on the intake and apparent digestibility of nutrients or ingestive behavior. Furthermore, treatments did not modify the ruminal pH, nor the concentration of short-chain fatty acids and ammonia, nor the microbial protein synthesis. Blood glucose concentration was higher 4 h after morning feeding for all treatments. There was a significant contrast between the VM and EO for the blood concentration of D-Lactate and L-Lactate. There was no difference between the additives in the concentration of cortisol metabolites in the feces. The blend of essential oil studied, containing cinnamaldehyde and diallyl disulfide, associated or not with antibiotics, does not change the nutritional parameters nor the metabolism of feedlot cattle fed a no-forage diet.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar como a adição crescente de enzima fibrolítica exógena na dieta de borregas influencia o consumo alimentar, a capacidade digestiva e os metabólitos sanguíneos. O ensaio foi realizado em um quadrado latino (5x5) com cinco tratamentos e cinco repetições, utilizando borregas mestiças Santa Inês x Dorper com peso inicial médio de 46,48 ± 5,60 kg e aproximadamente sete meses de idade. Durante o período de sessenta dias, os animais foram alojados em gaiolas metabólicas individuais. Os tratamentos consistiram em uma dieta controle e quatro níveis crescentes de inclusão de enzima fibrolítica (FIBROZYME®) (0,5%, 1,0%, 1,5% e 2,0% da matéria seca), administrados diariamente no momento de oferta da dieta. Os resultados mostraram que não houve diferença significativa nos consumos de nutrientes (g animal-1 dia-1), peso vivo (%PV-1) e peso metabólico (PV0,75) entre os tratamentos. Também não houve diferença significativa na digestibilidade aparente da matéria seca, no peso das fezes e no escore fecal. No entanto, houve diferença significativa no metabólito sanguíneo creatinina, mas não na glicemia dos animais. Conclui-se que a adição de enzima fibrolítica exógena não influencia o consumo alimentar e a glicemia das borregas, mas altera a creatinina plasmática.

Abstract The objective of this work was to characterize chilling tolerance in rice mutant families of the M4 generation, at the seedling stage. Two experiments were carried out: chilling tolerance was evaluated in 43 mutant families, in the 'BRS Querência' original genotype, and in 19 commercial genotypes. In Experiment II, 8 mutant families from Experiment I, 'BRS Querência', and a mutant of the M5 generation were tested. In both experiments, seedlings were evaluated under two conditions: 10°C for seven days and 25°C for seven days. In Experiment I, the induced mutations in rice led to varied responses in chilling tolerance traits, with some M4 mutant families outperforming the original genotype. Experiment II highlighted the impact of mutations on chilling-tolerance, particularly in terms of leaf discoloration and plant recovery. Mutant families of the M4 generation differ from the original genotype 'BRS Querência' in chilling tolerance at the seedling stage. The mutant families M36, M54, and M56 and 'BRS Querência' show genetic similarity, indicating a lack of chilling tolerance during the seedling stage. The mutant families M17, M21, M22, and M26 are promising for rice breeding programs because they present chilling tolerance. The M30 mutant family exhibits the best performance for all analyzed traits, indicating chilling tolerance at the seedling stage.

The cultivation of the olive tree is of great economic importance worldwide. For the 2022-2023 harvest, were produced around 3,010,000 Mg of olive oil and 2,955,500 Mg of table olives of selected varieties, managing to establish itself in approximately 56 countries with different environments. In most of the cultivated areas only monovarietals were used, but mixtures of varieties have been recommended, which act as pollinators, avoiding reproduction problems. Furthermore, global warming also affects production efficiency and the quality of derived products. The olive grove underwent important changes due to genetic improvement. However, despite modern molecular tools, most of the work continues to be based on agronomic classical methods such as crossing and selection in progeny, delaying the development of new varieties. Models with high resolution climate projections are being used, allowing predicting the future evolution of the olive tree. Unfortunately, Brazil produces only 0.2% of its internal consumption and therefore has become the world's second largest importer after the United States to cover the growing demand. Based on this information, this review aims to discuss the adjustments in olive growing, which has been gaining more and more areas dedicated to its cultivation in Brazil.

ABSTRACT: Trypanosoma evansi, the hemoflagellate pathogen that causes “surra,” is a protozoan that infects the widest variety of mammals worldwide, primarily horses, camels, dogs, and wild animals. Cases of canine trypanosomiasis caused by T.evansi have been reported in the Brazilian pantonal region. This study determined the prevalence of T.evansi and investigate risk factors. The study used blood samples from dogs in the municipality of Barão de Melgaço in the pantonal of the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The owner was given a structured epidemiological questionnaire containing information about the risk factors. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique was used to detect T.evansi DNA using species-specific oligonucleotides TevF and TevR of the gene encoding a 227-bp portion of the glycoprotein of the variant surface (VSG) T.evansi Rode Trypanozoon (RoTat) 1.2. Two (prevalence of 0.5%) genetic materials of T.evansi were reported in the403 samples. Although, no risk factor was associated with infection (P > 0.05), proximity to vegetation and streams, as well as the presence of tabanids, rodents, and marsupials, which are factors in the occurrence of infection, were observed in positive dogs, implying that the municipality of Barão de Melgaço has epidemiological characteristics that allow canine infection by T.evansi.

Homogeneous management zones (HMZs) delineation is important for the application of precision agriculture because farm management decisions are based on it. Diverse soil chemical characteristics are important for the HMZs delineation. However, summarizing several variables into homogeneous zoning while taking into account the spatial distribution pattern of soil chemical characteristics is a challenge. Addressing this challenge is important to produce HMZs oriented for practical use for the farmers. In this work, 17 soil chemical variables were jointly analyzed for HMZ delineation by using indicator kriging (IK) to interpolate a soil fertility index (SFI). Soil samples were taken from a 4.5 ha area in a quasi-regular grid at 0 - 0.20 m depths in November 2019 (66 samples) and May 2021 (40 samples). Soil P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Na, H, Mn, Fe, Zn, B, cation exchange capacity, aluminum saturation, total organic carbon, base saturation, and organic matter were analyzed. In May 2021 the coffee yield was sampled together with the soil. Applying the SFI and then interpolating it using IK were effective for summarizing soil chemical variables into binary HMZs, showing a zone with higher priority for fertilization (therefore, lower general soil fertility) and another zone with low priority for fertilization. The summarizing process of several variables into binary HMZ was validated by evaluating the boxplots of each variable in each HMZ. Also, higher soil fertility areas presented a higher average coffee yield. Results indicated that joint use of SFI and IK was adequate to delineate HMZs in terms of summarizing soil fertility and separating coffee yield average variability. Delineating management zones by using the SFI approach is flexible for relatively limited sampled studies (less than one hundred samples) where machine learning and geostatistical methods may fail for lack of data.

Resumen Los procesos importantes relacionados con la dinámica del agua ocurren principalmente en la interfase suelo-atmósfera. La estructura de la cobertura de rastrojos de cultivos, tanto por cantidad como su distribución, tiene efecto sobre el microclima de la superficie del suelo y, en consecuencia, en el grado de conservación del agua. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar algunos cambios en la interfase suelo-atmósfera y su impacto sobre el agua del suelo con diferentes estructuras de los residuos de cosecha. La experimentación se realizó en la Estación Experimental del Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria en Hilario Ascasubi, Villarino, Buenos Aires. Se evaluaron tres cereales invernales (trigo, centeno y avena) como antecesores del trigo entre junio del 2017 y diciembre de 2020, es decir, dos ciclos consecutivos de rotaciones agrícolas bianuales con cereales invernales. Se evaluó la estructura del rastrojo al final del barbecho a partir de la biomasa seca, su distribución por estratos y el índice de área del tallo. Además, se determinó la temperatura del suelo, velocidad relativa del viento y la dinámica del agua en el barbecho. Los cultivos de invierno antecesores y principalmente la disposición del rastrojo, presentaron diferencias en el aporte de biomasa y la estructura de la cobertura, asimismo se logró similar porcentaje de cobertura. Se observaron diferencias en el impacto de la disposición del rastrojo sobre la temperatura del suelo y velocidad del viento, pero no así por los antecesores. Esto modificó la eficiencia de barbecho, la humedad a la siembra del cultivo posterior y la evolución de la humedad del suelo hasta 13 días posteriores a un evento de precipitación. La disposición del rastrojo y los antecesores impactaron en los factores que componen la interfase suelo-atmósfera y, en consecuencia, en la dinámica del agua en el suelo.

Yerba mate is a forest species of both cultural and economic importance growing in the subtropical regions of South America, especially in the south of Brazil. Despite its importance, yerba mate has never received enough attention from researchers, so the nutritional sufficiency ranges and critical levels have not yet been determined. This research aimed to establish these parameters for yerba mate to enable its foliar diagnosis. A total of 167 leaf samples were collected from production fields located in the five yerba mate-growing regions in Rio Grande do Sul, and the leaf nutrients were determined by standard chemical methods. The yield of each production field was accessed, and the cutoff value separating low- and high-yield groups was calculated in 16.75 Mg ha−1. The multivariate compositional nutrient diagnosis (CND) standards were determined, and nutrient interactions were estimated by correlation and principal component analyses. There was no positive correlation between any single nutrient and yield, even in the high-yield population, evidencing that a higher yield is the outcome of the balance among all nutrients. Excess of B occurred in one-third of the low-yield samples, while deficiency of Cu and K occurred in one-fourth of these samples. Finally, we established the adequate leaf nutrient levels for yerba mate.

ABSTRACT Agroecological management is emerging as a promising alternative to current agricultural management, which is associated with deterioration of environmental quality and soil fertility. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the conversion from conventional to agroecological management by analysing soil chemical and microbiological properties. This study was carried out in the Barrow Experimental Farm of the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), Buenos Aires, Argentina, where two treatments were evaluated: agroecological (AE) and conventional (CV) management. Samples were taken at 0 - 10 cm depth, and several soil chemical and microbiological parameters were determined. The AE management resulted in an apparent restoration of soil fertility, with increases in soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and pH of 21%, 16% and 3%, respectively. AE management also led to an increase in the activities of enzymes involved in the carbon cycle: cellobiohydrolase (CBH) and β-glucosidase (BG), nitrogen cycle: N-acetyl-b-glu-cosamine (NAG) and sulfur cycle: arylsulfatase (SUL), as well as an increase in the microbial biomass car-bon and in the diversity and richness of the bacterial community (p

ABSTRACT Searching for novel sources of resistance to head blast is essential to strengthen wheat production in the Cerrado´s biome. The objective of this work was to evaluate disease intensity measures and yield for 2NS and non-2NS carriers wheat genotypes with varying heading times in Minas Gerais, Brazil. A total of fourteen wheat genotypes, two susceptible and twelve resistant to head blast, were sown in 2014, 2015, and 2017 at the Sertãozinho Experimental Station of Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária de Minas Gerais (Epamig) during three sowing dates without fungicide applications. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replicates. Blast incidence, severity, disease index and grain yield were influenced by the cycle of wheat genotypes and the sowing date, with the highest disease intensities and the lowest yields in the earliest sowing date. Blast incidence and disease index correlated negatively with grain yield and positively with percent yield losses. The group of wheat genotypes with higher grain yield (between 2,104.7 and 2,917.8 kg ha-1) and lower yield losses (between 44.3 and 54.8%) includes BR 18 as well as other five that do not carry the 2NS/2AS translocation: BRS Angico, PF 909, BRS 229, Embrapa 27, and CPAC 07340.

ABSTRACT Adjuvants mayimprove control efficiency of volunteer RR® corn with ACCase inhibiting herbicides. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of adjuvant addition to the herbicides clethodim and quizalofop, on surface tension, spray deposition and efficiency of volunteer RR® corn control. The surface tension of clethodim (96 g a.i. ha-1) and quizalofop (60 g a.i. ha-1) herbicides with and without a mineral oil, a vegetable oil and an organosilicon adjuvant was evaluated at concentrations of 0.01; 0.05; 0.1; 0.5; 1.0 and 2.0% v v-1. To evaluate deposition and visual control efficiency, the same herbicides associated or not with the mineral oil (0.5% v v-1), the vegetable oil (0.5% v v-1) and the organosilicon adjuvant (0, 05% v v-1) were used. For this, volunteer RR® corn plants were grown in a greenhouse until stage V2-V3. The adjuvants reduced the surface tension of the herbicides clethodim and quizalofop, organosilicon was the most efficient. Adjuvants does not alter spray deposition of herbicides on corn plants. Mineral oil increases potential control of clethodim herbicide and anticipates control with quizalofop herbicide.

A estatística espacial desempenha um papel importante em diferentes áreas do conhecimento, fornecendo metodologias que possibilitam a identificação de padrões espaciais (clusters) e a determinação de regiões com características semelhantes dos dados em estudo. No presente estudo, foi utilizada a metodologia chamada de estatística espacial de dados de áreas para investigar a taxa de crescimento de casos de COVID-19 no município de Toledo, no estado do Paraná-Brasil, nos períodos de junho a outubro do ano de 2020. Foram gerados mapas que identificaram as regiões em que a autocorrelação espacial apresentou significância estatística. Concluiu-se que bairros que apresentavam baixa taxa de contaminação pela COVID-19 foram incorporados pelos bairros adjacentes, que possuíam alta taxa de contaminação. Essa constatação ressalta a relevância da estatística espacial de dados de áreas, uma vez que, mediante a devida atenção das autoridades de saúde municipais, permitem uma alocação adequada de recursos para tratamentos localizados, reduzindo os impactos causados pelas doenças, possibilitando prevenir a ocorrência de situações semelhantes no futuro e evitando a transformação de toda a região em um extenso aglomerado caracterizado por taxas elevadas de contaminação. Abstract: Spatial statistic play a significant role in various fields of knowledge, providing methodologies that enable the identification of spatial patterns (clusters) and the determination of regions with similar characteristics of the data under study. In the present study, a methodology called spatial statistics of area data was used to investigate the growth rate of COVID-19 cases in the city of Toledo, in the state of Paraná-Brazil, during the periods from june to october 2020. Maps were generated that identified the regions where spatial autocorrelation showed statistical significance. It was concluded that neighborhoods that had a low rate of COVID-19 contamination were incorporated by adjacent neighborhoods, which had a high rate of contamination. This finding underscores the relevance of spatial statistic of area data, as, with due attention from municipal health authorities, they allow for an appropriate allocation of resources for localized treatments, reducing the impacts caused by diseases, enabling the prevention of similar situations in the future, and avoiding the transformation of the entire region into an extensive cluster characterized by high contamination rates.

ABSTRACT: Pythiosis is the disease caused by aquatic oomycetes of the genus Pythium. In dogs the typical course of the disease involves the gastrointestinal tract, characterized by transmural thickening of the stomach or intestines. However, infection by Pythium spp. has only rarely been recognized as a cause of esophagitis in dogs. Thus, the present reports a case of esophageal and gastric pythiosis in an eight-month-old female pit bull dog. The dog was attended at the hospital after two months presenting regurgitation and dyspnea. It was reported that the dog lived in an urban area and had no previous sanitary issues. At clinical examination it was noted that the dog presented crackling sounds at pulmonary auscultation. A support therapy accompanied by antibiotics has been employed; however, 22 days after hospitalization the clinical condition worsened, and the dog died. At necropsy, the wall of the distal segment of the esophagus and the cardia and part of the fundus of the stomach were expanded by a focal extensive irregular intramural annular mass. Additionally, there was a transmural esophageal fistula. At histology, the walls of the esophagus and stomach were extensively expanded by multifocal extensive areas of necrosis, associated with a pyogranulomatous infiltrate and abundant granulation tissue containing multiple negative images of hyphae that were highlighted by silver impregnation (Grocott). Furthermore, immunohistochemistry and PCR for P. insidiosum were both positive in samples of paraffin-embedded esophageal tissue.

ABSTRACT Excessive phosphorus (P) applications can increase nutrient levels in the soil, facilitating its transference to aquatic environments and causing contamination. Thus, the environmental P threshold (P-threshold) is a tool to establish a sound level of P in the soil, in which P values below the threshold are harmless to the environment. This study aimed to establish a P-threshold equation for the soils of Mato Grosso State, Brazil. Twenty samples of representative soils from the main swine production regions of the State were collected. These samples were characterized chemically and in terms of P adsorption capacity, then incubated with P rates for 30 days. After incubation, the water-soluble P content (P-water) and the available P content were determined by Mehlich-1 method (P-Mehlich-1). The relationship between P-water and P-Mehlich-1 allowed the determination of the P-Mehlich-1 content from which the amount of nutrient in water increases abruptly, establishing this point as the limit P (P-limit). Subsequently, the P-limit values were plotted against the clay content of the soils, and the resulting equation was used to calculate the P-threshold by adding a safety margin of 20 % to the P-limit versus clay equation. The model was tested on 120 soil samples from Mato Grosso State, and it was able to separate them into two groups with low and high P-water, classified as below or above P-threshold, respectively. Based on that, the simplified equation “P-threshold (mg dm-3) = 13 + 0.5 * % clay” was proposed.

In this study, 1H-NMR spectroscopy coupled with chemometrics was applied to study the wine metabolome and to classify wines according to different grape varieties and different terroirs. By obtaining the metabolomic fingerprinting and profiling of the wines, it was possible to assess the metabolic biomarkers leading the classification (i.e., phenolic compounds, aroma compounds, amino acids, and organic acids). Moreover, information about the influence of the soil in shaping wine metabolome was obtained. For instance, the relationship between the soil texture and the content of amino acids and organic acids in wines was highlighted. The analysis conducted in this study allowed extraction of relevant spectral information not only from the most populated and concentrated spectral areas (e.g., aliphatic and carbinolic areas), but also from crowded spectral areas held by lowly concentrated compounds (i.e., polyphenols). This may be due to a successful combination between the parameters used for data reduction, preprocessing and elaboration. The metabolomic fingerprinting also allowed exploration of the H-bonds network inside the wines, which affects both gustatory and olfactory perceptions, by modulating the way how solutes interact with the human sensory receptors. These findings may have important implications in the context of food traceability and quality control, providing information about the chemical composition and biomolecular markers from a holistic point of view.

ABSTRACT Chickpea is a winter legume with prospects for worldwide consumption growth, mainly demanded by Asian countries. Thus, studies on its growth, such as the leaf area (LA), are important to determine proper management practices for its cultivation. The objective of this work was to determine a mathematical model able to estimate the leaf area (LA) of chickpea in a non-destructive method. For this, a field experiment was carried out in the county of Santa Maria (RS), with five cultivars available in the national market. Several leaves of each cultivar were collected, and their greatest width (W) and longest length (L) were measured. With the aid of a scanner, these leaves were photocopied, and their LA (cm2) was determined using software. With the power model, models relating to LA and its dimensions were determined. These models were tested using various statistics, with independent data. The results indicate that for the cultivars BRS Aleppo, BRS Kalifa, Jamu, and BRS Toro the best model is LA= 0,0940.(L)1.8483 and for the cultivar BRS Cícero the best model is LA = 0,1092.L2.1815.

Whiteflies comprise a complex of cryptic species that are genetically distinct but morphologically indistinguishable. Among them, Bemisia tabaci and Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Tvap) are the most prominent species causing agricultural damage. In Brazil, three B. tabaci species have been identified: New World (NW), Middle East-Asia Minor (MEAM1), and Mediterranean (MED). Whiteflies establish symbiotic associations with endosymbiotic bacteria, conferring adaptive advantages to the insects. The objective of this study was to identify whitefly species in municipalities of the state of Paraná and investigate their interactions with endosymbiotic bacteria. Insects were collected in 14 municipalities across different edaphoclimatic regions of Paraná, either in agricultural crops or on weeds. Molecular analyses, based on previously published PCR-based methods, were used to identify the insects and their respective endosymbionts. The results revealed that B. tabaci MEAM1, MED, NW, and Tvap accounted for 39.8%, 27.0%, 6.3%, and 23.7% of the collected specimens, respectively. These insects exhibited interactions with endosymbiont genera such as Portiera, Arsenophonus, Rickettsia, Hamiltonella, and Wolbachia, either in isolation or through co-infection. In some instances, interactions with up to five endosymbionts were observed in specific locations. The occurrence of Tvap in open fields and the prevalence of MED, particularly in the southeast of the state, where temperatures are milder, along with their interactions with endosymbionts providing adaptive advantages to the insects, raise significant phytosanitary concerns for the agricultural security of Paraná.

ABSTRACT: Surface contamination by pathogenic and deteriorating microorganisms is a constant concern in the food industry. Therefore, in this study we evaluated the antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), produced using the essential oil of Lippia origanoides Kunth and ethanolic extract of Hymenaea martiana Hayne, against bacteria used in milk processing. For this, AgNPs were synthesized and their antimicrobial activity was evaluated for minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations, time-kill, interference on the biofilm, and application on the surfaces of different materials. AgNPs showed bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 33591), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Choleraesuis (ATCC 10708), Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp.,andPseudomonas aeruginosa,and interfered with biofilm formation more than with consolidated biofilms. A 1hour period was sufficient to reduce the bacterial cells, whereas a Minimum Duration for Killing (MDK) of 99% was reached after approximately 30 min. AgNPs were effective against bacteria attached to stainless steel and polyethylene, but ineffective on tile surfaces. Thus, owing to the growing microbial resistance and the need to develop new products based on the concepts of green chemistry, these AgNPs are presented as a new possibility for cleaning processes in the food industry.

ABSTRACT The knowledge of correlations between multiple characteristics in plant breeding leads to more effective selection strategies. The path analysis allows refining these correlations and partitioning them into direct and indirect effects on the main variable. The path analysis becomes more effective when based on predicted genotypic values rather than phenotypic values. The objective was to evaluate correlations between the main agronomic characteristics of grapevine cultivation and their direct and indirect effects on yield per plant to improve selection strategies to reach superior progenies. A randomized complete block design was installed using four cultivars and two rootstocks, five repetitions, and plots of four plants. Data from three crop seasons were analyzed from a mixed model and genetic correlations were subject to the path analysis. A high and positive significant correlation was found between average fruit production and the number of clusters per plant. On the other hand, the average production per plant showed a low correlation to cluster width and height per grapevine. Wider and higher berries tend to increase berry fresh mass and therefore increase the contents of soluble solids and reducing sugars. Among the features, the number of clusters per plant has the strongest direct effect on fruit production in grape cultivars. Berry fresh mass, berry length, and berry width were indirectly influenced by the number of clusters and showed high heritability compared to yield and number of clusters. These characteristics could be used in indirect selection.

ABSTRACT Rice (Oryza sativa) is among the most important crops worldwide; however, rice crops demand high water consumption. Future projections indicate reduced water availability and severe drought events, which may affect rice crops as the cereal is highly sensitive to drought stress. Thus, cultivars with lower water demand for irrigation or drought escape capacities are among the strategies to address this issue. This study aimed to assess five mutant rice genotypes in terms of growth cycle length, other agronomic interest traits, and drought response in the reproductive stage. The mutant genotypes evaluated showed a shortening of the growth cycle compared to the original cultivar, BRS Pampeira, representing a drought escape strategy. In addition, mutations did not negatively affect plant height and crop yield. However, similar to the original cultivar, mutants are not tolerant to water deficit in the reproductive stage. The genotypes evaluated have potential to be released as early cycle cultivars, which can reduce water demand during the harvest season while presenting a drought escape strategy.

Abstract The objective of this work was to determine the genetic correlations and the direct and indirect associations of agronomic traits and grain quality attributes with the percentage of whole grains in flood irrigated rice. The experiment was carried out in two environments, in a randomized complete block design with three replicates, using 23 irrigated rice genotypes. The evaluated traits were: percentage of whole grains, caryopsis length, caryopsis width, panicle length, panicle weight, 1,000 grain weight, days to flowering, percentage of chalky grains with white belly, total chalky area, total whiteness, vitreous whiteness, and defects in coloring. The percentage of grains with white belly and total chalky area were positively correlated, whereas the percentage of grains with white belly and vitreous whiteness were negatively correlated. The traits caryopsis width, percentage of chalky grains with white belly, panicle weight, and 1,000 grain weight showed indirect effects on whole-grain yield response according to total chalky area and total whiteness. Total chalky area and total whiteness are the factors that most negatively influence the percentage of whole grains according to the genotypic correlations and direct effects.

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the presence of 2NVS translocation on the inheritance of wheat resistance to head blast, in F2 segregating lines from two biparental crosses. The IPF 86766 and 'Santa Fe' genotypes were used as female parents (both 2NVS carriers), and 'BRS 404', as the common male parent (non 2NVS carrier). Using a mixture of three isolates of Pyricularia oryzae Triticum, wheat spikes and rachises were evaluated for bleaching severity at five (%BS_5dpi) and seven days post-inoculation (%BS_7dpi), as well as for the number of infection points (IPR) and pathogen sporulation (SPO). Chi-square analyses showed that segregation follows a 3:1 Mendelian hypothesis, with a major locus with a dominant allele: %BS_7dpi for IPF 86766 × 'BRS 404' and IPR for 'Santa Fe' x 'BRS 404'. Therefore, this is the first known study to show that the 2NVS translocation responsible for resistance to head blast is a major locus with a dominant allele. In a controlled environment, 'BRS 404' shows bleaching severity and SPO similar with those occurring on IPF 86766 and 'Santa Fe'.

Abstract The objective of this work was to map the chromosomal regions responsible for iron accumulation in rice grains, in Southern Brazil. Eighty-one rice accessions were genotyped and phenotyped for Fe accumulation. Single nucleotide polymorphisms were mapped in the whole grain on chromosomes 1, 5, 6, and 10, from which 13 candidate genes were identified. Some of the genes, such as O s10g040680 0, seem to have a relationship with Fe homeostasis, while others are related to other metabolic processes or have an unknown function.

Remote sensing (RS) in agriculture has been widely used for mapping soil, plant, and atmosphere attributes, as well as helping in the sustainable production of the crop by providing the possibility of application at variable rates and estimating the productivity of agricultural crops. In this way, proximal sensors used by RS help producers in decision-making to increase productivity. This research aims to identify the best feature importance ranking to the Random Forest Classifier to predict cotton yield and select which one best correlates with cotton yield. This work was developed in four commercial fields on a Newellton, LA, USA farm. We evaluated the cotton in different years as 2019, 2020, and 2021. The variables evaluated were: soil parameters, topographic indices, elevation derivatives, and orbital remote sensing. The soil sensor used was: GSSI Profiler EMP400 (soil electromagnetic induction sensor) at a frequency of 15 kHz, and the RS data were collected from satellite images from Sentinel 2 (passive sensor) and active sensor from LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). For training (70%) and validation (30%) of dataset results, Spearman correlation was used between sensors and cotton yield data, machine learning (Random Forest Classifier and Regressor - RFC and RFR). The metric parameters were the coefficient of determination (R²), the Mean Absolute Error (MAE), and the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). This study found that profiler, Sentinel-2 (blue, red, and green), TPI, LiDAR, and RTK elevation show the best correlations to predicting cotton yield.

The use of bioinputs has been intensified in conventional and organic systems. In Brazil, the National Bioinputs Program was instituted to enhance their production and use in crops, and the Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa) launched the Bioinsumos (bioinputs) application, containing the bioproducts registered by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply. This study aimed to identify the classes and number of bioinputs for phytosanitary control included in the Embrapa’s Bioinsumos application with authorized use for the organic agriculture in the country. There are 526 bioinputs for the phytosanitary control of several pests and diseases in various agricultural crops, which are divided into eleven classes, of which only two do not have bioproducts for organic agriculture: microbiological bactericide and pheromone. Despite the number of bioinputs for organic agriculture, in practice, their use is still reduced, what may be related to limited financial resources, lack of knowledge of their existence and the ways of using them. Thus, it is necessary a greater incentive and public guidance for the development of bioinputs with greater accessibility for rural producers, especially for those who work with organic agriculture.

Esse estudo avaliou o efeito da inclusão da torta de cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum Schum.) na alimentação de ovinos em confinamento. Foram avaliados o consumo (em kg dia-1, % PV e kg PV-0, 75), ganho de peso, conversão alimentar, medidas morfométricas da carcaça, características de carcaça, comportamento ingestivo e qualidade da carne. Foram utilizados vinte e cinco ovinos castrados, sem raça definida (SRD), com peso médio vivo inicial de 17,4 (±1,90) kg, mantidos em confinamento até que atingissem 35 kg de peso vivo (PV). As dietas experimentais eram compostas por 26 % de silagem de capim-elefante (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum) e 74 % de concentrado, composto de milho moído, farelo de soja, farelo de trigo, calcário calcítico e torta de cupuaçu, e consistiram na substituição do milho e do farelo de trigo pela torta de cupuaçu nos níveis 0 (controle), 7,4, 14,8, 22,2 e 29,6 % da matéria seca total. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com cinco tratamentos e cinco repetições. A substituição dos alimentos padrões pela torta de cupuaçu não influenciaram (P>0,05) nas variáveis avaliadas, indicando que a torta pode ser utilizada em dietas para ovinos em confinamento em até 30 % da matéria seca total, sem comprometer consumo, características da carcaça e qualidade da carne.

The aim was to evaluate if the inclusion of exogenous amylolytic enzyme affect the nutrient intake and digestibility in ewes fed high-concentrate diets containing flint corn. Five Santa Inês × Dorper crossbred ewes (54.04 ± 4.5 kg and aged 8 months) were used in a 5 x 5 Latin square design. All animals were housed in individual metabolic cages for 60 days. The treatments consisted of a control diet (without amylolytic enzyme) and four inclusion levels of an amylolytic enzyme (3,000, 6,000, 9,000, and 12,000 α-amylase dextrinizing units [DU] kg-1 dry matter [DM]). The enzyme was mixed into the feed at the time of supply to the animals. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, and orthogonal polynomial contrasts were used. Nutrient intake was not influenced by amylolytic enzyme inclusion. The digestibility of DM, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, total carbohydrates, non-fibrous carbohydrates, and gross energy showed a quadratic increase with enzyme inclusion (P

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the daily supplementation with a low dosage of a blend of condensed and hydrolysable tannins on the in vitro and in situ digestibility of protein and fibrous feedstuffs. In situ ruminal incubation assays were conducted on seven protein and five roughage feedstuffs with and without tannin supplementation (1 g/kg DM intake). From these same cattle, rumen fluid was collected for in vitro incubations of the same feedstuffs. In vitro assays we evaluated the gas production (GP) up to 24 h and, sequentially, digestibility of dry matter (IVDMD), crude protein (IVCPD), fiber (IVNDFD), and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N). For in situ assays, the disappearance curves were modeled and then the potentially degradable (), digestion rate (), and undegradable () fractions were estimated. Of all the variables studied, only IVCPD of soybean meal showed effect (P

In Maranhão State, Brazil, soils are naturally acidic, nutrient-deficient, and prone to cohesion and erosion. Removing the natural cover to establish pastures causes physical, chemical, and biological changes in the soil. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the contents and stocks of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and particle-size fractions of soil organic matter (SOM) in pastures with different years of recovery, and compare them with a secondary forest in the Legal Amazon. Four treatments were evaluated: secondary forest, perennial pasture, and perennial pastures recovered for five years and eight years, both of the latter through corn + brachiaria intercropping. The contents and stocks of total organic carbon, total nitrogen, C, and N from the soil organic matter particle-size fractions, as well as the carbon management indexes (CMI) of the 0.00–0.10, 0.10–0.20, 0.20–0.30, and 0.30–0.40 m layers were evaluated. The perennial pasture environment presented the highest total soil C and N contents; however, when observing the granulometric fractions and CMI, these increases were qualitative in relation to the secondary forest. Pasture recovery over eight years contributed to an improvement of soil quality similar to secondary forest, indicating that an increase in SOM quality, quantity, and recovery time related to increased pasture capacity to accumulate C and N in the soil.

ABSTRACT: Brucellosis is a chronic contagious infectious zoonosis that affects the reproductive system of animals, causing economic and health losses. This study diagnosed Brucella spp. in commercial kennels, comparing PCR positivity in different biological samples (blood, semen, and vaginal secretion), as well as correlating these findings with reproductive indices. Hence, we analyzed dogs from kennels in the neighboring cities of Cuiabá and Várzea Grande/MT, Brazil. The reproductive histories of the animals were obtained and blood samples were collected from all animals (n=35); in addition, semen samples were collected from males (n=9) and vaginal swabs were collected from females (n=24) to perform polymerase chain reactions (PCR) for brucellosis. The findings indicated that vaginal swab PCR is an effective test to identify Brucella spp. For males, there were more positive results when testing blood samples, possibly because the male animals were at the beginning stage of infection.

Feijoa sellowiana O. Berg é uma frutífera nativa de grande potencial de cultivo, porém no Brasil existem poucos pomares em escala comercial. Uma das dificuldades à expansão da produção está vinculada a obtenção de mudas clonais pela escassez de protocolos eficientes para a propagação vegetativa. Assim, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a eficiência do antioxidante polivinilpirrolidona (PVP) na estaquia de F. sellowiana. Para isso foram testadas diferentes concentrações de PVP (0, 2000 e 4000mg L-1) aplicados de forma sistêmica, em imersão e associado à solução de ácido indolbutírico (AIB). A aplicação de 4000mg L-1 de PVP na forma sistêmica resultou nas maiores porcentagens de sobrevivência e brotação (47,1 e 25,0%, respectivamente), bem como foi maximizou a formação de calos (50,0%) aos 90 dias e de raízes (47,5%) aos 120 dias de cultivo. O uso de antioxidante polivinilpirrolidona favorece a propagação vegetativa de F. sellowiana por estaquia, podendo apresentar-se como relevante ferramenta na propagação clonal da espécie.

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae is one of the most aggressive baby-lettuce soilborne pathogens. The application of Trichoderma spp. as biocontrol agents can minimize fungicide treatments and their effective targeted use can be enhanced by support of digital technologies. In this work, two Trichoderma harzianum strains achieved 40–50% inhibition of pathogen radial growth in vitro. Their effectiveness in vivo was surveyed by assessing disease incidence and severity and acquiring hyperspectral and thermal features of the canopies being treated. Infected plants showed a reduced light absorption in the green and near-red regions over time, reflecting the disease progression. In contrast, Trichoderma-treated plant reflectance signatures, even in the presence of the pathogen, converged towards the healthy control values. Seventeen vegetation indices were selected to follow disease progression. The thermographic data were informative in the middle–late stages of disease (15 days post-infection) when symptoms were already visible. A machine-learning model based on hyperspectral data enabled the early detection of the wilting starting from 6 days post-infection, and three different spectral regions sensitive to baby-lettuce wilting (470–490 nm, 740–750 nm, and 920–940 nm) were identified. The obtained results pioneer an effective AI-based decision support system (DSS) for crop monitoring and biocontrol-based management.

Viticulture in Rio Grande do Sul (RS), the southernmost state of Brazil, has been changing due to its expansion to new areas in the Campanha Region. Located in the south of the state, these areas have different edaphoclimatic conditions from those existing in the Serra Gaúcha, traditional production region. Thus, the estimation of reference values for leaf nutrient contents specific for the conditions of the Campanha is essential for the correct management of vineyards. Methods such as Mathematical Chance (MCh) enable the determination of sufficiency levels of leaf nutrients by evaluating commercial production areas. This work aimed to estimate reference values for nutrients in leaf tissue of grapevines in the region of Campanha by using the MCh method. Nutritional sufficiency ranges differed from those estimated by the official research for the state. However, they revealed high similarity with the results obtained by other studies carried out in the Campanha Region by using DRIS and CND approaches. Our results demonstrated that the MCh was able to estimate the infra- and supra-optimal limits, as well as the optimal levels for nutrients, indicating that there is potential for foliar diagnosis of vineyards in RS to be performed based on regionalized parameters.

ABSTRACT: Bacillus cereus is a Gram-positive bacterium commonly reported in soils and plants that occupy various ecological habitats, and the main source of contamination for cattle is silage. This report described a case of fetal loss associated with B. cereus infection in a cow. An 8-month-old, Nelore female bovine fetus from a beef farm was submitted for necropsy. A gross examination revealed fibrinous pleuropneumonia and fibrin exudation on the liver surface. The morphological diagnosis was restricted to the lungs and liver. In the lungs there was fibrinosuppurative pleuropneumonia associated with numerous aggregates of rod-shaped bacteria. In the liver there was moderate focally extensive fibrinous peri hepatitis.The lungs, liver, thoracic, and abomasal fluid cultures yielded pure cultures of B. cereus, indicating that these bacteria should be recognized as a cause of bovine abortion in fetuses that macroscopically present fibrin in the abdominal and thoracic cavity.

ABSTRACT Soil quality can be understood as its capacity to provide several essential services within the ecosystem and has been used to understand the impact of different managements, providing information that proves the benefits and your maintenance of the agroecosystem. To understand the impact of different managements, this study aimed to compare the chemical, physical, and biological soil properties in pasture areas managed with different recovery times in an integrated crop-livestock system about perennial pastures and secondary forest. The following management systems were evaluated: Secondary Forest (SF), Perennial Pasture (PP), pasture recovered to five years through the intercropping corn + Brachiaria brizantha (Palisade grass) (ICL5), and pasture recovered to eight years through the intercropping corn + Brachiaria brizantha (Palisade grass) (ICL8). Different soil properties were evaluated, namely: Chemical: pH, H+Al, Al 3+ , P, K + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , TOC, SB, CEC, V, and m; Physical: soil bulk density (Bd), total porosity (Tp), macroporosity (Ma), microporosity (Mi), soil resistance to penetration (Pr), and gravimetric soil water content (GWc); and biological: soil microbial biomass carbon (SMB-C), basal soil respiration (BSR), metabolic quotient (qCO 2 ), and microbial quotient (qMic). Perennial pasture and ICL8 areas were the ones that most contributed to the increase in nutrients (Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , and K + ), TOC and sorption complex. The ICL8 area showed the best results in soil physical variables Ma, Tp, Pr, and GWc were the best results for the ICL8 area. Secondary forest and ICL8 areas presented the best results from SMB-C and qMic. Between periods of pasture recovery through the integration of crops and livestock, the longer the recovery time, the greater its beneficial effects on the different chemical, physical and biological soil properties, overcoming secondary forest and perennial pasture.

This work aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and the initial growth of soybean seedlings originated from seeds produced under influence of soil flooding in the crop reproductive period. The experimental design was totally randomized, organized in factorial scheme being two soybean cultivars x three soil-flooding periods, and the traits were disposed in four repetitions. When submitting soybean plants to flooding at R5 stage, the mass of thousand seeds was reduced independently of the cultivar. The shoot growth and length, shoot dry matter, and roots dry matter characters were negatively influenced due to soil flooding in R5 growth stage. The oxygen deficiency can cause alteration in roots and shoot protein concentration on soybeans seedlings. The aminoacids concentration was stimulated in roots and shoot of seedlings originated from seeds produced under hypoxia conditions.

O presente estudo pretende discorrer sobre os modelos econômicos e medidas de recuperação adotadas por determinados países em épocas de recessão econômica, em especial no atual cenário mundial de pandemia ocasionado pela Covid-19. Utiliza-se como método de pesquisa conceitos sobre políticas econômicas e dados estatísticos relacionados à crise gerada pelo vírus no período de 2020 e 2021. Todas as informações foram coletadas dos livros, artigos, sites especificados na referência bibliográfica deste artigo. A pesquisa revela diversas políticas de intervenção do estado na economia implantadas por alguns países e pelo Brasil, tais como i) transferências de renda imediatas e diretas a indivíduos, trabalhadores autônomos e informais, e pequenas empresas; ii) combate à extrema pobreza; iii) medidas de apoio fiscal e tributário; iv) redução de tempo de trabalho e de salário, e ressarcimento de contribuições sociais; v) garantias para acesso ao crédito; vi) medidas para reforçar o sistema sanitário; vii) medidas de apoio à ciência e tecnologia. Sugere ainda, dentre outros fatores, o controle fiscal para tentar frear o aumento da dívida pública ocorrido principalmente em 2020. Por caminhos nefastos a pandemia revela que a saúde é um bem público, de modo que é necessário dotar a estrutura estatal do mínimo de consciência social. Abstract: The present study intends to discuss the economic models and recovery measures adopted by certain countries in times of economic recession, especially in the current world scenario of the pandemic caused by Covid-19. Concepts about economic policies and statistical data about the crisis generated by the virus period of 2020 and 2021. All information was collected from the books, articles, websites specified in the bibliographic reference of this article are used as a study method. The research reveals several policies of state intervention in the economy implemented by some countries and by Brazil, such as: i) immediate and direct cash transfers to individuals, self-employed and informal workers, and small businesses; ii) combating extreme poverty; iii) fiscal and tax support measures; iv) reduction of working time and salary, and reimbursement of social contributions; v) guarantees for access to credit; vi) measures to strengthen the health system; vii) measures to support science and technology. It also suggests as well as suggesting, among other factors, fiscal control to try to stop the increase in public debt that occurred mainly in 2020. In harmful ways, the pandemic reveals that health is a public good, so it is necessary to provide the state structure with a minimum of social conscience.

ABSTRACT: The growing worldwide demand in the pulp market has fostered research that evaluates alternative fiber sources with specific characteristics that attend the needs of the consumer market, with a view to add value to the final product and reduce production costs. Acacia mearnsii De Wild wood is a by-product of the extraction of tannin from the trunk bark, used for firewood, charcoal and pellets. However, its wood is still poorly studied, especially its anatomical characteristics, which can provide important information about its industrial potential. This study evaluated the anatomical characteristics of Acacia mearnsii wood for the production of pulp and paper. Ten trees at approximately seven years old were cut down, five from the seed production area (SPA) and five from the clonal population area (CPA). From each tree, one trunk disc was sectioned at the diameter at breast height (DBH), resulting in 10 (ten) wood samples. From each disc, a sapwood specimen was made oriented in the tangential longitudinal, radial longitudinal and transversal planes, for later obtaining the anatomical cuts and the macerates. The anatomical description of the wood followed the recommendations of the International Association of Wood Anatomists-IAWA. From the dimensions of the fibers, their quality evaluation ratios for the production of pulp and paper were calculated. Results obtained from the anatomical characterization allowed to conclude that the Acacia mearnsii woods from SPA and CPA are indicated as a source of raw material for the pulp and paper production.

The post-mortem inspection process of livestock viscera at abattoirs is expensive and laborious, but it is essential for the detection and condemnation of defective edible organs and carcases due to food safety issues. Lesions in hearts, kidneys, livers, lungs, and their associated lymph nodes are amongst the most common offal defects found in abattoirs. Visible (VIS) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) hyperspectral imaging implemented in a multisensory platform were used to differentiate between sheep parenchymatous organs passed as fit (Healthy, n = 42) or not fit (Diseased, n = 47) for human consumption. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and random forest (RF) were used to classify organs as healthy or diseased in heart (n = 28), kidney (n = 15), liver (n = 24), and lung (n = 22). PLS-DA produced equal or greater classification accuracy and sensitivity than RF for all organs except for lung when the VIS sensor was used (means 84.4% and 78.3%, respectively). Livers and hearts (86.9%) showed higher accuracy than lungs and kidneys (75.9%). Limited differences occurred between VIS and SWIR sensors, although a single sensor tended to be more accurate than a combination of both. SWIR outperformed VIS in accuracy across all organs (84.8% vs. 76.3%), and the combination of VIS and SWIR was also accurate (83.0%). The use of hyperspectral imaging is an attractive proposition for the meat processing industry as a non-invasive imaging technology to detect defects in offal, and it can also provide automatic detection, saving time and labour costs.