Anticoccidial effects of coumestans from Eclipta alba for sustainable control of Eimeria tenella parasitosis in poultry production

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anticoccidial efficacy of a product containing coumestans from Eclipta alba. Experimental conditions were set up as to reproduce the environment conditions for husbandry adopted in commercial broiler farms. Broilers were raised in broiler chicken shed provided with feeders, drinkers, illumination and temperature control systems and floor covering to afford an adequate nourishing environment. Male Cobb broilers (240) were assigned to four experimental groups being each experimental group set apart in rice straw-covered shed isolated with wire mesh. One-day-old broilers were reared in a coccidian-free environment with ad libitum supply of filtered water and freely available standard feed, from the 1st to the 35th day of life. The T1 group received standard feed (negative control); T2 was treated with standard feed supplemented with 66 ppm of salinomycin (positive control); groups T3 and T4 had standard feed supplemented with the ethyl acetate fraction from methanolic extract of E. alba aerial parts, which contains the coumestans WL and DWL (120 and 180 ppm, respectively). The chicken broilers were individually infected with 2 x 104 oocysts of Eimeria tenella when they were 14 days old and were monitored weekly to evaluate zootechnical parameters such as weight gain and food conversion ratio. Counting of coccidial oocyst in chiken feces was assessed from random samples, from the 21st to 28th days of life, which corresponded to 7-14 days after the infection. Five chickens selected at random from each experimental group were subsequently euthanized at 21, 28 or 35 days of life to determine the lesion score in the cecal region and to excise a cecum portion for histopathological evaluation. The group treated with coumestans from E. alba presented an average weight gain and food conversion ratio higher than the negative control group and similar to the mean value of the positive control group. Coumestan-treated groups showed a significant decrease in the oocyst counting since the 21th day of life and displayed a reduced number of macroscopic lesions. Histopathological evaluations of cecum fragments showed that both treatments induced the migration of defense cells at the site of infection. A severe destruction of the cecal lining was found in the intestinal tract of broilers fed with a coumestans dose of 180 ppm. Overall, our results validate the use of a phytotherapy containing E. alba coumestans at a dose of 120 ppm as a therapeutic or prophylactic agent against avian coccidiosis. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluación de dosis del herbicida Pyribenxozim (Pyanchor 5 ec) aplicados en post emergencia temprana, para el control de arvenses en época seca en el cultivo de arroz (Oryza sativa L) Timal, Tipitapa, 2006

El presente estudio se realizó en febr ero del año 2006, en Tipi tapa, municipio del departamento de Managua, Km 26 carretera norte. En la zona arrocera el Timal, finca del pivote 34, del señor Freddy González, con el objetivo de ev aluar la eficiencia de tres dosis del herbicida Pyribenxozim (pyanc hor 5 EC) aplicado en post emergencia temprana para el control de arvenses en el cultivo de arroz (Oryza sativa L), de riego en época seca. El experimento se estableció en un lote comercial, en un Diseño de Bloque Completo al Azar (BCA), con cinco tratamientos y cuatro repeticiones. Las variables evaluadas en este estudio fueron: composición florística, cobertura, Efectividad del herbicida sobre las arvenses selectividad (Fitotoxicidad) y rendimiento. Las dosis del producto evaluado en el ensayo fueron: T1- (Pyribenxozim 5 EC 0.8 l/ha), T2 - (Pyribenxozim 5 EC 1.0 l/ha), T3 - (Pyribenxozim 5 EC 1.2 l/ha), T4 - (Testigo comercial Bispiribac Sodico (Nominee) 40 SC 1.0 l/ha) (muy utilizado en la zona) y T5 - (Testigo absoluto). En los resultados, se identificaron las arvenses que predominaban en el cultivo, las principales familias predominantes fueron las Poaceae. Los mayores porcentajes de c obertura se encontraron en T1- (Pyribenxozim 5 EC 0.8 l/ha) y el T5 - (Testigo absoluto). Los tres tratamientos evaluados de pyanchor 5 EC controlaron eficientemente las principales arvenses presentes. Sin embargo el mejor resultado sobre el detrimento de las arvenses fue la dosis de 1.2 l/ ha de Pyanchor 5 EC en la que se encontró un 97 % de control. En cuanto a la efectividad sobre el tipo de especies, se observó, que ninguna de las dosis estudiadas logro afectar a las especies Leptochloa filiformis L y Eclipta alba L mismo efecto se observó en el tratamiento en el que se uso el producto comercial Bispir ibac Sodico (Nominee) 40 SC 1.0 l/ha. El herbicida Pyribenxozim (pyanchor 5 EC), es un producto selectivo con respecto al cultivo de arroz. Según esto s resultados, en el rendimien to del cultivo ninguno de los tratamientos afecto su calidad y cantidad según características de la variedad. En cuanto a la probación y registro del producto por el MAG FOR, basado en los resultados obtenidos este actualmente fue aceptado y esta siendo aplicado por los productores de arroz.

Influence of selected Indian immunostimulant herbs against white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection in black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon with reference to haematological, biochemical and immunological changes

Immunostimulants are the substances, which enhance the non-specific defence mechanism and provide resistance against the invading pathogenic micro-organism. In order to increase the immunity of shrimps against the WSSV, the methanolic extracts of five different herbal medicinal plants like Cyanodon dactylon, Aegle marmelos, Tinospora cordifolia, Picrorhiza kurooa and Eclipta alba were selected and mixed thoroughly in equal proportion. The mixed extract was supplemented with various concentrations viz. 100 (A), 200 (B), 400 (C), and 800 (D) mg kg(-1) through artificial diets individually. The prepared diets (A-D) were fed individually to WSSV free healthy shrimp Penaeus monodon with an average weight of 8.0 +/- 0.5 g for 25 days. Control diet (E), devoid of herbal extract was also fed to shrimps simultaneously. After 25 days of feeding experiment, the shrimps were challenged with WSSV, which were isolated and propagated from the infected crustaceans. The shrimps succumbed to death within 7 days when fed on no herbal immunostimulant diet (E). Among the different concentrations of herbal immunostimulant supplemented diets, the shrimps fed on diet D (800 mg kg(-1)) significantly (P < 0.0001) had more survival (74%) and reduction in the viral load. Also the better performance of haematological, biochemical and immunological parameters was found in the immunostimulant incorporated diets fed shrimps. The present work revealed that the application of herbal immunostimulants will be effective against shrimp viral pathogenesis and they can be recommended for shrimp culture. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Atividade alelopática de extratos aquosos de plantas medicinais na germinação de Lactuca sativa L. e Bidens pilosa L.

O potencial alelopático de quatro diferentes extratos de plantas medicinais (Eclipta alba, Gomphrena globosa, Tabernaemontana catharinensis e Tithonia diversifolia) foi avaliado na germinação de Bidens pilosa e Lactuca sativa. Dentre os resultados obtidos no teste de germinação, notou-se um maior poder inibitório do extrato de G. globosa sobre sementes e plântulas de Bidens pilosa e Lactuca sativa independente da concentração utilizada e aumento da atividade inibitória de extratos T. catharinensis e de T. diversifolia com aumento da concentração destes. Quanto ao Índice de Velocidade de Germinação, os dados demonstraram redução do índice devido a elevada mortalidade das plântulas submetidas aos extratos de G. globosa e de T. catharinensis e a germinação tardia das sementes submetidas ao extrato de T. diversifolia. Quanto ao vigor das sementes, as menores porcentagens de sobrevivência ocorreram extratos à 2,5% para B. pilosa e 10% para L. sativa.

Levantamento fitossociológico das comunidades de plantas infestantes em áreas de produção de arroz irrigado cultivado sob diferentes sistemas de manejo

O presente trabalho de pesquisa teve como objetivo identificar a composição florística de comunidades de plantas daninhas presentes em áreas agrícolas de várzea, manejadas em diferentes sistemas. O trabalho foi desenvolvido em áreas de produção de arroz irrigado das cooperativas: Cooperativas Mista Rural Vale do Javaés e Cooperativa Agroindustrial Rio Formoso, em Formoso do Araguaia-TO. Foram separadas três áreas de 1 ha, sendo: 1 - área sem rotação de culturas (arroz/pousio) há mais de cinco anos; 2 - área com rotação de culturas (arroz/soja) há mais de cinco anos; 3 - área com rotação de culturas (arroz/melancia) há mais de dois anos. Para caracterização e estudo fitossociológico da comunidade infestante foi utilizado, como unidade amostral, um quadro (1,0 x 1,0 m), lançado aleatoriamente dentro da área de estudo (método do quadrado inventário), por meio de um caminhamento em ziguezague. Na área sem rotação, foram identificadas 8 famílias e 16 espécies, destacando-se a família Poaceae com maior número espécies; Fimbristylis miliacea (Cyperaceae) foi a espécie com o maior índice de importância relativa (84,46%). Na área com rotação arroz/soja, foram identificadas 8 famílias e 12 espécies, destacando-se as famílias Poaceae e Cyperaceae com maior número espécies; Cyperus esculentus (Cyperaceae) foi a espécie com o maior índice de importância relativa (91,4%). Na área com rotação arroz/melancia foram identificadas seis famílias e oito espécies, destacando-se as famílias Euphorbiaceae e Lamiaceae com maior número espécies; Physalis angulata (Solanaceae) foi a espécie com o maior índice de importância relativa (153,1%), seguida por Eclipta alba (Compositae) e Hyptis lophanta (Lamiaceae), com 40,45 e 37,6%, respectivamente.

Enraizamento de plantas cultivadas in vitro

The adventitious rooting process of in vitro cultured plantlets is a technique that has been employed for the vegetative propagation of a significant number of native and exotic species. Many factors are associated with the rooting stage influencing positive and/or negatively the establishment of micropropagation protocols. The objective of this work was a literature review of the main inherent factors concerning in vitro rooting process including the correlation among others the endogenous and exogenous auxins levels, juvenility, genotype, mineral nutrition, culture medium conditions, addition of growth regulators and other substances as phenolic compounds and active coal besides growth environmental conditions of in vitro cultures. Although the complete elucidation of all processes involved with rooting of in vitro cultured plants has not been achieved so far, a comprehensive study of the main factors that interfere on rooting is fundamental for the establishment of new researches that might contribute for the rooting of economically important plants.

EFFECT OF SORGHUM SEED TREATMENT IN BURKINA FASO VARIES WITH BASELINE CROP PERFORMANCE AND GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

Sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is a major subsistence crop throughout the region of Sahel. With the exception of seeds and labour, no agricultural inputs are in general used in sorghum production since the grain is of a relatively low commercial value and the risk of losing the crop to drought, flooding, etc. is substantial. A meta-analysis of 118 field experiments was carried out to identify conditions in which two protective seed treatments could support a yield increase of sorghum in Burkina Faso. The two treatments were: i) treatment with the pesticide Calthio C (thiram and chlorpyrifos) and ii) treatment with an aqueous extract from the plant Eclipta alba . Both treatments were found to produce a yield increase (Medians: Calthio C +199 kg ha-1, P<2x10-9; E. alba +90.5 kg ha-1 P<4x10-4). A strong relative effect of Calthio C on yield (+36%) was found for field experiments with a low baseline yield. A strong relative effect of E. alba extract on yield (+22%) was found for experiments with a low baseline of emergence. ANOVA of the 118 field tests showed that baseline crop performance (yield and emergence) and the effect of seed treatments were strongly linked to geographical location (twelve different villages included). Roots from sorghum in the village showing the strongest effect of both seed treatments (>40% yield increase) were found to carry a comparatively high load of the infectious ascomycetes: Fusarium equiseti , Macrophomina phaseolina and Curvularia lunata .

Un nuevo Lorca alemán: por ejemplo Bodas de Sangre y La Casa de Bernarda Alba

Eterio Pajares, Raquel Merino y José Miguel Santamaría (eds.)

Euskadi Irratiko (EITB) eta Radio nan Gàidheal-go (BBC ALBA) kazetarien profil eta jarreren alderaketa

337 p.

Impacto da política externa venezuelana na conformação da coesão social na América Latina: o caso ALBA

Esta dissertação avalia o impacto da política externa venezuelana na conformação de coesão social dentro dos países membros da Aliança Bolivariana para los Pueblos de Nuestra América (ALBA), especificamente Nicarágua, Bolívia e Equador, analisando aquelas políticas aplicadas durante o mandato do Presidente Hugo Chávez desde a criação do esquema de integração. Trabalha com a hipótese de que existe uma mudança dentro dos países da ALBA no que se refere à geração de coesão social a partir da aplicação de políticas externas que formam parte do chamado Socialismo do Século XXI. Este processo será analisado a partir de três pilares fundamentais da coesão social: distância, institucionalidade e senso de pertencimento, que se encontram dentro dos componentes estabelecidos pela Comissão Econômica para América Latina e o Caribe (CEPAL).

Dendrorremediación: El uso de Betula alba para monitorizar y reducir el contenido de metales en suelos mineros.

[EN] The intense industrial activity that took place over the past century resulted in large contaminated áreas. This is an important risk to human health and environmental safety. Recent biotechnological techniques for bioremediation include phytoremediation, which uses plants to remove or stabilize contaminants in soils. In our study we choose birch (Betula alba) as the preferred species to remedy mining soils, due to it produces a large biomass and can accumulate high levels of toxic elements in its tissues. The aim of this study was (i) to determine the possibility of using this species in reforestation and/or remediation of mining soils (ii) to elucidate the potential of tocopherol levels as indicators of heavy metal pollution. Trees growing in mining soils with high concentrations of Zn, Cd and Pb were sampled and the metal content in various organs and in tree rings was analyzed. α-tocoferol levels were also analyzed as an indicator of stress. The results showed a different distribution of metals in plant tissues. Zn and Cd had a higher accumulation in leaves, whereas Pb was stored in the timber. In addition, the metal content in tree rings was higher in older rings, leading to a conclusion that older tissues present a detoxification strategy. Furthermore, we saw how the presence of α- tocoferol on branches can be an indicator of metal stress in plants and it can be also used as a monitoring factor.