Relationship between follicle size and ultrasound-guided transvaginal oocyte recovery

We evaluated the relationship between follicle size and oocyte recovery (OR) using ultrasound-guided follicle aspiration. Thirty Holstein cows were subjected to OR without gonadotrophic therapy. Oocytes were recovered two to four times from each cow in a total of 67 aspiration sessions, Ovarian follicles with diameters less than or equal to4 mm and >4 mm were aspirated in separated groups. Recovered oocytes from each group were kept separate and submitted to in vitro maturation, fertilization, and culture to the blastocyst stage. A total of 430 follicles were aspirated, of which 154 (35.8%) were from follicles >4 mm and 276 (64.2%) were from follicles less than or equal to4 mm. Seventy-seven oocytes (50%) were recovered from follicles >4 mm and 200 (72.2%) were from follicles less than or equal to4 mm. Nineteen blastocysts were obtained from follicles >4 mm, whereas 45 blastocysts were obtained from follicles less than or equal to4 mm. Recovery rate was greater (P < 0.01) in follicles less than or equal to4 mm, Oocyte quality, cleavage rate and blastocyst development did not differ between different follicle sizes. Routine aspiration of small follicles (less than or equal to4 mm) could increase the number of oocytes available for in vitro development. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of insulin-like growth factor-1 during in vitro oocyte maturation and in vitro culture of bovine embryos

Avaliaram-se o efeito do IGF-I na maturação in vitro (MIV) (experimento I) e no desenvolvimento embrionário (DE) (experimento II) de oócitos bovinos fecundados in vitro, quanto às taxas de clivagem (TC), de blastocistos (TB) e de eclosão (TE). Para MIV, complexos cumulus-oócitos imaturos foram cultivados em meio TCM-199 suplementado com HEPES, bicarbonato e piruvato de sódio, aditivos, soro fetal bovino (meio B-199) e gonadotrofinas 14U/ml de PMSG e 7U/ml de hCG). Para o desenvolvimento embrionário, os oócitos/zigotos foram cultivados em meio B-199 com células epiteliais do oviduto bovino em suspensão sob óleo de silicone. As condições de cultivo in vitro para ambos os experimentos seguiram os tratamentos: 1- meio B-199 + 200 ng/ml IGF-I; 2- B-199 + 100 ng/ml IGF-I; 3- B-199 + 50 ng/ml IGF-I; 4- B-199 + 10 ng/ml IGF-I; 5- B-199 + 0 ng/ml IGF-I. Todas as culturas foram realizadas a 38,5° C em atmosfera com 5% de CO2 e os dados foram analisados pelo teste do qui-quadrado. No experimento I, não houve diferença (P>0,05) entre os tratamentos quanto às TC, TB e TE, quando o meio de MIV foi suplementado com IGF-I. No experimento II, a adição de IGF-I ao meio de DE resultou em aumento na TC (P<0,05) mas não influenciou a TB e a TE. A adição de 200 ng/ml de IGF-I ao meio DE melhorou a TC (71,1%) quando comparada com a TC dos grupos de 100 ng/ml de IGF-I (57,6%) ou controle (56,7%), entretanto não houve diferença quando comparada com a dos grupos de 50 ng/ml (69,4%) ou 10 ng/ml (73,1%) de IGF-I. Não houve efeito benéfico na adição de 10 a 200 ng/ml de IGF-I nos meios de MIV e de DE com relação ao desenvolvimento de embriões produzidos a partir de oócitos maturados e fecundados in vitro.

Karyoplast exchange between strontium- and 6-DMAP-parthenogenetically activated zygotes of cattle

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Observation of the embryonic development in Pseudoplatystoma coruscans (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) under light and scanning electron microscopy

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus mineralization in two soils amended with distillery yeast

The possibility of using yeast from alcohol distilleries as a source of nutrients in soil was investigated. The following treatments were used: no fertilization (control), 0.5% (w/w) yeast, 1% (w/w) yeast, and NPK. The decomposition of yeast was monitored for 90 days in two soils. The CO, production and the microbial biomass were increased by art average of 1- to 3-fold by yeast incorporation compared to control. Protease activity also was enhanced 3- to 8-fold in the soils supplemented with yeast compared to control. The phosphatase activities were higher than control only during the first days. While nitrate contents increased in all treatments compared to control, available P only increased in the soils amended with 1%, yeast or NPK by 45-119% and 309-489%, respectively. These results indicate that there exists an excellent potential for the use of yeast in the soil as a source of nitrate and available P for plant nutrition. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cattle manure and N-urea in radish crop (Raphanus sativus)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Resposta do capim-tanzânia à aplicação de manganês

The objective was to evaluate the influence of the manganese nutritional status, growth and dry matter production of Tanzania grass. For this, we used plants of Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzania grown in pots filled with Oxisol (Mn = 0.6 mg dm(-3)). The experimental design was completely randomized, with five doses of manganese (0, 15, 30, 60 and 120 mg dm(-3)) and four replications. The plant shoot were harvested twice, the first 42 days after sowing and the second, 30 days after the first cut. In the two sections were evaluated the number of tillers and leaves, steam diameter, plant height, shoot dry matter and in shoot-Mn concentration and root dry matter after the second cut. The application of manganese in the soil increased the levels of this nutrient in the soil and their uptake by grass, which was more than four times fold higher in the second cut compared to the first cut. The use of high rates of Mn did not affect the growth of Panicum maximum, and decreased dry matter production only for the sum of two cuts, indicating high tolerance of forage of Mn toxicity. The toxicity of Mn in forage was associated with leaf content in the first and second cut of 1,238 and 1,418 mg kg(-1), respectively.

Bacterial diversity in soil in response to different plans, phosphate fertilizers and liming

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

CABBAGE GROWTH and PRODUCTION IN RELATION TO PLANT DENSITY and NITROGEN

At present, the Brazilian market prefers cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) of smaller size, which can be achieved by increasing population density; yet this management can alter the optimum rate of nitrogen (N), its second most required nutrient. This study was conducted in the Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil, from February to June 2004. The objective was to evaluate the effect of population density: 31 250 (DI) and 46 875 plants ha(-1) (D2) with 0, 100, 200 and 300 kg N ha-1 on the growth and production of cabbage Astrus. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement and three replicates. Statistical analysis were a variance analysis (F test), the Tukey test for population density averages and polynomial regression for the N rates. In D1, an increase was recorded in the number of inner and outer leaves, dry matter of inner and outer leaves, the stem diameter at the insertion of the head, and the stem dry and fresh matter. The maximum size of the plant in D2 was 1.57 kg and was obtained with 300 kg N ha(-1), while in D1 it was 2.1 kg and was obtained with 244 kg N ha(-1). The optimal economic rate in 131 was 227.1 kg N ha(-1). The highest yield (72.7 t ha(-1)) was obtained with the highest N rate in D2. Smaller cabbage heads, commercially preferred, were obtained without the application of N, regardless of plant population.

Soil organic matter as a function of nitrogen fertilization in crop successions

A interdependência dos ciclos de C e N reflete-se nos teores de matéria orgânica do solo (MOS). em um delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, com parcelas sub-subdivididas, tendo como tratamento principal cinco doses de nitrogênio de cobertura na cultura do milho (0; 60; 120; 180 e 240 kg ha-1 de N), como tratamento secundário, as sucessões milho-milho e soja-milho, e como sub-subtratamento, duas profundidades de amostragem (0 a 0.2 e 0.2 a 0.4 cm), avaliaram-se os teores de MOS e de C orgânico nas frações solúvel em água (C-SA), ácidos húmicos (C-AH), ácidos fúlvicos (C-AF) e humina (C-H), por meio do método clássico de fracionamento químico, em um Latossolo Vermelho eutrófico, de textura argilosa. A adubação nitrogenada não afetou os teores de MOS, mas favoreceu a síntese de compostos da fração C-AH. Houve efeito quadrático das doses de N nos teores de C-SA e de C-AF na sucessão milho-milho. A sucessão soja-milho resultou em maiores teores de MOS e de C orgânico na fração humina.

Tolerance to iron chlorosis in non-grafted quince seedlings and in pear grafted onto quince plants

Grafting is a technique that may affect plant tolerance to iron chlorosis in plants cultivated for their fruit. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the tolerance of non-grafted quince seedlings and pear grafted onto quince plants cultivated in pots with alkaline soil. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the University of Cordoba, Spain, in pots (3 L) filled with alkaline soil, with one plant per pot. The treatments consisted of two genotypes, quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill) semi-woody rooted cuttings, cultivar BA29, and pear (Pyrus Communis L.), cultivar Ercolini, grafted onto quince cultivar BA29 (rootstock), and two nutrient solutions with and without iron (80 mu M Fe-EDDHA) arranged in a completely random design with eight repetitions. Each pot received 250 mL of the nutrient solution on June 3rd, 2010. Chlorophyll indirect measurements and the main stem length were evaluated for six weeks after the commencement of the treatments. During the last week, the main stem dry matter weight and the leaf total iron content were determined. It was found that grafting pear seedlings onto quince rootstock resulted in a higher tolerance to iron deficiency than when quince was not grafted. Non-grafted quince plants without iron in the nutrient solution, compared to the results with its application, showed low SPAD (Soil-Plant Analyses Development) values and resulted in plants with a lower leaf iron content and lower dry matter production; however, decreased seedling stem growth was observed only in the last week of cultivation.

Modos de aplicação de zinco na nutrição e no crescimento inicial da cultura do arroz

The present research had he objective to evaluate rice response to zinc application forms on the nutrition, growth and dry matter production, in vase conditions. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design, with five treatments (leaf Zn, incorporated Zn, located Zn, Zn saw seed and witness - whitout zinc), in four repetitions during two cycles of cultivation with 42 days of duration each. Plastic vase of 7L, were filled with Red Distrofic Latosol (Zn = 0.3 mg dm(-3) in DTPA). The application of Zn saw soil in both culture of the rice improved its level in the soil, being distinguished it from located form. In the first cycle, the application of Zn saw leaf promoted greater absorption of the nutrient for the rice plants, while in the second cycle leaf application was followed by the saw soil incorporated. The biggest dry matter production occurred with application of leaf saw in the first cycle and saw soil (incorporated and located) in the second rice cultivation.

Modos de aplicação de zinco na nutrição e na produção de matéria seca do milho BRS 1001

The culture of the maize is responsive the fertilization with zinc, however, its efficiency can be affected by the method of aplication. Thus, this work had as objective to evaluate the effect of the methods of zinc application in the nutritional state and the initial growth of the culture of the maize. The experiment was in a completely randomized design, with five treatments in four repetitions. The experimental unit was composed for a pot (7 L) filled with a distrofic Red Latosol, clayey texture, with four plants of maize. The treatments had been constituted by four ways of zinc application: in the soil incorporated (3 mg Zn dm(-3)), and located (1 mg Zn dm(-3)); foliar (solution of 23 mg Zn L(-1)); e in seed (40 g Zn kg(-1) of seed) and beyond the witness (control). The treatments had been applied during two cultivation of 42 days, except the Zn incorporated in the soil. In the end of each culture, the cut of the plants for the evaluation of the growth variable (leaf height, number, the diameter of stems and dry matter) and the determination of the zinc text was carried through in the soil and the aerial part. The zinc application promoted increment in the height and the production of matter of the maize. The zinc application soil (incorporated and located), foliar and seed had been similar in the initial development of the culture, however, the foliar way promoted greater absorption of the nutrient for the plant.

Aplicação de zinco em sementes de sorgo cv. BRS 304: efeitos na nutrição e no crescimento inicial

The effect of zinc applied in seeds oil the nutrition of sorghum is affected by the sources and applied rate. The present work aimed to evaluate zinc application, front two sources, on the nutrition and initial growth of a culture of sorghum cv. BRS 304, cultivated in sand. The treatments consisted of five rites (0, 14.3, 28.6, 57.2 and 114.4 g kg(-1) of seed) and two zinc sources - sulphate (22% Zn) and oxide (50% Zn). At 25 days after sowing, the plants were cut. The aerial and root dry mass was evaluated, and the levels and accumulation of Zn in the plants were determined. The of seeds, in oxide form, provided adequate initial growth of application or 14 g Zn kg(-1) sorglitim cv. BRS 304. The sulphate source promoted greater absorption of Zn for the plants, reaching in its highest dosis, high levels of the nutrient in the aerial part (> 4170 mg kg(-1)) and developing characteristic symptoms of phytoxicity.

Marcha de absorção dos micronutrientes para mudas de goiabeiras cultivares Paluma e Século XXI

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)