Nitrogen fertilization in common bean crops under no-tillage and conventional systems.

Nitrogen fertilization in common bean crops under no-tillage and conventional systems. Nitrogen fertilizer is necessary for high yields in common bean crops and N responses under conditions of no-tillage and conventional systems are still basic needs. Thus, the objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of N application and common bean yield in no-tillage and conventional systems. The experimental design was a randomized block in a factorial scheme (2x8+1) with four replications. The treatments were constituted by the combination of two N doses (40 and 80 kg ha(-1)) applied at side dressing at eight distinct stadia during vegetative development of the common bean (V(4-3), V(4-4), V(4-5), V(4-6), V(4-7), V(4-8), V(4-9) and V(4-10)), in addition to a control plot without N in side dressing. The experiment was conducted over two years (2002 and 2003) in no-tillage on millet crop residues and conventional plow system. It was concluded that N fertilizer at the V(4) stadium of common bean promotes similar seed yields in no-tillage and conventional systems. Yield differences between no-tillage and conventional systems are inconsistent in the same agricultural area.

Evaluation of two semi-selective media to detect Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens in bean seeds

Evaluation of two semi-selective media to detect Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens in bean seeds This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of the semi-selective MSCFF and modified CNS culture media in detecting Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens (Cff) in bean seeds, using the streak and spread plate techniques. Four 500 g subsamples, obtained from two samples of bean seeds, were immersed in 600 mL of sterile distilled water for 18 h at 5 degrees C. Suspensions were picked and transferred to plates with both culture media. Plates were then incubated at 28 degrees C, and bacterial growth on both media was evaluated 72 and 144 hours later, compared to the growth of a Cff reference strain. Both media revealed the presence of Cff colonies. Typical colonies were isolated for PCR analyses and pathogenicity tests on tobacco leaves. A characteristic Cff growth on MSCFF medium was observed for the seed samples, for the two plate techniques used, in both evaluations. On the modified CNS culture medium, the bacterial growth was only detected in seed samples after 144 hours of incubation, regardless of the plate technique used. The results showed Cff grew faster on the MSCFF semi-selective culture medium. Bacterial isolates tested were identified as Cff by both PCR analyses and a positive tobacco hypersensitivity reaction.

Nutrition in bean plants and anthracnose intensity in function of silicon and copper application.

Nutrition in bean plants and anthracnose intensity in function of silicon and copper application. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of calcium silicate and copper sulfate on anthracnose intensity and nutrition of bean plants. The experiment was conducted using an experimental design in randomized blocks following a 4 x 4 factorial arrangement , (four levels of calcium silicate and four levels of copper sulfate) and two additional treatments (plants without inoculation and plants sprinkled with Benomyl). Four evaluations of the incidence and severity of anthracnose were done, in addition to measuring, total leaf area. At the end of the evaluations, incidence: and data were integrated over time, obtaining the area under disease progress curve (AUDPC). Contents of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Si and lignin were determined in the aerial Part. A linear decrease of the intensity AUDPC was observed with the increase of the doses of calcium silicate. The severity AUDPC was influenced by the doses of copper, obtaining a reduction of 35% on the higher dosage. The supply of silicon and copper altered the content of the K, mg, S, Zn, Ca and Si in the aerial part of the bean plants.

Nitrogen in common bean in no-tillage system over gramineae

An adequate supply of nitrogen is essential for high yield of common bean seeds; however, the responses to this nutrient in no-tillage systems can vary in function of the species and the amount of straw present. The aim of this research was to evaluate response of the common bean to N in no-tillage systems over maize, millet and Brachiaria brizantha crop residues. Three experiments were conducted, one for each gramineous species. The experimental design was a randomized block in a 5x2x2 factorial scheme, with five N doses (0, 30, 60, 90, 120 kg ha(-1)), in two distinct stadia during the vegetative development (3(rd) and 6(th) trifoliate leaf) and two common bean cultivars (IPR Juriti and Perola), with four replications. The IPR Juriti produced a greater number of pods per plant and showed lower mass per 100 seeds than Perola. It did not show variation in bean yield when the sidedressing N application was carried out in the 3(rd) or 6(th) trifoliate leaf stadia. Based on the obtained results, one concludes that the seed productivity of common beans increases linearly with N doses in a no-tillage system over maize residues.

Mycovirus in Pseudocercospora griseola, the causal agent of angular leaf spot in common bean

Pseudocercospora griseola (Sacc.) Crous &. Braun is a widespread fungal phytopathogen that is responsible for angular leaf spot in the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). A number of fungal phytopathogens have been shown to harbour mycoviruses, and this possibility was investigated in populations of Pseudocercospora griseola. The total nucleic acid extracts of 61 fungal isolates were subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis. Small fragments (800-4800 bp) could be identified in 42 of the samples. The presence of dsRNA in isolate Ig838 was confirmed by treatment of total nucleic acid with DNase, RNase A, and nuclease S I. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of viral-like particles 40 nm in diameter in the mycelia of 2 fungal isolates, namely 29-3 and Ig838. The transmission of dsRNA by means of conidia was 100% for isolate 29-3, but there was loss of 1-6 fragments of dsRNA in monosporic colonies of isolate Ig848. Cycloheximide treatment failed to inhibit the mycovirus in isolate 29-3, but proved efficient in the elimination of the 2.2, 2.0, 1.8, 1.2 and 1.0 kb fragments in 2 colonies of isolate Ig848. The occurrence of a mycovirus in Pseudocercospora griseola was demonstrated for the first time in the present study.

The effect of storage on the solubilization pattern of bean hull non-starch polysaccharides

The storage of Carioca bean at 30 C and 75% relative humidity for eight months altered the solubilization pattern of hulls non-starch polysaccharides The polysaccharide physicochemical pattern changed resulting in a shift in the composition of water-soluble and water-insoluble polysaccharides caused by the insolubilization of galacturonans and xyloglucan Hulls make up 10% of whole beans which showed an increase of about 5% in water-insoluble polysaccharides and a decrease of about 1% in water-soluble polysaccharides with aging These values suggest that cotyledons and hulls together account for an increase of about 2 g of water-insoluble polysaccharides and a decrease of 1 5 g of water-soluble polysaccharides per 100 g of beans This change in the polysaccharide composition may produce a considerable difference in the dietary fiber profile The alterations observed in bean hull non-starch polysaccharide composition were similar to those previously observed in the cotyledon (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved

Effect of cooking on non-starch polysaccharides of hard-to-cook beans

Experiments carried out to study changes induced by hard-to-cook (HTC) phenomenon in the non-starch polysaccharides of beans stored at 30 degrees C and 75% RH for 8 months showed that the development of HTC did not affect the amounts of soluble and insoluble fibre in cooked seeds but changed their carbohydrates physical properties. Aged beans non-starch polysaccharides presented lower water-solubility and underwent lower degradation of galacturonans and arabinose-rich polysaccharides when submitted to cooking. The decrease in non-starch polysaccharides water-solubility produced a shift in the polymers fractionation profile which resulted in an increase of weak and middle-alkali soluble polymers bulk as well as in their arabinose and uronic acid contents. Uronic acid contents were higher in polymers released by 1 M NaOH and in the cellulose-rich residues while the arabinose contents were higher in the mild-alkali soluble polymers of aged seeds. Methylation analysis showed no evident alterations in the xyloglucans and arabinans branching degree with beans ageing. However, both, the molecular mass of water-soluble pectins and CDTA-soluble pectins, increased. Even though changes in the non-starch polysaccharide solubility were not related to the decrease in the arabinan and xyloglucan degree of branching they may be related to the formation of new chemical interactions other than hydrogen bond. There was a correlation between acidic and neutral polysaccharides insolubilisation in beans ageing and probably in beans hardening. After processing, aged seeds present higher amounts of insoluble fibre when compared to normal beans. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

EVALUATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF THE PROTEINIC QUALITY OF THE GENETICALLY MODIFIED AND ORGANIC SOY BEANS IN THE GROWTH OF TWO GENERATIONS OF RATS WISTAR

Feijo, T.S., Cardozo, SX, Daleprane, J.B., Sabaa Srur, A.U.O. & Boaventura, G.T. [Evaluation of the influence of the proteinic quality of the genetically modified and organic soy beans in the growth of two generations of rats Wistar.] Avaliacao da influencia da qualidade proteica da soja geneticamente modificada e organica no crescimento de duas geracoes de ratos Wistar. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinaria, 31(3):139-144, 2009. Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Patologia, Hospital Universitario Antonio Pedro. Centro de Ciencias Medicas, Universidade Federal Fluminense. Rua Marques do Parana, 303, Niteroi, RJ 24030-210, Brasil. E-mail: sergian@ufnj.br Sixty four Wistar rats, male of two consecutive generations determined as F(0) and F(1) were used to study the cumulative effect of two variety soy beans, cultivated with organic seasoning and genetically modified, The animals of each generation were divided into three groups of eight rats each fed on diets consisted of organic soy, soy genetically modified and casein respectively. All the animals received water and the diet ad libitum for period of 28 days. Where the diet consumption and the animals weight were evaluated. After statistic analysis of the results no expressive differences were observed on diet consumption, weight variation, protein efficient ratio and food efficiency ratio on same group of animals in the different generations. On the other hand, significant difference was found on final proteinic retention on animal descendants of the same groups; however of different generations. With this, the supplementation of organic soy with L-cistin provided better avail of this protein in relation to the protein of the soy genetically modified. However, this supplementation did not reveal efficiency in keeping the proteinic employment from one generation to another one, since soy varieties presented better performance on F(0) generation when compared with F(1).

Excitatory synaptic inputs to pyramidal neurons of the lateral amygdala

Whole-cell patch clamp recordings were made from pyramidal neurons in the rat lateral amygdala (LA). Synaptic currents were evoked by stimulating in either the external capsule (ec), internal capsule (ic) or basolateral nucleus (BLA). Stimulation of either the ic, ec or BLA evoked a glutamatergic excitatory synaptic current (EPSC) which was mediated by both non-NMDA and NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartic acid) receptors, The ratio of the amplitude of the NMDA receptor-mediated component measured at +40 mV to the amplitude of the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) component measured at -60 mV was similar regardless of whether EPSCs were evoked in the ec, ic or BLA. At resting membrane potentials, excitatory synaptic potentials evoked from either the ec or putative thalamic inputs were unaffected by application of the NMDA receptor antagonist APV. Spontaneous glutamatergic currents had two components to their decay phase. The slow component was selectively blocked by the NMDA receptor antagonist D-APV, indicating that AMPA and NMDA receptors are colocalized in spiny neurons. We conclude that pyramidal cells of the LA receive convergent inputs from the cortex, thalamus and basal nuclei. At all inputs, both AMPA/kainate and NMDA-type receptors are active and colocalized in the postsynaptic density.

Effect of storage time and conditions on the hardness and cooking quality of adzuki (Vigna angularis)

A storage trial of two varieties of adzuki (Vigna angularis), Bloodwood and Erimo, produced in Australia, was conducted to determine the effect of various combinations of temperature, humidity and length of storage on bean quality. The beans were stored for up to 6 mo under the following conditions: temperature (10, 20 and 30degreesC), relative humidity (RH) (40 and 65%). Storage of adzuki at elevated temperature (30degreesC) and low relative humidity (40%) resulted in the greatest loss of bean moisture, increase in hydration times and decrease in bean cooking quality, i.e. increased hardness of cooked beans. The best storage conditions for the preservation of adzuki quality were 10degreesC and 65% RH.

The amygdaloid complex: Anatomy and physiology

A converging body of literature over the last 50 years has implicated the amygdala in assigning emotional significance or value to sensory information. In particular, the amygdala has been shown to be an essential component of the circuitry underlying fear-related responses. Disorders in the processing of fear-related information are likely to be the underlying cause of some anxiety disorders in humans such as posttraumatic stress. The amygdaloid complex is a group of more than 10 nuclei that are located in the midtemporal lobe. These nuclei can be distinguished both on cytoarchitectonic and connectional grounds. Anatomical tract tracing studies have shown that these nuclei have extensive intranuclear and internuclear connections. The afferent and efferent connections of the amygdala have also been mapped in detail, showing that the amygdaloid complex has extensive connections with cortical and subcortical regions. Analysis of fear conditioning in rats has suggested that long-term synaptic plasticity of inputs to the amygdala underlies the acquisition and perhaps storage of the fear memory. In agreement with this proposal, synaptic plasticity has been demonstrated at synapses in the amygdala in both in vitro and in vivo studies. In this review, we examine the anatomical and physiological substrates proposed to underlie amygdala function.

Effect of storage of adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) on starch and protein properties

Differential scanning calorimetry was used to evaluate the effect of storage at 10degreesC, 20degreesC and 30degreesC, and 40% and 65% relative humidity (RH) on adzuki bean starch gelatinisation and protein denaturation temperatures. Storage for 6 months at an elevated storage temperature (30degreesC) caused increases in the starch gelatinisation onset temperature (T-o) and gelatinisation peak temperature (T-p) for both Bloodwood and Erimo varieties. Storage at 40% RH resulted in higher T-o and T-p values than storage at 65% RH. The T-o of starch from Bloodwood and Erimo beans stored for up to 1.5 months at 10degreesC and 65% were similar to those of fresh beans. The changes in the salt-soluble protein component were less clear cut than those of the starch. Nonetheless, protein extracted from beans stored at 40% RH exhibited significantly lower T-o and T-p values compared with those stored at 65% RH. This indicates some destabilisation of the protein at the higher RH. These results suggest that detrimental changes occur in starch and, to a lesser extent protein, of adzuki beans stored under unfavourable conditions. On the basis of these results, the best storage conditions to maintain the characteristics of fresh beans are low temperatures (e.g. 10degreesC) and high RH (e.g. 65%). (C) 2003 Swiss Society of Food Science and Technology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Females of the weevil Zabrotes subfasciatus manipulate the size and number of eggs according to the host seed availability

In some insects, the finding of oviposition substrate triggers the uptake into oocytes of yolk proteins that are stored in the fat body during post-embryonic development. The main host of the bean weevil Zabrotes subfasciatus (Coleoptera; Chrysomelidae; Bruchinae; Amblycerini), in which larval resources are the sole source for future egg maturation, is Phaseolus vulgaris. Despite not feeding as adults, females of this species are able to lay eggs after encountering host seeds but it is not known how females react to changes in the availability of bean seeds. In the present study, the behaviour of Z. subfasciatus facing two very different environments for oviposition is investigated, as well as how this influences offspring fitness. The results obtained show that females of Z. subfasciatus react to variations in the availability of seeds belonging to the same host species by adjusting egg size and number. Females on low bean seed density lay larger and fewer eggs than those on high bean seed density, demonstrating a trade-off between these reproductive traits. Moreover, females can adjust egg size to changing levels of host availability during the first 4 days of their oviposition period. Although no difference in offspring weight is found, those from small eggs (low competition environment) result in larger adults. No response to selection on these traits after rearing beetles on the same host for 40 generations is observed. This unresponsiveness may indicate that beetle populations behave according to their reaction norm that already allows rapid adaptation to a varying amount of host-seed availability and better exploitation of the environments of this widespread stored-seed pest.

The shoot controls zeatin riboside export from pea roots. Evidence from the branching mutant rms4

The rms4 mutant of pea (Pisum sativum L.) was used in grafting studies and cytokinin analyses of the root xylem sap to provide evidence that, at least for pea, the shoot can modify the import of cytokinins from the root. The rms4 mutation, which confers a phenotype with increased branching in the shoot, causes a very substantial decrease (down to 40-fold less) in the concentration of zeatin riboside (ZR) in the xylem sap of the roots. Results from grafts between wild-type (WT) and rms4 plants indicate that the concentration of cytokinins in the xylem sap of the roots is determined almost entirely by the genotype of the shoot. WT scions normalize the cytokinin concentration in the sap of rms4 mutant roots, whereas mutant scions cause WT roots to behave like those of self-grafted mutant plants. The mechanism whereby rms4 shoots of pea cause a down-regulation in the export of cytokinins from the roots is unknown at this time. However, our data provide evidence that the shoot transmits a signal to the roots and thereby controls processes involved in the regulation of cytokinin biosynthesis in the root.

Rapid increases in cytokinin concentration in lateral buds of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) during release of apical dominance

We examined the role of cytokinins (CKs) in release of apical dominance in lateral buds of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Shoot decapitation or application of CKs (benzyladenine, zeatin or dihydrozeatin) stimulated rapid bud growth. Time-lapse video recording revealed growth initiation within 2 h of application of 200 pmol benzyladenine or within 3 h of decapitation. Endogenous CK content in buds changed little in the first 2 h after shoot decapitation, but significantly increased by 6 h, somewhat later than the initiation of bud growth. The main elevated CK was zeatin riboside, whose content per bud increased 7-fold by 6 h and 25-fold by 24 h. Lesser changes were found in amounts of zeatin and isopentenyl adenine CKs. We have yet to distinguish whether these CKs are imported from the roots via the xylem stream or are synthesised in situ in the buds, but CKs may be part of an endogenous signal involved in lateral bud growth stimulation following shoot decapitation. To our knowledge, this is the first detailed report of CK levels in buds themselves during release of apical dominance.