Comportamiento agronomico y productivo de nueve leguminosas herbaceas forrajeras, en el municipio de Muy Muy, Matagalpa

Las dos grandes fuentes de alimentación animal son: energética que comúnmente esta dada por las gramíneas y proteica, la cual puede ser suplementada por diferentes vías, pero las mas simple y que la naturaleza la provee es a través de las leguminosas, producto de la asociación con bacterias del género Rhizobium, que les permite fijar nitrógeno atmosférico. Los estudio hechos de leguminosas al momento han sido muy pocos, y cuando se han hecho se ha centrado únicamente en zonas del caribe con alta precipitación y suelos ácidos. Por lo que con el objeto de conocer el comportamiento de adaptación agronómico y productivo de 9 especies de leguminosas consideradas como forrajeras en el municipio de Muy Muy, se realizó el presente estudio en la finca “La Cruz” propiedad del señor Santiago Espino, ubicada en el km 153 de la carretera Muy Muy-Matiguás, en la comunidad de “Aguas Calientes”, zona baja del municipio de Muy Muy, Matagalpa, localizado en las coordenadas geográficas 12º 45 ́48” latitud Norte y 85º 37 ́36”longitud Oeste, a una altitud de unos 286msnmy con una temperatura promedio anual de 25.0°C. se estableció el experimento de campo el 4 de Junio del 2007. Utilizándose un Diseño de Bloques Completos al Azar (BCA), con nueve tratamientos (especies evaluadas: Centrosema plumieri cv DICTA, Clitoria ternatea cv CEVAS, Canavalia brasiliensis CIAT 1700, Clitoria ternatea CV DICTA, Canavalia ensiformis, Lablab purpureus, Vigna unguiculata CIAT9611, Vigna unguiculata CIAT390-2 y Stylosanthes guianensis CIAT2243). Se midieron 9 variables: sobrevivencia, altura, vigor, cobertura, cobertura de maleza, suelo descubierto, incidencia de plagas, incidencia de enfermedades y producción de biomasa seca, además se realizó análisis de la composición química a ocho de las especies en estudio. S.guianensis 2243 presentó el mejor comportamiento agronómico, superando al resto de especies en casi todas las variables en estudio, salvo el caso de altura donde fue superada por C. brasiliensis 1700 con 95.5 cm y en suelo descubierto por C. plumieri DICTA con 4.38%. En sobrevivencia Stylo alcanzó un 100%, con cobertura de 76.25%, menor incidencia de plagas y enfermedades (0%) y ponderación en vigor de 4.9. Además S.guianensis 2243 presentó el mejor comportamiento en producción de biomasa seca con 3717.02 kg ha-1, seguida de C. plumieriDICTA con 1486.38 kg ha-1. La especie de menor comportamiento adaptativo fue V. unguiculata 9611, y en producción de biomasa L. purpureus con 206.82 kg ha-1. C. ensiformis presento mejor contenido proteico con 26.20% y C. ternateaCEVAS en la porción digerible con 85.71%, la de menor calidad fue S.guianensis 2243 con 13.26% de proteína y 54.59% de porción digerible. Aun con los resultados de calidad se considera que S. guianensis2243 es una especie promisoria para estas condiciones por su a daptabilidad y producción de biomasa, y calidad y a las especies C. plumieriDICTA y C. ternateaCEVAS por su calidad nutritiva, adaptación y producciónde biomasa.

Importancia de la cobertura vegetal y control de malezas en el manejo de pastos. Estudio de caso en pasto estrella (Cynodon nemfluencis), Cofradía, Managua

Las malezas, así como el grado de cobertura vegetal (real y efectiva), son factores que afectan el buen desarrollo de las pasturas. La poca información de dichos factores y su efecto en la producción y persistencia de las pasturas hace que sean poco valorados por los productores. Con el objetivo de contribuir al mejor manejo de los sistemas pastoriles en el país, se realizó el estudio en la finca Los Tercios, comarca Cofradía, km 16 ½ carretera Managua – Tipitapa, donde se seleccionaron dos condiciones ambientales, pastos con y sin árboles. Se determinó la composición botánica, utilizando para ello el método de rango de peso seco o comparativo (Jones y Hrgreaves, 1979), simultáneamente se colectó material vegetativo, que fue identificado en el herbario de la UNA, el Nacional y a través de consultas con expertos en la materia. Se realizó una valoración técnica, para considerar el estado de dichas pasturas y las implicaciones económicas que estas podrían tener. Se determinaron cuatro escenarios, 1) con árboles en el cerco; 2) con árboles en un 50%; 3) con árboles en un 75% y 4), con árboles en un 90%, registrándose coberturas vegetales que fluctuaron de 60 a 95%, y forrajeras de 30 a 70%. Se identificaron 16 familias, 25 géneros y 25 especies, dentro de los cuales destacaron por su mayor presencia las especies escoba lisa ( Sida cuta ), bledo espinoso ( Amaranthus espinosus ) y chilillo de gato ( Achyranthes aspera ), así como algunas especies leguminosas herbáceas forrajeras como Centrocema plumieri , centro ( Centrocema pubescens ), pega pega ( Desmodium unicatum ), calopo ( Calopogodium mucunoides y C. galactoides ), observándose mayor diversidad de especies, cuando existían árboles en el área de pasturas. A través del análisis técnico – económico se determinó que los factores cobertura vegetal y porcentaje de malezas son inversamente proporcionales a la productividad y persistencia de las pasturas.

Caracterización de 16 genotipos de leguminosas herbáceas asociado con maíz en Niquinohomo y Managua

Este ensayo experimental documenta el comportamiento agronómico general de leguminosas herbáceas asociadas con maíz, bajo manejo en dos ambientes ecológicos diferentes de Nicaragua: Finca Santa Rosa, Sabana Grande, Managua y el Rancho Agropecológico en Especies Menores Ebenezer, RAEME, Niquinohomo, Masaya, para tal fin se emplearon como tratamientos 7 especies y 16 variedades de leguminosas herbáceas asociadas con maíz ( Zea mays) , variedad NB6, más maíz establecido en monocultivo, a los cuales se les analizó mediante las variables germinación, altura de la planta, diámetro del tallo, cobertura, presencia de daño foliar por insectos, presencia de malezas, porcentaje de materia seca, kg de materia seca por hectárea, número de nódulos, peso de raíz y porcentaje de Nitrógeno en biomasa de las leguminosas. El diseño del ensayo experimental constó de tres bloques al azar, dispuestos en forma perpendicular entre sí, cada bloque fue dividido en 17 parcelas. Al analizar los resultados se encontró que en la Finca Santa Rosa Vigna unguiculata verde brasil (vun1) y en RAEME, Vigna unguiculata 284/2 (Vun3) fueron la s leguminosas que presentaron mejor comportamiento, en relación al maíz, en la Finca Santa Rosa presentó mejor comportamiento al estar asociado con Vigna unguiculata 131-2 (Vun5), en RAEME, fue el maíz asociado con Centrosema plumieri (Cp). Así mismo los resultados indican que al asociar el maíz con leguminosas se obtienen mejores resultados que estando solo. Para ambos sitios se determinó que el mejor asocio fue maíz - Vigna unguiculata verde brasil (vun1), ya que proporciona para ambas especies calificaciones similares, demostrando un equilibrio entre los dos cultivos

Results of a fish health survey of North Biscayne Bay, June 1976-June 1977

Fish were collected weekly in Biscayne Bay using a monofilament gill net set from a small skiff during 20-30 minute intervals. Although weekly sampling took place for 2.5 years, only the data from samples collected from June 1976 to June 1977 were used in this document. Abnormal external conditions of fins and body were observed on each fish and recorded. Fish were returned immediately to their habitats. Fish collected in the time period for this study numbered 3,765 and included 32 species. Of these, 16 species, totaling 3,556 fish, were caught in sufficient numbers (20 or more) to warrant data analysis. Only 3 of the 16 species could be considered relatively unafflicted: Aetobatus narinari (spotted eagle ray), Diodon hystrix (porcupinefish), and Selene vomer (lookdown). More than 80% of the examined specimens of these three species were unaffected. Less than 20% of the specimens of Diapterus plumieri (striped mojarra), Micropogonias undulatus (Atlantic croaker), and Pogonias cromis (black drum) displayed normal conditions. The three most afflicted species were Diapterus plumieri, striped mojarra; Micropogonias undulatus, Atlantic croaker; and Pogonias cromis, black drum. Only 7, 3, and 7% respectively showed no external evidence of disease. Data described in this document were originally tabulated in the mid-1970s, remained unpublished, and are no longer available. This document was based on archived unpublished text, a data summary table, and figures. Most of the text and cited references were the ones used in the original manuscript and no attempt was made to update them. (PDF contains 44 pages)

Hydroacoustic evaluation of spawning red hind (Epinephelus guttatus) aggregations along the coast of Puerto Rico in 2002 and 2003

Red hind (Epinephelus guttatus) have been overfished in the Caribbean and were included with seven other regional grouper species deemed vulnerable to risk of extinction. The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources desired to map spawning red hind aggregations within commonwealth waters as part of their resource management program for the species. Mobile hydroacoustic surveys were conducted over 3-day periods in 2002 and 2003, indexed to the full moon phase in February or March when red hind were known to aggregate. Four vessels concurrently sampled the southwest, south, and southeast coasts of Puerto Rico in 2002. In 2003, three vessels conducted complementary surveys of the northwest, north, and northeast coasts of the island, completing a circuit of the coastal shelf-spawning habitat. These surveys indicated that red hind spawning aggregations were prevalent along the south and west coasts, and sparse along the north coast during the survey periods. Highest spawning red hind concentrations were observed in three areas offshore of the west coast of Puerto Rico, around Mona and Desecheo islands (20,443 and 10,559 fish/km2, respectively) and in the Bajo de Cico seasonal closed area (4,544 fish/km2). Following both 2002 and 2003 surveys, a series of controlled acoustic measurements of known local fish species in net pens were conducted to assess the mean target strength (acoustic backscatter) of each group. Ten species of fish were measured, including red hind (E. guttatus), coney (E. fulvus), white grunt (Haemulon plumieri), pluma (Calamus pennatula), blue tang (Acanthurus coeruleus), squirrel fish (Holocentrus spp.), black durgeon (Melichtyhs niger), ocean file fish (Canthidermis sufflamen), ocean surgeon fish (Acanthurus bahianus), and butter grouper (Mycteroperca spp.). In general, the mean target strength results from the caged fish experiments were in agreement with published target strength length relationships, with the exception of white grunt and pluma.

Biology, ecology, control and management of the invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish: An updated integrated assessment

Venomous Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois miles and P. volitans) are now established along the Southeast U.S.A. and parts of the Caribbean and pose a serious threat to reef fish communities of these regions. Lionfish are likely to invade the Gulf of Mexico and potentially South America in the near future. Introductions of lionfish were noted since the 1980s along south Florida and by 2000 lionfish were established off the coast of North Carolina. Lionfish are now one of the more numerous predatory reef fishes at some locations off the Southeast U.S.A. and Caribbean. Lionfish are largely piscivores that feed occasionally on economically important reef fishes. The trophic impacts of lionfish could alter the structure of native reef fish communities and potentially hamper stock rebuilding efforts of the Snapper –Grouper Complex. Additional effects of the lionfish invasion are far-reaching and could increase coral reef ecosystem stress, threaten human health, and ultimately impact the marine aquarium industry. Control strategies for lionfish are needed to mitigate impacts, especially in protected areas. This integrated assessment provides a general overview of the biology and ecology of lionfish including genetics, taxonomy, reproductive biology, early life history and dispersal, venom defense and predation, and feeding ecology. In addition, alternative management actions for mitigating the negative impacts of lionfish, approaches for reducing the risk of future invasions, and directions for future research are provided.

Sphingomyelinase D/Ceramide 1-Phosphate in Cell Survival and Inflammation

Sphingolipids are major constituents of biological membranes of eukaryotic cells. Many studies have shown that sphingomyelin (SM) is a major phospholipid in cell bilayers and is mainly localized to the plasma membrane of cells, where it serves both as a building block for cell architecture and as a precursor of bioactive sphingolipids. In particular, upregulation of (C-type) sphingomyelinases will produce ceramide, which regulates many physiological functions including apoptosis, senescence, or cell differentiation. Interestingly, the venom of some arthropodes including spiders of the genus Loxosceles, or the toxins of some bacteria such as Corynebacterium tuberculosis, or Vibrio damsela possess high levels of D-type sphingomyelinase (SMase D). This enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of SM to yield ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P), which promotes cell growth and survival and is a potent pro-inflammatory agent in different cell types. In particular, C1P stimulates cytosolic phospholipase A2 leading to arachidonic acid release and the subsequent formation of eicosanoids, actions that are all associated to the promotion of inflammation. In addition, C1P potently stimulates macrophage migration, which has also been associated to inflammatory responses. Interestingly, this action required the interaction of C1P with a specific plasma membrane receptor, whereas accumulation of intracellular C1P failed to stimulate chemotaxis. The C1P receptor is coupled to Gi proteins and activates of the PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK1-2 pathways upon ligation with C1P. The proposed review will address novel aspects on the control of inflammatory responses by C1P and will highlight the molecular mechanisms whereby C1P exerts these actions.

Recreational Fisheries in Biscayne National Park, Florida, 1976–19

Recreational creel survey data from 28,923 intercepts collected from Biscayne National Park, Florida and surrounding waters were analyzed for January 1976 through July 1991, prior to disruptions caused by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. A total of 261,268 fish and shellfish representing 170 species or higher taxa were recorded. The average trip landed 9.03 fish and/or shellfish. Mean annual landings per angler were 4.77 fish/angler/trip (from 3.8 in 1991 to 5.83 in 1981) and dropped significantly for each of the 2 years following Florida's adoption of mutiple new minimum size limits in 1985 and 1990. The relative contribution to total numerical landings by recreational party type were: skilled anglers (34.0%), food (19.8%), family (14.5%), novice (11.5%), spearfishing (10.3%), lobstering (9.6%), and other (0.3%). FIve species or higher taxa accounted for more than 50% of total landings by number: white grunt, Haemulon plumieri, 15.8%; spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, (10.6%; gray snapper, Lutjanus griseus, 10.6%; unidentified grunts, Haemulon spp., 7.3%; and dolphin, Coryphaena hippurus, 6.6%. An average of 4.39 fish or shellfish were reported released per trip. Five taxa accounted for 67% of all releases. Lobster divers reported the highest average release rate (5.73 per trip) and spearfishing the lowest (0.70 per trip). The ratio of releases to landings was 0.49:1 for all taxa, but ranged from 0.03:1 for dolphin to 1.19:1 for unidentified grunts. Spearfishing accounted for 12.0% of the total fishing trips sampled but only 10.3% of the total number organisms landed and 7.6% of all organisms caught. Hogfish, Lachnolaimus maximus, accounted for 49% if total spearfishing landings (13,286 of 27,015) and 84.3% of total 15,762 hogfish landed.

A Preliminary study of the defensive spines of some Malayan freshwater fishes

The defensive spines of fifteen Malayan freshwater fishes have been studied morphologically. The classification of spines has been slightly modified from the previous work of Fernando and Fernando (1960). They are divided into simple, denticle-bearing and venom-carrying. The simple spines are further sub-divided into single and multiple and the denticle-bearing into Bagriid and Clariid types. The latter agree morphologically with the venom-carrying spines of previously studied forms and may be a degenerate condition. Simple spines occur singly in the Cyprinidae where they are found at the anterior end of the dorsal fin. A spine of similar structure occurs in the catfish Glyptothorax. In the families Anabantidae, Cichlidae and Mastacenbelidae simple spines occur as a series. Denticle-bearing spines occur in the catfishes (Order-Nematognathi). Those having denticles on one face occur in the Bagridae, Siluridae, Sisoridae, and Akysidae. They are referred to as Bagriid type. In the other type denticles occur on the anterior and posterior faces of the spine. They are referred to as Clariid type. None of the Malayan species studied had venom-carrying spines and they are unlikely to be found in the freshwater species. The functioning of the defensive mechanism whose morphological bases are spines is discussed and the relation between the size and habitat on the effectiveness of the spines is mentioned. The evolution of defensive spines is discussed briefly.

金环蛇蛇毒中的一种新型胰蛋白酶抑制剂

目的:从金环蛇蛇毒中分离纯化名为bungaruskunin 1的一种新型胰蛋白酶抑制剂,并从其毒腺的cDNA文库中克隆出该胰蛋白酶抑制剂的cDNA全序列.方法:通过Sephadex G-50, CM-Sephadex C-25, HPLC, RP-HPLC (C4 column)方法分离纯化bungaruskunin 1.样品的丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂活性则是在室温条件下50mmol·L-1 Tris-HCl, pH 7.8的缓冲液中通过对显色底物的水解抑制作用来检测的.金环蛇毒腺RNA用TRIZOL提取,并用SMARTM PCR cDNA synthesis kit (Clontech)建成cDNA文库.根据其信号肽的保守区域合成引物从该文库中扩增出bungaruskunin 1的cDNA全序列,进行胶回收,酶连到pMDl8-T载体中转化测序.结果:bungaruskunin 1的前体由83个氨基酸组成,其中信号肽含有24个氨基酸,成熟肽即:bungaruskunin 1合有59个氨基酸.bungaruskunin 1的cDNA序列与从红腹伊澳蛇Pseudechis porphyriacus中分离纯化得到的丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂blackelin的cDNA序列的相似性高达64%.bungaruskunin 1是一种含有保守Kunitz端的Kuntiz蛋白酶抑制剂家族的一员,从而能够抑制蛋白酶和弹性酶的活性.在cDNA文库中,我们同时还筛选到了2种新的β-bungarotoxin B链的序列.结论:这些发现很好地证明了蛇中Kunitz/BPTI胰蛋白酶抑制剂和毒性神经的家族可能起源于共同的祖先.

The mastoparanogen from wasp

Mastoparans are a family of small peptides identified from the venom of hymenopteroid insects. Although they have been characterized as early as 1979, and so far are recognized as a leading biomolecule in potential drug therapy, their precursors, mastopar

The first report of kininogen from invertebrates

The hornet possesses highly toxic venom, which is rich in toxin, enzymes, and biologically active peptides. Several bradykinin-like peptides, vespakinins, have been found in wasp venoms since 1970s, but the mode of biosynthesis of these peptides is unknow

Cloning and purification of alpha-neurotoxins from king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)

Thirteen complete and three partial cDNA sequences were cloned from the constructed king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) venom gland cDNA library. Phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences of king cobra with those from other snake venoms revealed that obta

Vespid chemotactic peptide precursor from the wasp, Vespa magnifica (Smith)

Despite the evolutional distance between wasp and amphibian, vespid chemotactic peptide (VCP), an important component of wasp venom, are found sharing remarkable similarities with the temporin antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from Ranid frog, Amolops loloens

Blood cells as targets of snake toxins

Snake venoms are mixtures of enzymes and peptides which exert toxicological effects by targeting their substrates or receptors upon envenomation. Snake venom proteins widely affect vascular system including circulating blood cells, coagulation factors, an