Functional adaptation and rehabilitation following total knee replacement

This research project evaluated the biomechanical and functional outcomes of patients following total knee replacement measured at 6 and 12 months following surgery. Using more objective measures, patients were examined to determine changes in biomechanical and neuromuscular function during performance of activities of daily living such as walking, stair climbing and turning. Adaptations in joint positioning and performance were identified and progressive improvements were made in some areas of locomotor function. The findings of the study provided important objective information to contribute to the design and evaluation of prostheses, new surgical and rehabilitation procedures and improved recovery of patients.

Agreement between physiotherapists rating scapular posture in multiple planes in patients with neck pain: Reliability study

Objective Evaluation of scapular posture is an integral component of the clinical assessment of painful neck disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate agreement between therapist judgements of scapula posture in multiple biomechanical planes in individuals with neck pain. Design Inter-therapist reliability study. Setting Research laboratory. Participants Fifteen participants with chronic neck pain. Main outcome measures Four physiotherapists recorded ratings of scapular orientation (relative to the thorax) in five different scapula postural planes (plane of scapula, sagittal plane, transverse plane, horizontal plane, and vertical plane) under four test conditions (at rest, and during three isometric shoulder conditions) in all participants. Inter-therapist reliability was expressed using both generalized and paired kappa coefficient. Results Following adjustment for expected agreement and the high prevalence of neutral ratings (81%), on average both the generalised kappa (0.37) as well as Cohen's Kappa for the two therapist pairs (0.45 and 0.42) demonstrated only slight to moderate inter-therapist reliability. Conclusions The findings suggest that ratings of scapular posture in individuals with neck pain by visual inspection has only slight to moderate reliability and should only be used in conjunction with other clinical tests when judging scapula function in these patients.

The relationship between forward head posture and cervical muscle performance in healthy individuals

Background Forward head postures (FHP) are proposed to adversely load cervical spine structures. Neck muscles provide support for the neck, and thus an imbalance in neck muscle performance could potentially contribute to the development of FHP. Previous studies have not considered the interaction of multiple muscle groups with regard to postural orientation. Given the interdependence of muscles along the cervical spine for optimal orientation and physical support of the vertebral column, the performance of a single muscle group may not accurately reflect the coordinated ability of the muscles to maintain a neutral neck posture. Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between FHP and the balance between the cervical extensor and flexor muscle groups in healthy individuals. We hypothesised that the magnitude of FHP would be associated with the strength and endurance performance ratios between the cervical extensor and flexor muscle groups. Methods Twenty male and 24 female volunteers were photographed in the sagittal plane wearing surface markers. The FHP of each participant was measured via the tragus-sternum marker distance over two conditions: (1)in relaxed standing and (2)during a sustained sitting task. Maximal strength (Nm) and endurance (s) performance of the extensor and flexor muscle groups were recorded at the upper (craniocervical flexion/extension (CCF/CCE)) and lower (cervicothoracic flexion/extension (CTF/CTE)) cervical regions. Muscle performance measures were expressed as extension:flexion ratios and their relation to FHP evaluated. A stepwise multiple regression analysis using backward elimination was utilised to examine the relationship between the postural measures and the muscle performance ratio measures. Separate models were used for the two different postural conditions (standing, sustained sitting). Gender was included as a constant correction factor in all regression models. Where gender was a significant variable in the model, analyses were repeated separately for males and females. Results Greater FHP in standing was significantly associated with reduced proportional CTE to CCF strength in females (R2 = 0.21, P = 0.03) and greater proportional CTE to CTF strength in males (R2 = 0.23, P = 0.03). A greater drift into FHP during sustained sitting was associated with a relative reduction in CCE endurance proportional to CTF endurance in females only (R2 = 0.27, P = 0.017). Conclusion(s) This initial study indicates that the balance in performance between the cervical flexor and extensor muscle groups may impact FHP in healthy individuals. However, the findings were inconsistent across different muscle performance ratios and gender. Larger scale studies are therefore now needed to further clarify the relationship between FHP and muscle performance. Implications The findings suggest that relative performance of the various cervical muscle groups needs to be accounted for when considering postural correction strategies in the clinical setting, as is often recommended.

SPECT-aided diagnostics and genetic risk factors in Parkinson's disease

Hypokinesia, rigidity, tremor, and postural instability are the cardinal symptoms of Parkinson s disease (PD). Since these symptoms are not specific to PD the diagnosis may be uncertain in early PD. Etiology and pathogenesis of PD remain unclear. There is no neuroprotective therapy. Genetic findings are expected to reveal metabolic routes in PD pathogenesis and thereby eventually lead to therapeutic innovations. In this thesis, we first aimed to study the usefulness and accuracy of 123I-b-CIT SPECT in the diagnosis of PD in a consecutive clinic-based material including various movement disorders. We subsequently a genetic project to identify genetic risk factors for sporadic PD using a candidate gene approach in a case-control setting including 147 sporadic PD patients and 137 spouse controls. Dopamine transporter imaging by 123I-b-CIT SPECT could distinguish PD from essential tremor, drug-induced parkinsonism, dystonia and psychogenic parkinsonism. However, b-CIT uptake in Parkinson plus syndromes (PSP and multiple system atrophy) and dementia with Lewy bodies was not significantly different from PD. 123I-b-CIT SPECT could not reliably differentiate PD from vascular parkinsonism. 123I-b-CIT SPECT was 100% sensitive and specific in the diagnosis of PD in patients younger than 55 years but less specific in older patients, due to differential distribution of the above conditions in the younger and older age groups. 123I-b-CIT SPECT correlated with symptoms and detected bilateral nigrostriatal defect in patients whose PD was still in unilateral stage. Thus, in addition to as a differential diagnostic aid, 123I-b-CIT SPECT may be used to detect PD early, even pre-symptomatically in at-risk individuals. 123I-b-CIT SPECT was used to aid in the collection of patients to the genetic studies. In the genetic part of this thesis we found an association between PD and a polymorphic CAG-repeat in POLG1 gene encoding the catalytic subunit of mitochondrial polymerase gamma. The CAG-repeat encodes a polyglutamine tract (polyQ), the two most common lengths of which are 10Q (86-90%) and 11Q. In our Finnish material, the rarer non-10Q or non-11Q length variants (6Q-9Q, 12Q-14Q, 4R+9Q) were more frequent in patients than in spouse controls (10% vs. 3.5 %, p=0.003), or population controls (p=0.001). Therefore, we performed a replication study in 652 North American PD patients and 292 controls. Non-10/11Q alleles were more common in the US PD patients compared to the controls but the difference did not reach statistical significance (p=0.07). This larger data suggested our original definition of variant length allele might need reconsideration. Most previous studies on phenotypic effects of POLG1 polyQ have defined 10Q as the only normal allele. Non-10Q alleles were significantly more common in patients compared to the controls (17.3% vs. 12.3 %, p= 0.005). This association between non-10Q length variants and PD remained significant when compared to a larger set of 1541 literature controls (p=0.00005). In conclusion, POLG1 polyQ alleles other than 10Q may predispose to PD. We did not find association between PD and parkin or DJ-1, genes underlying autosomal recessive parkinsonism. The functional Val158Met polymorphism, which affects the catalytic effect of COMT enzyme, and another coding polymorphism in COMT were not associated with PD in our patient material. The APOE e2/3/4 polymorphism modifies risk for Alzheimer s disease and prognosis of for example brain trauma. APOE promoter and enhancer polymorphisms 219G/T and +113G/C, and APOE e3 haplotypes, have also been shown to modify the risk of Alzheimer s disease but not reported in PD. No association was found between PD and APOE e2/3/4 polymorphism, the promoter or enhancer polymorphisms, or the e3 haplotypes.

Evaluation of Vestibular Function with Visual Feedback Posturography and Motorized Head Impulse Test.

Objectives: To evaluate the applicability of visual feedback posturography (VFP) for quantification of postural control, and to characterize the horizontal angular vestibulo-ocular reflex (AVOR) by use of a novel motorized head impulse test (MHIT). Methods: In VFP, subjects standing on a platform were instructed to move their center of gravity to symmetrically placed peripheral targets as fast and accurately as possible. The active postural control movements were measured in healthy subjects (n = 23), and in patients with vestibular schwannoma (VS) before surgery (n = 49), one month (n = 17), and three months (n = 36) after surgery. In MHIT we recorded head and eye position during motorized head impulses (mean velocity of 170º/s and acceleration of 1 550º/s²) in healthy subjects (n = 22), in patients with VS before surgery (n = 38) and about four months afterwards (n = 27). The gain, asymmetry and latency in MHIT were calculated. Results: The intraclass correlation coefficient for VFP parameters during repeated tests was significant (r = 0.78-0.96; p < 0.01), although two of four VFP parameters improved slightly during five test sessions in controls. At least one VFP parameter was abnormal pre- and postoperatively in almost half the patients, and these abnormal preoperative VFP results correlated significantly with abnormal postoperative results. The mean accuracy in postural control in patients was reduced pre- and postoperatively. A significant side difference with VFP was evident in 10% of patients. In the MHIT, the normal gain was close to unity, the asymmetry in gain was within 10%, and the latency was a mean ± standard deviation 3.4 ± 6.3 milliseconds. Ipsilateral gain or asymmetry in gain was preoperatively abnormal in 71% of patients, whereas it was abnormal in every patient after surgery. Preoperative gain (mean ± 95% confidence interval) was significantly lowered to 0.83 ± 0.08 on the ipsilateral side compared to 0.98 ± 0.06 on the contralateral side. The ipsilateral postoperative mean gain of 0.53 ± 0.05 was significantly different from preoperative gain. Conclusion: The VFP is a repeatable, quantitative method to assess active postural control within individual subjects. The mean postural control in patients with VS was disturbed before and after surgery, although not severely. Side difference in postural control in the VFP was rare. The horizontal AVOR results in healthy subjects and in patients with VS, measured with MHIT, were in agreement with published data achieved using other techniques with head impulse stimuli. The MHIT is a non-invasive method which allows reliable clinical assessment of the horizontal AVOR.

Long-term results of obstetric brachial plexus surgery

Background: Brachial plexus birth palsy (BPBP) most often occurs as a result of foetal-maternal disproportion. The C5 and C6 nerve roots of the brachial plexus are most frequently affected. In contrast, roots from the C7 to Th1 that result in total injury together with C5 and C6 injury, are affected in fewer than half of the patients. BPBP was first described by Smellie in 1764. Erb published his classical description of the injury in 1874 and his name became linked with the paralysis that is associated with upper root injury. Since then, early results of brachial plexus surgery have been reasonably well documented. However, from a clinical point of view not all primary results are maintained and there is also a need for later follow-up results. In addition most of the studies that are published emanate from highly specialized clinics and no nation wide epidemiological reports are available. One of the plexus injuries is the avulsion type, in which the nerve root or roots are ruptured at the neural cord. It has been speculated whether this might cause injury to the whole neural system or whether shoulder asymmetry and upper limb inequality results in postural deformities of the spine. Alternatively, avulsion could manifest as other signs and symptoms of the whole musculoskeletal system. In addition, there is no available information covering activities of daily living after obstetric brachial plexus surgery. Patients and methods: This was a population-based cross-sectional study on all patients who had undergone brachial plexus surgery with at least 5 years of follow-up. An incidence of 3.05/1000 for BPBP was obtained from the registers for this study period. A total of 1706 BPBP patients needing hospital treatment out of 1 717 057 newborns were registered in Finland between 1971 and 1997 inclusive. Of these BPBP patients, 124 (7.3%) underwent brachial plexus surgery at a mean age of 2.8 months (range: 0.4―13.2 months). Surgery was most often performed by direct neuroraphy after neuroma resection (53%). Depending on the phase of the study, 105 to 112 patients (85-90%) participated in a clinical and radiological follow-up assessment. The mean follow up time exceeded 13 years (range: 5.0―31.5 years). Functional status of the upper extremity was evaluated using Mallet, Gilbert and Raimondi scales. Isometric strength of the upper limb, sensation of the hand and stereognosis were evaluated for both the affected and unaffected sides then the differences and their ratios were calculated and recorded. In addition to the upper extremity, assessment of the spine and lower extremities were performed. Activities of daily living (ADL), participation in normal physical activities, and the use of physiotherapy and occupational therapy were recorded in a questionnaire. Results: The unaffected limb functioned as the dominant hand in all, except four patients. The mean length of the affected upper limb was 6 cm (range: 1-13.5 cm) shorter in 106 (95%) patients. Shoulder function was recorded as a mean Mallet score of 3 (range: 2―4) which was moderate. Both elbow function and hand function were good. The mean Gilbert elbow scale value was 3 (range: -1―5) and the mean Raimondi hand scale was 4 (range:1―5). One-third of the patients experienced pain in the affected limb including all those patients (n=9) who had clavicular non-union resulting from surgery. A total of 61 patients (57%) had an active shoulder external rotation of less than 0° and an active elbow extension deficiency was noted in 82 patients (77%) giving a mean of 26° (range: 5°―80°). In all, expect two patients, shoulder external rotation strength at a mean ratio 35% (range: 0―83%) and in all patients elbow flexion strength at a mean ratio of 41% (range: 0―79%) were impaired compared to the unaffected side. According to radiographs, incongruence of the glenohumeral joint was noted in 15 (16%) patients, whereas incongruence of the radiohumeral joint was found in 20 (21%) patients. Fine sensation was normal for 34/49 (69%) patients with C5-6 injury, for 15/31 (48%) with C5-7 and for only 8/25 (32%) of patients with total injury. Loss of protective sensation or absent sensation was noted in some palmar areas of the hand for 12/105 patients (11%). Normal stereognosis was recorded for 88/105 patients (84%). No significant inequalities in leg length were found and the incidence of structural scoliosis (1.7%) did not differ from that of the reference population. Nearly half of the patients (43%) had asynchronous motion of the upper limbs during gait, which was associated with impaired upper limb function. Data obtained from the completed questionnaires indicated that two thirds (63%) of the patients were satisfied with the functional outcome of the affected hand although one third of all patients needed help with ADL. Only a few patients were unable to participate in physical activities such as: bicycling, cross-country skiing or swimming. However, 71% of the patients reported problems related to the affected upper limb, such as muscle weakness and/or joint stiffness during the aforementioned activities. Incongruity of the radiohumeral joints, extent of the injury, avulsion type injury, age less than three months of age at the time of plexus surgery and inexperience of the surgeon was related to poor results as determined by multivariate analyses. Conclusions: Most of the patients had persistent sequelae, especially of shoulder function. Almost all measurements for the total injury group were poorer compared with those of the C5-6 type injury group. Most of the patients had asymmetry of the shoulder region and a shorter affected upper limb, which is a probable reason for having an abnormal gait. However, BPBP did not have an effect on normal growth of the lower extremities or the spine. Although, participation in physical activities was similar to that of the normal population, two-thirds of the patients reported problems. One-third of the patients needed help with ADL. During the period covered by this study, 7.3% BPBP of patients that needed hospital treatment had a brachial plexus operation, which amounts to fewer than 10 operations per year in Finland. It seems that better results of obstetric plexus surgery and more careful follow-up including opportunities for late reconstructive procedures will be expected, if the treatment is solely concentrated on by a few specialised teams.

Intranasally delivered microdoses of bromocriptine (BCR) effectively reduced serum prolactin levels in hyperprolactinemic patients

It is well known that hyperprolactinaemia in the human leads to infertility. The therapy of choice in India has been the administration of bromocriptine (BCR) as tablets, This mode of administration is generally accompanied by undesirable side-effects such as giddiness, nausea, vomiting and postural hypotension, We demonstrate here the efficacy of microdoses of BCR administered intranasally (IN) to hyperprolactinaemic patients (n = 6) in reducing significantly the elevated serum prolactin levels and maintain them within the normal range, The IN mode of BCR administration, in addition to reducing the effective dose of the drug by 4-20-fold, results in little or no side-effects otherwise associated with oral therapy.

A Comparative Assessment of Hand Preference in Captive Red Howler Monkeys, Alouatta seniculus and Yellow-Breasted Capuchin Monkeys, Sapajus xanthosternos

There are two major theories that attempt to explain hand preference in non-human primates-the `task complexity' theory and the `postural origins' theory. In the present study, we proposed a third hypothesis to explain the evolutionary origin of hand preference in non-human primates, stating that it could have evolved owing to structural and functional adaptations to feeding, which we refer to as the `niche structure' hypothesis. We attempted to explore this hypothesis by comparing hand preference across species that differ in the feeding ecology and niche structure: red howler monkeys, Alouatta seniculus and yellow-breasted capuchin monkeys, Sapajus xanthosternos. The red howler monkeys used the mouth to obtain food more frequently than the yellow-breasted capuchin monkeys. The red howler monkeys almost never reached for food presented on the opposite side of a wire mesh or inside a portable container, whereas the yellow-breasted capuchin monkeys reached for food presented in all four spatial arrangements (scattered, on the opposite side of a wire mesh, inside a suspended container, and inside a portable container). In contrast to the red howler monkeys that almost never acquired bipedal and clinging posture, the yellow-breasted capuchin monkeys acquired all five body postures (sitting, bipedal, tripedal, clinging, and hanging). Although there was no difference between the proportion of the red howler monkeys and the yellow-breasted capuchin monkeys that preferentially used one hand, the yellow-breasted capuchin monkeys exhibited an overall weaker hand preference than the red howler monkeys. Differences in hand preference diminished with the increasing complexity of the reaching-for-food tasks, i.e., the relatively more complex tasks were perceived as equally complex by both the red howler monkeys and the yellow-breasted capuchin monkeys. These findings suggest that species-specific differences in feeding ecology and niche structure can influence the perception of the complexity of the task and, consequently, hand preference.

Transfer of dynamic learning across postures.

When learning a difficult motor task, we often decompose the task so that the control of individual body segments is practiced in isolation. But on re-composition, the combined movements can result in novel and possibly complex internal forces between the body segments that were not experienced (or did not need to be compensated for) during isolated practice. Here we investigate whether dynamics learned in isolation by one part of the body can be used by other parts of the body to immediately predict and compensate for novel forces between body segments. Subjects reached to targets while holding the handle of a robotic, force-generating manipulandum. One group of subjects was initially exposed to the novel robot dynamics while seated and was then tested in a standing position. A second group was tested in the reverse order: standing then sitting. Both groups adapted their arm dynamics to the novel environment, and this movement learning transferred between seated and standing postures and vice versa. Both groups also generated anticipatory postural adjustments when standing and exposed to the force field for several trials. In the group that had learned the dynamics while seated, the appropriate postural adjustments were observed on the very first reach on standing. These results suggest that the CNS can immediately anticipate the effect of learned movement dynamics on a novel whole-body posture. The results support the existence of separate mappings for posture and movement, which encode similar dynamics but can be adapted independently.

Evaluacion de Nosodes contra mastitis bovina en la Hacienda Santa Lastenia, municipio de Malacatoya, departamento de Granada

El presente trabajo se realizó en la Hacienda Santa Lastenia en municipio de Malacatoya, departamento de Granada, con el objetivo de evaluar un tratamiento homeopáticos (Nosodes de leche mastitica • CH7), contra mastitis bovina, la cual es normalmente atendida con antibióticos. El problema de los residuos ha motivado el interés en buscar diferentes alternativas de tratamientos, los cuales se han estado implementando para la prevención y control de la mastitis bovina y que estos no generan residuos en el producto final Para este fin, durante el trabajo de investigación se aplicó el Nosodes y el tratamiento convencional con Oxitetraciclina, se seleccionó cuarenta vacas con mastitis dividiéndolas en dos grupos de 20 cada uno. Los grupos de vacas tratadas con Nosodes resulto estadísticamente mejor en el control de mastitis con un estimado de 0.6672 con respecto a la oxitetraciclina que presento 0.3717 con un significancia (p< 0.01 y 0.16) respectivamente, presentando el Nosodes mayor efecto en los niveles altos de mastitis. Este trabajo fue desarrollado durante el mes de Octubre 2005, donde la investigación refleja que ninguno de los tratamientos controlo en un 1 00"/o la mastitis, sino que disminuyo su intensidad y que no todos los antibióticos que se compran por los productores para el tratamiento de mastitis realizan el efecto de eliminación de los agentes patógenos implicados.

Determinación de la actividad radicular del Lima tahiti citrus aurantifolia (christm,) swing, mediante la variación de almacenamiento del agua del suelo, utilizando técnicas nucleares

Con el objetivo de determinar la actividad radicular y el patrón de distribución de las raíces activas del lima Tahití Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swing., mediante la variación de almacenamiento de agua del suelo utilizando técnicas nucleares, se condujo un experimento en la finca San Bernardo, municipio de Masatepe, Departamento de Masaya. Se escogieron plantas de la misma edad, pureza varietal, características vegetativas uniformes y se establecieron en cada unidad experimental 4 tratamientos (50, 100, 150,200 cm de distancia del tronco), por 2 repeticiones para un total de 16 observaciones y se cubrió con plástico de polietileno negro en un área de 19.63 m2 que corresponde a un circulo de radio igual a 250 cm del tronco a cada árbol. En la época seca se tomaron lecturas, y la información obtenida y analizada permite concluir que en árboles de limón Tahití de 6 años de edad, y en las condiciones edafoclimáticas y de manejo del cultivo en que se llevó el experimento, presenta su actividad radicular directamente proporcional a las distancias horizontales del tronco del árbol, mediante el consumo total de agua en el volumen de suelo (O - 90 cm de profundidad), y a la vez directamente proporcional cada 30 cm de profundidad para un perfil de suelo de (O - 90 cm de profundidad), lo que indica presencia de un sistema radicular extenso y profundo.

Evaluación de opciones alternativas al uso de agroquímicos para el manejo de nematodos fitoparasitos en el cultivo del cafe (Coffea arabica) en fincas de Masaya, Granada y Carazo

El presente estudio se realizó de octubre 2003 a marzo 2004, en cinco fincas de pequeños productores de Masaya, Granada y Carazo, con el objetivo de evaluar el efecto de alternativas de manejo no sintéticas sobre la población de nematodos fitoparásitos asociados al cultivo de café. En cada finca, se establecieron siete parcelas en las que se evaluaron los tratamientos:Gallinaza + biofertilizante + te de papaya (1); Gallinaza + biofertilizante + caldo sulfocálcico (2); Bio green + biofertilizante + te limonaria (3); Biofertilizante + torta de nim + fertilización diluida(4); Biofertilizante + pacelyn + fertilización diluida (5); Testigo absoluto (6); Cobre + fertilización diluida + Vidate L (7). Mensualmente se tomaron muestras de suelo y de raíz, las cuales fueron procesadas en el laboratorio de Nematología Agrícola de la Universidad Nacional Agraria, mediante las técnicas de tamizado más filtro de algodón, para las muestras de suelo; y licuadora más tamices para las muestras de raíz. Las muestras fueron tomadas utilizando barreno y pala, en el área comprendida entre los 15 centímetros del tronco de la planta y a 15 centímetros de profundidad. Las variables evaluadas fueron: Número de nematodos fitoparásitos por género presentes en 100 g de suelo y Número de nematodos fitoparásitos por género presentes en 25 g de raíces.Los resultados indican que tanto en muestras de suelo como de raíces, los géneros predominantes en las cinco fincas fueron Meloidogyne spp y Helicotylenchusspp. El tratamiento que presentó las poblaciones más bajas de nematodos fue Cobre + fertilización diluida + VidateL (7), y el que presentó las poblaciones más altas fue Gallinaza + biofertilizante + te de papaya. Con relación a la fluctuación población de los géneros de nematodo en las cinco fincas fue Meloidogynespp, el género que presentó las poblaciones más altas, alcanzando poblaciones hasta de 5000 nematodos en 25g de raíces en la finca Vista Alegre.En general las poblaciones de nematodos fueron altas en los meses de Noviembre y Enero, reduciéndose en los meses de Febrero y Marzo.

Biomasa y nutrientes de arboles de sombra temporal y permanente en sistemas agroforestales con Coffea arabiga L de cinco años en el Pacifico de Nicaragua

Chavarria, E; Hernández, J. 2,006. Biomasa y nutrientes de árboles de sombra temporal y permanente en sistemas agroforestales con Coffea arabiga L de 5 años en el pacífico de Nicaragua. La presente investigación se realizó en sistemas agroforestales con café (Coffea arábiga L.) en el Municipio de Masatepe, Nicaragua, determinando el aporte de biomasa y los contenidos de N, P, K, Ca y Mg. de la sombra temporal y permanente. Se evaluaron dos factores de estudio en un diseño de bloques completamente al azar con arreglo de parcelas subdivididas: A) Tipo de sombra: temporal estableciéndose de forma homogénea y mixtas, especies de leguminosas más no leguminosas para sombra de café como Cajanus cajan y Ricinus communis y en sombra permanente, especies de árboles leguminosas y/o maderables (Inga laurina, Simarouba glauca, Samanea saman, Tabebuia rosea) y una parcela de café a pleno sol, distribuidas en parcelas grandes; B) Los niveles de insumos: Convencional Intensivo (CI) y Convencional Extensivo (CE), Orgánico Intensivo (OI) y Orgánico Extensivo (OE); relativos a aportes de nutrientes, manejo de enfermedades, malezas e insectos dañinos. La biomasa de sombra temporal se cuantificó en 2,002 por podas y 2,003 por eliminación de la misma. También se cuantificó la biomasa en la sombra permanente por podas en 2,004 y de raleo 2,005. La biomasa total por especie y tratamientos en sombra temporal y permanente, se obtuvieron a partir de los componentes hojas, tallos menores a 2 cm, tallos mayores de 2 cm de diámetro y tronco. Se tomó una muestra de biomasa fresca por tratamiento, se secó al horno a temperaturas de 65 ºC, para obtener el contenido de materia seca. A este mismo material, se procedió a la determinación de las concentraciones de los elementos minerales anteriormente mencionados. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron que la especie de sombra temporal no leguminosa Higuera (Ricinus communis) presentó el mayor aporte de materia seca con 4,356 kg ha-1 en dos años (2,002 + 2,003), representando también los mayores contenidos de N, P, K, Ca y Mg con 82, 28, 165, 68 y 57 kg ha-1 respectivamente. Respecto a las especies de sombra permanente, sometidas al manejo de poda el nivel de sombra Il+Sg produce los mayores aportes de MS con 5,695.66 kg ha-1 a-1 de los cuales el 39 % se recicla en el sistema, este mismo tipo de sombra aporta al sistema los mayores contenidos de N, P, K, Ca y Mg con 64, 55, 55, 66 y 36 % respectivamente. En el manejo de raleo el tipo de sombra que produjo mayor cantidad de MS es Sg+Tr con 9,096.89 kg ha-1 a-1 aportando al sistema el 45 %, este mismo tipo de sombra aporta al sistema las mayores cantidades de N, P, K, Ca y Mg con 67, 54, 70, 80 y 44 % respectivamente. Los porcentaje restante de materia seca y nutrientes tanto en poda y raleo correspondiente a tallos mayores de 2 cm de diámetro, es extraído del sistema como leña y postes respectivamente.

Comportamiento agronomico, fitosanitario y calidad de grano de tres hibridos y cuatro variedades comerciales de cafe (Coffea arabica L.) agroforestal en Masatepe, Nicaragua

Se establecieron parce las en el Centro Jardín Botánico y Campos Azúles (Masatepe, Masaya) las variedades de café Pacas , Catrenic, Pacas injerta sobre Robusta, Catrenic injerta sobre Robusta y tres híbrido F1: Caturra 9*ET 15 L2, A.30 ( Híbrido 2), Caturra * ET 15 L3, A17 ( Híbrid o 3) y T 5296*ET6 L.13, A.12 ( Híbrido 4) , con el propósito de determinar el comportamiento fitosanitario, productivo y de calidad de grano . Se midieron de octubre 2006 a diciembre 2007 , variables morfológicas y fitosanitarias de la planta de café y d el 2004 al 2007 componentes producción de grano y a nális is físico organoléptico del grano de café verde. Los datos fueron evaluados mediante análisis de varianza para experimentos unifactoriables en bloques completos al azar con cuatro y ocho repeticiones par a e l factor variedades . E l área de muestreo fue con stituida por 12 plantas a 2 x 1. 25, café establecido bajo sombra de Inga laurina (Sw.) Willd , Simarouba glauca DC ; Samanea Saman (Jacq.) Merr , Tabebuia rosea (Bertol.) DC en combinación con fertilización orgánica moderado (OM) y convencional moderado (CM). Los resultados indican que las variedades comerciales Pacas y Catrenic obtuvieron mayo r altura de 160.14 a 190. 61 los híbridos e xpre saron un diámetro de tronco superior , evidenciaron también menor desarr ollo de ramas secundarias productivas, pero una mayo r cantidad de ramas primarias y superior área de copa . Pacas mostró mayo r i ncidencia de H. vastatrix Berk y Br , mientras que Catrenic presento resistencia. Leucoptera coffeella Guerin - Meneville , Colletotr ichum coffeanum Noack , Chasparria en frutos e H y pot h enemus hampie Ferrari no su peraron niveles de incidencia tolerable en ninguna variedad. Ante Cercospora coffeicola Berk y Cooke los Híbrido 2 e Híbrido 3 expresaron susceptibilidad. Catrenic obtuvo el may o r peso de fruto, requiriendo menor número de frutos para componer un kilogramo de café uva. El mayo r rendimiento de caf é en el tiempo fue presentado por el Híbrido 2 , aumentando 314 kg a 65 kg oro superior a l Híbrido 3 y 4. Todas las variedades producen l os mayo res porcentajes de granos con cribas entre 15 a 17, en las tres cosechas. Tanto Pacas y Híbrido 2 expresaron un a calidad buena de acidez en el 37. 5 % y 25 % respectivamente de l total de las muestras. El aroma y cuerpo obtenido por Híbrido 4, Híbrido 2 y Catrenic fue superior. El tipo de café producido se clasific ó en Tipo Lavado Nicaragua (GW) en la mayo r proporción de muestras y Tipo Estri ctamente de Altura (SHG) donde Híbrido 2 y Catrenic obtuvieron la mayo r distribución . Según los resultados antes descritos, las siete variedades desarrollaron un café de tipo BB mercado de exigencia

Determinación del índice de área foliar, radiación solar no interceptada por especies forestales y concentración de magnesio en hojas de café (Coffea arabica L.) en sistemas agroforestales, localizados en Masaya, Nicaragua

La presente investigación se realizó en sistemas agroforestales con Café Coffea arábiga L.)en el Municipio de Masatepe, Nicaragua, determinando el índice de área foliar, radiación solar no interceptada por especies forestales y concentración de magnesio en hojas de Café. Para determinar índice de área foliar se utilizó una metodología no destructiva y una destructiva; la medición no destructiva se basó en la técnica de fotografías hemisféricas para lo cual se utilizó una cámara Nikon Coolpix 4500 que permitió tomar fotografías de cuatro árboles de Samanea saman, Inga laurina, Simarouba glauca, Tabebuia rosea respectivamente. Porcada árbol se tomaron cuatro imágenes sobre lados opuestos del tronco (Norte, Sur, Este y Oeste), para el análisis de fotografías hemisféricas se empleó el software Gap Light Analyzer. Para contrastar la medición de índice de área foliar por método no destructivo (fotografías hemisféricas) se empleó un método destructivo basado en la recolección de 300 hojas, se tomó el peso húmedo del total de hojas de cada uno de los árboles en estudio. Del total de hojas de cada árbol se pesaron separadamente tres muestras; utilizando el planímetro LI-3000 se calculó en cada caso el área de la hoja. Una vez obtenida el área foliar de la hoja, las muestras se secaron en horno a 65° C, durante 72 h y promediadas para obtener biomasa del follaje. Dividiendo el área foliar de las muestras entre su peso seco se obtuvo el área foliar específica, posteriormente el promedio de área foliar específica de las muestras multiplicado por el peso seco total de hojas permitió calcular el área foliar del árbol. Finalmente, se obtuvo el índice de área foliar dividiendo área foliar entre el área de suelo asignada . La medición de la cantidad de radiación incidente sobre el follaje de las plantas de Café se realizó en la réplica II en CENECOOP en dos puntos de muestreo; el criterio de selección de los sitios se basó en la combinación de árboles ubicados diagonalmente y en la uniformidad de distancia entre las especies para la combinación T. rosea + S. glaucae I. laurina + S. saman. En esta réplica se realizaron análisis del contenido de magnesio en hojas de Café en las subparcelas 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 y 12 más dos muestras testigos en las subparcelas 13 y 14 a pleno sol. El índice de área foliar promedio para especies tropicales estimado por el método destructivo fue de 2,52 y por el método no destructivo fue de 0,85; debido a estas diferencias es necesario aplicar un factor de corrección o calibración al método no destructivo para validar ambos resultados. En la combinación I. laurina + S. saman se detectó un mayor paso de radiación solar al cafetal (29911,11lux) posiblemente debido a las características morfológicas del dosel. La concentración de magnesio más alta es de 2% la cual se encontró en las hojas de Café de la combinación T. rosea + S. glauca en nivel de insumo orgánico moderado.