ABSTRACT
Modelling studies on climate change predict continuous increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration [CO2] and increase in temperature. This may alter carbon-based phytochemicals such phenolics and modify plant interactions with herbivorous. We investigated the effects of enhanced [CO2] and local climatic variation on young coffee plants, Coffea arabica L. cv Catuaí vermelho IAC-144 and Obatã vermelho IAC-1669-20, cultivated in the FACE (Free-Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment) facility under two atmospheric [CO2] conditions. Coffee leaves were evaluated for total soluble phenolics (TSP), chlorogenic (5-CQA) and caffeic (CAF) acids, diversity and population size of mites, along two dry and two rainy seasons. Elevated atmospheric CO2 (e[CO2]) significantly decreased 5-CQA in cv. Catuaí but did not affect cv. Obatã. Species richness and population size of mites in coffee leaves were not affected by e[CO2] but were strongly related to the seasonal variability of coffee leaf phenolics. In general, high levels of phenolics were negatively correlated with population size while the mite species richness were negatively correlated with 5-CQA and TSP levels. Our findings show that [CO2] enhancement affects phenolics in coffee plants differentially by cultivars, however seasonality is the key determinant of phenolics composition, mite species richness and population size.
Subject(s)
Coffea , Tetranychidae , Animals , Carbon Dioxide , Coffee , Plant Leaves/chemistry , TreesABSTRACT
The grazing of Zebu cattle in poor-quality tropical pastures during the dry season has an increased environmental impact and cost of production. The use of condensed tannins (CT) as a natural feed additive to modulate ruminal archaea can mitigate the methane emissions from cattle in tropical systems. We investigated the effects of CT on in vivo methane emissions and rumen microbiota ecology in beef cattle. Batch experiments were also conducted to evaluate the impact of dietary CT on the biogas production from beef cattle manure. Six adult rumen-cannulated Nellore cattle were used in a double 3 × 3 Latin square design. Treatments consisted of three diets containing either a 0%, 1.25% or 2.5% CT additive from Acacia mimosa extract. The experimental period consisted of 63 days, and methane production was measured using the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) technique from Day 16 to 21 of each feeding period. Adding Acacia extract to the diets reduced daily methane emissions per animal. Methane suppression occurred more by reduction of intake than by the direct effect on methanogenic archaea. We verified that CT directly suppresses archaea rumen communities and increases total rumen bacteria. Our study indicates that CT benefit rumen Fibrobactersuccinogenes and Ruminoccous flavefaciens populations and have no negative effect on biogas production from cattle manure. Acacia extract as a feed additive has promising potential as part of an overall nutritional strategy to reduce the methanogenesis from Zebu beef cattle in tropical systems.
Subject(s)
Archaea/drug effects , Biofuels/analysis , Cattle/metabolism , Methane/biosynthesis , Proanthocyanidins/metabolism , Rumen/metabolism , Animal Feed/analysis , Animals , Archaea/metabolism , Brazil , Diet/veterinary , Dietary Supplements/analysis , Male , Rumen/microbiology , Tropical ClimateABSTRACT
Agricultural systems are responsible for environmental impacts that can be mitigated through the adoption of more sustainable principles. Our objective was to investigate the influence of two pre-grazing targets (95% and maximum canopy light interception during pasture regrowth; LI95% and LIMax, respectively) on sward structure and herbage nutritive value of elephant grass cv. Cameroon, and dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield, stocking rate, enteric methane (CH4) emissions by Holsteinâ¯×â¯Jersey dairy cows. We hypothesized that grazing strategies modifying the sward structure of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) improves nutritive value of herbage, increasing DMI and reducing intensity of enteric CH4 emissions, providing environmental and productivity benefits to tropical pasture-based dairy systems. Results indicated that pre-sward surface height was greater for LIMax (≈135â¯cm) than LI95% (≈100â¯cm) and can be used as a reliable field guide for monitoring sward structure. Grazing management based on LI95% criteria improved herbage nutritive value and grazing efficiency, allowing greater DMI, milk yield and stocking rate by dairy cows. Daily enteric CH4 emission was not affected; however, cows grazing elephant grass at LI95% were more efficient and emitted 21% less CH4/kg of milk yield and 18% less CH4/kg of DMI. The 51% increase in milk yield per hectare overcame the 29% increase in enteric CH4 emissions per hectare in LI95% grazing management. Thereby the same resource allocation resulted in a 16% mitigation of the main greenhouse gas from pasture-based dairy systems. Overall, strategic grazing management is an environmental friendly practice that improves use efficiency of allocated resources through optimization of processes evolving plant, ruminant and their interface, and enhances milk production efficiency of tropical pasture-based systems.
Subject(s)
Dairying/methods , Sustainable Development , Animal Feed , Animals , Cameroon , Cattle , Diet , Female , Lactation , Lolium , MilkABSTRACT
Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) é uma das principais pragas do tomateiro no Brasil, provocando severas perdas devido à sucção de seiva, indução do amadurecimento irregular dos frutos e transmissão de viroses. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o efeito de tricomas glandulares no desenvolvimento de B. tabaci biótipo B em oito genótipos de tomateiro, em casa de vegetação. Utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso, em arranjo fatorial (genótipo x exsudato), com três repetições, sendo os genótipos avaliados na condição com e sem exsudato. Adultos da mosca-branca foram transferidos para uma gaiola de voil, onde permaneceram durante 24h. As variáveis avaliadas foram número de ovos e viabilidade, período de incubação, número de ninfas, duração e sobrevivência da fase ninfal. Efetuou-se a contagem de tricomas e a determinação do pH e teor de acilglicose para todos os genótipos. Na presença de exsudato, LA716 proporcionou redução na oviposição do inseto, o que sugere efeito antixenótico. Resistência antixenótica em LA1739 e PI134417 não foi associada ao exsudato glandular. O efeito do exsudato na oviposição do inseto foi explicado pelo teor de acilglicose. O pH apresentou papel secundário na oviposição da mosca-branca. A densidade de tricomas favoreceu o desenvolvimento do inseto. LA1584 destacou-se pela redução na sobrevivência do inseto e prolongamento do ciclo, além de propiciar oviposição intermediária, podendo ser adequado para incorporação em programas de melhoramento. Entretanto, há necessidade de estudos adicionais para determinar o potencial de uso desse genótipo ou de seus híbridos no manejo integrado de pragas.
Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) is one of the most important tomato pests in Brazil and causes severe losses due to the sap suction, the induction of the irregular ripening of the fruit and virus transmission. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of exudates released by the glandular trichomes on the development of B. tabaci biotype B on eight tomato genotypes, under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was arranged as a factorial scheme (genotype x exudate) in a randomized block design, with three replications, being the genotypes evaluated in two conditions (with and without exudate). Whitefly adults were transferred to a voile cage for 24h. The variables evaluated were number of eggs and viability, incubation period, number of nymphs, duration and viability of the nymphal stage. Trichome counts and determination of pH and acylglucose content were made for all the genotypes. Intact leaflets of LA716 were less accepted for oviposition than leaflets without exudate, which suggests an antixenotic effect. Antixenotic resistance in LA1739 and PI134417 was not associated to the glandular exudate. The effect of exudates on the insect oviposition was explained by the acylglucose content. The pH showed secondary role on the whitefly oviposition. Trichomes density improved the insect development. LA1584 reduced the insect survival and increased its cycle, besides promoting an intermediate oviposition. For this reason, it can be useful in breeding programs. However, further studies are needed to determine the potential of this genotype and hybrids for future utilization in integrated pest management.
