Boosting species evenness, productivity and weed control in a mixed meadow by promoting arbuscular mycorrhizas.

Lowland meadows represent aboveground and belowground biodiversity reservoirs in intensive agricultural areas, improving water retention and filtration, ensuring forage production, contrasting erosion and contributing to soil fertility and carbon sequestration. Besides such major ecosystem services, the presence of functionally different plant species improves forage quality, nutritional value and productivity, also limiting the establishment of weeds and alien species. Here, we tested the effectiveness of a commercial seed mixture in restoring a lowland mixed meadow in the presence or absence of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and biostimulation of symbiosis development with the addition of short chain chito-oligosaccharides (CO). Plant community composition, phenology and productivity were regularly monitored alongside AM colonization in control, inoculated and CO-treated inoculated plots. Our analyses revealed that the CO treatment accelerated symbiosis development significantly increasing root colonization by AM fungi. Moreover, the combination of AM fungal inoculation and CO treatment improved plant species evenness and productivity with more balanced composition in forage species. Altogether, our study presented a successful and scalable strategy for the reintroduction of mixed meadows as valuable sources of forage biomass; demonstrated the positive impact of CO treatment on AM development in an agronomic context, extending previous observations developed under controlled laboratory conditions and leading the way to the application in sustainable agricultural practices.

Influence of Cuticular Waxes from Triticale on Rumen Fermentation: A Metabolomic and Microbiome Profiling Study.

Cuticular wax, a critical defense layer for plants, remains a relatively unexplored factor in rumen fermentation. We investigated the impact of cuticular wax on rumen fermentation using triticale as a model. In total, six wax classes were identified, including fatty acids, aldehydes, alkane, primary alcohol, alkyresorcinol, and ß-diketone, with low-bloom lines predominated by 46.05% of primary alcohols and high-bloom lines by 35.64% of ß-diketone. Low-wax addition (2.5 g/kg DM) increased the gas production by 19.25% (P < 0.05) and total volatile fatty acids by 6.34% (P > 0.05), and enriched key carbohydrate-fermenting rumen microbes like Saccharofermentans, Ruminococcus, and Prevotellaceae, when compared to non-wax groups. Metabolites linked to nucleotide metabolism, purine metabolism, and protein/fat digestion in the rumen showed a positive correlation with low-wax, benefiting rumen microbes. This study highlights the intricate interplay among cuticular wax, rumen microbiota, fermentation, and metabolomics in forage digestion, providing insights into livestock nutrition and forage utilization.

Ethnobotanical study of traditional forage plants in the Gansu-Ningxia-Inner Mongolia junction zone: conservation and sustainable utilization for animal husbandry.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to safeguard the ethnobotanical knowledge pertaining to traditional forage plants within the ethnically diverse Gansu-Ningxia-Inner Mongolia junction zone. It seeks to establish a foundation for the sustainable utilization of these traditional resources for animal husbandry. METHODS: A combination of literature research, village interviews, participatory observation, and ethnobotanical quantitative evaluation methods was employed to investigate and study the traditional knowledge of wild forage plants used by local residents in the study area. RESULTS: Local residents provided information on 73 forage plants, which were identified as 116 distinct wild forage plant species. These plants belong to 22 families and play an active role in the lives of the local inhabitants. Notably, the families Poaceae, Fabaceae, and Asteraceae are prominent, comprising the most abundant and widely utilized wild forage plants. Bing Cao (collectively referring to plants of the Agropyron, Leymus, and Psammochloa), Suo Cao (collectively referring to plants of the genus Stipa), and Ku Cai (encompassing Lactuca tatarica (L.) C.A.Mey. and Ixeris polycephala Cass.) emerge as the most representative and vital wild forage plants for animal husbandry. Additionally, plants within the Astragalus (referred to collectively as NiaoZi by local residents) in the Fabaceae family, as well as plants from the Amaranthaceae family, exhibit notable significance. CONCLUSION: Animal husbandry assumes a pivotal role in the local agricultural economy, and the 116 wild forage plants investigated hold substantial importance in its development. Among these, 59 and 103 plant resources display high developmental potential, making them prospective candidates for high-quality cultivated forage grasses. Additionally, extensive grazing practices have resulted in significant ecological degradation within this already fragile ecosystem. The cultivation of forage grasses and the practice of pen-based animal husbandry may emerge as crucial strategies for sustainable development in this area.

Effect of honey bee forage plants in Tunisia on diversity and antibacterial potential of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria from Apis mellifera intermissa and its products.

Lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria (LAB and Bifido), isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of Apis mellifera intermissa (BGIT), honey (H), propolis (P) and bee bread (BB) of hives set in different vegetations (wildflowers, caraway, orange blossom, Marrubium vulgare, Eucalyptus and Erica cinerea), were subjected to analysis of their antibacterial potential. Isolates able to inhibit Staphylococcus aureus were selected and identified with MALDI-TOF MS leading to 154 strains representing 12 LAB and Bifido species. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Pediococcus pentosaceus and Enterococcus faecalis were predominantly found in all matrices. BGIT showed the highest LAB and Bifido diversity with exclusive occurrences of five species (including Bifidobacterium asteroides and Limosilactobacillus fermentum). Honey was the second origin harboring an important variety of LAB species of which Apilactobacillus kunkeei and Enterococcus mundtii were characteristic of both H and BGIT. Principal components analysis revealed associations between antibacterial activities of LAB and Bifido, matrices and honey bee forage plants. Inhibition trends of S. aureus and Citrobacter freundii were highlighted with: L. plantarum from BGIT, P, H of bees feeding on E. cinerea; Pediococcus pentosaceus from BGIT, P, BB associated with E. cinerea; and Bifidobacterium asteroides from BGIT/orange blossom system. However, Enterococcus faecium associated with BGIT/Eucalyptus system antagonized Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. Our findings highlighted noteworthy effects of bee forage plants on the antibacterial activity of LAB and Bifido. Our approach could be useful to identify multiple conditions promoting antibacterial potency of LAB and Bifido under the combined effects of feeding plants and living matrices.

ChIFNα regulates adventitious root development in Lotus japonicus via an auxin-mediated pathway.

Adventitious roots (ARs), developing from non-root tissue, play an important role in some plants. Here, the molecular mechanism of AR differentiation in Lotus japonicus L. (L. japonicus) with the transformed chicken interferon alpha gene (ChIFNα) encoding cytokine was studied. ChIFNα transgenic plants (TP) were identified by GUS staining, PCR, RT-PCR, and ELISA. Up to 0.175 µg/kg rChIFNα was detected in TP2 lines. Expressing rChIFNα promotes AR development by producing longer roots than controls. We found that the effect was enhanced with the auxin precursor IBA treatment in TP. IAA contents, POD, and PPO activities associated with auxin regulation were higher than wild type (WT) in TP and exogenous ChIFNα treatment plants. Transcriptome analysis revealed 48 auxin-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (FDR < 0.05), which expression levels were verified by RT-qPCR analysis. GO enrichment analysis of DEGs also highlighted the auxin pathway. Further analysis found that ChIFNα significantly enhanced auxin synthesis and signaling mainly with up-regulated genes of ALDH, and GH3. Our study reveals that ChIFNα can promote plant AR development by mediating auxin regulation. The findings help explore the role of ChIFNα cytokines and expand animal gene sources for the molecular breeding of growth regulation of forage plants.

A Biocultural Study on Gaoligongshan Pig (Sus scrofa domesticus), an Important Hog Landrace, in Nujiang Prefecture of China.

Over 80% proteins consumed by the local people in Nujiang Prefecture of Southwest China, a remote and mountainous area in the Eastern Himalayas, are from pork, or Gaoligongshan pig (a landrace of Sus scrofa domestica Brisson). Previous research on the Gaoligongshan pig has focused on nutritional composition, production performance, and genetic resource characteristics, but neglected the reasons behind the local people's practice. From 2019 to 2022, we have used ethnobiological research methods to comprehensively document the traditional rearing and management patterns and the traditional culture associated with Gaoligongshan pigs. The results show that Gaoligongshan pigs graze in mixed herds with cattle and sheep during the day and prefer to eat 23 wild plant species, in which 17 species have medicinal values. At night, the pigs are artificially fed and rest in the pigsty. The local Bai and Lisu people have developed a creative food culture, rituals, and festivals culture associated with Gaoligongshan pigs. Overall, the biocultural diversity of Gaoligongshan pig contributes to the in situ conservation of genetic diversity of this important hog landrace, and supports rural development in this remote area.

Evaluación preliminar de la callogénesis y organogénesis in vitro Leptochloa crinita (lag.) p. m. peterson & n. snow / Preliminary evaluation of in vitro callogenesis and organogenesis Leptochloa crinita (Lag.) P. M. Peterson & N. Snow

RESUMEN El cambio de uso de la tierra por diversos factores socio-económicos, climáticos, tecnológicos y culturales han tenido como consecuencia en la provincia de San Luis (Argentina) la pérdida de diversidad biológica, fragmentación y destrucción de hábitat, comprometiendo la existencia de la flora nativa, como es el caso de Leptochloa crinita (Lag.) P.M. Peterson & N. Snow, una especie con buena aptitud forrajera del monte chaqueño. Bajo este contexto, el presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo aplicar biotécnicas como alternativas para una propagación apropiada de este acervo genético. Se evaluó la organogénesis y callogénesis in vitro de diferentes explantos con distintos reguladores de crecimiento en un medio nutritivo Murashige y Skoog. El tratamiento con 6 mg l-1 de 2,4-D estimuló la callogénesis, mientras que los tratamientos combinados de auxinas y citocininas presentaron las mayores tasas de morfogénesis. El desarrollo de esta biotécnica permite disponer de metodologías adecuadas para iniciar ensayos de conservación in vitro, análisis de la variabilidad genética e inicio de programas de domesticación y mejoramiento genético.

ABSTRACT In San Luis (Argentina), land-use change due to a variety of socioeconomic, climatic, technological and cultural factors has caused the loss of biological diversity, fragmentation and habitat destruction, compromising the existence of native flora, such as in the case of Leptochloa crinita (Lag.) PM Peterson & N. Snow, a species with good forage aptitude from the Chaco forest. In this context, the present work aimed to apply biotechniques as an alternative for an appropriate propagation of this gene pool. In vitro organogenesis and callogenesis of several explants were evaluated with different growth regulators on a Murashige and Skoog nutrient medium. Treatment with 6 mg l-1 of 2,4-D stimulated callogenesis, while combined auxin and cytokinin treatments presented the highest rates of morphogenesis. The development of this biotechnique makes it possible to have adequate methodologies to initiate in vitro conservation trials, analysis of genetic variability and the initiation of domestication and breeding programs.

An ethnobiological study on traditional knowledge associated with black-boned sheep (Ovis aries) in Northwest Yunnan, China.

BACKGROUND: Black-boned sheep is a precious genetic resource with black quality traits cultivated by the Pumi people in Tongdian Town, Lanping County, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Northwest Yunnan, China. It has been included in the "National Breed List of Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources." The local communities have a deep understanding of black-boned sheep. The traditional knowledge of black-boned sheep is essential to their conservation and sustainable development. In spite of this, there was no information on traditional knowledge associated with black-boned sheep so far. The aim of this study wasaimed to document traditional knowledge and culture, to elucidate information about forage plants, and to investigate the conservation strategy of black-boned sheep. METHOD: Four field surveys were conducted from July 2019 to May 2021. A total of seven villages and the Pumi Culture Museum in Lanping County are being investigated. A semi-structured interview method was used to interview 67 key informants. During the investigation, we also participated in the grazing activities of black-boned sheep, observed the appearance characteristics and the herd structure of the black-boned sheep, and demonstrated traditional knowledge regarding black-boned sheep, including grazing methods, forage plants, and related customs and habits. RESULTS: We assumed that a majority of people in the current study sites were able to could distinguish black-boned sheep from their relatives by their black bones, blue-green gums, and blue-purple anus. The local people manage their black-boned sheep based on the number of sheep by sex, age, and role in a flock in the different breeding environments. Different grazing strategies have been adopted in different seasons. Through ethnobotanical investigations, 91 species of forage plants in 30 families were identified, including herbaceous, shrubs, lianas, and trees. Among all the plant species consumed by the black-boned sheep, Rosaceae species make up the greatest number, with 16, followed by Asteraceae, with 9, and 8 species of Fabaceae and Poaceae. Considering the abundance of forage plants and the preference for black-boned sheep, Prinsepia utilis and the plants of Rubus, Berberis, and Yushania occupy dominant positions. Plants used for foraging are divided into two categories: wild and cultivated. Due to the lack of forage plants in fall and winter, the local people mainly cultivate crops to feed their black-boned sheep. In addition, the black-boned sheep is an influential cultural species in the local community and plays a prominent role in the cultural identity of the Pumi people. CONCLUSION: Sheep play an essential role in the inheritance of the spiritual culture and material culture of the Pumi ethnic group. The formation of the black-boned sheep is inseparable from the worship of sheep by the Pumi people. With a long-term grazing process, the locals have developed a variety of traditional knowledge related to black-boned sheep. This is the experience that locals have accumulated when managing forests and grasslands. Therefore, both the government and individuals should learn from the local people when it comes to protecting black-boned sheep. No one knows black-boned sheep better than them. The foremost evidence of this is the rich traditional knowledge of breeding black-boned sheep presented by key informants.

Photoluminescent Sensor of Scarification Efficiency of Fodder Plants' Seeds.

Optoelectronic sensors open up new possibilities for predicting the yield for their possible correction, including increasing the seed germination of forage plants. The luminescent properties of unscarified and scarified seeds of various germination galega, clover and alfalfa are compared. The dependence of germination on the photoluminescence flux is approximated by linear equations with a determination coefficient R2 = 0.932-0.999. A technological process for analyzing the scarification quality of forage seed plants is proposed, including sample preparation, photoluminescence excitation and registration, amplification of the received electrical signal and determination of germination based on calibration equations. This is followed by a decision on sowing, or re-scarification. The scheme of the scarification quality control device has been developed for which the LED, as well as the radiation receiver and other elements, has been selected according to the energy efficiency criterion. Mechanical scarification of the forage plants' seed surfaces has a significant effect on their photoluminescent properties. The flux increases by 1.5-1.7 times for galega, 2.0-3.0 times for clover and 2.3-3.9 times for alfalfa. Linear approximation of the flux dependence on germination with a high coefficient of determination allows us to obtain reliable linear calibration equations. Preliminary mock-up laboratory tests allow us to talk about the developed method's effectiveness and device.

Maine's Bumble Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Assemblage-Part 1: Composition, Seasonal and Regional Distribution, and Resource Use.

Global declines of bumble bees place natural and agricultural ecosystems at risk. Given bumble bees importance to Maine's major agricultural crops, we conducted a statewide, quantitative survey of bumble bee species seasonal and ecoregional abundance, richness, diversity, and floral resource use. We recorded 11 Bombus species at 40 survey sites across Maine's three ecoregions, with Bombus ternarius Cresson, 1863 and Bombus impatiens Cresson, 1863 being the most common and Bombus citrinus Smith, 1854 the least commonly encountered. Bumble bee species richness did not differ as a function of ecoregion, but did decline over the season, while species diversity differed by ecoregion and also declined over the season. Multiple response permutation procedure (MRPP) indicated ecoregional differences in species composition of bumble bee assemblages and nonmetric multidimensional scaling produced a stable ordination suggesting assemblage differences were associated with survey site variables including forage plant cover, forage plant richness, elevation, development, and deciduous forest cover. Both MRPP and correspondence analysis also revealed differences in the floral resources utilized by bumble bee species in each ecoregion. Low connectance and nestedness levels indicated low stability pollinator networks in each ecoregion, suggesting Maine bumble bee assemblages may be at risk of decline in response to additional external perturbations.

An ethnobotanical study of forage plants in Zhuxi County in the Qinba mountainous area of central China.

In the Qinba mountainous area of Central China, pig farming has a significant impact on the growth of the rural economy and has substantially increased farmer incomes. Traditional knowledge plays an important role in the selection of forage plant species for pig farming by local people. This study aimed to identify the forage plants used for pig feeding and to catalog indigenous knowledge regarding their use. During 2016 and 2017, ethnobotanical surveys and inventories were conducted in Zhuxi County, Hubei Province, China. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, key informant reports, free listings, guided field walks, and participatory observations with 77 households in 16 villages in 13 towns/townships. The obtained data were analyzed using a relative frequency citation (RFC) index. Overall, 145 wild forage plants from 91 genera and 31 families were recorded. The most cited families were Asteraceae, Polygonaceae, Urticaceae, Amaranthaceae, Fabaceae, Cruciferae, Caryophyllaceae, and Lamiaceae. Whole plants (75.9%) and tender leaves (12.4%) were the most frequently used parts of the plants. Most of the forage plants were herbaceous (88.9%). Almost all forage plants could be collected throughout the year (62.7%). Raw and cooked were the two main preparation methods. The most frequently cited species were Taraxacum mongolicum, Bidens pilosa, Sonchus oleraceus, Pilea verrucosa, and Pilea pumila var. obtusifolia. A total of 14 species were identified as the top forage plants in Zhuxi County based on their RFC values (RFC value greater than 0.5). Local people possess rich traditional knowledge about the utilization and management of forage plants for pig feeding. However, the maintenance of this traditional knowledge may be seriously threatened by changes in pig feeding modes and the lack of successors. Appropriate strategies and action plans have been suggested for the conservation of traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity and the sustainable use of forage species resources. These include 1) taking targeted measures to protect forage resources and associated traditional knowledge; 2) strengthening research on the forage plants with the highest RFC values for nutritional value, digestibility, other functions, and ecological status; and 3) enhancing the identification of poisonous forage plants.

Mercury in Soil and Forage Plants from Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in the Bombana Area, Indonesia.

Mercury (Hg) contamination in soil and forage plants is toxic to ecosystems, and artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the main source of such pollution in the Bombana area of Indonesia. Hg contamination in soil and forage plants was investigated by particle-induced X-ray emission analysis of samples collected from three savannah areas (i.e., ASGM, commercial mining, and control areas) in the Bombana area. Hg contents of forage plants in the ASGM area (mean 9.90 ± 14 µg/g) exceeded those in the control area (2.70 ± 14 µg/g). Soil Hg contents (mean 390 ± 860 µg/g) were also higher than those in the control area (mean 7.40 ± 9.90 µg/g), with levels exceeding international regulatory limits. The Hg contents of 69% of soil and 78% of forage-plant samples exceeded critical toxicological limits. Thus, the Hg levels observed in this study indicate that contamination extending over large areas may cause major environmental problems.

Evaluation of Metals in Soil and Tissues of Economic-Interest Plants Grown in Sites Affected by the Fundão Dam Failure in Mariana, Brazil.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the concentration of potentially toxic elements in Brachiaria decumbens, Stylosanthes guianensis, and Saccharum officinarum plants and soil samples in affected and unaffected areas by rupture of the Fundão dam, Brazil. Samples were collected in areas affected by residues from the Fundão dam (RAA1, RAA2, RAA3) and in an unaffected area (control). The material was analyzed for the composition of micronutrients and trace elements in soil and plants, as well as contamination factor (CF), accumulation factor, and translocation factor (TF). Overall, the results showed that soil and plant tissues had increased Fe, Mn, Cu, and Cr content and decreased Zn content in the affected areas, compared to the control. Leaves and roots of B. decumbens showed an increase in Fe content in affected areas, compared to the control, reaching a mean maximum value of 42 958 µg/g of roots of RAA2-collected plants. As a result, CF for Fe of B. decumbens was classified as very high and they presented low TF values. Furthermore, B. decumbens collected in affected areas showed an increase of Fe, Mn, Cu, and Cr in leaves, stems, and roots, whereas in Stylosanthes guianensis, there was an increase of Fe concentration in all tissues and Cr in leaves. Also, Saccharum officinarum showed the accumulation of Mn in the stem and Cu in leaves and stem. On the other hand, there was no contamination of plants by hazardous elements such as Pb, Cd, and As in the samples analyzed. In conclusion, increases in the content of Fe, Mn, Cu, and Cr were found in soil and several plant tissues of residue-affected areas, which could compromise plant growth and represent potential hazards arising from the biomagnification process in the food chain. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2020;16:596-607. © 2020 SETAC.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a concentração de elementos potencialmente tóxicos em plantas de Brachiaria decumbens, Stylosanthes guianensis e Saccharum officinarum e amostras de solos em áreas afetadas e não afetadas pelo rompimento da barragem de Fundão. As amostras foram coletadas em áreas afetadas por resíduos da barragem de Fundão (RAA1, RAA2, RAA3) e em uma área não afetada (controle). O material foi analisado quanto à composição de micronutrientes e elementos-traço no solo e plantas, além de fatores de contaminação (CF), bioacumulação e translocação (TF). No geral, os resultados mostraram que o solo e as plantas apresentaram maiores teores de Fe, Mn, Cu e Cr e menores teores de Zn nas áreas afetadas em comparação ao controle. Folhas e raízes de B. decumbens apresentaram aumento no teor de Fe nas áreas afetadas em relação ao controle, atingindo o valor máximo médio de 42.958 µg/g nas raízes de plantas coletadas em RAA2. Como resultado, CF para Fe de B. decumbens foi classificado como muito alto, mas com baixos valores de TF. Além disso, B. decumbens coletadas nas áreas afetadas apresentaram aumento de Fe, Mn, Cu e Cr nas folhas, caules e raízes, enquanto que em Stylosanthes guianensis houve aumento da concentração de Fe em todos as partes das plantas e Cr nas folhas. Saccharum officinarum também apresentou acúmulo de Mn no caule e Cu nas folhas e caule. Por outro lado, não há contaminação das plantas por elementos perigosos como Pb, Cd e As nas amostras analisadas. Concluindo, foram encontrados aumentos nos teores de Fe, Mn, Cu e Cr no solo e em vários tecidos vegetais, o que pode comprometer o crescimento das plantas e representar riscos potenciais decorrentes do processo de biomagnificação na cadeia alimentar. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2020;16:596-607.

Investigating criteria for valuation of forage resources by local agro-pastoralists in West Africa: using quantitative ethnoecological approach.

BACKGROUND: This paper provides an insightful quantitative ethnoecological analysis and affirms that agro-pastoralists have a multiplicity of criteria for valuating their natural forage resources. Rural households in West Africa are not only confronted with water resource scarcity but also have to cope with limited forage resources to feed livestock in both wet and dry seasons based on local knowledge. Local agro-pastoral social-ecological systems (SESs) in the study areas stem from the daily utilization of available forage resources by dominant domestic livestock (cattle, goats, and sheep) over the years. However, there is very little systematic knowledge documentation on forage-related valuation criteria in this part of the world. Hence, this study aimed at examining (1) forage resources used for different seasons and livestock types, (2) explicit forage-related valuation criteria and associated salience, and (3) effects of socio-demographic and climatic aridity on local valuation criteria. METHODS: To address these aims, a total of 526 individual ethnoecological interviews (encompassing Dagbani, Gurunsi, and Mossi ethnic groups) were conducted in 16 villages coupled with vegetation sampling of 144 plots in Ghana and Burkina Faso. Rigorous model selection, generalized linear mixed-effects models, cognitive salience indices, and descriptive statistics were applied. RESULTS: The results revealed that majority (73%) of the agro-pastoralists regarded herbaceous forage plants to be very palatable for livestock consumption in the rainy season and for cattle while woody vegetation and crop-related forage plants were rather perceived to be more important in the dry season and for goats and sheep. The findings also indicated that climatic aridity significantly influenced the number of forage-related valuation criteria cited by agro-pastoralists for different seasonal and livestock types (p < 0.001). It was also found out that agro-pastoralists did not only judge forage plants based on their availability but also on other criteria such as palatability, stimulation of milk production, and healthy growth of livestock. CONCLUSION: Local agro-pastoralists' knowledge on natural forage resources and their valuation criteria is geared towards sustainable domestic livestock production. This study is thus interesting and crucially important for fellow scientists, policy-makers, and other stakeholders in the agricultural production sector in local farming landscapes within West Africa and beyond.

Sanitary quality of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu and Xaraés seeds harvested in different states in Brazil / Qualidade sanitária de sementes de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandú e Xaraés colhidas em diferentes estados do Brasil

The incidence of fungi in seeds depends on the sanitary and climatic conditions in which the seeds were produced. So, the objective of this study was to identify the fungi present in commercial lots of Brachiaria brizantha cv. 'Marandu' and'Xaraés' seeds harvested in different areas in Brazil. Seeds from ten lots of each cultivar, produced in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Goiás, Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Bahia were evaluated as to moisture content, germination and sanity. The experiment was conducted according to a completely random design with eight replications of 50 seeds for each lot. In both cultivars, the seeds were found to be infected with Aspergillus sp., Chaetomium sp., Curvularia sp., Fusarium sp., and Helminthosporium sp; the highest incidences were those of Chaetomium sp. and Fusarium sp. Seeds of the 'Marandu' cultivar were the only ones showing the presence of Phoma sp. and Pyricularia grisea and those of the 'Xaraés' cultivar with Colletotrichum sp. and Nigrospora sp. The incidence of Fusarium sp., Aspergillus and Nigrospora sp. reduces 'Xaraés' seeds germination whereas it does not interfere in the 'Marandu' seeds germination. The presence of the fungus Pyricularia grisea is for the first time reported in tropical forage grass seeds produced in the Southeast and Northeast regions of Brazil.

A incidência de fungos em sementes depende das condições de sanidade e climáticas dos locais de procedência. Assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi identificar os fungos presentes em lotes comerciais de sementes de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandú e Xaraés coletadas em diferentes áreas. Sementes de dez lotes de cada cultivar produzidas nos Estados de Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Goiás, Minas Gerais, São Paulo e Bahia foram avaliados quanto ao teor de água, germinação e a sanidade. Nas sementes de ambos os capins verificou-se a incidência de Aspergillus sp., Chaetomium sp., Curvularia sp., Fusarium sp. e Helminthosporium sp. com maior importância para Chaetomium sp. e Fusarium sp. As sementes de capim-marandú foram as únicas com presença de Phoma sp. e Pyricularia grisea e de capim-xaraés com Colletotrichum sp. e Nigrospora sp. A incidência de Fusarium sp., Aspergillus sp. e Nigrospora sp. reduz a germinação de sementes de capim-xaraés e a ocorrência de fungos não interfere na germinação de capim-marandú. O fungo Pyricularia grisea é relatado pela primeira vez em sementes de gramíneas forrageiras tropicais produzidas no Sudeste e Nordeste do Brasil.

Factors influencing local ecological knowledge of forage resources: Ethnobotanical evidence from West Africa's savannas.

Recording local ecological knowledge (LEK) is a useful approach to understanding interactions of the complex social-ecological systems. In spite of the recent growing interest in LEK studies on the effects of climate and land use changes, livestock mobility decisions and other aspects of agro-pastoral systems, LEK on forage plants has still been vastly under-documented in the West African savannas. Using a study area ranging from northern Ghana to central Burkina Faso, we thus aimed at exploring how aridity and socio-demographic factors drive the distributional patterns of forage-related LEK among its holders. With stratified random sampling, we elicited LEK among 450 informants in 15 villages (seven in Ghana and eight in Burkina Faso) via free list tasks coupled with ethnobotanical walks and direct field observations. We performed generalized linear mixed-effects models (aridity- and ethnicity-based models) and robust model selection procedures. Our findings revealed that LEK for woody and herbaceous forage plants was strongly influenced by the ethnicity-based model, while aridity-based model performed better for LEK on overall forage resources and crop-related forage plants. We also found that climatic aridity had negative effect on the forage-related LEK across gender and age groups, while agro- and floristic diversity had positive effect on the body of LEK. About 135 species belonging to 95 genera and 52 families were cited. Our findings shed more light on how ethnicity and environmental harshness can markedly shape the body of LEK in the face of global climate change. Better understanding of such a place-based knowledge system is relevant for sustainable forage plants utilization and livestock production.

Do Svalbard reindeer regulate standing crop in the absence of predators? : A test of the "exploitation ecosystems" model.

The Svalbard reindeer is the only mammalian herbivore in Adventdalen (78°N), Svalbard, where it has no natural predators. To test if herbivores in the absence of predators regulate standing crop to a level independent of productivity, which is one of the predictions of the "exploitation ecosystems" model, herbivore exclosures were set up in 1992 in Salix heath, Luzula heath, Cassiope heath, and Alopecurus meadow in Adventdalen. Standing crop of vascular plants was harvested and measured inside and outside the exclosures in 1994, when the reindeer population was at peak density (ca 5.4 animals km-2), and in 1996, when the reindeer density was about 30% lower (ca 3.7 animals km-2). Standing dead material was reduced by grazing in the Luzula heath in 1994. However, we found no effect of grazing, year, or interactions between grazing and year on live standing crop. Also contrary to the predictions from the model, differences in standing crop between vegetation types were highly significant. Mean biomass of plant material was lowest in the Alopecurus meadow (36 g m-2), two fold higher in the Luzula heath, and about threefold higher in the Salix heath and Cassiope heath, indicating that reindeer do not regulate standing crop to the same level on a local scale. The predictive power of the "exploitation ecosystems" model is low due to lack of recognition of the importance of plant chemistry, plant compensation ability, variation in forage availability during the year, parasites functioning as predators, and adverse weather conditions, which may cause density-independent variations in fecundity and mortality of reindeer.