Feeding and locomotor rhythm of the ornamental cichlid fish Amatitlania sp. in different social groups.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feeding activity and the rhythm of daily locomotor activity of the convict cichlid (Amatitlania sp.) kept in different social groups under a self-feeding system. A total of 120 animals was distributed among six repetitions of four social groups, as follows: group 1 with one male and one female per tank; group 2 with three males and three females per tank; group 3 with six males per tank; and group 4 with six females per tank. Feeding activity (FA) and locomotor activity (LA) were evaluated using photoelectric presence-sensors connected to automatic feeders. The fish were fed a commercial extruded diet (46% crude protein and 3600 kcal kg-1 of digestible energy). Animal growth was evaluated for all groups. After 30 days of experimentation, the fish stabilized their demands by adjusting their consumption. Amatitlania sp. showed predominantly diurnal FA and LA. All groups showed a peak of activity when the light was turned on and when it was turned off. In summary, FA and LA of Amatitlania sp. are predominantly diurnal and independent of social group. Pairs and groups of males and females together consume less food in relation to groups of one sex or the other due to reproductive behaviour. On the other hand, groups of only males or females consume more food because they lack reproductive stimuli and thus prioritize growth. These results may support good feeding management practices for this ornamental cichlid. Studies relating feeding behaviour with different social groups are of great importance for determining effective feeding strategies for this species in captivity. Thus, such a study assists in a more efficient production of Amatitlania sp.

Transportability of Conclusions From Confined Field Trials: A Case Study Using the Virus Resistant Transgenic Bean Developed in Brazil.

The conceptual framework for Data Transportability, builds on the premise that well-designed studies conducted for the environmental and food/feed risk assessment of transgenic crops may be transportable across geographies. Beyond individual data, provided that certain criteria are met, the general conclusions of comparative assessments of a transgenic crop with its conventional counterpart would also be transportable. In spite of this, many regulatory agencies still require in-country field trials to complete risk assessments of transgenic crops. A sub-team from ILSI Argentina's (International Life Sciences Institute, Argentina. www.ilsi.org.ar) Biotechnology Working Group tested the applicability of the transportability concept to the case of the golden mosaic virus-resistant transgenic bean, developed by EMBRAPA (EMBRAPA: Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation). To this end, regulatory confined field trials (CFTs) carried out in Brazil to gather agro-phenotypic and compositional data were analyzed. The transportability of the conclusions of these studies to the bean cropping areas in Argentina was assessed as a conceptual exercise (with no intention to conclude on the biosafety of the common bean event). Comparative studies included the transgenic bean and its conventional parental line and were run in different agroecological environments so that any relevant differences could be observed. The main criteria to enable transportability were set by the sub-team and found to be met by the CFTs carried out in Brazil to inform a potential risk evaluation for Argentina.

Characterization of scientific studies usually cited as evidence of adverse effects of GM food/feed.

GM crops are the most studied crops in history. Approximately 5% of the safety studies on them show adverse effects that are a cause for concern and tend to be featured in media reports. Although these reports are based on just a handful of GM events, they are used to cast doubt on all GM crops. Furthermore, they tend to come from just a few laboratories and are published in less important journals. Importantly, a close examination of these reports invariably shows methodological flaws that invalidate any conclusions of adverse effects. Twenty years after commercial cultivation of GM crops began, a bona fide report of an adverse health effect due to a commercialized modification in a crop has yet to be reported.

Effect of gamma radiation on the inactivation of aflatoxin B1 in food and feed crops / Efeito da radiação gama na inativação de aflatoxina B1 em alimentos e ração

Samples of food crops (peanut, peeled pistachio, unpeeled pistachio, rice, and corn) and feed (barley, bran, corn) were autoclave-sterilized, and inoculated with 10(6) of spore suspension of an isolate of Aspergillus flavus fungus known to produce aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) . Following a 10-day period of incubation at 27 C to allow for fungal growth, food and feed samples were irradiated with gamma radiation at the doses 4, 6, and 10 kGy. Results indicated that degradation of AFB1 was positively correlated with the increase in the applied dose of gamma ray for each tested sample. At a dose of 10 kGy percentages of AFB1 degradation reached highest values at 58.6, 68.8, 84.6, 81.1 and 87.8 percent for peanuts, peeled pistachios, unpeeled pistachios, corn and rice samples, respectively. In feed samples percentages of AFB1 degradation were 45, 66, and 90 percent in barley, 47, 75, and 86 percent in bran, and 31, 72, and 84 percent in corn for the doses of 4, 6, and 10 kGy, respectively. AFB1 degradation in food samples correlated negatively with oil content in irradiated samples. Thus, in peanuts, which contained the highest oil content, percentage of AFB1 degradation at 10 kGy was not more than 56.6 percent, whereas, the corresponding value in corn, which contained the lowest oil content, reached as high as 80 percent. The above results indicate the possibility of using gamma radiation as a means of degradation of AFB1 in food and feed crops to levels lower than the maximum allowed levels.

Amostras de alimentos (amendoim, pistache descascada, pistache com casca, arroz e milho) e de ração (cevada, farelo de trigo e milho) foram esterilizadas por autoclavação e inoculadas com uma suspensão de esporos (10(6)) de um isolado de Aspergillus flavus produtor de aflatoxina B1 (AFB1). Após incubação por 10 dias a 27ºC para multiplicação do fungo, as amostras foram irradiadas com radiação gama nas doses de 4, 6 e 10 kGy. Os resultados indicaram que a degradação da AFB1 correlacionou-se positivamente com o aumento da dose de radiação gama. As porcentagens de degradação da AFB1 foram mais altas na dose de 10kGy, obtendo-se valores de 58,6, 68,8, 84,6, 81,1 e 87,8 por cento para amendoim, pistache descascada, pistache com casca, milho e arroz, respectivamente. Nas rações, as porcentagens de degradação de AFB1 foram 45, 66 e 90 por cento para cevada, 47, 75 e 86 por cento para farelo de trigo e 31, 72 e 84 por cento para milho, nas doses de 4, 6 e 10 kGy, respectivamente. A degradação de AFB1 correlacionou-se negativamente com o teor de gordura nas amostras irradiadas. Assim, em amendoim, que apresentou o teor de gordura mais alto, a porcentagem de degradação com 10 kGy foi inferior a 56,6 por cento, enquanto o valor correspondente em milho, que apresentou o teor de gordura mais baixo, foi de 80 por cento. Os resultados indicam a possibilidade de uso da radiação gama como meio de degradação de AFB1 em alimentos e ração a níveis inferiores ao máximo permitido.

Effect of gamma radiation on the inactivation of aflatoxin B1 in food and feed crops.

Samples of food crops (peanut, peeled pistachio, unpeeled pistachio, rice, and corn) and feed (barley, bran, corn) were autoclave-sterilized, and inoculated with 10(6) of spore suspension of an isolate of Aspergillus flavus fungus known to produce aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) . Following a 10-day period of incubation at 27 C to allow for fungal growth, food and feed samples were irradiated with gamma radiation at the doses 4, 6, and 10 kGy. Results indicated that degradation of AFB1 was positively correlated with the increase in the applied dose of gamma ray for each tested sample. At a dose of 10 kGy percentages of AFB1 degradation reached highest values at 58.6, 68.8, 84.6, 81.1 and 87.8% for peanuts, peeled pistachios, unpeeled pistachios, corn and rice samples, respectively. In feed samples percentages of AFB1 degradation were 45, 66, and 90% in barley, 47, 75, and 86% in bran, and 31, 72, and 84% in corn for the doses of 4, 6, and 10 kGy, respectively. AFB1 degradation in food samples correlated negatively with oil content in irradiated samples. Thus, in peanuts, which contained the highest oil content, percentage of AFB1 degradation at 10 kGy was not more than 56.6%, whereas, the corresponding value in corn, which contained the lowest oil content, reached as high as 80%. The above results indicate the possibility of using gamma radiation as a means of degradation of AFB1 in food and feed crops to levels lower than the maximum allowed levels.

Effect of gamma radiation on the inactivation of aflatoxin B1 in food and feed crops

Samples of food crops (peanut, peeled pistachio, unpeeled pistachio, rice, and corn) and feed (barley, bran, corn) were autoclave-sterilized, and inoculated with 10(6) of spore suspension of an isolate of Aspergillus flavus fungus known to produce aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) . Following a 10-day period of incubation at 27 C to allow for fungal growth, food and feed samples were irradiated with gamma radiation at the doses 4, 6, and 10 kGy. Results indicated that degradation of AFB1 was positively correlated with the increase in the applied dose of gamma ray for each tested sample. At a dose of 10 kGy percentages of AFB1 degradation reached highest values at 58.6, 68.8, 84.6, 81.1 and 87.8% for peanuts, peeled pistachios, unpeeled pistachios, corn and rice samples, respectively. In feed samples percentages of AFB1 degradation were 45, 66, and 90% in barley, 47, 75, and 86% in bran, and 31, 72, and 84% in corn for the doses of 4, 6, and 10 kGy, respectively. AFB1 degradation in food samples correlated negatively with oil content in irradiated samples. Thus, in peanuts, which contained the highest oil content, percentage of AFB1 degradation at 10 kGy was not more than 56.6%, whereas, the corresponding value in corn, which contained the lowest oil content, reached as high as 80%. The above results indicate the possibility of using gamma radiation as a means of degradation of AFB1 in food and feed crops to levels lower than the maximum allowed levels.

Amostras de alimentos (amendoim, pistache descascada, pistache com casca, arroz e milho) e de ração (cevada, farelo de trigo e milho) foram esterilizadas por autoclavação e inoculadas com uma suspensão de esporos (10(6)) de um isolado de Aspergillus flavus produtor de aflatoxina B1 (AFB1). Após incubação por 10 dias a 27ºC para multiplicação do fungo, as amostras foram irradiadas com radiação gama nas doses de 4, 6 e 10 kGy. Os resultados indicaram que a degradação da AFB1 correlacionou-se positivamente com o aumento da dose de radiação gama. As porcentagens de degradação da AFB1 foram mais altas na dose de 10kGy, obtendo-se valores de 58,6, 68,8, 84,6, 81,1 e 87,8% para amendoim, pistache descascada, pistache com casca, milho e arroz, respectivamente. Nas rações, as porcentagens de degradação de AFB1 foram 45, 66 e 90% para cevada, 47, 75 e 86% para farelo de trigo e 31, 72 e 84% para milho, nas doses de 4, 6 e 10 kGy, respectivamente. A degradação de AFB1 correlacionou-se negativamente com o teor de gordura nas amostras irradiadas. Assim, em amendoim, que apresentou o teor de gordura mais alto, a porcentagem de degradação com 10 kGy foi inferior a 56,6%, enquanto o valor correspondente em milho, que apresentou o teor de gordura mais baixo, foi de 80%. Os resultados indicam a possibilidade de uso da radiação gama como meio de degradação de AFB1 em alimentos e ração a níveis inferiores ao máximo permitido.