Jacaranda oil administration improves serum biomarkers and bioavailability of bioactive conjugated fatty acids, and alters fatty acid profile of mice tissues.

Jacaric acid, a conjugated linolenic acid (CLNA) present in jacaranda oil (JO), is considered a potent anticarcinogenic agent. Several studies have focused on its biological effects, but the metabolism once consumed is not clear yet. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of two different daily doses of JO on serum parameters and fatty acid (FA) profile of mice tissues after 4 weeks of feeding. No significant changes on body weight gain, food intake, or tissue weight were determined after 0.7 or 2 ml/kg of JO supplementation compared to control animals. Significantly lower blood low-density lipoproteins-cholesterol (20 mg/dl) and glucose (~147-148 mg/dl) levels were detected in both oil-treated groups compared to control (31.2 and 165 mg/dl, respectively). Moreover, jacaric acid was partially converted into cis9, trans11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and thus further incorporated into tissues. Liver evidenced the highest total conjugated fatty acid content (1.1%-2.2%), followed by epididymal (0.7%-1.9%) and mesenteric (1.4%-1.8%) fat. Lower saturated and higher unsaturated fatty acid content was detected in both oil-treated groups compared to control. Our results support the safety of JO and its potential application with a functional or nutraceutical propose, by increasing human CLNA consumption and further availability of CLA.

The Role of Rainfall in Sternechus subsignatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Adult Emergence From the Soil After Its Winter Dormant Period.

In this work, we report the effect of rainfall on Sternechus subsignatus Boheman, 1836, adult emergence after winter dormancy. This weevil is a univoltine soybean pest found in northwestern Argentina, a subtropical region with dry winters and rainy summers. Before harvest, fully grown larvae burrow into the soil where they overwinter. In the spring, they emerge as adults and recolonize the crop during its planting and early vegetative stages. Our study examines the seasonal timing of adult emergence with the aim of improving chemical control strategies and avoiding unnecessary pesticide applications. To do so, we developed a regression model to predict adult emergence onset as a function of cumulated rainfall after 1st November. The regression with the highest coefficient of determination between cumulated rainfall and adult emergence onset was Emergence onset (Julian day) = -7.98 Ln(cumulative rainfall) + 65.7. The negative relationship showed that adults emerged earlier in wet years than in dry years. Also it was observed that adults emerged from late November to mid-March, in pulses following periods of rainfall. Males were more abundant than females at first, but then the reverse was true toward the end of the period. In most cases, there was a suggestion of relationship (though not significantly) between peaks of adult emergence with peaks of rainfall 15 d before adult emergence. These results reveal that rainfall has a significant impact on the beginning and dynamics of adult emergence from the soil.